"I'll... kill... you..."
Chen Ji's body tensed up as he let out a beast-like roar.
Shen Yi casually slapped him across the face with the scabbard of his blade, the crisp "smack" sound leaving Chen Ji momentarily stunned.
"Pick up your sword and stand properly. What's the point of talking tough after losing? Do you have some old geezer backing you up?"
Seeing the sword kicked over to him, Chen Ji was completely baffled.
Shen Yi had already sheathed his blade and turned away, signaling that in Shen Yi's eyes, Chen Ji posed no threat at all.
Chen Ji had always believed that he was the most hidden talent in the entire yamen.
After a private conversation with a captain from the Demon-Suppression Bureau, both his vision and strength had far surpassed his colleagues.
The only reason he still had to endure Shen Yi's bullying was that he hadn't had enough time to grow.
Given a bit more time...
But reality had dealt him a heavy blow.
If he hadn't misjudged, Shen Yi's seemingly casual movements clearly carried the essence of the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique, a mastery so profound it seemed instinctual.
Shen Yi's strikes were faster, stronger, and more precise than his own, which was why Shen Yi had so easily dismantled his attacks.
"But... the Demon-Suppression Bureau captain only started teaching the technique three years ago. How could you have possibly mastered it to perfection already?" Chen Ji muttered to himself as he picked up his sword.
Shen Yi walked over to a group of yamen officers who were sprawled on the ground.
"Where are they?"
Zhang Dahu opened his mouth but struggled to form a coherent sentence.
"Th-th-they..."
Their boss was known for his prowess in drinking, gambling, and womanizing, but when had he become so skilled with a blade?
Shen Yi sighed and kicked Zhang Dahu, sending him sliding half a meter away.
"I asked you, where are they?"
The mess left behind by his predecessor was truly overwhelming.
To put it simply, Shen Yi was like a broker, living off the yamen's salary while wholeheartedly catering to the needs of various demons and monsters.
Unlike the dog demons under the Yellow Skin Demon, who were simple-minded and only craved human flesh, there was another group of old apes who lusted after beauty, particularly young, untainted women.
However, their violent nature meant that the women Shen Yi's predecessor sent over were often tortured to death within a few months, creating a high demand.
This time, the demands of the two groups had clashed.
Shen Yi's predecessor had originally prepared six young girls for the old apes, all of them underage, one of whom was the Liu family's daughter.
But the Liu family had also caught the attention of the dog demons.
Left with no choice, Shen Yi's predecessor had turned his attention to Chen Ji's sister.
Although she was slightly older, her beauty far surpassed that of the malnourished, scrawny girls.
"What a scumbag," Shen Yi muttered, shaking his head, his gaze sharpening.
He had thought that his previous life had exposed him to enough suffering and the harsh realities of the world.
But now, in this chaotic era, he realized that suffering had its own depths.
Zhang Dahu noticed that Shen Yi was genuinely angry, not just putting on a show for Chen Ji.
Rubbing his stomach, he scrambled to his feet and quickly led the way.
Seeing this, Chen Ji also hurriedly followed.
After leaving the yamen and walking no more than two streets, Zhang Dahu turned into a corner teahouse.
Behind the outhouse, in a vegetable patch, several tightly bound girls lay covered in mud, their breaths weak, clearly having gone without food for a long time.
"The old women from the brothel haven't had time to come and clean them up yet. They look a bit rough now, but with a bit of makeup, they'll be presentable," one of the officers explained, worried that Shen Yi would think they had been slacking.
Before he could finish, Zhang Dahu pushed him aside.
"Boss, here are the contracts their parents signed. They're all here. We feel bad too, but there's nothing we can do..."
Shen Yi took the stack of contracts and remained silent for a moment before saying, "Go buy some rice, flour, salt, and pork. Buy a lot, and be quick."
"Got it!" Zhang Dahu turned and left.
Having worked under Shen Yi for years, he knew how ruthless the man could be.
Those who had dared to question him in the past had ended up as food for the demons.
Don't ask questions you shouldn't.
"I said... buy," came a cold reminder from behind.
Zhang Dahu froze, turning to meet Shen Yi's clear eyes, which no longer held the usual cruelty or threat.
But for some reason, Zhang Dahu suddenly felt the urge to pee, his legs involuntarily tightening.
"Understood, I'll spend the silver to buy it. Don't worry."
Shen Yi turned his gaze forward again.
Chen Ji, his face dark and silent, reached out to untie one of the girls.
As the saying goes, beauty is all about comparison.
Among the group of skinny, dark girls, Chen Jinyu's slender frame, though delicate, didn't carry the same malnourished look.
Even covered in mud, her fair and smooth skin still shone through.
Having just been captured, her complexion wasn't as pale and weak as the others.
Her delicate features carried a scholarly air, with a touch of vulnerability that made her all the more captivating.
No wonder Shen Yi's predecessor had set his sights on her.
Having an older brother who was a yamen officer had made her life slightly easier than the other girls.
Chen Ji clenched his teeth, helping his sister sit on a large stone.
In normal circumstances, anyone who dared harm her would have faced his blade without hesitation.
But now, he could only silently channel his anger into his palms.
"..."
Shen Yi averted his gaze, crouching down to untie the other girls.
Under their fearful stares, he gently brushed the back of his hand against their foreheads.
The weather had been cold lately, and catching a cold would be troublesome.
Fortunately, they were only suffering from extreme hunger and thirst, with no other serious issues.
"Master Shen..."
The youngest girl, who looked no older than twelve or thirteen, spoke with a trembling voice.
Shen Yi couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.
Even a child this young knew of his predecessor's infamy.
He used his thumb to wipe the mud off her face and gently patted her head.
"Rest for a bit. I'll take you home."
Soon, the officers returned carrying large and small bundles.
Shen Yi stood up, glancing at Chen Ji, who was squatting and clenching his fists so tightly it seemed he wanted to dig his nails into his palms.
"That's enough. It's not time to leave yet."
With that, he led the girls out of the teahouse.
"The rest of you, get back to your posts. Leave the stuff here. He'll carry it."
Hearing this, Chen Ji almost laughed in anger.
After treating his sister like this, you still dare to make me your pack mule?
Chen Jinyu, still dazed, bit her lip lightly.
Perhaps because she was slightly older, she seemed calmer compared to the other girls' panic.
"Brother, I'm fine. You go ahead with your work."
She knew her brother's temper well.
In this situation, even she would have a hard time calming him down.
Thus, she couldn't afford to show any signs of panic.
It wouldn't solve anything and might only invite more trouble.
"Hurry up, or it'll be dark soon," Shen Yi's voice came from outside.
The blunt words made Chen Jinyu's heart tighten, and she looked at Chen Ji with a hint of worry.
To her surprise, her brother stood up sullenly and actually hoisted the bags of rice and flour onto his shoulders.
"Follow me. I'll take you home after work."
Seeing this, Chen Jinyu was momentarily stunned, then couldn't help but glance outside, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
(End of Chapter)