Chapter 12: The Sounds Beneath the Bed

Song Changfeng lay half-dead in the corner, his peripheral vision catching the young man’s slow approach.

His face twitched, his Adam’s apple rolled, emitting a hoarse “hē-chī, hē-chī,” his numb body involuntarily shrinking back.

What he had just seen made him refuse to believe his own eyes.

Many years ago, it was Song Changfeng himself who had picked Shen Yi from a gang of ruffians, drawn by the boy’s sharp wit.

He never expected Shen Yi to be too clever—he not only thrived in Baiyun County, but even befriended demons and spirits, handling official affairs with flawless efficiency.

Even so, Song Changfeng had merely avoided him, refusing to provoke him, still harboring deep disdain and disgust.

Yet now, a thick wave of fear surged within him.

To fight three at once, slaughtering all three monkey demons with a mere gesture—such formidable martial power could not be forged overnight.

Recalling how Shen Yi usually caroused with friends, lived in nightly revelry, and had to clutch his waist after every few steps, Song Changfeng felt a chill crawl up his spine.

Such restraint—what could he possibly be plotting?

As he pondered, the young man stood before him; Song Changfeng instinctively raised a hand to shield his face.

The next moment, he was hoisted onto someone’s back.

Shen Yi felt the middle-aged man’s trembling body and sighed: “Is it really that bad? You didn’t even lose an arm or a leg.”

The Criminal Office handles the entire county’s security—how can an officer in such a position still tremble like this after the monkey demons are dead?

If not for the eight hundred soldiers in the Military Office guarding the city, the people of Baiyun County would have been devoured long ago.

Song Changfeng said nothing.

Shen Yi had intended to ask where he lived, but the thought arose, and his feet moved naturally forward.

Leaving the government office, he stepped onto Dongjie.

It was deep night; the road was pitch black, invisible.

Yet Shen Yi felt no unfamiliarity—he stood before a small courtyard as if he knew it well, and knocked on the door.

“You still remember how to come back? Just die outside.”

With a cold voice, the courtyard gate creaked open.

The woman who opened it was a beautiful woman in her thirties, clad in a pink gauze robe, her features alluring, her skin smooth and taut, her waist graceful and alluring.

Upon recognizing Shen Yi’s face, her expression shifted slightly, a flicker of delight appearing in her narrow eyes: “What are you doing here? Is that old thing still at the government office?”

“...”

Shen Yi’s expression turned odd; he slightly shifted aside, letting her see the “old thing” on his back.

The woman’s face showed surprise, but no panic; she glared at Song Changfeng’s lifeless expression: “You went to the office for tea and came back like this? Can’t you have a little dignity?”

Hearing this, even Shen Yi felt a pang of pity for Song Tou.

His work went poorly, his superior had to avoid his own subordinates, and at home he suffered abuse—forty-something, nearing fifty, remarried to a seductive wife, only to have her stolen by another.

He stepped into the courtyard, entered the house, and laid Song Changfeng on the bed; the old man turned his head toward the wall and pretended to be unconscious.

I saved your life, yet you can’t even say thank you... Shen Yi shook his head and turned to leave.

Just as he entered the courtyard, a warm, soft body pressed against him.

“What happened today?” Song’s sister-in-law wrapped Shen Yi’s arm into her ample bosom, worried: “Are you alright? Come, let me check you over properly.”

“Cough.” Shen Yi’s spirit wavered for an instant.

Moments later, he glanced at the door just shut, and gently pulled his arm free: “Song Tou slew the demons; I must return to the office to handle the aftermath. I won’t trouble you further.”

The beautiful woman watched the young man walk away, stomped her foot: “He can slay demons? With that kind of ability, you heartless thing.”

Leaving the Song household.

Shen Yi stood alone on the empty street, pulling his clothes tighter.

The earlier warmth and softness lingered, hard to shake off.

It wasn’t that he longed for the woman—just that he felt hollow, unsettled.

Though he disliked the situation in Song’s home, it wasn’t bad to have someone like Chen Ji, who returned home to a lamp still lit for him.

Too bad the original body was a scoundrel—lost his parents young, had no friends or kin, and his bed held nothing but prostitutes.

Shen Yi took a deep breath of the night air and summoned his interface.

【Enlightened Monkey Demon, not yet entered Initial Realm, total lifespan 326, remaining 44 years, fully absorbed】

【Enlightened Monkey Demon, not yet entered Initial Realm, total lifespan 355, remaining 78 years, fully absorbed】

【Enlightened Monkey Demon, not yet entered Initial Realm, total lifespan 420, remaining 83 years, fully absorbed】

【Remaining demonic lifespan: 222 years】

Shen Yi planned to invest all this lifespan into the Wind and Thunder Scripture.

The Fuyao Zhengyang Blade’s power was indeed impressive—no wonder it was a technique tied to the Initial Realm.

When slaying the last monkey demon in the Confucian robe, Shen Yi had truly felt his blood qi transforming into mist.

This blade no longer relied on brute force or refined technique—it had entered another realm entirely.

But it was still a minor path forged by mortals, forcing himself to temporarily reach that state by draining his own vitality—it could never match true Initial Realm cultivation.

“I wonder if two hundred years will be enough.”

Shen Yi knew he wasn’t a genius; to forge a path from nothing required nothing but vast amounts of time.

He had no luxury to wait for established methods.

The disappearance of the three monkey demons from Baiyun County was unlike the earlier black-furred dog demon or Huang Lao Liu—other monkey demons would soon notice.

With half their children dead, that genuine great demon wouldn’t let him go.

Baiyun County is remote; surrounding it are four demonic factions: the yellow weasels to the west, the monkeys of Dongshan, the so-called Green-Scaled Old Mother serpent demon, and a pack of foxes.

Shen Yi had already angered two.

Though he’d covered his tracks well, demons don’t care for evidence—just suspicion is enough to wipe out the entire county.

“I’ll go home first.”

Shen Yi’s head ached—he wasn’t a cruel man.

Earlier, he’d merely been driven by the anger of having only a year left; now, with twenty extra years suddenly granted, and having glimpsed the mystery of martial realms,

if he could keep living, he certainly wouldn’t want to let go.

Shen Yi’s thoughts drifted as he finally returned to a side room.

As a minor clerk, the office had assigned him better lodging than Chen Ji, but not by much.

Though he’d amassed plenty of wealth, the original body had no interest in buying a house—after all, in Baiyun County, aside from a few untouchables, he could sleep anywhere he pleased.

His own home was a mess.

Shen Yi frowned, weary but determined to clean up; unfortunately, no broom existed, so he tossed all clutter and wine jars into the backyard.

He glanced at the greasy straw mat, frowned, and threw it out too.

Having finished, Shen Yi lay on the hard wooden bed, his eyelids growing heavy.

Logically, his body should no longer feel fatigue—but perhaps after so much in such a short time, seeing so many unpleasant things, he simply needed rest.

A thick wave of sleep washed over him.

Shen Yi closed his eyes completely, savoring a moment of peace.

If there was one complaint, it was the lack of a soft, fragrant body to hold beside him.

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

Shen Yi opened his eyes, puzzled, staring at his own bed.

(End of Chapter)