Chapter 69: Old Acquaintances Come Seeking

Shen Yi pondered for a moment, then drew his gaze back after all.

Body-tempering methods are certainly important.

But before deducing, he could first learn a few more styles of similar martial arts to accumulate relevant experience.

Martial arts of this grade should not be lacking within Zhen Mo Si; a few merits would suffice to exchange for them. Learning several more would save considerable time when deducing.

Just as the Molten Sun Treasure Furnace is divided into upper, middle, and lower third-rank by how many apertures it connects.

The rest of the martial arts should have similar classifications.

Vein-Severing Dragon-Catching, Four Harmony True Astral—things personally passed down by a General. Mastering just one would be enough for a demon-hunter like Lin Baiwei to build a great reputation in Qingzhou.

Even among Jade Liquid Realm martial arts, they are the deepest and highest.

Within the same realm, there should be none of higher grade.

Even if there were, they would not be accessible to someone of his current status.

The reason Shen Yi refused Li Mujin's kindness was, first, that he feared the trouble, and was unwilling to entrust his life and livelihood to an unfamiliar noble house.

No matter how sweetly she speaks now.

Once truly joining, resources and martial arts might be shared with him, but when the main house faced trouble, he would likewise have to fight to the death in its defense.

The Li family is not some county magistrate of Boyun County; they surely have a set of methods to restrain their hired clan-protecting guards.

It is also trading life for future prospects, but Shen Yi leans more toward Zhen Mo Si.

For now, within Zhen Mo Si, there is only one way to raise his standing—slaying demons and exorcising evil, accumulating merits.

Not so many twists and turns; it suits his taste.

So long as one dares to fight and charge, accumulating enough merits, anything can be earned back through strength, and used with a clearer conscience.

As for the second reason.

What Shen Yi wants, the Li family may not be able to give, nor be willing to part with.

Even the Four Harmony True Astral became a demon-slaying martial art with more terrifying lethality in his hands, and the Demon-Subduing Saber Art evolved all the way from mortal martial arts into a Jade Liquid martial art no weaker than the Five Great Ultimate Techniques.

Gathering the strengths of many schools, combining them with demon-blood talents, and deducing even more profound demon-slaying martial arts—this is what Shen Yi truly wants.

And when it comes to gathering the strengths of many schools, who could surpass this "good fellow," Zhen Mo Si?

The former foremost sect of Qingzhou, the Pine Crane Sect, was slaughtered to the last for colluding with demons, and its unique treasure, the Meridian-Swapping Pill, was rebranded as the Aperture-Opening Pill.

When Lady Yushan was exterminated of three great sects by the General's disciples leading troops, their martial arts naturally had their names changed and folded into Zhen Mo Si.

In other words.

Unless it concerns the Nascent Core Realm, ordinary martial arts no longer yield much benefit to Shen Yi.

A Nascent Core method—even if the Li family has it, would they be willing to give it… and what price would one have to pay to exchange for it?

What he needs to do now is honestly serve in Zhen Mo Si, and before accumulating enough merits to exchange for a Nascent Core method, make sure his head isn't taken by a demon.

If there is sufficient surplus demon lifespan, he can also consider exchanging for some treasure crystals to aid deduction.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: 891 years】

Just one yellow weasel's lifespan short, that's all.

"That butcher Zhang still hasn't had his fill?"

Shen Yi remembered that when they first arrived in Qingzhou, the man leapt off the carriage and went straight to his old flame; nearly half a month had passed now, and there was still not a word.

Not afraid of being caught by the abbot of the Vajra Sect, dragged before the Buddha statue, the Ladies' Painting taken down and him hung up in its place.

If that fellow were here, he could also explain the various body-tempering methods to him.

Shen Yi shook his head and stepped outside.

Bathed in the dim moonlight, he stood in the courtyard and, with a set of the most rudimentary Pushing Clouds Long Fist, began familiarizing himself with this body, utterly different from before.

With the foundation of perfected Jade Liquid cultivation, thoroughly mastering the power of the flood demon might take only two or three days.

Until the sun was high.

He unhurriedly retracted his fists, still full of vigor.

Having stepped into perfected Mortal Flesh, he felt less craving for ordinary delicacies; breaking through to perfected Jade Liquid, even his sense of drowsiness had lessened.

