After leaving the yamen, Shen Yi walked into a small eatery and ordered a pot of yellow wine and six stuffed buns.
After a moment of hesitation, he also asked for some salted pork.
Having just entered the initial stage of cultivation, martial artists like him preferred foods rich in vital essence over ordinary grains.
Unfortunately, a constable's salary was far from enough to afford such luxuries.
But since he still needed to eat, he had to restrain his appetite.
Shen Yi found a seat and began eating, taking a sip of wine followed by a bite of meat.
It was noon, and the eatery should have been bustling with customers, but it was unusually quiet.
The people coming and going didn’t show much joy, but neither did they seem resentful.
Instead, they wore a numb expression, as if they had grown accustomed to such a life.
Shen Yi lowered his head and took a bite of his bun.
He was just a minor official, unable to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
All he could do was try to climb out of this mire himself.
The few customers scattered around the eatery were all focused on their meals, with little conversation.
As a result, the hushed voices of the two men chatting nearby drifted into Shen Yi’s ears.
“Someone died on Willow Leaf Street.”
“I know, I just came from there. Don’t bring it up, it’ll ruin my appetite.”
Shen Yi expressionlessly picked up the wine pot and took a sip of the slightly sour and bitter liquid, helping to wash down the dry bun.
Willow Leaf Street was under his jurisdiction—or more accurately, it was where he had woken up.
Yet, he hadn’t received any news about the incident, not even as much as these passersby.
He recalled Song Changfeng’s warning before leaving.
The higher-ups were quick to act, covering his eyes and ears in such a short time.
“I heard they were bitten to death?”
“I told you not to talk about it! How am I supposed to eat now? I got there early and saw a glimpse. Just thinking about it makes me sick.”
The two men sighed in dismay.
Shen Yi frowned as he looked at the bun in his hand, his appetite gone.
He asked for a lotus leaf to wrap the remaining buns and salted pork, then picked up his saber. “Waiter, check please.”
...
Willow Leaf Street, Baiyun County.
Several constables walked out of a small courtyard, pinching their noses. “Disgusting. I shouldn’t have come.”
“This isn’t even our jurisdiction. Why are we getting involved in this mess?”
“Brother Zhang, you’ve got to ask the higher-ups for a raise if we’re taking on more streets.”
Zhang Pengtian glared at them. “Enough nonsense. If you don’t want to do it, get lost. There are plenty of people who’d take your place.”
When he turned back, he was startled to see a familiar young man standing in front of him, resting his hand on his saber and quietly looking toward the courtyard.
“Oh! Brother Shen!” Zhang Pengtian quickly clasped his hands in greeting. “What brings you here?”
Shen Yi nodded and stepped toward the courtyard.
Seeing this, Zhang quickly blocked his path, forcing a smile. “If this were a brothel, I’d personally carry you in and cover all the expenses. But this is official business ordered by the higher-ups. It’s not appropriate for you to be here.”
Shen Yi glanced down.
Just two days ago, he had stood in the same spot, making the same gesture.
“Brother Shen, even if you don’t respect me, you should at least respect the magistrate.”
When Shen Yi showed no intention of backing down, Zhang Pengtian’s smile faded. “Today, I, Zhang Pengtian, will make it clear. Anyone in Baiyun County can enter this courtyard—except you, Shen Yi.”
They used to fear Shen Yi because of the yamen’s favor toward him.
But now the tides had turned.
The higher-ups were clearly targeting him.
Once stripped of his authority, he was nothing but a paper tiger.
“Brothers, show Brother Shen your weapons. Let him sober up.”
Zhang Pengtian waved his hand, and the men behind him immediately drew their sabers halfway, glaring at Shen Yi.
In the next moment, an official boot suddenly struck Zhang Pengtian’s abdomen.
The sheer force sent him flying like a ragdoll before he could even react.
Shen Yi brushed off his clothes and stepped into the courtyard.
“You… you’re rebelling?!”
The remaining constables were stunned by Shen Yi’s decisiveness.
They gripped their sabers, unsure of what to do.
At that moment, Chen Ji arrived with the Niu brothers and Zhang Dahu in tow.
Rushing to the courtyard entrance, Chen Ji slammed his scabbard down on the constables. “Are you blind? Don’t you know whose street this is? Tie them up!”
Hearing this, Zhang Dahu was momentarily stunned.
Usually, he was the one who said such things, and it was always directed at ordinary civilians.
He had never tried it on his fellow constables.
Chen Ji had always despised such bullying tactics, so why was he so adept at it today?
Despite his confusion, Zhang Dahu and the Niu brothers quickly subdued the constables, tying them up like dumplings.
Regardless of their opinions about Shen Yi, they couldn’t lose face in front of outsiders.
“I knew it…”
Chen Ji had been patrolling the streets when he heard some rumors.
A sudden premonition had prompted him to gather his men and rush over.
“Knew what? Stop acting so smart. With Brother Shen’s temper, how could he let others encroach on his territory?” Zhang Dahu spat.
Chen Ji glanced at him, finding the explanation plausible.
He’d let Zhang Dahu take the blame with the higher-ups later.
As for the real reason, Chen Ji himself wasn’t entirely sure, but he suspected it might have something to do with the fact that the family had been killed by a demon.
Given Shen Yi’s actions in the village that day, if it wasn’t an act, he would definitely come to investigate.
...
Inside the courtyard, Shen Yi crouched down and looked at the two bodies on the straw mat, which had been painstakingly pieced together.
He took a deep breath and carefully arranged the five scattered fingers of the thin, dark-skinned girl.
It was this hand that had washed his feet just days ago.
Though her technique was clumsy, it had been oddly comforting.
Normally, when demons attacked, they left behind only scattered remains.
But this time was different.
Although the bodies of the Liu father and daughter were fragmented, with even their ears and eyes having been retrieved and placed back, there were no signs of them being eaten.
This wasn’t a hunt for food—it was a brutal, vengeful slaughter!
Just like Old Huang Liu, demons had friends and family.
If any of them found out where the black-skinned dog demon had gone that night, they might not know who was responsible… but they didn’t need evidence to seek revenge.
They only needed an outlet for their rage.
“What, are they your relatives?”
Zhang Pengtian, who had been kicked so hard he was still convulsing, struggled to lift his head. “You beat me up… damn it… what can you even do after looking at them? If you’ve got the guts, go after the county magistrate or the demons outside the city!”
“This is clearly the work of dog demons. But can you figure out which ones did it? Even if you could, what could you do about it?”
The incessant noise grated on Shen Yi’s nerves.
He pulled a white cloth over the two bodies.
As a mere constable, he couldn’t summon the Demon-Suppression Division or mobilize the city guards.
At best, he could call on a few lowly errand runners.
The only thing Shen Yi could rely on was his worn-out saber.
If he couldn’t find out who did it, then he wouldn’t bother looking.
...
(End of Chapter)