Chapter 26: The Thin Monk and the Butcher Zhang

At the mention of that name, the Niu brothers, just stepping out of the room, froze slightly.

Immediately, they lowered their heads, pretended not to hear, and hurriedly carried the thin middle-aged man out of the courtyard.

Liu Qi was no ordinary man; these constables had long heard of him.

He came from Qingzhou, a martial artist with a master, and among the elite bodyguards hired by the Lin family at great expense, he was one of the most renowned.

His iron palms could shatter gold and split stone, no harder than slicing tofu.

Rumor had it that at least thirty, if not fifty, demons had died beneath those palms.

“Should we go take a look?”

Chen Ji turned to watch the brothers’ backs; he didn’t think them cowardly, but he understood them well.

Baiyun County was no major city, lacking even a proper sect; in the eyes of locals, Liu Qi was already a powerful dragon crossing the river, and even we constables relied on his reputation to deter demons.

If he’s dead, the thing that killed him is almost certainly a great demon.

According to Liu Dianli’s logic, any demon is Shen Yi’s responsibility.

To act or not to act—that is the question.

Logically, since no one filed a report, pretending ignorance and brushing it off would be harmless, but if even street vendors can guess the truth, covering one’s ears while stealing a bell would make Shen Yi lose face on his very first day, and might even land him a charge of negligence in demon suppression.

“This death is too convenient.”

Chen Ji wearily looked away; why was he like a harbinger of misfortune, always bringing trouble wherever he went?

“Let’s go take a look.”

Shen Yi lightly rubbed his brow, masking the flicker of irritation in his eyes, then rose, took up his sword, and walked out.

It wasn’t about saving face, as others assumed.

Compared to others, he knew what lurked inside the Lin residence.

That fox had been personally delivered there by his former self.

Every blood crime it committed added another sin to Shen Yi’s name; if it were ever captured, he’d likely have to accompany it to the Demon Suppression Bureau’s prison.

“...”

Shen Yi walked down the street with Chen Ji.

The stares from the roadside remained as strange as in the morning; only as the buildings shifted from thatched walls to blue bricks and black tiles did the scrutiny gradually fade.

In the relatively wealthy eastern district, the authority of the constables’ uniforms was rapidly diminishing.

Until the grand, luxurious mansion came into view: vermilion gates with brass handles, stone lions taller by half a head than those at the government office.

Now the gate stood open just wide enough for one person; the Lin family’s pudgy steward, dressed in silk robes and a small cap, stood before it, frowning and shooing away the crowd: “Go, go, is this a place for you to gawk?”

"What staring? If there's a demon, tell us so we can seek help at the government office."

The onlookers reluctantly stepped back.

“No demon! There’s no demon!” The steward twisted his fat face, dejectedly muttering: “I’ve said it eight hundred times—there’s no such thing.”

“You coward, what are you afraid of? Haven’t you seen the notices? Master Shen can slay the dog demon in the west suburbs—can’t he slay your demon?”

Among the crowd stood several people of some standing, who gave the steward no respect and shouted outright.

“Master Shen... you people don’t know a damn thing.”

The Lin steward cast a contemptuous glance, his thoughts heavy, too weary to reply.

As for Shen Yi, he understood him far better than this crowd.

When he rescued the young lady from outside the city, Master Lin had been grateful and treated him with great respect.

But it turned out the man was a gambler, showing up every few days to borrow silver, which vanished like meat buns thrown to a dog—never returned. How could he be any good?

Only recently had he grown quieter.

Master Lin could never trust such a man; upon learning of Liu Qi’s death, he rode straight to the County Magistrate’s residence that night and summoned the Thin Monk.

Though the man was painfully thin, as if a breeze could knock him over, he had once been a constant companion to the County Magistrate’s master in Qingzhou, deeply trusted; even Liu Qi, alive, had addressed him as “Senior” and never dared show disrespect.

Such a man had come to the Lin residence, inspected the premises, and concluded...

...that no demon was at work; Master Lin need not worry.

As for Liu Qi’s death, he remained silent.

In short: no demon.

With the Thin Monk’s status, his word was final. Even if Shen Yi had real ability, what could he do?

The steward snapped out of his thoughts and suddenly noticed the crowd parting: “Here he comes! He really came! The notice was true!”

A young man with a sword approached slowly, followed by a constable.

“Oh, Master Shen... my young lady is not at home,” the steward forced a smile, secretly surprised—had the man never heard of Liu Qi’s name? How dare he meddle in this?

Hearing this, Shen Yi slightly furrowed his brow.

Not at home?

“She went out for a spring outing; she won’t return for several days,” the steward shook his head. “If you’re looking for Miss Bai Wei, please go back.”

“I’m not looking for her. Please take me to see the body.”

Shen Yi stepped onto the stone steps.

The fox demon was absent, yet a martial expert had died—this was strange.

At this, the Lin steward hesitated. If the man came for money, hearing the young lady was away, he’d leave. But if he truly came to investigate demons... the Thin Monk was still inside.

Thinking of this, he deliberately raised his voice:

“Master Shen, the man from the County Magistrate’s office has already been here.”

Hearing this, Chen Ji was startled, then sighed in relief.

If a master had already intervened, the matter would resolve itself—no need for us constables to worry.

The distant onlookers also realized: no wonder the Lin family was so calm. Sigh—too bad, they wouldn’t get to see Master Shen in action today.

The steward turned back to the young man, his meaning clear.

The exit was laid out; the blame couldn’t possibly fall on you. Walk away now, and your reputation remains untouched.

“...”

Shen Yi lowered his gaze, taking in the steward’s hidden anxiety and helplessness.

He said calmly: “A single glance won’t hurt.”

Hearing this, the Lin steward was truly startled. Honestly, it was as if the man had changed entirely—before, he’d flee any trouble to hoard silver; what had happened today?

After a moment of hesitation, he sighed and stepped aside: “If you truly wish to see it, follow me.”

The steward turned and pushed open the door, about to step forward—when his expression stiffened.

There, accompanied by Master Lin, two peculiar figures emerged one after the other.

The first was tall and thin, around fifty, with eyebrows like dragon whiskers hanging down, dressed in a long black robe, as slender as a bamboo pole.

The second was a middle-aged man, bulky as a mountain, his rough cheeks covered in bristling, needle-like whiskers, his expression gloomy, wearing a greasy white short jacket, skin dark as soot, his swollen belly terrifyingly round like a woman in her tenth month of pregnancy.

The Thin Monk wore a calm smile, preparing to bid farewell to Master Lin, when he raised his head and saw the group at the gate.

As the steward’s heart leapt, about to explain, the monk’s smile faded slightly—and he bowed his hands: “Are you Master Shen? I’ve long heard of you. A pleasure to finally meet you.”

At this, the dark, rough-hewn giant, who had been slumped in gloom, glanced lazily in their direction.

(End of Chapter)