Sensing that he could now take preliminary control of his strength, Shen Yi returned to his room, took out his old clothes, drew water, and scrubbed them clean.

After a thought, he simply channeled the aura within the Molten Sun Treasure Furnace to his palm and quickly dried the long robe.

He folded the clothes neatly, then headed toward the External Affairs Hall.

Just as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he ran into two single-stripe Captains with unsightly expressions. One of them seemed to recognize Shen Yi and forced a smile: "Congratulations on your promotion, my lord. I was also at the External Affairs Hall yesterday."

Hearing this, the other also raised his head, his eyes filled with envy but not jealousy.

These were merits earned through fighting demons; the imperial court gives them out, but one must have the life to take them.

"You're on assignment with Lord Li, I hear? Word is Lord Li was wounded and needs to rest and recover. You're in luck… uh, that's not what I meant."

The shorter Captain smiled bitterly and waved his hands in explanation: "For folks like us, opportunities to rest don't come easy."

"Rest?"

Shen Yi, holding his old clothes in hand, could only nod in response, though a flicker of puzzlement crossed his eyes.

"Well, I hear Lord Li is still laid up at the medical hall. Without him leading the team, the External Affairs Hall won't assign you any jobs—perfect time to rest and recuperate for a while." The shorter Captain faltered, then added in a low voice.

"Other Deputy Generals won't easily pull people from under the Li family's command either. Just rest easy."

Hearing this, Shen Yi gained a slight understanding.

For other Deputy Generals, the External Affairs Hall "assigns" jobs, but Li Xinhan could actively pick his own. Even after his injury, as his subordinate, there was no need to worry about being transferred out by an unfamiliar commander to serve as cannon fodder.

This should have been a good thing, but Shen Yi was somewhat speechless. It seemed the matter of the demon treasure crystals would have to be put off for now.

"We still have urgent duties; we'll take our leave."

The two Captains bid farewell and left. After walking some distance, they complained in mosquito-thin voices: "Those bastards in the inner camp—when we're out risking our lives running around, not a one of them lifts a finger to help. We come back to report and still have to look at their faces. Now it's their turn for a job, and they pull people from us. On what grounds!"

"Save it. Whose fault is it that your father doesn't have the surname Li, and is just an errand-runner drifting through some sect… Take one step back—if you had the strength of that fellow just now, you could tag along with the Li family's people too."

The two of them walked slowly into the side courtyard.

They had no idea that Shen Yi's hearing was astonishingly sharp now, and he had caught every last bit of their idle gossip clearly.

"..."

He hadn't even done anything yet, and the label had already been slapped on him.

Of course, Shen Yi didn't care about that — as long as one knew where the line was, didn't take what shouldn't be taken, and didn't harbor thoughts that shouldn't be harbored.

With enough real strength at one's side, even the murkiest of waters had nothing to do with oneself.

He gathered his thoughts, left the side courtyard first, and brought the old clothes back to the External Affairs Hall.

"Once you've memorized the martial arts, send them back in a while." Shen Yi knew this wasn't Boyun County — some things were still better kept slightly under wraps; if it got too shocking and outrageous, he was afraid of being targeted by people with ulterior motives.

"No matter, just don't lose them." The two unfamiliar Captains of the inner camp nodded, looking somewhat cool and indifferent.

Leaving the External Affairs Hall, Shen Yi set off for the dining hall of Zhen Mo Si.

It was all uniform wooden tables and benches, and there was no picking or choosing the dishes either.

The moment Shen Yi sat down, a young servant brought over six large plates.

Steamed sea bass, soy sauce braised pork, boiled pork knuckle with a dipping dish, plus three kinds of fresh green vegetables glistening with a bit of oil.

"Captain, take your time — if it's not enough, just call for me."

The young servant then carried over a bucket of white rice.

Shen Yi looked at the dishes covering the table, but didn't put on any pretentious airs about luxury in troubled times.

They were all martial men who risked their lives to protect the four quarters — the meals had to let people eat their fill.

He quickly swept all the food on the table clean.

He let out a long breath, then slowly made his way back to the side courtyard.

At the courtyard gate.

A tall, burly figure was furtively peering this way and that with shifty eyes.

(End of chapter)