Chapter 25: The Matter of the Lin Family

"Understood. Go on with your work."

After hearing the other party out, Shen Yi merely gave a slight nod.

From yesterday's affair on Willow Leaf Street, when he had been kept blind and deaf, he had foreseen this very scene.

Liu Dianli's handling of things could only be called methodical—worthy of an old hand who'd been at it for so many years.

If he shut his doors, Shen Yi would become the laughingstock of the whole county, a joke for idle gossip, and could only bow his head and accept their terms; if he flung the courtyard gates wide open… wasn't that the act of a pure fool?

Who in the world would willingly make enemies of demons and monsters for no reason? So the saying goes, the gun shoots the bird that sticks its neck out, and there wasn't any silver to be earned—so why risk his life?

The one thing Liu Dianli hadn't taken into account was…

Shen Yi could truly gain benefits from slaying demons.

Not only that, but those benefits far surpassed mere gold and silver—they were solid, tangible lifespan.

So in Shen Yi's heart there was not the slightest ripple.

Even if he felt anything, it would only be a faint trace of gladness.

"You…"

Chen Ji couldn't shake the feeling that the other man hadn't heard a word he'd said—this was a matter of life and death!

After a moment, he helplessly let his hand drop and pressed it against the saber hilt at his waist.

What on earth had this world come to? Just the other day he'd been denouncing the man's wanton misdeeds, and in the space of a few short days, he himself had become the one sent to talk him round.

Recalling the figure of Shen Yi standing alone before the village, this fellow was hardly one who merely paid lip service.

Chen Ji gave a self-mocking laugh and tightened his grip on the saber… Damn it, he'd have to hurry up and save up for the trousseau.

"How much trousseau does your family need when you take a wife?"

"What?" Shen Yi turned his head in confusion.

"Nothing, just asking." Chen Ji drew a deep breath and quickly flung the inexplicable thought out of his head—one thing at a time. The other fellow might barely pass for a decent constable, but that messy private life of his—tsk, he couldn't push his little sister into a fire pit.

Lucky the other man hadn't heard clearly…

"Actually, I prefer someone a bit more mature."

Shen Yi shook his head, briefly recalling the generous bosom of the Sister-in-law Song.

Taking advantage of the moment before Chen Ji could react, he strolled unhurriedly into the duty room.

"Wait—that's it? It's settled just like that?"

Zhang Dahu was hopping with anxiety, bellowing at the two burly men squatting by the doorway: "You two gone dumb? Speak up!"

The Niu brothers had long nursed grievances against Lord Shen, yet now they sat like gourd-sealed mutes.

"My wife wouldn't even let me into the room last night."

Niu Da scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Once word got out that he'd thrown in his lot with the fellow surnamed Shen, his home nearly went up in flames—as if he'd really run off with some family's Miss.

"This morning, I was still asleep, and she suddenly… hehe… hehe…"

As he spoke, Niu Da suddenly broke into a foolish grin and vigorously rubbed at his crotch.

"…" Zhang Dahu.

"…" Chen Ji.

Shen Yi cast a helpless glance over and said flatly, "Open the courtyard gate."

Under normal circumstances, ordinary folk would never come to the government office lightly, let alone to the duty room under the notorious Lord Shen.

But Shen Yi was in no hurry.

He had seen the look of utter despair on the Liu father and daughter; once demons were involved, they would never let slip any straw that might save them. This world had left them no other choice.

The courtyard gate opened, the notice was posted.

This courtyard became the only "Demon-Subduing Office" in Bai Yunxian. He arranged for Chen Ji and Zhang Dahu to go out and gather information, and the Niu brothers to take turns on watch every three hours.

Shen Yi, meanwhile, closed his eyes and dozed, conserving his strength.

Rather unexpectedly, in the space of only half a day, someone came through the door.

The visitor was a thin, small middle-aged man, his skin swarthy—clearly a laborer who did rough work.

He cautiously poked his head in.

In the courtyard, the expressions of the Niu brothers shifted at once; they both straightened up in unison, and even Niu Da, who had been grinning foolishly a moment ago, now had a few traces of unease in his eyes.

Slaying demons, slaying demons—easier said than done. The trouble was, after so many years of service in Bai Yunxian, they had never actually done the deed.

"Lord Shen, I have news of an evil spirit."

The thin, small middle-aged man nervously swallowed, his eyes darting. Led by the Niu brothers, he stepped cautiously into the room.

"What kind of demon? Out with it." Niu Er stared over, tense.

"N-no… not a demon, an evil spirit." The thin, small middle-aged man hurriedly waved his hands.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi slowly sat up straight.

He had been here for several days now, and including the original host's memories, this was the first time he had received any information about an evil spirit.

"No need to rush. Take your time."

Looking into Shen Yi's calm gaze, the middle-aged man felt considerably steadied. Yesterday he'd heard that old oil peddler Hu Chui spouting nonsense and had assumed the man was drunk—how could Lord Shen possibly be so mild and gentle with him? But seeing it today, he actually believed a few parts of it.

"I didn't run into the evil spirit myself. It was my wife who did."

He struggled to organize his words: "Roughly from a month ago, every evening when it got dark, I'd be in the yard washing up, and my wife would light a candle in the room and comb her hair in front of the mirror."

"Combing her hair and laughing the whole time, as if she'd been possessed."

"That wasn't even the worst of it."

The middle-aged man's face grew uglier: "One night, I was woken up by a bursting bladder, reached out and grabbed empty air. I went out to look for her—guess what? She was standing at the doorway in a flowery dress, her hair dripping wet, her neck slick with sweat. I mustered my courage and patted her. When she saw it was me, she let out a scream instead, her voice like she'd seen a ghost."

"She said she had no idea how she'd gotten up, not the slightest memory of it."

"And from that day on, my own spirit hasn't been right either. No matter how early I rest, I sleep straight through till broad daylight. That evil spirit must have possessed her and is sucking my yang energy, Lord Shen! My wife brewed me a medicinal soup, but it did no good—the more I drank, the sleepier I got."

Listening to the middle-aged man's vivid description, Shen Yi's expression gradually turned strange.

"And she won't share a bed with me anymore—she just sits there giggling all day, growing more and more chilling to look at."

"The most terrifying part is, yesterday my business was bad, so I packed up and went home early, and I heard her inside, screaming until her voice was shredded, over and over: 'Spare me…' Have you ever heard a pig being slaughtered? That kind of sound…"

As the middle-aged man prepared to imitate it on the spot.

Shen Yi slightly frowned, glanced at the Niu brothers, and sighed, "You two take the night watch—deal with this malevolent spirit for him."

"Your humble servant obeys."

The Niu brothers looked at the middle-aged man with pity and led him out.

Shen Yi leaned back against the rattan chair and gently pressed his temples.

It seems picking up easy scraps in the city isn't as easy as he thought.

Previously, when demons entered Bai Yunxian, his former self accompanied them—now that he's slain that pack of dog demons, word must have spread among the demonic kinds, making it harder to lure any more fish.

At that moment, a figure rushed in hastily.

Chen Ji arrived, gasping for breath, his expression solemn; even though he deliberately lowered his voice, he could not hide the shock within him.

"My lord, Liu Qi is dead."

At these words, Shen Yi lifted his gaze.

If he remembered correctly, the man had mentioned this name once before.

Stone-Breaking Hand Liu Qi.

He was a retainer hired by the Lin family from Outside Qingzhou.

The very same Lin family where Lin Baiwei resides.

(End of Chapter)