Upon hearing this, the Lin family steward felt a chill run down his spine.
It was one thing for the expert invited by the county magistrate to know Shen Yi, but how did the young lady's out-of-town guest also know him? If they were all acquaintances, what was the point of dealing with the demon? They might as well team up and devour the Lin family alive.
On the other side, Chen Ji's expression darkened slightly.
If he had only been seventy to eighty percent suspicious before, the black-robed youth's words now confirmed his suspicions.
The other party was undoubtedly a demon, merely wearing a human skin.
The reason was simple—the tone of the black-robed youth was all too familiar to Chen Ji, even stirring up some unpleasant memories.
Over the past few years, the demons that had entered the city had all spoken to Shen Yi in this manner, followed by requests for fresh meat or the abduction of young women.
Thinking of this, Chen Ji instinctively glanced at Shen Yi.
Shen Yi's face showed no emotion, as if he wasn't offended by the black-robed youth's words.
He stood quietly, his hands hanging by his sides, gazing at Liu Qi's corpse.
After a moment, he said, "Everyone, step outside for now."
At these words, the Lin family steward wished he could slap himself.
Why had he brought these people back? Wasn't the situation chaotic enough already? It was one thing for the common folk outside to believe the rumors, but he had been the Lin family's steward for so many years—how could he have been so foolish? Didn't he realize that the yamen wasn't exactly a place for demon-slaying?
The plump steward dejectedly turned and walked out.
Chen Ji remained silent, glancing at Shen Yi once more to confirm that the latter wasn't deliberately lowering the demon's guard to allow him to strike the black-robed youth as he passed by.
With a resigned bow, Chen Ji said, "This humble officer takes his leave."
As the two stepped out of the side room, they noticed the skinny monk and his companion standing ahead.
Seeing the steward's annoyed expression, the skinny monk's mood seemed to improve slightly.
"See what I mean? He's still just a young man, too full of himself! A bit of good fortune, and he loses sight of who he is. He won't learn until he's thoroughly humiliated."
"Which of us hasn't had our share of good fortune? Which of us isn't talented? Who among us is as ungrateful as him?"
"A fool is a fool. Rotten wood cannot be carved!"
Listening to his senior brother's endless mockery, Zhang the Butcher squatted down, plucked a green blade of grass, and stuck it in his mouth, reverting to his usual gloomy demeanor.
The mocking words reached Chen Ji's ears, and he shot a cold glance in their direction.
Suddenly, he felt that these so-called martial arts seniors were nothing like what he had once admired.
In fact, they were downright repulsive.
No matter how lacking Shen Yi might be, he had gone alone to Liuli Temple Village and slain thirteen demon corpses, earning a mere two taels and four qian of silver.
This so-called senior had been in Baiyun County for days without lifting a finger, yet he still had the nerve to gossip and nitpick.
Was he really worth six hundred taels of silver a month?
"Little brat, what are you looking at?"
As if sensing something, the skinny monk turned his head, his cold, sinister gaze piercing.
He could tolerate Shen Yi because the latter was also a first-stage martial artist who had transcended the ordinary.
But when had a mere constable dared to look at him like that?
The black robe fluttered without wind, and a bony hand emerged from the sleeve, fingers curled like an eagle's talons.
A surge of oppressive aura instantly enveloped Chen Ji.
Chen Ji's face turned pale, his teeth clenched.
Under normal circumstances, he would have known better than to provoke such a person, opting to lower his head and apologize to avoid trouble.
But now, an inexplicable rage surged within him.
His hand on the hilt of his sword tightened, and the blade flashed as it left its sheath, catching everyone's attention.
"When did a mere martial artist like you get the right to meddle in official business?"
"Constable Shen is carrying out the court's orders. Who do you think you are, daring to spout nonsense here? Shut your mouth!"
At these words, the skinny monk was struck as if by lightning, standing frozen for a long moment before finally muttering, "Fine, fine, using the court to pressure me..."
The Lin family steward trembled, his legs instinctively clamping together.
He knew that martial artists from sects despised being suppressed by the Demon-Suppression Bureau.
Though the skinny monk seemed to have lost his anger, there was now a hint of killing intent in his words.
That little constable would eventually have to take off his uniform...
Did he really think Shen Yi could protect him?
Only Zhang the Butcher, squatting on the ground, spat out the blade of grass and silently laughed, his eyes filled with curiosity as he glanced toward the door.
Interesting, interesting.
He hadn't drawn his sword when facing the demon, but after a few words of criticism toward his superior, he couldn't help but draw his blade against a first-stage martial artist.
What kind of person could command such respect from his subordinates?
...
In contrast to the chaos outside, the side room remained eerily calm.
The black-robed youth lazily shook his wrist and walked over to Liu Qi's corpse.
With a look of disgust, he tore off the remaining half of the arm and began chewing on it voraciously.
"I thought I'd have to waste more words, but since it's you, I'll save my breath. No need to stand on ceremony. From now on, just call me Seventh Master."
Shen Yi watched calmly as the other ate, his eyes devoid of emotion.
In just a few days, he had seen too many similar scenes.
The only ripple in his heart was because Liu Qi had been a martial artist, and this scene was the inevitable outcome of failing to defeat a demon.
"Seventh Master isn't lecturing you, but she told me before that I could come to you for anything. I waited so long, but you never showed up, so I had to take matters into my own hands."
The black-robed youth seemed slightly irritated.
"From now on, come every three days, got it? Don't complain—I won't be here for more than a few months."
Shen Yi had sent everyone out for one question: "Where is she?"
"What, Seventh Master's words aren't good enough? Do you need her to tell you herself?" Seventh Master Yin swallowed a mouthful of flesh, frowning deeply as he stepped toward Shen Yi.
He looked up at Shen Yi, wiping the blood from his lips, and said impatiently, "She's been out playing for too long and went back to North Cliff to see her mother. She'll be back in a couple of days. If you starve Seventh Master, I won't need her to deal with you—I'll take care of you myself."
At that moment, Seventh Master Yin noticed a slight furrow in Shen Yi's brow... as if he were disappointed.
To be more precise, it was like the disappointment he had felt as a child when he dug into a rabbit hole, expecting a whole litter, only to find a single rabbit.
The next moment, Shen Yi lowered his gaze to meet Seventh Master Yin's eyes.
A cold glint gradually appeared in his eyes.
For some reason, Seventh Master Yin suddenly felt his heart pounding, his muscles tensing—a primal fear that arose when his body sensed danger.
He hadn't felt this way since he had entered the first stage of martial arts.
"..."
Chen Ji's face was numb, his hand tightly gripping the hilt of his sword.
The skinny monk stood expressionless opposite him, while the Lin family steward was caught in the middle, his face a mask of despair, wishing he could just run away.
Suddenly, a deafening crack echoed through the courtyard!
Crack!
The sturdy redwood door exploded into splinters, and amidst the flying debris, a black figure was sent flying, a spray of crimson blood following.
The force sent the figure crashing into the stone floor, shattering it as he tumbled several times before finally coming to a stop.
Zhang the Butcher slowly stood up, while the Lin family steward let out a yelp and crouched down, covering his head.
The skinny monk trembled slightly as he turned his head, and Chen Ji stood frozen, his sword still in hand.
All of them turned their gazes toward the shattered door.
Behind the broken door, Shen Yi calmly adjusted his sleeves, his expression indifferent, as he stepped out with an air of composure.
(End of Chapter)