Chapter 31: The Arrogant Old Master Lin

After asking, Shen Yi continued to gaze at him calmly.

As a result, the thin head monk was momentarily stunned, almost believing the other truly wanted an “answer.”

After a moment, fury surged from within his heart.

His gaze turned dark and menacing, his breathing rapid; since arriving in Baiyun County, no one had ever dared to provoke him like this.

The thin head monk clenched his five fingers tightly, his nails digging into his palm.

He longed to unleash a full-power palm strike and split open the other’s skull.

But for some reason, beneath the other’s calm, unrippled gaze, he felt inexplicably unsettled, his hand Chichi unable to rise—had he grown too comfortable in the mansion, losing his fighting spirit?

No, it was simply not worth quarreling with a dead man; that would be far too unwise.

Having offended the Northern Cliff Fox Demon, how could the man possibly survive? Why should he bother lifting a finger himself?

Thinking this, the thin head monk forced another cold smile, though it lacked its former conviction: “No wonder you’re from the government office—Master Shen is even more imposing than the County Magistrate. This old man was out of line.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi nodded, turned to leave, then suddenly remembered something and glanced back with a hint of concern: “You’re an old man—stop grinning with your mouth crooked like that. You’ll end up with facial paralysis.”

“Hng…”

The thin head monk instinctively adjusted his mouth, then his eyelids twitched violently.

Watching the other’s slow, retreating figure, his chest suddenly tightened, a metallic sweetness rising in his mouth.

Zhang the Butcher stepped closer to his senior brother, gave him a pitying glance, then walked away from the Lin household.

“There’s a ferocious tiger demon hidden in the house!”

Lin the Elder, arriving late, widened his eyes as Chen Ji secured the massive tiger corpse onto a cart.

He glanced at the thin head monk still standing there, bowed his head and smiled weakly twice, then hurried after Shen Yi.

“Master Shen, wait!”

His frail body, burdened by elaborate, ornate robes, could not run—he could only call out repeatedly.

Shen Yi halted, puzzled.

“I’ve come to apologize for what happened earlier.”

Lin the Elder bent low, leaning on his knees, stammering: “You saved my daughter, yet I suspected you of colluding with demons to cause her memory loss—and I sent her home only to swindle silver from her for gambling.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’s expression stiffened slightly.

“I’m a merchant with eyes blind to true worth,” Lin the Elder sighed bitterly, unaware that Shen Yi had quietly turned his gaze elsewhere.

“You are a good man. Bai Wei was deceived by demons. Had it not been for Master Shen, my Lin household would have been devoured whole by that tiger demon.”

“...”

Hearing that name again, Shen Yi fell silent.

Among the many troubles left by his predecessor, this one was the most deadly.

Either slay the fox demon and silence it.

Or eliminate the real Lin Baiwei and join forces with the Northern Cliff Fox Demon.

There was almost no third path.

That decisive, swift slash earlier had not only severed the tiger demon’s head—it had also cut off his own retreat.

Shen Yi admitted he was just an ordinary man, prone to anxiety and hesitation.

Better to act decisively, follow one’s heart—why drag it out like a weaning child, clinging to everything and unable to let go?

“No need for such thanks. I receive imperial salary—I fulfill my duty. It is only right.”

Shen Yi gathered his thoughts, watched Chen Ji dragging the cart over, and gave Lin the Elder a slight nod of farewell.

“Only right...” Lin the Elder nodded in agreement, but his lips twisted with bitterness—so “only right”? If that were truly so, why had the thin head monk never done his duty despite all the silver I’ve paid the County Magistrate?

“Master Shen, when Bai Wei returns, may I invite you to tea at my home? She once studied martial arts under a master and knows a little. You’re close in age—you’d have much to talk about.”

Hearing this, Chen Ji instinctively frowned.

Who in Baiyun County didn’t know Lin’s only daughter was a celestial beauty? Countless young men lusted after her. Compared to her, his own sister, though a modest beauty, paled in both family standing and worldly experience.

Wait—why was he comparing his sister to Lin’s daughter?

Chen Ji slapped his forehead. Besides, with Master Shen’s current martial prowess, he likely wouldn’t even look twice at a girl who’d consorted with demons.

“What do you say?” Lin the Elder asked cautiously.

Shen Yi lowered his eyes to his waist-sword and said slowly: “Very well.”

Upon receiving this affirmation, Lin the Elder beamed with delight. Though the other’s expression was odd, they were both young—more interaction might lead to something!

Chen Ji rolled his eyes. Indeed, even if everything else changed, Master Shen’s restless heart remained unchanged.

At that moment, the plump steward, now in clean clothes, struggled to carry a large silk sack and panted as he dumped it onto the cart.

Chen Ji knew instantly what was inside just from the sound.

Judging by the cart’s sway, it held at least eight hundred taels—equivalent to thirty years of a constable’s salary.

“Please don’t refuse. If you don’t take it, I can’t bear the guilt. Besides, the demon-slaying silver is tacitly permitted by the imperial court.”

Lin the Elder bowed repeatedly.

“I know you enjoy leisure, copper coins are too clumsy, paper money too undignified—so I prepared pure silver,” the steward beamed proudly.

Shen Yi walked to the cart, lifted the silk covering, and stared at the gleaming silver. In his calm eyes flickered a barely perceptible trace of envy.

Damn rich bastards! Someone should hang them from a streetlamp.

Two egg-stuffed pancakes cost ten cash—this silver could wrap the whole street vendor’s family inside a pancake.

“There is indeed such a custom,” Chen Ji sighed. One casual sum from this man equaled more than his sister could save in a lifetime.

Shen Yi idly rummaged through the pile, picked out two ten-tael silver ingots, tossed one to Chen Ji: “That’s enough.”

Can’t let Lin’s household raise their daughter for free—some meal expenses must be covered.

He shoved the rest off the cart.

Without giving anyone else a chance to speak, he walked out of the Lin estate, leaving Lin the Elder stunned in place.

Chen Ji gripped the silver ingot in surprise, then hurried after him, pulling the cart.

“Master Shen.”

On the street, Chen Ji finally dared to ask about what had just happened.

He truly hadn’t expected the other to so easily turn against the thin head monk.

“Think before you act next time. Your life isn’t something you picked up off the street.”

Shen Yi stretched, heading toward a roadside tavern, studying the wooden plaques on the wall: “A pot of huadiao wine, a goose leg—left leg only—and steam a fish...”

Watching his back as he ordered, Chen Ji rubbed his stomach.

Master Shen spoke as if the other’s life had been picked up off the street... even if it had, why should he risk himself for a stranger?

And even invited him to eat.

Only when Shen Yi left with a clay jar and a lotus-leaf parcel did Chen Ji open his mouth in confusion: “Aren’t we eating here?”

“Who said ‘we’?”

Shen Yi turned back, expression odd: “If you want to eat, buy your own.”

Don’t you understand the difference between public and private?

I earn two taels and four mace a month—do you think I’m paying for your meals? You’re lucky I’m not paying you with a kick in the ass.

“...”

Chen Ji pulled out the ten-tael ingot, stared at the silver, then at Shen Yi, filled with profound emotion:

“What a strange man.”

(End of Chapter)