Chapter 31: The Arrogant Old Master Lin
Chapter 31: The Arrogant Old Master Lin
After asking his question, Shen Yi continued to gaze at him calmly.
For a moment, Thin-Headed Tuo was caught off guard, almost believing that the other party truly wanted an "answer."
A moment later, rage surged within him.
His eyes narrowed with malice, and his breathing quickened. Since the day he arrived in Baiyun County, no one had dared to provoke him like this.
Thin-Headed Tuo clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
He desperately wanted to strike out with all his might and split the other's skull.
But for some reason, under the gaze of the other's calm and unfathomable eyes, he felt inexplicably flustered, and his hand couldn't bring itself to strike. Was it because he had grown too comfortable in the manor, losing his fighting spirit?
No, it was just unnecessary to argue with a dead man; it was unwise.
Having offended the Northern Cliff Fox Spirit, the other party had no chance of survival; there was no need for him to take action personally.
With this thought, Thin-Headed Tuo forced out a cold smile, but it lacked confidence: "No wonder you're from the government office, Sir Shen. You're even more imposing than the county magistrate. It's my fault for being insensitive."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi nodded and turned to leave. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned back with a hint of concern: "At your age, don't always smile with a crooked mouth. It's easy to get facial paralysis."
"Hmm..."
Thin-Headed Tuo subconsciously adjusted the corners of his mouth, but his eyelids began to twitch violently.
Watching the other's leisurely retreating figure, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest, and a sweet and fishy taste appeared in his mouth.
Zhang Butcher approached his senior brother's side, glancing at him with a hint of pity, then took a step away from the Lin family.
"There's such a ferocious tiger demon hidden in their home!"
Old Master Lin, who had arrived late, widened his eyes as he watched Chen Ji tying the massive tiger corpse to the cart.
He glanced at Thin-Headed Tuo, who remained at the scene, and with a submissive smile, he hurried after Shen Yi with a few quick steps.
"Sir Shen, please wait!"
His frail body, coupled with his extravagant and intricate attire, made it impossible for him to run, so he could only call out repeatedly.
Shen Yi stopped in confusion.
"I've come to apologize for what happened earlier."
Old Master Lin bowed his head in shame, leaning on his knees, and stammered, "You saved my daughter, but I suspected that you were colluding with demons to harm her and make her lose her memory. I let her return home to trick some silver out of you for gambling..."
Hearing this, Shen Yi's expression stiffened slightly.
"It's my fault for being a greedy businessman and looking down on people," Old Master Lin sighed, not noticing that Shen Yi had quietly turned his head to look elsewhere.
"You're a good person. Bai Wei was deceived by the demon, and if not for Sir Shen today, my Lin family would have been devoured by that tiger demon."
"..."
Hearing that name again, Shen Yi fell silent.
Among the many troubles left by his previous life, this was the most critical one.
Either slay the fox spirit and silence it, or eliminate the real Lin Baiwei and join forces with the Northern Cliff Fox Spirit.
There was almost no third option.
The decisive and swift strike not only beheaded the tiger demon but also cut off Shen Yi's own retreat.
Shen Yi considered himself an ordinary person, prone to hesitation and anxiety.
Might as well be straightforward and act on his instincts. Why hesitate like a child who hasn't weaned off milk? No need to be sentimental.
"There's no need for that. As an official, it's my duty to fulfill my responsibilities."
Shen Yi composed himself and watched as Chen Ji dragged the cart over. He nodded slightly to bid farewell to Old Master Lin.
"It's only right..." Old Master Lin nodded in agreement, but a bitter expression appeared on his lips. If it were truly as he said, why didn't Thin-Headed Tuo, who had received so much silver from him, fulfill his duties?
"Sir Shen, why don't we wait for Bai Wei to return before I invite you for tea?"
She had also learned martial arts from a master, and with her knowledge, you two being of similar age, there should be plenty to talk about."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ji frowned subconsciously.
Everyone in Baiyun County knew that the Lin family's only daughter was a heavenly beauty, and countless men lusted after her. Compared to her, his own sister, although she was also a delicate and pure lady, was far inferior in terms of family background and experience.
Wait... Why compare his sister to Miss Lin?
Chen Ji patted his forehead. Moreover, with Shen's current martial arts skills, he might not even consider a woman who had associated with demonic beings.
"Sir, what do you think?" Lin Patriarch cautiously glanced over.
Shen Yi lowered his gaze to the sword at his waist and said calmly, "That's fine."
Upon receiving an affirmative reply, Lin Patriarch was overjoyed. Although the other party's expression was a bit odd, they were both young, and with more interaction, who knows what might happen!
Chen Ji rolled his eyes. As expected, no matter how much else had changed, Shen's restless heart remained unchanged.
At that moment, the fat steward, having changed into clean clothes, struggled to carry a large silk bag and placed it on the cart with a grunt.
Just by the sound, Chen Ji knew what was inside.
Judging by the cart's wobbling, there were at least eight hundred taels, equivalent to about thirty years of a law enforcement officer's salary.
"Please don't refuse. If you don't accept it, I won't be able to get past this hurdle. Moreover, the demon-slaying silver is tacitly approved by the Imperial Court."
Lin Patriarch repeatedly bowed.
"Knowing that you enjoy entertainment, copper coins are not convenient, and treasure notes are not grand enough, so I've prepared silver ingots." The fat steward beamed with pride.
Shen Yi walked up to the cart, lifted the silk cloth covering, and looked at the shimmering silver inside. A hint of barely noticeable jealousy flashed through his calm eyes.
Rich bastards! They should be hanged from a street lamp.
Two fried pancakes with eggs cost only ten copper coins, and these silver ingots could wrap the entire vendor's family in pancakes.
"That's true," Chen Ji sighed. The other party casually offered a fortune, and he himself couldn't save up enough for his sister's dowry in a lifetime.
Shen Yi casually rummaged through the bag and picked out two ten-tael silver ingots, throwing one to Chen Ji, "Just these."
He couldn't help the Lin family raise their daughter for free; he should at least contribute some food expenses.
He pushed the rest off the cart.
Without giving others a chance to say more, Shen Yi left Lin Mansion, leaving Lin Patriarch standing there in astonishment.
Chen Ji, bewildered, held the silver ingot and hurriedly followed, pulling the cart behind him.
"Sir Shen."
As they walked onto the street, Chen Ji finally wanted to ask about what had just happened.
He truly hadn't expected the other party to turn against the Thin Headed Tuo so easily.
"Think before you act in the future. Your life isn't something you picked up."
Shen Yi stretched lazily and headed towards a nearby tavern, eyeing the wooden plaques on the wall, "Bring a pot of flower-carved wine, a roast goose leg, the left one, and steam a fish..."
Watching his back as he ordered, Chen Ji rubbed his belly.
Sir Shen's words made it sound like the other party's life was something he had picked up... Even if it was, what right did he have to stand up for unrelated people?
And even invite them to dinner.
As Shen Yi left with a clay pot and lotus leaf bag, Chen Ji opened his mouth slightly in bewilderment, "Aren't we eating here?"
"Who's 'we'?"
Shen Yi turned back, his expression peculiar, "If you want to eat, buy it yourself."
Do you even know the meaning of distinction between public and private?
With a monthly salary of only two taels and four mace, and he's still treating people to meals. You might as well treat them to farts.
"..."
Chen Ji took out the ten-tael silver ingot, looked at the silver, then at Shen Yi, and sighed with a thousand thoughts in his heart:
"What a strange person."
(End of Chapter)
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