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Chapter 27: Your Late Arrival
Chapter 27: Your Late Arrival
Chen Ji found himself suddenly feeling nervous under the gaze of the Thin Headed Tuo.
After all, he was still a young man with a fiery passion, who had joined the government office merely to earn a living. His heart yearned for the freedom of the martial world.
Now, upon meeting such a renowned senior from the martial world, even the hand gripping his sword hilt trembled with excitement.
Amidst his excitement, he couldn't help but sigh.
Both of them were law enforcement officers, yet this senior respectfully addressed Shen Yi as "Little Friend." It seemed that a reputation in the martial world was indeed earned through one's fists.
Chen Ji shook his head, recalling the scene of Shen Yi, drenched in blood, lazily sitting in the countryside with uncooled corpses before him. He felt that everything was as it should be.
"Senior, your praise is undeserved."
Shen Yi responded with a bow, continuing to walk forward without the intention of engaging in mutual flattery.
However, the Thin Headed Tuo stepped forward with his men, blocking Shen Yi's path, "This is my junior from the Vajra Sect, known as Zhang Butcher, who has come from Qingzhou to find me. He also intends to seek a position under the County Magistrate."
Shen Yi nodded in acknowledgment, and Zhang Butcher responded with a slight nod.
"I have official duties to attend to, so I won't disturb you two any further."
After the pleasantries, Shen Yi took a step forward, but the Thin Headed Tuo slightly shifted his position, still blocking his way.
"..."
Shen Yi calmly looked past him.
Everyone had their own aspirations, and he didn't see anything wrong with the Thin Headed Tuo taking money to do tasks. If it weren't for his current position, which had cut off his path to joining a martial sect, he would have liked to join a sect like the Thin Headed Tuo, learn martial arts, and be taken in by a wealthy family.
But if the Thin Headed Tuo had taken money to specifically cause trouble for him, then it was a different matter.
"We are all dedicated to the path of martial arts. Why don't we find a place to enjoy a drink together?"
The Thin Headed Tuo chuckled, placing his hand on Shen Yi's shoulder, "Elder here is much older than you, so I'll boldly call myself a senior. You're still young, and your aura is too intense. It won't hurt to chat with an old man like me."
Even Chen Ji, standing behind them, felt the atmosphere become subtle.
Lin Patriarch and the steward remained silent, their eyes dim.
They didn't fully believe in Shen Yi's abilities.
However, they trusted the Thin Headed Tuo's judgment even less. But as businessmen, how dare they question such a skilled expert?
If the government officials could intervene, it would be a good thing. Unexpectedly, the Thin Headed Tuo was even blocking this. How dare a small officer like Shen Yi cause trouble in front of the County Magistrate's favorite?
Amidst the watchful eyes,
Shen Yi paused for a moment, then gently removed the hand from his shoulder, patting it twice, "Thank you for your kind offer, Senior, but I have official duties today, so I must decline."
His actions caused the atmosphere to freeze instantly.
Embarrassment flashed in the Thin Headed Tuo's eyes, and annoyance creased his aged face.
Zhang Butcher turned his head, his thick mustache concealing a hint of mocking laughter at the corner of his mouth.
"If I remember correctly, Captain Shen has recently been promoted to oversee all demon-related disturbances in Baiyun County. Elder, you said there were no demons here, and this is just an ordinary murder case. What official duties could Lin Family have here? Or do you not trust Elder's words?"
A hint of coldness crept into the Thin Headed Tuo's voice.
Shen Yi glanced at the steward and calmly said, "Lead the way."
"Ah... Okay..."
As a mere steward, how dare he get involved in such a dispute? The only thing that shocked him was that a former gambling addict could remain calm in front of the Thin Headed Tuo.
The most absurd thing was that the Thin Headed Tuo seemed to be at a loss with him.
If he had known this, the Patriarch would have gone straight to the government office instead of the County Magistrate's residence... It would have been pointless.
The steward's thoughts wandered as he hurried towards the side courtyard.
As the three figures disappeared from sight, Lin Patriarch repeatedly clasped his fists, "Please forgive us, Sir Shen. Captain Shen is also dedicated to his duties, so please don't take it to heart."
The Thin Headed Tuo's expression darkened, and he followed with a wave of his sleeve.
Zhang Butcher trailed behind, casually asking, "Senior Brother, are you well acquainted with him?"
"I've never met him, but I appreciate his talent. I was thinking that since we'd both be working under the County Magistrate, we could look out for each other. I never expected him to be a brainless fool."
"So that's it. I thought you were afraid he'd find out about us being scared by the demonic being and lose face."
Hearing the hidden meaning in his words, Thin Headed Tuo suddenly turned around, his face darkening. After a long while, he calmed down, "You just arrived from Qingzhou, so I don't blame you for thinking this is a small place and being arrogant. But remember, the situation here is more complex than you imagine."
He continued walking forward, "You think he's any different? In a moment, he'll be just like us, obediently finding an excuse to get out of here."
Zhang Butcher closed his mouth, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
As they conversed, Shen Yi and the other followed the steward to a side room, where they watched as he slowly lifted the white cloth, revealing the corpse beneath.
With just a glance, Chen Ji's respect for Thin Headed Tuo increased.
What a talent for lying!
On the bed lay a sturdy male body, with only half an arm remaining on the left, and a gaping hole in the abdomen, completely hollowed out.
The two eye sockets were empty, the nose was gone, and the entire right side of the face had been licked clean, not a shred of flesh left.
"He was fine yesterday, just one night."
The Lin Family Steward closed his eyes, rubbing his face vigorously to dispel the chill.
He still remembered how majestic and awe-inspiring Liu Qi was when he first arrived at the Lin Mansion, but now he had become this.
"Does anyone know how he died?" Chen Ji furrowed his brows.
A renowned martial artist, even if he encountered a demonic being, how could he possibly die without a sound?
"The one who found him wasn't from my Lin Family."
The Lin Family Steward sighed, wanting to say something but not daring to, he turned to look at Shen Yi, "When you sent Miss Bai Wei back, although her injuries healed, her personality remained unchanged, but her memory had gaps. She couldn't remember many relatives."
At this point, the steward scoffed, "Half a month ago, she said a friend she met outside wanted to visit our home, and it turned out to be a young man. I shouldn't have mentioned this, but Miss Bai Wei is still a maiden. You two heard it, but please don't spread it outside and ruin her reputation..."
Chen Ji nodded.
The steward continued, "The Patriarch felt sorry for Miss Bai Wei, and considering she had a familiar companion, it might help her recover her memory. So, we kept this person here, and Miss Bai Wei became quite close to him. We treated him as an honored guest."
"Liu Qi's corpse was found in his room... And Miss Bai Wei happened to be away these past few days..."
"Senior Brother Thin Headed Tuo chatted with him and said it had nothing to do with him..."
Hearing this, Shen Yi finally understood their intention.
The Lin Family already had a suspect in mind. The reason they sought out Thin Headed Tuo wasn't to find the demon, but to eliminate it.
"Where is he?" Chen Ji asked subconsciously.
"I'm here."
A lazy voice drifted in from outside the door.
A youth in a black robe leaned against the door, yawning. His face, with red lips and white teeth, was filled with a smile, and when he parted his lips, two fang teeth added a touch of defiance.
He raised his eyebrows, "So, you're Shen Yi? What took you so long?"
His words carried an air of superiority, and he looked at Shen Yi as if he were looking at his own servant.
(End of Chapter)
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