https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-16-The-Current-State-of-Baiyun-County/12936063/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-18-Heading-to-Six-Mile-Temple-Village/12936065/
Chapter 17: The Liu Family Tragedy
Chapter 17: The Liu Family Tragedy
After leaving the County Office, Shen Yi entered a restaurant and ordered a pot of yellow wine and six stuffed flatbreads.
He hesitated for a moment and then ordered some salted pork.
Having reached the Initial Realm, martial artists preferred foods rich in Essence over coarse grains. Unfortunately, a law enforcement officer's salary couldn't afford such luxuries.
Nevertheless, one still needed to eat, so he could only control his appetite.
Shen Yi found a seat and began to eat, alternating between sips of wine and bites of meat.
It was noon, and the restaurant should have been bustling, but it was strangely quiet.
The passersby showed no joy, nor sorrow, only a familiar, numb expression.
Shen Yi lowered his head and took a bite of the flatbread.
As a mere clerk, he couldn't concern himself with the sufferings of the world; he could only strive to rise above this quagmire.
The few scattered tables of customers were all focused on eating and drinking, with little loud conversation.
Thus, the only two chatting caught Shen Yi's attention, even though they spoke in hushed tones.
"There's a dead body on Willow Leaf Street."
"I know. I just came from there, and it's not something you want to talk about during a meal..."
Shen Yi lifted the wine pot expressionlessly and took a sip of the slightly sour and bitter wine, making it easier to swallow the choking flatbread.
Willow Leaf Street was under his jurisdiction, to be precise... he had awakened there.
Yet, Shen Yi hadn't received any news, not even as much as a passerby.
He recalled Song Changfeng's reminder before leaving.
The higher-ups had acted swiftly; in such a short time, they had managed to blind and deafen him.
"I heard the person was bitten to death?"
"I told you not to talk about it. Do you still want to eat? I went there early and caught a glimpse. Just thinking about it makes me feel queasy."
The two men sighed repeatedly.
Shen Yi furrowed his brows, looking at the fried bun in his hand, his appetite gone.
He asked for a lotus leaf to wrap the remaining flatbread and salted pork and then reached for his saber, "Waiter, check out."
...
Baiyun County, Willow Leaf Street.
Several law enforcement officers came out of a small courtyard, pinching their noses, "It's disgusting; I wish I hadn't come."
"It's not our territory anyway. Why are we wading into this mess?"
"Boss Zhang, you have to plead with the higher-ups. Managing two more streets is no problem, but our salaries must increase."
Zhang Pengtian glared at them, "Who's got time for your nonsense? If you don't want to work, get lost. There are plenty of others who will."
When he turned back, he froze.
Before him stood a familiar young man, his waist saber sheathed, quietly observing the courtyard.
"Hey, Master Shen!" Zhang Pengtian hurriedly clasped his fists in greeting, "What wind blew you here?"
Shen Yi nodded and stepped towards the courtyard.
Seeing this, Zhang Pengtian quickly reached out to stop him, his smile strained, "If this were a brothel, I'd personally carry Master Shen inside, expenses on me... But this is an official assignment from above. It's not appropriate for you to be here."
Shen Yi lowered his gaze.
Just two days ago, he had stood in the same spot, making the same gesture as the man before him.
"Master Shen, if you won't give me face, at least give the County Magistrate some respect."
Seeing that Shen Yi showed no intention of backing down, Zhang Pengtian's smile faded, "I, Zhang, have something to say. Anyone can enter this courtyard except you, Shen Yi."
They used to fear Shen Yi because of the County Office's high regard for him.
But now the winds had changed, and it was clear the higher-ups were targeting the Shen family. Once the tiger's skin was stripped, the man was just a fox, all bark and no bite.
"Brothers, show Master Shen some manners and help him sober up."
Zhang Pengtian waved his hand, and at his signal, the few men behind him instantly drew their blades three inches out and furrowed their brows, looking over.
The next moment, a Mandarins' Boot suddenly stamped on Zhang Pengtian's lower abdomen.
In the face of such vast power, he didn't even have a chance to react and was sent flying like a torn sack.
Shen Yi patted his robe and strode inside.
"You...you're trying to rebel?!"
The remaining law enforcement officers never expected their opponent to be so decisive, and for a moment, they gripped their sword hilts, unsure of what to do."
Just then, on the street, Chen Ji arrived with the Niu brothers and Zhang Dahu in a hurry.
Rushing to the courtyard gate, Chen Ji grabbed the sword sheath and smashed it down on their heads, "Blind your dog eyes! Don't you know which street this is? Tie them up!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Dahu was stunned.
Usually, it was he who said these words, and he typically used them on ordinary commoners. He had never tried it on his colleagues.
Chen Ji, who usually despised such bullying tactics, was surprisingly fluent in his curses today.
Despite their confusion, Zhang Dahu and the Niu brothers pounced, quickly tying up the law enforcement officers like dumplings.
Regardless of their opinion of Shen Yi, they couldn't lose face in front of outsiders.
"As expected..."
Chen Ji had been patrolling the streets when he heard some rumors, and suddenly had a premonition. He hurriedly brought his men along.
"As expected, what? You're acting smart. With Shen's temperament, how could he tolerate others encroaching on his territory?" Zhang Dahu spat.
Chen Ji glanced at him, thinking the explanation was passable. Later, he would send Zhang Dahu to apologize to the higher-ups.
As for the real reason.
Chen Ji himself found it hard to believe, but he still felt... it might be because this family was killed by a demonic creature.
Given Shen Yi's behavior in the village, if it wasn't an act, he would definitely come to investigate.
...
Inside the small courtyard.
Shen Yi crouched down and looked at the two corpses on the straw mat, barely pieced together.
He took a deep breath and carefully arranged the black-skinned maid's scattered five fingers.
Earlier, this hand had washed his feet, albeit clumsily, but it was still quite enjoyable.
According to past experiences, if harmed by a demonic being, only scattered remains would be left behind. But today was different. Although Liu's father and daughter were in pieces, even their ears and eyes were collected and placed back, there were no signs of gnawing.
This wasn't a hunt; it was a torturous slaughter filled with revenge!
Just like Huang Lao Liu, demonic beings also had friends and family. If any of them knew where the black leather dog demon had gone that night, they might not guess who the perpetrator was... but they didn't need evidence to seek revenge; they only needed to vent their anger.
"No, are these your relatives?"
Zhang Pengtian, kicked into convulsions, struggled to lift his head, "You... you hit me... damn it... what can you do even if you see it? If you're capable, go to the county governor or the demonic beings outside the city."
"This is clearly the work of dog demons, but can you find out which ones did it? And even if you do, what can you do?"
With the constant noise in his ears, Shen Yi felt his heart heavy and chaotic.
He pulled up the white cloth and covered the two corpses.
As a mere law enforcement officer, he couldn't summon the Demon Suppressing Bureau, mobilize the city guards, or even call for a few runners.
Shen Yi's only reliance was the broken sword in his hand.
If he couldn't find the culprit, then he wouldn't bother looking.
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
