Chapter 6: Put Down the Blade

On the road back to Huicheng.

Chen Ji rode a donkey behind him, staring at the upright figure ahead, and felt something was off.

In the past, Shen Yi would, even when merely passing by the gate, scrape a layer of skin off the common folk if he could — silver, wine and meat, even other families' Miss — he wouldn't let any of it slip.

Today he had slain a monster with his own hands — what a perfect excuse — yet he just breezed off like that?

And earlier, at the farmer's house, even though it was a sneak attack, given how the other's body had been hollowed out by wine and lust, panting after just a few steps, how could he have stabbed the dog demon without giving it any chance to fight back?

Chen Ji asked himself in all honesty — if he had been the one sitting beside the dog demon back then, he probably couldn't have done it so cleanly either.

He recalled the way Shen Yi had been flipping through the martial arts manuscript on the way here.

He hesitated, then asked, "Is my lord Shen also interested in Zhen Mo Si martial arts?"

Hearing this, Shen Yi turned his head, looked at the lad's conflicted expression, and recalled how reluctant the other had looked when handing over the manuscript back in the duty room.

"…"

He was a little speechless. He pulled out the manuscript and tossed it over: "Just flipping through. Here, take it back."

"That's not what I meant…" Chen Ji caught the manuscript and instinctively explained, "I have a bit of insight into these three martial arts forms. If my lord Shen is interested, I could…"

His words cut off abruptly.

Chen Ji's brows knit tightly. He didn't understand why he had just said something like that.

One had to know that one important reason he had worked so hard at martial arts in the first place was to use the long blade in his hand to cut down the beast standing before him — how could he possibly be willing to pass on his martial insights to the other?

He's really changed!

From the moment they had met this morning, Shen Yi had seemed like a different person — every single move was beyond his expectations.

Could it be that the other's conscience had finally stirred, and he meant to turn over a new leaf and start being a decent human being?

"Tie up the donkey. And dispose of the demon's corpse."

Back at the county government office, Shen Yi stood at the door of the duty room, a touch of weariness on his face.

Two days in a row of blood on his hands — demon blood, yes — but he still wasn't quite used to it.

Fortunately, his predecessor had been a rogue constable with no real duties to speak of; someone like Shen Yi actually sitting in the duty room for a while would earn him a compliment for being diligent.

He stretched a little, then stepped inside.

"Boss Shen, this early today?"

"…"

Shen Yi glanced up at the noon sun overhead, then slowly brought his gaze back to the few men in front of him.

The one brazenly talking nonsense was named Zhang Dahu, the former body's most trusted man — any dirty or tiring job was handed off to him, a true confidant.

Add in the few behind him, and that was the entirety of Shen Yi's crew.

"Mm."

Shen Yi nodded and continued into the room.

From the former body's behavior, it was clear these hangers-on were no good — beyond bullying the honest folk, they ate, drank, and made merry.

As for their skills, leaning on their official blades to bully ordinary townsfolk was about all they could manage; against demons and monsters, they were practically handing themselves over.

Shen Yi had no interest in chatting with them either.

Just as he had passed the group, Zhang Dahu came trotting after him again, looking like he wanted credit: "Boss Shen, the matter you assigned is done."

"What matter?" Shen Yi paused, slightly startled.

"You know — using that kid's sister to fill the Liu family's girl's quota." Zhang Dahu put on a pitiful look. "You have no idea, the way things are in our county, every family hides their daughters away. To scrape together the number you wanted, the brothers nearly ran their legs off these past few days."

As he spoke, he said with a grin, "The brothers arranged it all — sent that kid off to Liuli Temple Village. Don't worry, he won't be back for ten days to fifteen days."

As the words fell, Shen Yi's heart sank slightly. Something suddenly came back to him.

Just then, a thin, gaunt figure also stopped at the duty room door.

Chen Ji took off his bamboo hat, his gaze Tianyan Siji, and quietly looked up at the group.

The next instant, his eyes full of self-mockery, the blade at his waist sang free of its sheath!

To hell with turning over a new leaf, to hell with being a decent person.

A beast is a beast!

"Shit, how's he back?! Protect my lord Shen!"

Zhang Dahu cried out in alarm. Along with the six other constables, he drew his blade, and the lot of them stumbled into a ragged line in front of Shen Yi.

"Chen! How dare you! Drawing a blade on the boss inside the government office — if you want to live, drop that blade now, you hear me?!"

"Tch."

Chen Ji looked at the group — clearly outnumbered eight to one — yet his eyes held nothing but contempt.

After his painstaking study of Zhen Mo Si martial arts, these chickens and curs weren't even worth a single exchange.

In an instant, Chen Ji suddenly stepped forward three paces.

Though Zhang Dahu was wary of the other's reputation as a martial prodigy, with numbers on his side a vicious look crept onto his face too: "I've had it in for you, you bastard, for a long time now. You still dare to get uppity with us? Asking for death."

Though these constables had no proper training to speak of, seven gleaming steel blades swung out at once — it still looked rather intimidating.

Yet Chen Ji didn't even glance sideways. A casual flick of his official blade easily caught their combined strike.

Zhang Dahu was in his prime, tall and broad, and in his daily life beating up street vendors was as easy as catching a chick. Now, gripping his blade with both hands, sweat beading even on the tip of his nose, the long blade he brought down couldn't press down another inch.

The next moment, Chen Ji swung again.

A flash of sharp silver light, a clear ring of metal singing out — all seven steel blades snapped clean in two.

The constables stumbled backward, faces full of horror, clutching their wrists. The tremendous force transmitted through the hilts had far exceeded anything they could imagine.

"Aaah… aaah… protect my lord Shen…"

Zhang Dahu had known the other would be a handful, but hadn't expected him to be terrifying to this degree. Even his voice had gone shrill now, wailing as he retreated toward the back.

Chen Ji didn't pursue. Instead, he walked slowly to the last man, his expression cold and indifferent.

Shen Yi stood with hands hanging at his sides, frowning, and said softly, "Put the blade down first."

"Do what you dare, don't beg for mercy," Chen Ji shook his head, gripping the blade tighter still.

Rivers and mountains may change, but nature is hard to alter.

A dog will always remain a dog that eats shit.

A cruel smile curled his lips, his voice like a death-bringing demon: "Lord Shen, pay better attention in your next life."

As his words ended, silver light reappeared.

The long, icy blade rose high, descending with crushing force, making those around them gasp in terror, their breath nearly caught.

"You've got a whole set of little sayings."

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, his hand finally resting on his sheathed blade—no draw, merely holding the scabbard.

Then he casually slammed it down.

The pitch-black scabbard skillfully slipped past the silver light, landing lightly on Chen Ji's shoulder before the blade could strike.

In the next instant, Chen Ji's pupils dilated in shock, his mind went utterly blank, as if confronted by some incomprehensible horror.

His entire body suddenly sank, knees bending with a creaking sound—

The blade slipped from his grasp; he knelt on one knee, breathing ragged, arms locked rigid against the ground, tendons bulging in his neck, straining with all his strength yet unable to move an inch.

And the sole cause of all this? Only the scabbard pressing down on his rear shoulder.

Chen Ji stared fixedly at the official boots before him, glancing upward with the corner of his eye.

In his line of sight, Shen Yi remained as calm as ever, his voice utterly level: "I said, put the blade down first."

(End of Chapter)