Chapter 4: Martial Arts Foundation Perfected

Two old donkeys, one ahead and one behind, soon left the county town.

Chen Ji lowered his head with a solemn expression.

He had not expected Shen Yi to actually agree to leave the city, let alone unusually bring him along.

This should have been a good thing, yet…

Chen Ji turned to look back and saw Lord Shen riding the donkey, one hand flipping through a copied martial manual, utterly engrossed.

According to past custom, before dealing with demons and monsters, the other side would always send them to buy good wine and meat, calling it “proper etiquette.”

Chen Ji had always resented this practice and found it deeply distasteful.

But today, arriving empty-handed, he felt a growing unease—if they failed to settle those two demons, the hundreds of farming households in Liuli Temple Village would soon be devoured clean.

“Why keep looking back? Focus on leading the way. Don’t envy my handsome face.”

Shen Yi flipped through the manual roughly, then slowly closed it.

Two new lines of text had appeared on his panel.

【Cloud-Pushing Long Fist (Un Rumen )】

【Spiritual Snake Eight Steps (Un Rumen )】

A set of fist and palm techniques, a set of lightness skill, plus the previously acquired Demon-Slaying Blade Art.

These were all the martial arts passed down by the Town Demon Office captain.

If all three could be trained to the Minor Success realm, one would be capable of handling minor demons.

Shen Yi wasted no time, gradually pouring his remaining demon lifespan into the lightness skill he most urgently needed.

After all, even the sharpest blade must catch up to its target.

【You possess deep martial foundations and a strong, robust physique; in just one year, you entered the Spiritual Snake Eight Steps.】

【After three years, your movements became increasingly elusive; your lightness skill reached Minor Success.】

【After six years, the Spiritual Snake Eight Steps had become an instinctive part of you; you achieved Major Success.】

【In the eleventh year, your body moved like a phantom, strikes appearing without form; your lightness skill reached Perfection.】

【Remaining demon lifespan: twenty-five years】

…

Shen Yi felt the changes in his body and was somewhat surprised.

Pouring lifespan into martial arts yielded progress that also reflected his current physical condition.

As the saying goes, understanding one thing aids understanding others—a seasoned warrior obsessed with blade techniques would naturally advance faster in martial arts.

He unconsciously adjusted his posture on the donkey and immediately felt his body grow lighter, as if he could leap three or five zhang in a single step.

Too bad there was no chance to test it now.

Shen Yi calmed his mind and poured his remaining demon lifespan into the Cloud-Pushing Long Fist, while mentally refining the technique, hoping to gain further insight into the “Initial Realm.”

Yet this time, the result disappointed him.

【Though you are not skilled in fist and palm, after eighteen years of refinement, you have achieved fists like thunderclaps, palms capable of shattering stone; Cloud-Pushing Long Fist has reached Perfection.】

【In the twentieth year, you made no further progress, fell into confusion, feeling you were wasting your time.】

【In the twenty-third year, you began doubting yourself—after this fist art reached Perfection, it seemed there was no further path.】

【In the twenty-fifth year, through years of contemplation, your mastery of fist and palm techniques improved; your fist and palm talent increased.】

With all demon lifespan exhausted, the results were fully revealed on the panel.

【Cloud-Pushing Long Fist (Perfection)】

【Spiritual Snake Eight Steps (Perfection)】

【Fist and Palm Proficiency: Reduces training time for fist and palm martial arts; increases chance of gaining insight.】

Aside from the two perfected martial arts, he gained a talent-like ability—but not a single word about the “Initial Realm,” which was what Shen Yi truly sought.

He lifted his gaze slightly: “By now, shouldn’t the Town Demon Office be due to inspect our county?”

Hearing this, Chen Ji, who had been focused on leading the way, suddenly trembled slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—he did not turn back: “My lord, approximately one month remains.”

He understood perfectly—Lord Shen was reminding him.

The entire Baiyun County government was corrupt to the core; the most urgent task now was to survive the Town Demon Office’s inspection and submit a report portraying the county as peaceful and harmonious.

