Chapter 46: Town Suppressing Bureau Arrives (Request Follows, Tuesday Request Follows)

Li Xinhan slowly calmed his expression.

In just a few days here, he had seen that Baiyun County was already as foul as a cesspool.

Officials colluding with demons to torment the people could not withstand even a cursory investigation.

Thus, he held a more rigid impression of the local constables.

“Keep it quiet. Take him first, bring him back for thorough interrogation—find Lieutenant Lin’s whereabouts.”

“Understood.”

More than a dozen men swiftly scattered, subtly blocking every possible escape route along the long street.

Old Liu, the master of hidden weapons, dropped his sugar-stick rod and crept silently toward the thatched side house.

The beggar followed close behind, his palm hidden within tattered sleeves, calloused and skilled in grappling techniques.

The two were veteran partners: first strike with poisoned darts, then seize and bind—ordinary cultivators of the same realm couldn’t survive a single clash.

Suddenly, the beggar noticed Old Liu had stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

He frowned, eyes flickering with surprise.

The door stood wide open.

A handsome young man, expression unruffled, one hand resting on his waist-sheathed blade, stood at the threshold, gazing outward silently—as if he had been waiting.

“Could he have heard even this much noise?”

The beggar was slightly startled, yet still didn’t take it seriously; over the years, what masters hadn’t they encountered?

Besides, Li Xinhan standing afar was a genuine Jade Fluid realm cultivator.

What the beggar hadn’t expected was that Old Liu slowly lowered his blowpipe and smiled at the young man: “Sir, we meet again.”

They had crossed paths that morning on the street; the man had clearly sensed something off, yet chose not to expose him.

To spot at a glance that the sugar vendor had changed—such sharp perception meant pretending to be meek and launching a surprise attack would only make him look foolish.

“What brings you two here?”

Shen Yi gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over the two.

He didn’t recall ever dealing with martial artists; he hadn’t exposed their identities that day simply because he didn’t want the trouble—not because he feared them.

“We have urgent matters to ask. Please come with us, Master Shen.”

Old Liu stepped back half a pace; the beggar understood instantly, his body lunging forward, both palms like dragons piercing clouds, fingers like golden hooks, brutally locking toward the man’s shoulders!

In an instant, his palms clamped onto the man’s shoulders, fingers digging deep, arms straining to throw him to the ground.

“Hah!”

The beggar roared, yet his face suddenly flushed red.

The man stood firm, feet seemingly glued to the ground; the beggar’s full force vanished like mud sinking into the sea—no reaction at all.

The next moment, Shen Yi suddenly kicked him in the abdomen.

The beggar shrieked as he flew backward, rolling frantically midair, yet still couldn’t fully dissipate the force—he slammed into a pillar across the street with a thud.

A crack echoed, and the entire eatery shook violently twice.

Leaning against the pillar, breath ragged, veins bulging on his forehead, he couldn’t rise again for a long while.

Seeing this, not only Old Liu, but everyone on the street grew grim.

In close combat, excluding Li Xinhan, the beggar was the strongest among them—and he hadn’t even lasted one round?

“...”

Old Liu chuckled awkwardly, stepping back unconsciously.

He reached for his waist to pull out his badge.

This mess—Town Suppressing Bureau coming to this remote county to capture one man, and now having to reveal their identity? Utterly humiliating.

At that moment, a hand stopped his motion.

Old Liu turned his head and saw Li Xinhan had appeared beside him without notice, brows knitted, nostrils flaring slightly—he had caught an unusual scent.

“Did you just see blood?”

Li Xinhan drew a long breath, and when he looked at Shen Yi again, coldness surged in his eyes.

Hearing this, the others’ grim expressions turned tense.

They had rushed to Baiyun County not to patrol, but because every clue about Lieutenant Lin pointed to the young man before them.

And now, on the county’s main street, they smelled blood on him... the kind that made Li Xinhan this cautious couldn’t possibly be chicken or pig blood.

Instantly, everyone gathered around.

“...”

Shen Yi looked at the sudden crowd before him, his gaze landing on Li Xinhan’s conspicuous black robe.

He had thought it was a swarm of rats—turns out it was an old cat coming to the door.

These people moved too fast.

Even if the original body had barely survived Old Liu’s club, he’d likely be dead by now.

If you’ve done nothing wrong, you don’t fear ghosts knocking at your door.

Shen Yi slightly relaxed his grip on his hand and replied calmly: “Reporting, my lord—it’s demon blood.”

Seeing him release his blade, the others inexplicably exhaled in relief, then exchanged glances.

For towns under Qingzhou, the Town Suppressing Bureau members all carried silent pride.

Today, facing a mere constable, they felt genuine dread—something that would be laughed at if spoken aloud.

“Why do you have demons in your home?”

Li Xinhan’s tone was harsh, his gaze sharp, laced with interrogation.

Shen Yi wasn’t used to this style of questioning, but he understood—these men lived with demons daily, their lives hanging by a thread; expecting them to be gentle was unreasonable.

He stepped slightly aside, clearing the way.

Li Xinhan frowned again, about to rebuke him, when Old Liu bumped his shoulder.

“Shut up.”

He looked up—and like the others, froze in shock, eyes wide as if struck by lightning.

Inside the cramped room:

Lin Baiwei stepped out from the back courtyard, holding a wooden basin of washed vegetables, blinking curiously toward the doorway.

The loose, ill-fitting robe she wore clearly belonged to a man.

It was glaringly obvious.

She smiled in surprise: “Why are you here?”

Li Xinhan opened his mouth, wanting to ask but dared not, so he clenched his fist and bowed: “Your humble servant Li Xinhan, pays respects to Lieutenant Lin!”

The others followed suit; Old Liu clicked his tongue, shot an incredulous glance at Shen Yi, then explained: “Qingzhou hasn’t received your letter for a month, so we were sent to check on your condition.”

“You’ve gone through too much trouble—I’m fine,” Lin Baiwei said, shaking her head slightly with guilt.

“We’ll take you back to Qingzhou immediately,” Li Xinhan noticed her uneven aura.

“I’d like to visit home first... and, could we wait until I finish dinner? The mutton soup’s just simmering.” Lin Baiwei bit her lip apologetically.

“At your command, my lord.”

Seeing this, the Town Suppressing Bureau members couldn’t help smiling.

This famed demon hunter truly lived up to rumors—unpretentious, warm as spring breeze.

But soon, their smiles faded as Lin Baiwei bustled about, while the young man stood silently with hands folded.

“...”

Until the steaming hot meat soup was served.

Shen Yi had never imagined eating a meal could be so difficult.

More than a dozen men stood at the doorway, their cold stares fixed on him like death’s summons.

“Sorry.”

Lin Baiwei sensed the tension too; their eyes met, chewing tender lamb but tasting nothing.

She sighed, set down her chopsticks: “Take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

Shen Yi bowed, watching her vanish into the crowd, the dozen figures disappearing into the night.

He turned his gaze back to the empty room.

After a moment of silence, he shook his head with a wry smile.

How long had he been reincarnated? Already picking up bad habits.

Coddled.

He finished the food, cleared the dishes, washed and hung his outer robe.

He lay on the bed and slowly opened his interface.

(End of Chapter)