Chapter 45: Sword Slays the Fox Demon

Under the bombardment of the invisible astral qi, the bronze bell began to tremble violently.

In the span of a breath, dense cracks appeared across the bell's surface.

Terror welled in the fox demon's eyes, but it could do nothing—only watch helplessly as its reliance quietly shattered.

It turned to flee, only to find it couldn't even move a finger.

Four Harmony True Astral! That was the signature skill of the Outside Qingzhou Commander of Zhen Mo Si!

That damned woman—she had even taught such a martial art to him!

No matter how many thoughts raced through its mind, the sky full of true astral qi suddenly pierced through the fox demon's body, like a helpless tattered flag riddled through by countless arrows!

Pu! Pu! Pu!

Horrifying blood holes covered the entire demon body, and under the continued bombardment of astral qi, they gradually connected, until the whole thing became an indescribable mass of mangled flesh and blood.

The only thing still intact was the beast essence that Shen Yi had deliberately left behind.

The fox demon never saw it, even in death.

The shock on Lin Baiwei's face was no less than his own; she stupidly opened her small mouth, as if she'd bumped into a ghost.

Shen Yi walked over and picked up the beast essence.

He looked back toward the bed, the odd look in his eyes growing more pronounced.

"Would you consider covering yourself with something first?"

Although Zhen Mo Si stood against demons and not standing on ceremony was normal, could she at least consider others?

He was also at the hot-blooded age—seeing too much of such a fragrant, alluring scene could easily affect his state of mind.

"Ah…"

Lin Baiwei came to her senses, casually throwing the blanket over herself. Though slightly embarrassed, she didn't put on any coy maiden act.

Besides, after what had just happened, where would she find the heart for anything else?

If he remembered correctly, all things considered, he had only just given away this Four Harmony True Astral six days ago.

Although limited by his cultivation foundation, the astral qi just now wasn't complete—but the fact that Shen Yi could bring it out was already shocking enough.

"…"

He took in the woman's expression.

Shen Yi didn't explain further; he had done it deliberately.

With the fox demon dead, Lin Baiwei would naturally return to the Lin residence and couldn't possibly have any further interaction with him.

After hearing Butcher Zhang's introduction.

Shen Yi knew full well how vastly different the treatment one received depending on aptitude.

Compared to that demon hunter who had reached the perfection of the Jade Liquid Realm in ten years, he himself had only just reached the original realm and twelve apertures in his twenties. Apart from the "false aptitude" piled up through his panel, he truly had nothing presentable to show.

Hiding one's shortcomings wasn't something to do at this moment.

Rather than revealing it to a stranger, it was better to display it in front of the slightly more familiar Lin Baiwei, then use her connections to help give himself a better start.

Looking at it now, the goal should have been achieved, right?

Shen Yi wasn't entirely sure.

After all, no one knew whether, after returning to Zhen Mo Si, she would bring up this period of hardship again.

He could only leave it to fate.

Shen Yi rummaged through the cabinet, pulled out the black shirt she had worn before, and casually tossed it onto the bed: "There's no medicine here, but your home shouldn't be short on any. Want me to see you back?"

"…"

And just like that, the topic was swept aside?

Lin Baiwei gripped the black shirt, the corner of her mouth twitching twice.

How could someone with original realm cultivation, who in six days learned an extremely profound Jade Liquid Realm martial art and could casually use it—such an astonishing thing—not only do it, but act as if nothing had happened?

If Shen Yi's complexion weren't still an unconcealable pallor, she would truly suspect he wasn't in the original realm at all.

Fortunately, he was still in the original realm…

At least his realm progression still fell within the ordinary person's range; otherwise, it would truly leave those self-proclaimed geniuses among the martial artists in Outside Qingzhou too ashamed to speak.

"No need, I can go back on my own." Lin Baiwei finally managed to comfort herself.

"Remember to have your father send me the silver he owes." Shen Yi turned around, giving her time to change.

"What silver? How much?"

"Seven hundred and ninety taels of demon-slaying silver, of which ten taels is your meal fee."

Shen Yi folded his arms and leaned against the wall. Now that the demon was completely eliminated, he could take this money with a clear conscience.

Lin Baiwei quickly changed her clothes, stared at his back, and felt both annoyed and amused.

Down to the exact change, calculated so precisely.