Any slip-up would mean at least half of them would hang their heads on the vegetable market—among them, the youngest and most handsome head would surely be Lord Shen’s.

No wonder the man had acted so unusually today—he had been waiting for this moment.

If there was one person in the government who truly hoped for the arrival of the Town Demon Office captain, it was Chen Ji—he genuinely wished the imperial court would flay Shen Yi alive.

If not for this man’s fraud, the government could never have suppressed the news—the Town Demon Army should have seized control long ago and wiped out all demons in the surrounding area!

“One month?”

Shen Yi rubbed his temples.

According to his memories, he was merely a low-ranking clerk with no access to the Town Demon Office.

To reach deeper martial arts, he could only wait patiently.

If he could fully enter the “Initial Realm” within a month, might he have a chance to join the Town Demon Office?

The demon lifespan was still insufficient!

As his thoughts drifted, the two old donkeys had stopped before a field ridge.

Shen Yi gazed at the dilapidated temple on the hillside—the statue exposed, covered in straw, the altar half-collapsed, overgrown with weeds.

The farmers no longer even bothered to worship the gods—clear evidence of their deep resentment.

“My lord, this way.”

Chen Ji tied up the donkeys and pointed in the direction.

The two hurried across the ridge; a scattered group of ragged farmers stood at a distance, their faces gaunt, eyes vacant, staring over.

After recognizing their clothing, they sank back into crouches—no cries of injustice, no pleas for help—they knew full well who had brought their suffering.

“… ”

Under the gaze from afar, Chen Ji’s youthful face grew tinged with shame.

Seeing Shen Yi’s calm, indifferent expression, the shame turned to bitter rage.

He adjusted his straw hat, covering most of his face: “This household was attacked at night by the yellow weasel’s offspring… you’ll see for yourself once you go in.”

The Yellow Weasel was not a weasel.

Demons also had factions, mostly bound by bloodline, each establishing their own domain as king.

Different factions demanded different tributes—some wanted fresh meat, others beautiful women, still others prized treasures.

Among them, a den of dog demons had the closest ties to Shen Yi.

The leader was an old yellow dog who called himself the Yellow Weasel King.

“Open the door.”

Shen Yi nodded slightly.

Chen Ji pushed open the wooden door and saw the narrow room stained a sickening dark red.

Inside, dim and reeking, the table held disassembled bodies neatly stacked; those that wouldn’t fit were strung with straw and hung from the rafters.

A dog demon sat on the bed’s edge, holding a thigh, chewing rotting flesh with a blank expression.

Its eyes were sharp, like a loyal guard dog.

Upon recognizing them, its gaze softened slightly: “I thought it was someone else—what are you doing here?”

Shen Yi stepped inside, the stench assaulting his nose, his eyes scanning the room.

Chen Ji had seen this scene before, but stepping into the room a second time, his face beneath the hat twisted slightly, his hand gripping the sword hilt trembling violently, involuntarily drawing the blade out three inches.

He possessed extraordinary talent and had reached Minor Success in the Town Demon Office’s martial arts within just three years—he had the ability to fight this dog demon and would likely win at great cost.

Previously, he had suppressed his killing intent and returned to the government to report.

One reason was his younger sister; the other was that he could not defeat the Yellow Weasel behind the dog demon—acting rashly would only invite greater disaster.

“… ”

At that moment, a strong hand quietly reached out and pressed his long sword back into its scabbard.

Chen Ji snapped back to awareness, staring intently at Shen Yi’s profile, waiting to see how he would respond.

No matter how depraved the man was, at least seeing his own kind being devoured should have stirred some emotion.

In his line of sight:

Shen Yi finally looked at the old dog, his eyes devoid of sorrow or joy, lips curling upward to reveal a row of clean, white teeth—he smiled.

Seeing this, Chen Ji’s heartbeat slowed; he lowered his gaze in disappointment, unwilling to listen to their small talk.

(End of Chapter)