[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons":3,"chapter-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-64":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Immortality Begins with Slaying Demons",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317952,4533,"Chapter 64: Measuring with a Short Ruler","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-64",64,"\u003Cp>Golden light spilled across the surface of the Yangchun River, where a few black-scaled boats floated amid shimmering ripples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside a bamboo-mat courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi sat on a stool, holding a cloth, carefully wiping the scabbard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not skilled at caring for the wounded, but fortunately, the madman was often injured, and the young widow had gained some experience tending to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least he had stopped the bleeding for Ma Tao and Li Xinhan and rebandaged them into something resembling human shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Mujin regained consciousness, he quickly pulled out several elixirs and fed them to them, temporarily stabilizing their lifeforce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slowly stepped out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her ponytail had come loose, strands of hair disheveled and partially covering her pale cheeks; her breath was shallow, clearly from recklessly overextending herself in yesterday’s battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin’s expression had lost some of its coquettish charm; her once plump, rosy lips were now cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared at Shen Yi’s back, gradually recognizing it as the figure from last night’s memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tugged at her lips, voice hoarse: “Where are the others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re just exhausted, no serious injuries. They woke earlier and went to the government office to fetch the horses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi set down the cloth and rehung his sword at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin dragged a stool over and sat beside him, propping her chin in her palm. She wanted to ask something, but didn’t know where to begin, so she just stared blankly at his profile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until Shen Yi finally couldn’t bear the gaze and frowned, giving her a withering look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin burst out laughing, her eyes filled with awe: “So you really are exceptionally skilled at killing demons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So skilled that a girl raised all her life in Qingzhou couldn’t possibly imagine it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though blocked from view by the kneeling villagers, the river god’s piercing scream still echoed in her ears—only mortal terror could make a being of such dignity lose composure like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought you were dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black wind had chased after the demon into the mountains; she didn’t know what kind of creature it was, but the river god’s hopeful expression had been fully captured by Li Mujin’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a look of absolute trust, brimming with longing, brimming with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it was Shen Yi who returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good thing you didn’t think that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin stood up, her smile fading, and bowed to the young man without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d held the same thought, the safest way to escape would have been to rush back to the Demon Suppression Bureau and report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing a demon far stronger than oneself, in a situation where anyone would see no chance of victory, leaving under the pretense of delivering news—even the Demon Suppression Bureau wouldn’t harshly condemn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi was slightly startled; he hadn’t expected her to suddenly become serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved his hand, but before he could speak, his arm was pulled into a vast, warm embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin reverted to her earlier carefree self, hugging his arm and grumbling: “You nearly scared me to death! I couldn’t even move my fingers, yet I had to force myself to look calm—my acting didn’t even fool the river god. I’m furious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pinched her fingertips, looking pitifully earnest: “When you walked over, I was just one tear away from crying. Luckily you’re good-looking—I figured I had to preserve my dignity, so I held it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar touch was even more astonishing than Song’s wife’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi was speechless, pulling his arm free: “Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the spear pierced him, his expression showed no fear—only a faint sigh, and tears? Try fooling ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin placed a hand on her hip and slapped her chest cheerfully: “Good, good, alive is enough—what a lucky life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People from the Demon Suppression Bureau all seem remarkably easygoing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her smile infected him; Shen Yi turned his head, and the faint malice in his eyes dimmed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps since the moment he woke up in the Liu family of Baiyun County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d still been in a “life’s a game” mindset, failing to notice anything unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he fully shed the former body’s traces and gradually blended into this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi unexpectedly realized he’d grown accustomed to a life stained with blood—even now, not seeing blood made him feel uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brutality was a tool to survive in this chaotic world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it must not turn him into its puppet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi took a deep breath, his mind clearing, then looked toward the courtyard gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young widow approached, holding several borrowed old garments, respectfully: “My lord, would you like to change clothes? I couldn’t find new ones, but they’re all clean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The madman followed behind, head bowed, utterly devoid of yesterday’s foolishness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cautious gaze toward Shen Yi was filled with gratitude and fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That pair of clear eyes seemed able to pierce through all things; when sharp, they could easily terrify demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try not to change if you can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin shook her head. For a Captain, returning in this state, bearing proof of victory, would help Shen Yi establish himself faster in the Demon Suppression Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The widow pulled out a short wooden ruler and said timidly: “Could I measure your shoulder width?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin seemed to understand something; this time she didn’t refuse. She took the ruler and pulled Shen Yi to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this for?” Shen Yi asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe she’s making you clothes to send to Qingzhou as thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin carefully measured him with the ruler, even including the length of his sword at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gave the measurements to the widow and waved: “Go on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday’s fiery widow now dared not meet Shen Yi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t pure fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This expression felt vaguely familiar to Shen Yi, yet he couldn’t place where he’d seen it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The widow, with the madman, stepped outside and bumped into a man who dropped a fish wrapped tightly in straw rope, then ran off to the next house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s... he’s nearly gone door to door in the whole village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The widow sighed and picked up the fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who had been forced by Shen Yi to eat the river god’s flesh desperately wanted everyone to taste it—as if only then could he wash away his guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by eating this fish could he shatter the lies they’d used to deceive themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were a demon, it could never have raised three hundred children in the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drowning is drowning—children won’t come walking on waves again, nor will they take you to the river god’s palace for bliss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This truth, once stripped of excuses, made one ashamed enough to cover one’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In times of great famine, people trade children for food.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Out of necessity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now we can feed ourselves—we must cut ties decisively. Those who eat people are demons. Useful? Worship them. Useless? Eat them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is how ordinary people survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Demon Suppression Bureau Captains don’t need to fish or till land to feed themselves—they’re the ones who devour the people. They can’t even provide grain to feed them, yet they take even more from their mouths. They stand too high; if they scold too harshly, it just sounds cold-hearted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mujin placed her hand on Shen Yi’s shoulder, her bright eyes sparkling as she grinned: “My lord, please show mercy and spare them this once, alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had deliberately etched this great sacrifice into the fishermen’s minds again and again, making it seem like ancestral wisdom, never to be broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, over ten people—including the village head—were instantly killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, such ruthless methods startled Li Mujin—but she also felt a strange satisfaction. He’d done what her Qingzhou comrades never dared to do—and done it cleanly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if more killing followed, the taste would turn sour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They didn’t plan to spare you yesterday,” Shen Yi raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this uniform just for show?” Li Mujin sneered, tugging at the cloud-patterned cuff: “Those who lift their hands deserve to die—but the rest? Without their daily labor, where would our salaries come from? Hey, stop pulling my hand—you’re acting like a maiden, can’t even bear to be touched.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go stand over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi brushed his shoulder and said casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since waking up, he’d never done anything evil—he only sought to protect himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had he become a bloodthirsty monster in this woman’s eyes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1414,"2026-06-20T15:00:36.117Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9daa26b8047f48358d923e6a0cdad1ee9b9bba0ada93d142651d28c9aa9dce49","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-65","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-63",840,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-cover.jpg"]