Chapter 21: Returning to Town After Slaying Demons

According to Shen Yi’s judgment, the Wind and Thunder Subduing Demon Scripture he cultivated had four stages.

These perfectly corresponded to the initial realm.

Three acupoints marked entry—the early stage of the initial realm; his five acupoints meant mid-stage initial realm, nearly double that of the weasel demon.

With strength overpowering weakness, he’d still fought so hard.

The reason was simple: he lacked the demon’s own demonic arts; faced with its formidable defense, he was momentarily at a loss, forced to rely solely on brute force and cultivation to crush through.

Shen Yi sighed. Cultivation base mattered, but it would be best to have a few hidden techniques at least.

The three martial forms passed down by the Demon Suppression Office were already growing weak against true great demons.

He turned around—the villagers had already prepared two carts. Too many corpses, too heavy; they’d taken only the heads, yet even so, they’d piled into a small mountain.

“What are you doing?” Chen Ji looked bewildered.

“Back to town,” Shen Yi said, walking toward the slow-approaching old donkey at the crossroad, mounting it.

After this incident, he had fully awakened.

Gaining a good reputation to join the Demon Suppression Office was far simpler than he’d thought.

The government office wouldn’t sit idly by while he ruined their plan.

If so, he must cut ties.

…

Dusk stretched vast over Baiyun County.

Street vendors hurriedly packed up their wares; a squad of soldiers yawned as they guarded the town gate.

Then a foul stench rolled in.

Several soldiers immediately covered their noses and mouths; the vendors straightened up, curious, staring toward the gate—next moment, a heap of terrifying wolf heads filled their vision, each face grotesque, lifelike, jaws wide open in snarls, eyes and brows still thick with lingering terror.

“Demons… demons entered the town!”

The vendor dropped his spoon, stumbled backward in panic, and fell flat on his back.

The soldiers tensed instantly, gripping their spears.

The two villagers who’d been pulling the carts, hunched over with the nervous curiosity of those long out of town, now instinctively straightened their backs at the sight of these soldiers’ cowardice.

“What kind of look is that? We were terrified by demons—we couldn’t even walk—but we’re not scared of a pile of dead corpses. They’re delicious.”

Chen Ji walked slowly into town, his expression complex.

Behind him, an old donkey chewed grass slowly; a handsome young man rode atop it, his gaze calm, yet the stench of blood seeping from him made everyone shudder.

“Shen… is that Shen Yi?”

The soldiers held their spears, blinking in disbelief.

They knew his face too well—but now, aside from his features, his expression and aura were utterly unlike the ruffian he’d been before.

“Damned pest. Even dead, you still scare me.”

The vendor scrambled up, embarrassed and angry, brushed off his clothes, and stole a glance at the donkey-riding youth—somehow, he felt deeply shaken.

How many demons must he have killed to stain his clothes like this?

“Lord Shen, this way, please!”

He quickly cleared a path, secretly delighted—now he had fresh gossip for tea and meals.

How long had it been since Baiyun County sent someone out to subdue demons?

And especially with such a grand display!

“You’ve definitely offended the government office now.”

Chen Ji took in the crowd’s expressions and let out a bitter smile.

He couldn’t understand why Lord Shen, famed for his social finesse, had suddenly acted so recklessly.

Shen Yi lowered his gaze calmly and spoke softly: “Was there a choice?”

“You have the power to slay demons, but you didn’t need to make it so public. With your abilities, you have a bright future ahead…”

Mid-sentence, Chen Ji froze.

He remembered—the Demon Suppression Office’s inspectors were coming soon. If Baiyun County could present itself as peaceful and harmonious, his future was secure.

But the man had already angered the demons. At a critical moment, who could guarantee the government wouldn’t sacrifice him as a shield?

If the monkey demon and weasel demon came demanding his head, he’d be handing his life over to those corrupt officials.

Better to make a spectacle of it—to let the entire county know exactly who Shen Yi was.

Under the inspection of the Demon Suppression Office’s captain, who could possibly claim they could silence the voices of over a hundred thousand people?

This wasn’t recklessness—it was a carefully calculated move.

“I’ve followed you two days—I’m almost growing a brain.”

Chen Ji sighed helplessly, then straightened his posture, adopting a proud stance.

As he saw a group of constables stagger out of a tavern, he deliberately steered the two villagers toward them and swung his sword scabbard down hard.

“Get out of the way! Want a whipping?”

Zhang Pengtian had never endured such humiliation—he turned, drunk and furious: “Damn it, who the hell—”

His eyes swept over Chen Ji, ready to draw his blade—then he caught the cold, looking-down gaze fixed upon him.

“Shen… Shen…”

The courage to save face before his comrades vanished the moment he saw the two carts piled with demon heads—especially the weasel skull stacked highest.

Zhang Pengtian rubbed his stinging cheek and retreated, trembling.

He simply couldn’t fathom how the man had survived… He had to report this to Director Liu immediately!

…

“Alright, take them to the government office. Afterward, find them lodging and treat them to a good meal.”

Leaving the street, Shen Yi reached into his belt, tossed out a single silver coin: “You two worked hard—this meal’s on me.”

“Your Excellency, you’re too kind!” The two villagers had witnessed his brutality in battle—they hadn’t expected him to be so gentle, and bowed quickly in thanks.

Only Chen Ji frowned, holding the coin, feeling strangely familiar.

He bid farewell to the group.

Shen Yi dismounted the donkey, stretched slightly, masking the weariness in his eyes, and walked slowly toward home.

This had been his most draining battle yet.

Not just physically—but the dried-up celestial breath in his acupoints left him feeling as if he’d fallen from heaven straight to earth, the immense drop draining his spirit.

He stopped beneath the thatched eaves.

To avoid seeing something he shouldn’t, Shen Yi knocked on the door.

His voice arrived before he did.

“You’re finally back? I’m starving.” Though her voice was weak, it remained clear and sweet.

Hearing the reply, Shen Yi pushed open the door and frowned slightly.

The filthy, cluttered hut from yesterday had been transformed—spotless, almost too clean to step into.

The woman’s damp hair fell over her shoulders; her clean face was lovely, her three-tenths of martial spirit adding unique charm.

She wore a black robe, slightly loose, yet accentuating her tall figure; her thick pants were half-damp, revealing long, rounded legs, bare white feet planted firmly on the ground.

“I washed all your clothes—including your official robe. I borrowed your old ones for now.”

Lin Baiwei suddenly looked up: “Did you go to work… or bathe in a blood pool?”

Her nose twitched slightly; her expression changed: “Demon blood?”

Shen Yi gave no reply, only turned his gaze away, pulled a lotus leaf parcel from his chest, and tossed it onto the table: “Make do.”

Seeing he didn’t want to talk, Lin Baiwei wisely fell silent, sat at the table, and eagerly lifted the blood-stained lotus leaf.

“Huh! There’s meat!”

She pinched a strip of salted pork, wiped off the blood, and shoved it into a hard biscuit: “Mmm.”

“I said make do—you could at least pick the clean parts.” Even Shen Yi couldn’t help rubbing his temples.

“Someone who’s never known hardship is the one who’s picky. Out in the wilds, who cares if you starve to death?”

Lin Baiwei chewed the biscuit, face full of pleasure, adding: “So delicious.”

“….”

Shen Yi fell silent—her words made it sound as if he’d grown up in a wealthy household, while she’d been raised on the streets.

(End of Chapter)