Chapter 10: Extending Life and Enhancing Longevity

Twenty years of lifespan—not long, really.

But for Shen Yi, it was an immense surprise.

When he crossed over, the original body had only thirty-odd years left; at best, he’d die before fifty, a true short-lived wretch.

The end is coming—that is fate.

With the help of the Thunder and Lightning Scripture, he barely achieved bodily perfection, yet still remained confined to the mortal realm.

To slightly extend one’s lifespan was already no small feat.

Shen Yi calmed his mind, growing increasingly eager for the Town Demon Office’s inspection in a month.

Of course, before that, he must prepare two contingencies.

The first is strength.

The Great Qian Dynasty established the Town Demon Office, independent of the imperial court.

Even its lowest-ranking members, though commanding no troops, were specially appointed as seventh-rank Captains, equivalent to the County Magistrate of Baiyun.

A mere ordinary Captain could casually gift the transcendent Thunder and Lightning Scripture to Chen Ji, merely because of his decent talent.

To join their ranks, one must demonstrate something extraordinary.

Initial Realm… or higher?

Shen Yi wasn’t sure, but higher cultivation was never a bad thing.

Though he now had neither technique nor elixir, he had once awakened the Initial Realm martial art from the Demon Subduing Blade Form; now with half the Thunder and Lightning Scripture, if he was willing to spend lifespan, he could surely deduce something useful.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi glanced at his panel, feeling a pang of regret.

Just moments ago, he’d thought himself wealthy; now, after a single meal, he was broke again.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: Seventeen Years】

Killing demons was not easy.

Shen Yi had only been able to get alone with demons thanks to the original body’s connections; but as more demons vanished, the trust built over years would collapse at an unimaginable speed.

To forge steel, one must be strong himself—Shen Yi must accumulate enough strength before the demons discovered his betrayal, to face their furious retaliation!

Besides strength,

the second is reputation. After all, if things continued as they were, the government office would eventually slip up.

When the Town Demon Office Captain arrived in Baiyun County, he’d likely have to execute the “notoriously infamous” Master Shen at the marketplace before even slaying a single demon.

But this matter need not be rushed.

As long as he killed enough demons, his reputation would naturally improve.

“Hmm…”

Shen Yi stood at the door, stretching his body; no longer fearing death next year, he felt profoundly more relaxed.

At that moment, two constables rushed from the end of the street, panting: “Master Shen! We’ve finally found you! Head Song ordered you to return immediately for your report.”

“Report?”

Hearing the voice, Chen Ji looked up from clearing the dishes.

The “Head Song” they mentioned was Song Changfeng, head of the Criminal Office.

Normally, subordinates reporting to superiors was perfectly ordinary.

But in Baiyun County’s government office, it was not.

Song Head, in his forties, should have been at his peak ambition, but because he took the wrong side on demon matters, he’d been repeatedly suppressed by the office and could no longer control his subordinate, Shen Yi.

Though he was upright in conduct, his character lacked firmness; he watched helplessly as Baiyun County’s waters grew murkier, furious yet too afraid to speak out.

After years of suppression, his spirit had faded.

He now simply played the absentee landlord, sipping tea daily, avoiding Shen Yi whenever possible to save face.

Why, then, was he deliberately seeking him out today?

“I’m going to the office. Rest early—don’t leave a lamp on for me.”

Chen Ji turned to retrieve his sword; Chen Jinyu nodded obediently. She had always worried her brother’s stubbornness and intolerance of injustice would make him a target for bullying among colleagues—but now it seemed he’d found a trustworthy superior.

Thinking of this, she quietly glanced at the tall, slender back at the door.

What kind of person could make such a proud brother so utterly trusting?

Shen Yi turned back, raising an eyebrow: “What? Put the sword down. Wash your dishes.”

“...” Chen Ji silently dropped the sword.

Shen Yi turned again to the two constables before him—both under his command.

Yet now, their eyes darted away, clearly hiding something.

Whoever summoned him, if he could scare them this badly, was almost certainly not Head Song.

“Let’s go.”

Shen Yi asked no further questions and stepped onto the street.

The two constables led the way in silence, returning all the way to the patrol house.

The slightly fatter one finally turned back, face twisted in dread: “Be careful…”

He immediately turned forward again.

They halted before the locked door: “Head Song, Master Shen has arrived!”

Hearing this, Shen Yi felt a flicker of confusion—was it truly Song Changfeng?

Before he could even pause, a response came from within—but it was not Head Song’s voice…

Thud! Thud!

Two large holes blasted through the wooden door; dark shadows shot out, piercing the chests of both constables.

Shen Yi stared at the two dark limbs protruding from the constables’ backs—wrinkled, furred hands.

Each hand gripped a faintly twitching heart, slowly extending toward him, then driving sharp nails deep inside!

“Brother Shen, why have you stopped?”

“...”

Shen Yi closed his eyes, inhaling a warm, foul breath.

Then, he kicked the door with all his might!

As the door shattered, a piercing scream erupted from within, and the dark shadow instantly darted backward.

Shen Yi stepped slowly inside, his gaze sweeping the room coldly.

His eyes fell first on Song Changfeng, face ashen, kneeling before a rattan chair, trembling violently—not entirely from fear, but mostly because of what rested on his shoulder.

It was a thick, furry thigh.

Resting casually upon Song Changfeng’s shoulder, it crushed nearly every bone in his body, drenching his face in sweat.

The owner of the thigh lay sprawled in the rattan chair, draped in a loose Confucian robe, its collar gaping open. It propped itself up with its elbow, revealing a grotesque ape face, baring its teeth slightly: “Brother, sit down.”

Besides it, two other ape demons filled the room.

One hunched over, its long arms dragging on the floor, its face brimming with malice.

Its fingertips still dripped blood—clearly, the “welcome” had been its doing.

“You’re late… Look what you’ve done…”

Song Changfeng’s face twitched, on the verge of collapse: “This is how you handle demons? You’ve brought them right into the office!”

Whatever had happened earlier, this grown man now wept uncontrollably, wailing like a scorned woman.

Shen Yi looked at the table—three bloody dog heads neatly arranged.

He glanced back at the two still-warm corpses of the constables at the door.

The Confucian-robed old ape licked its lips, reached out a claw, and patted Song Changfeng’s head: “There’s one more right here.”

As it spoke, the other two ape demons had silently blocked the door.

(End of Chapter)