https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-24-The-Government-Office-Takes-Action/12936071/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-26-The-Thin-Headed-Tuo-and-Zhang-Butcher/12936081/
Chapter 25: The Lin Family's Matter
Chapter 25: The Lin Family's Matter
"Alright, go and take care of it."
After hearing the other party's words, Shen Yi merely nodded slightly.
Ever since yesterday's incident on Willow Leaf Street, when his eyes were covered, he had anticipated this very moment.
Liu Dianli's response was well-organized, befitting his years of experience in this line of work.
If Shen Yi were to shut himself in, he would become the laughingstock of the entire county, forced to accept their conditions with his head hung low. But if he were to open the gates... that would be sheer stupidity.
Who in this world would willingly antagonize demons without reason or reward? It's like shooting oneself in the foot, and there's no silver to be gained from risking one's life."
The only thing Liu Dianli hadn't considered was...
Shen Yi could truly benefit from killing demons.
Not only was it possible, but it also far surpassed the value of gold and silver—it was a tangible extension of his lifespan.
Thus, Shen Yi's heart remained calm without a ripple.
Even if he had any thoughts, it would only be a fleeting joy.
"You..."
Chen Ji felt like the other party hadn't heard a word he said; this was a matter of life and death! After a moment, he helplessly lowered his hand, resting it on the sword sheath at his waist.
What had happened to the world? Just a few days ago, he was scolding the other party for their reckless actions, and now, he had become the one trying to persuade them.
Recalling Shen Yi's solitary figure standing in front of the village, he knew this wasn't someone who just talked the talk.
Chen Ji smiled wryly to himself and tightened his grip on the sword... Damn, he needed to hurry up and save money for his sister's dowry.
"How much dowry do you need to marry a wife?"
"What?" Shen Yi turned back, puzzled.
"Nothing, just asking." Chen Ji took a deep breath, quickly shaking off the strange thought that had popped into his mind. One thing at a time; the other party was barely a decent patrol officer, but with his messy private life, he couldn't let his sister marry into such a mess.
Fortunately, the other party hadn't heard clearly...
"Actually, I prefer someone more mature."
Shen Yi shook his head, slightly reminiscing about Song Family Aunt's generous embrace.
Taking advantage of Chen Ji's momentary daze, he leisurely strolled into the office hall.
"Hey, is this really how it's going to be?"
Zhang Dahu anxiously hopped around, shouting at the two burly men squatting by the door, "Are you two mute? Say something!"
The Niu brothers had long been dissatisfied with Sir Shen, but now they were as quiet as clams.
"My wife didn't even let me into the house yesterday."
Niu Da scratched his head, feeling foolish. The news of him following Sir Shen had spread, almost causing a scandal. It was as if he had really taken a girl from some family.
"This morning, while I was still sleeping, she suddenly... hehe... hehe..."
As Niu Da spoke, he suddenly broke into a silly laugh, vigorously rubbing his crotch.
"..." Zhang Dahu.
"..." Chen Ji.
Shen Yi glanced over with a helpless look and said indifferently, "Open the gates."
Under normal circumstances, ordinary people would never dare to step into the government office, especially one with the notorious reputation of Sir Shen's office hall.
But Shen Yi wasn't worried.
He had witnessed the desperate expressions of the Liu family father and daughter, and he knew that when it came to demons, they would never let go of any straw of hope. This world had left them with no other choice.
As the gates opened and a notice was posted, this courtyard became the only "Demon Subduing Office" in Baiyun County. Shen Yi also arranged for Chen Ji and Zhang Dahu to go out and gather information, taking shifts with the Niu brothers every three hours.
Shen Yi, on the other hand, pretended to nap, conserving his energy.
To everyone's surprise, within just half a day, someone came knocking at the door.
The visitor was a skinny middle-aged man with dark skin, clearly someone used to rough work.
He cautiously poked his head in.
In the courtyard, the Niu brothers' facial expressions changed instantly, and they stood up straight in unison, even Niu Da, who had been foolishly smiling earlier, now had a hint of unease in his eyes.
Killing demons, it was just a matter of saying two words, but they had been serving in Baiyun County for so many years, and they had never truly done this before.
"Sir Shen, I have news about a malevolent spirit."
The middle-aged man, with a slender build, nervously swallowed his saliva, his eyes darting around. Led by the Niu brothers, he cautiously stepped into the room.
"What demon is it? Speak quickly," Niu Er urged, his eyes wide with tension.
"No, no... It's not a demon, it's a malevolent spirit," the slender middle-aged man quickly waved his hand.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi slowly straightened his body.
After several days here, including his past life's memories, this was the first time he had received news about a malevolent spirit.
"No need to rush, take your time," Shen Yi said calmly.
Seeing Shen Yi's serene gaze, the middle-aged man's heart calmed down. Yesterday, he had heard the oil peddler boasting, and he thought the man was drunk. How could Sir Shen possibly be kind to him? But today, he actually believed it.
"I didn't encounter the malevolent spirit myself, it was my wife who did."
He struggled to find the right words: "About a month ago, every night when it gets dark, I take a bath in the courtyard, and my wife lights a candle in the room and combs her hair in front of the mirror."
"While combing her hair, she would laugh as if possessed."
"And that's not all."
The middle-aged man's face grew more distressed: "One night, I woke up feeling the urge to urinate. I reached out to embrace her, but she wasn't there. I went out to look for her, and you'll never guess what I saw. She was standing at the door in a floral dress, her hair dripping wet, and her neck was covered in sweat. I gathered my courage and tapped her, and when she saw it was me, she screamed as if she had seen a ghost."
"She said she didn't know how she got up, and had no memory of it at all."
"And since that day, I haven't been feeling well either. No matter how early I rest, I sleep until daybreak. It must be that a malevolent spirit has possessed her, sucking away my vitality, Sir Shen! My wife made me a medicinal soup, but it didn't help, the more I drank, the sleepier I got."
As the middle-aged man vividly described the situation, Shen Yi's expression gradually became peculiar.
"And she no longer shares the bed with me, just smiling foolishly all day, the more I look at her, the more eerie it feels."
"The scariest part was yesterday. My business was slow, so I closed up early and headed home. As I approached the house, I heard her screaming inside, her throat hoarse, pleading for mercy... Have you ever heard the sound of pig slaughtering? It was like that..."
The middle-aged man was about to demonstrate, but Shen Yi slightly furrowed his brows and glanced at the Niu brothers, then sighed, "You two, take the night shift and deal with this malevolent spirit for him."
"We will carry out your orders," the Niu brothers replied.
They gave the middle-aged man a sympathetic look and led him out.
Shen Yi leaned back in the rattan chair, gently pressing his fingers to his forehead.
It seemed that finding easy prey within the city walls was not as simple as he thought.
In the past, whenever a demon entered Baiyun County, his previous self would accompany him. Now, after slaying that group of dog demons, the news had surely spread among the demons, making it more challenging to lure another one.
Just then, a figure rushed in.
Chen Ji stood there, breathless, his expression grave. Even though he tried to lower his voice, he couldn't hide his inner turmoil.
"Sir Shen, Liu Qi is dead."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi raised his eyes.
If his memory served him right, this was a name that the other party had mentioned once.
Liu Qi, the Stone-Cracking Hand.
He was the revered master invited by the Lin family from Qingzhou.
The very same Lin family where Lin Baiwei resided.
(End of Chapter)
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