"Just leave two behind, as long as they have a decent reputation."
Shen Yi's mind was currently focused on martial arts.
He wasn't very interested in the miscellaneous tasks handled by the constables or the petty gains they made through extortion.
Having two clean-handed constables would mean less trouble.
Hearing this, Song Changfeng was momentarily stunned, unsure if Shen Yi's mention of "reputation" was sarcastic.
After all, when it came to reputation, anyone under Shen Yi's command was unlikely to fare well.
Soon, he turned and called out two names: "Niu Da, Niu Er, from today onwards, you two are transferred here to take over the duties of those two."
The two men called out were the burliest among the constables and also the most displeased.
The brothers mustered their courage, standing with their arms crossed and cold expressions, ready to give Shen Yi a hard time no matter what he said.
However, Shen Yi didn't seem interested in lecturing them.
He simply turned back to Song Changfeng and asked, "Anything else?"
The constable's corpse lay in the courtyard, but the demon's body was nowhere to be seen, which was indeed strange.
"Thanks for yesterday," Song Changfeng sighed, though it was unclear whether he was referring to the demon-slaying incident or Shen Yi's excuse to leave his house.
After a pause, his expression grew more complicated.
"Liu Dianli asked me to pass on a message. He said you should tone it down a bit. You've been going a bit too far these past couple of days."
In the past, Shen Yi's sources of information would have been far more reliable than this sidelined old man's.
But today, the higher-ups had chosen to relay their message through him.
It seemed the news of the dog demon's head and the ape demon's corpse had finally reached the top.
"..."
Shen Yi frowned slightly but remained silent.
"Demons may be brutal, but they're mostly outside the city. Some minor disturbances can be ignored... You used to be quite good at that," Song Changfeng said, sounding somewhat despondent.
Clearly, the incident where the demon had boldly marched into the county office to demand justice had shaken him greatly.
"Alright, you can go. I'll head home and rest for a bit."
Watching Song Changfeng leave the courtyard with a group of constables, Shen Yi slowly stood up and walked out of the room.
With the Demon-Suppression Division's inspection imminent, the officials were on edge.
Shen Yi just couldn't understand—even if they managed to get through this time, what were they planning to do in the future? Was temporarily losing their official positions really worse than losing their lives?
Those were demons! When they ate people, they didn't care if you were a commoner or a county magistrate!
"Sir Shen."
Chen Ji clasped his fists and then whispered, "Are you alright after yesterday...?"
He had wanted to ask what had happened last night, but the words caught in his throat.
"I'm fine," Shen Yi replied, rubbing his temples.
Chen Ji seemed to sense his thoughts.
"Recently, both the officials in the yamen and the wealthy families in the county have been spending money to hire famous martial artists from Qingzhou. Even if it's just to guard their homes, it adds some deterrence against the demons outside the city."
"Martial artists from the martial world?" Shen Yi glanced at him.
"Reputable sects with proper lineages," Chen Ji said, his face showing a hint of envy.
"For example, the Lin family hired a master named Liu Qi, known as the 'Shattering Palm.' He's killed over a dozen demons with his iron palms alone."
"These martial artists have been soaking in medicinal baths since childhood and eating rare meats and precious herbs. They're far more reliable than us half-baked constables. The wealthy families never expected us to protect their lives anyway."
"Aren't the officials worried they might use their martial skills to break the law?" Shen Yi asked, puzzled.
"Not really. Any reputable sect is registered with the imperial court," Chen Ji explained.
Though usually quiet, he seemed quite interested in these martial arts rumors.
"Besides, those hired with money can't compare to those brought in through connections. I heard the county magistrate wrote to his mentor in Qingzhou and brought back a big shot. He's kept in the magistrate's residence and rarely shows his face. Even Master Liu Qi had to present his visiting card when he first arrived in Baiyun County."
Shen Yi felt a stir of interest.
"Do these martial sects have any requirements for accepting disciples?"
If he could find a master, it would surely be more comfortable than staying in the yamen.
"Talent, family background, and character—all are essential," Chen Ji said, tugging at his sleeve.
"There's also an unspoken rule, the most important one: you can't have worn this uniform."
Seeing the helpless look in Chen Ji's eyes, Shen Yi suddenly understood.
The martial world was supposed to be free and unrestrained, but now they had to register with the court to gain recognition, as if shackled.
Once this started, they would naturally worry about being absorbed and assimilated by the court.
Thus, it made sense to keep government insiders at arm's length.
"Anyway, Baiyun County is still Baiyun County. It won't descend into chaos, but it's tough on the common folk," Chen Ji said, his eyes filled with resentment.
Then, as if remembering something, he added with concern, "The girls have all been sent home. When will the ape demon come?"
In the past, he would never have asked such questions, only cursing Shen Yi behind his back.
But now he realized that cursing wouldn't solve anything.
Apart from drawing his sword and charging in, he had no ideas.
His only hope was Shen Yi, who had managed to navigate the demons' presence with ease.
Surely, he could come up with a solution.
"It's already been dealt with," Shen Yi said casually.
Chen Ji was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't slept all night, and yet Shen Yi had quietly resolved the issue.
"Did the ape demon say anything?"
"They said I used to be efficient and were quite satisfied with me. They even offered me Song Changfeng's position," Shen Yi recalled.
The scholarly ape demon had indeed said that.
"Did you accept?"
"No."
"No wonder..."
Chen Ji felt a headache coming on.
He had wondered why Song Changfeng had been acting so strangely today.
Now it made sense.
"By the way, I forgot to mention earlier—you look a bit odd today," Chen Ji said, looking up.
"How so?"
"Hard to say... just a bit more noticeable."
Shen Yi nodded, understanding what he meant.
The next moment, the aura flowing freely within his body slowly returned to his acupoints.
This display of power was meant for the Demon-Suppression Division, not to alert the demons.
If all the minor demons started avoiding him, it would be difficult to replenish his demon lifespan.
After suppressing his aura, Shen Yi waved his hand.
"From now on, you'll lead them. Don't cause any trouble."
Chen Ji was puzzled for a moment before realizing what Shen Yi meant.
Was he planning a complete overhaul? No more squeezing the common folk?
"Understood!"
"There's one more thing."
Shen Yi called him back, and Chen Ji turned around, confused.
"Lend me some silver. I'll pay you back when I get my salary."
"..."
Chen Ji rolled his eyes.
Great, now he's squeezing me.
He reached into his waistband and pulled out three qian of silver, muttering, "I still need to save up for Jingyu's dowry..."
"Don't worry. If I can't pay you back, I'll marry her."
Shen Yi casually took the silver and walked out of the courtyard.
(End of Chapter)