https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-203-Every-Cloud-Has-a-Silver-Lining/12554323/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-205-The-Lady-from-the-Thousand-Demon-Cave/12554325/
Chapter 204: Lin Baiwei's Sudden Wariness
Chapter 204: Lin Baiwei's Sudden Wariness
In the Linjiang County, within the residence of the General who Pacifies Demons, Jiang Qiuluan stood quietly in the courtyard. After what felt like the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a gentle breeze signaled the arrival of someone at the door.
"Are you back?" She asked softly.
Shen Yi nodded slightly, a hint of curiosity in her tone. "Don't you need to cultivate?"
Jiang Qiuluan shook her head. "I'm almost there. It's just a matter of time and patience now."
"...Oh?" Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit exasperated by the other's seemingly effortless progress.
She had been working tirelessly, searching high and low across Linjiang County for over ten days. She had climbed mountains and forded rivers, only to accumulate a meager two thousand years of lifespan.
Now, she found herself staring at any slightly larger-than-average dog, hoping they would speak so that she could siphon their lifespan.
Remaining demonic beings' lifespan: 11,823 years
"Where's Liu Yuquan?" Shen Yi asked, changing the subject.
"General Shen!" Liu Yuquan's face turned bitter as he hurried out, not waiting for the other to ask before pleading, "I've really searched everywhere! I've mobilized all my men to comb through every county... General Shen, they're not idiots. In this situation, they wouldn't dare stay in Linjiang County, let alone show themselves."
Demonic beings weren't like carrots that could be pulled out of the ground at will. It was already extremely difficult for sentient beings to attain sentience.
"It's fine, I was just asking," Shen Yi said, trying to comfort him.
She sighed inwardly. Back in Boyun County, there were four whole nests of demonic beings. In comparison, the counties in Linjiang County were pitifully barren, and even searching through several counties might not yield a single decent demonic being.
"Then I'll take my leave," Liu Yuquan said, bowing respectfully before scurrying off.
"You must be hungry after a long day. Let's eat," Jiang Qiuluan suggested, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Shen Yi agreed, and they made their way inside.
It was worth mentioning that the cook in charge of the old master's meals seemed to favor bland dishes.
Jiang Qiuluan didn't mind, but Shen Yi, who had lived a frugal life, found the food a little too plain for her taste.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from outside.
"General Shen, come and see who I've brought with me."
Chen Qiantian strode into the residence, clearly pleased with his visit to his colleague. The corners of his eyes crinkled with mirth.
Shen Yi turned to see the sturdy Chen, clad in his dark armor, with a beautiful young girl in a white shirt standing behind him. The girl, Lin Baiwei, fiddled with her sleeves nervously as she glanced at Shen Yi.
"Sister Jiang," Lin Baiwei said, clearly surprised to see her here. She stole another glance at Shen Yi.
"Come in," Jiang Qiuluan said gently.
Lin Baiwei breathed a silent sigh of relief. Her sister seemed different from before, less cold and distant.
"We're all family here, no need to stand on ceremony," Chen Qiantian chimed in, then noticed Shen Yi returning the jade pendant to him. A hint of disappointment flashed across his face as he said, "Are you planning to leave? I could have given it to you if you wanted."
"Thank you, Old General Chen, but I won't be needing it," Shen Yi said, placing the pendant back in his hand.
"Ah, I see," Chen Qiantian said, realizing that with her exceptional talent, she didn't need to rely on incense offerings to take shortcuts.
He held the pendant, shaking his head slightly in admiration.
Suddenly, he seemed to sense something, and a puzzled look crossed his face as he gazed up at the sky.
"Grandpa Chen, what are you looking at?" Lin Baiwei asked, following his gaze. Aside from the dim night sky, there didn't seem to be anything else.
"It's not broken." Shen Yi reminded him.
Before Chen Qiantian could react, he was pulled away by the arriving Liu Yuquan.
"What are you doing?" The old man frowned as he was dragged to a side courtyard.
"You should see this for yourself." Liu Yuquan pointed to the table inside the room, which was piled high with documents.
"Do you want me to kick you?" Chen Qiantian had no time to waste on flipping through those documents.
Liu Yuquan's expression was peculiar as he suddenly started counting on his fingers. "Stone Gate Cliff, Heartbreak Lake, Thousand Hand Cave... tsk, let me put it this way. Last time, a batch of demons and monsters evacuated, and then the remaining ones..."
"What about the remaining ones?" Chen Qiantian furrowed his brows, his expression turning solemn as the conversation involved demons and monsters.
"There are no remaining ones." Liu Yuquan spread out his hands. "Some died, some fled. With such a formidable reputation, I reckon it'll be centuries before any demons or monsters dare to set foot in our lands again. General Shen has done all the work for you, so you can..."
Chen Qiantian suddenly felt that the young man's expression looked very familiar.
Whenever he went out to chat with his colleagues, he also liked to leave his sentences hanging like that.
The old man glanced at him casually. "Are you saying that I can now pass on the role of the Demon-Subduing General to you?"
"I dare not!" Liu Yuquan quickly bowed and whispered, "But if you truly wish to bestow a heavy responsibility upon me, I, your subordinate, would dare to take on the task of pacifying the demons in Linjiang County, even at the cost of my life."
From Shen Yi's demeanor, it seemed almost certain that he was planning to leave.
A minor position like the Demon-Subduing General might not even be on his radar.
...
Inside the courtyard room.
The table was filled with delicious dishes.
Lin Baiwei glanced at the food and then at the young man beside her. She offered softly, "I can help you make a couple of side dishes, if you'd like."
"No need." Shen Yi shook his head. No matter how stingy he was, he wouldn't ask someone who had just arrived after a long journey to start cooking immediately.
Jiang Qiuluan quietly observed them and noticed that they seemed more familiar with each other than she had expected.
However, according to the dossier, they had only spent half a month together in Boyun County. Lin Baiwei had then gone to the Imperial City, and upon her return, they had only met a handful of times.
Jiang Qiuluan took out three small wine jars from her waist and distributed them.
"Thank you, Sister Jiang." Lin Baiwei mouthed her thanks as she accepted the wine jar.
Shen Yi casually slapped away her hand and then used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish, chewing it calmly.
Lin Baiwei gently rubbed her wrist and blinked. "Ah?"
"... "
Jiang Qiuluan stared at the young man's face, a strange glint in her eyes as she whispered, "I've changed it already."
She wasn't insensitive; she just wasn't good at being considerate.
The last time in the carriage, Shen Yi had said that he had quit, so she had prepared some regular fine wine in her storage artifact.
Lin Baiwei carefully opened the seal on the wine jar.
Indeed, instead of the pungent and unbearable smell, a sweet aroma of wine wafted out.
"Can I drink it?" Lin Baiwei glanced at the young man beside her and took a small sip after receiving his nod.
The smooth wine flowed down her throat.
A smile appeared on her face, but it soon stiffened.
She quietly glanced at her sister and Shen Yi.
Changed?
Why change it? Did Sister Jiang change the wine because of Shen Yi?!
(End of Chapter)
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