She wiped the wound on her neck: "I serve in Zhen Mo Si, my rank is equivalent to a Deputy Commander."

The moment these words left her mouth, Lin Baiwei noticed Shen Yi silently turn around.

Just as she thought he would ask more, she saw the young man roll his eyes and say, with a touch of helplessness:

"Round it down, seven hundred taels."

"That's not what I meant!"

Lin Baiwei stamped her foot. She had clearly wanted to reveal the truth, to thank him in her true identity for his care these past days—was a bit of silver really worth more than her personal favor?

"Then there's nothing else."

Shen Yi didn't feel the woman owed him anything; money for goods, clear and clean, and he'd even earned a Jade Liquid Realm martial art to boot.

And incidentally, she could take on many of the black pots of demon-slaying for him.

For instance, this time, the fox demon would very likely chalk this debt up to her "master's" account.

The only pity was…

Shen Yi looked at the lamb ribs on the ground in the distance; he truly did not know how to cook. In the past he could still pretend not to know, but now it would be rather impolite to let his future superior do the work.

"How about I eat dinner before I leave?" Lin Baiwei looked over as well and swallowed.

"You lie down and rest for a bit. Watch closely."

Without waiting for a reply, she picked up the things and went into the kitchen.

Shen Yi gave a slight start; it was rather unexpected.

A moment later, he turned his gaze toward the doorway, and the panel unfolded swiftly.

【Slain: Initial Realm Perfection Fox Demon, total lifespan 602 years, remaining lifespan 472, absorption complete】

【Remaining Demon-Beast Lifespan: 657 years】

This fox demon was the most talented Shen Yi had ever seen, and its remaining lifespan was also the greatest.

But right now he had no mind to think it over.

Compared with the deliberately revealed Four-Phase True Gang, the method of using lifespan to mend the Twelve Great Acupoints was what truly should be hidden away.

Taking advantage of Lin Baiwei's absence, he invested five years of lifespan into Wind-Thunder Demon-Subduing True Understanding.

The next instant, though his face was still pale, the empty great acupoints within his body were instantly filled to the brim.

So long as he was willing, he could still unleash gang qi like that another hundred and thirty-one times.

Shen Yi slowly gripped the saber hilt.

…

Night was about to fall.

In Bai Yunxian, only a few scattered passers-by remained on the long street.

As the man in the ink-black long robe stepped onto the street, over a dozen figures in varied dress quietly gathered, and fragments of talk drifted into his ears.

The beggar's face was solemn: "I went to the Lin residence to have a look. That wasn't Lord Lin; it must have been a demon-beast in disguise. I'm not sure whether it spotted me."

The youth propping up a candy-figure pole went on: "According to rumors among the common folk, Lord Lin once left the city to subdue demons, returned gravely wounded, and was sent back to the Lin residence by a constable surnamed Shen."

Several more pressed close: "Shen Yi, born in the outskirts of Bai Yunxian, once did odd jobs in the back kitchen of an inn. At fourteen he began loafing about the streets, later taken on by Song Changfeng, the head of the Judicial Office, and entered the government office's constable squad. His record is full of misdeeds; he is a born gambler, and has even colluded with demon-beasts to cause trouble."

Li Xinhan glanced sideways: "A villainous constable?"

Another beside him shook his head: "Not necessarily. According to the villagers of Liuli Temple, he once went alone and beheaded thirteen demons. We also learned from the county's confession that on the day we arrived, a Vajra Gate disciple and the Dongshan Ape Demon exchanged messages, planning to ambush and kill Shen Yi in the wasteland. The next day, the ape demon and Liu Dianli both died."

"I made some quiet inquiries. Quite a few common folk had their daughters abducted by constables, and later he personally sent the girls back and compensated them with rice and flour. Counting the timing, it was around those same days he was slaying demons."

He pooled all the information together.

Li Xinhan's gaze swept into the distance toward a doorway not far off, and with a touch of mockery he said: "Enduring for years, a divine art perfected at last, a wrongful name washed clean?"

The beggar knew he was speaking in jest, but still hesitated: "Though there's the suspicion of going through the motions for the inspection, last-minute cramming… what you say isn't impossible either. After all, he was once shunned by the entire government office; if it were merely an act, that would be going a bit far."

(End of chapter)