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Chapter 34: A Master Seeks Guidance
Chapter 34: A Master Seeks Guidance
The thing Shen Yi regretted most was not being able to kill more demons under someone's banner.
Of course, he couldn't say that outright.
He removed his sword sheath and repositioned his sword under his arm, despite the slight discomfort. It was still better than losing his head and being none the wiser.
Seeing his cautious demeanor, Lin Baiwei pursed her lips.
If only she had been more careful initially, she wouldn't have ended up in this situation today.
She retrieved paper and a brush from the cabinet and sat down at the table, adding oil to the lamp.
In the flickering lamplight, she closed her eyes, grinding ink while recalling her memories.
After a moment, Lin Baiwei began to transcribe carefully. With her slender fingers moving, graceful characters appeared on the paper.
"What are you doing? Why aren't you sleeping?" Shen Yi turned his head.
"How can I sleep when we haven't retrieved the item?" Lin Baiwei retorted with a pout.
They were all ordinary people with their necks on the line, pretending to be calm.
She still remembered the first time a demon gripped her neck, almost taking her breath away. Even though her colleagues had quickly beheaded it, she had still been shaken for the entire night.
If someone had been there to accompany her, she wouldn't have been startled awake in the middle of the night, crying from a nightmare.
"..."
Shen Yi remained silent for a long time before closing his eyes.
When the rooster crowed, he slowly got up and glanced at the yawning woman by the table.
As expected, it was still impossible... Even though he knew she was from the Demon Suppression Division, Shen Yi still wasn't used to having a clothed, living person beside him while sleeping.
"Hmm, I've finished copying half of it."
Lin Baiwei rubbed her wrists and carefully reviewed her work. "Don't complain about the speed. If there's even a slight mistake in this, it could cause big problems."
Shen Yi changed into clean clothes and nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."
"Tsk." Lin Baiwei feigned surprise. "So, you do know how to speak politely."
"After all, I'm counting on using you to get some silver from the Lin family. You know, I'm quite short on money," Shen Yi said.
Shen Yi adjusted his cuffs, picked up his sword, and left the room.
Baiyun County wasn't large, and many things could spread throughout the area in just one night.
Even though it was still early, a crowd had already gathered outside the yamen, creating a noisy scene that blocked the entrance.
Someone shouted, "Catchpole Shen is here!"
A wide path suddenly appeared in front of Shen Yi, and he looked at the front in confusion, seeing Chen Ji and the others with flushed faces.
"Let me say this again," Chen Ji said. "We only deal with demons here. We don't handle lechers or help you look for lost purses!"
"Nonsense!" someone in the crowd shouted back. "Old Yang's daughter-in-law brought a man home, and those two tall guys went to catch them! I saw it with my own eyes!"
The crowd became noisy. "Maybe my purse was also taken by a demon, Catchpole Shen. You have to help me get justice!"
"..."
Shen Yi remained silent as he entered the yard and waved his hand. "Close the door."
The men struggled to push the wooden door shut and finally managed to secure the bolt, leaving them panting and staring at each other.
Zhang Dahuhu said with a mix of fear and awe, "Damn, they used to avoid me, but now they're turning the tables and daring to come to my yamen!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized his mistake and quickly smiled at Shen Yi. "You are my father. You are my dear father."
Chen Ji stood up with a smile, but his expression suddenly changed as he looked back at the wooden door.
The next moment, the door was banged on from the outside.
"And now they're kicking us while we're down."
The Niu brothers rolled up their sleeves and opened the door, intending to scold the person outside. However, they suddenly trembled and looked up in shock.
They were already tall and sturdy men, but the visitor was even taller, with a much more robust build. Especially his bloated, greasy belly, which looked quite frightening.
Just based on his build, he could easily overturn several people without any martial arts training.
He couldn't understand why a master from the Vajra Sect would show up at their humble yamen. If there was a problem even he couldn't handle, there probably wasn't anyone else in Baiyun County who could help.
"Closing the door during the day, I thought I had come to the wrong place."
Zhang the Butcher held a grass stem in his mouth and smiled at the person opposite him. "So, you're really here."
Shen Yi didn't see the skinny monk behind him and cupped his fists in greeting. "What brings you here, Senior?"
"Stop calling me Senior, you idiot."
Zhang the Butcher squeezed into the yard and replied nonchalantly, "I was invited here by someone from Qingzhou, but they thought I was too stupid. I also couldn't stand their arrogance, so I figured since you're as stupid as me, I might as well come here to earn a living."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ji nearly lost his balance.
It was absurd for a cultivator with a master to lack food and money.
Putting aside everything else, if this master named his price, there would be countless wealthy merchants in Baiyun County willing to pay handsomely for his services.
The combined salaries of the hundreds of runners in the yamen wouldn't even cover half a month's worth of his services.
"First of all, I'm not stupid."
Shen Yi sighed and spread his hands helplessly. "And secondly, I'm very poor."
"Then I'm not stupid either." Zhang the Butcher laughed dryly and walked inside. "I'm also dirt poor. A simple meal to fill my stomach will do."
Shen Yi was about to explain that he might not even be able to afford a simple meal, considering the man's substantial belly.
Chen Ji was already stomping his feet in frustration.
What were these guys thinking? One of them was turning down real gold and silver, while the other was trying to brush off a master who had shown up at their doorstep!
Chen Ji pulled out a silver ingot from his waist and shoved it into Shen Yi's hand so hard that his eyes almost popped out.
Shen Yi glanced at Chen Ji and pushed the ingot back. "Go play somewhere else."
Did he look like a stingy person?
"Who is this guy?"
The Niu brothers might not understand the situation, but Zhang Dahu knew Chen Ji's personality well. He was the type to save every bit of his monthly salary for his sister and was unwilling to spend it on anything else. So why was he being so generous all of a sudden?
"He's the disciple of the master from the Magistrate's Manor."
Upon hearing this, the group fell into a daze.
To them, the Skinny Monk was just a figure in rumors, and at the very least, someone of Liu Dianli's caliber would have a chance to see his true face, but even that was a rare occurrence.
Now, a cultivator of similar skill had appeared in their barracks, casually playing with a stone lock that hadn't been used in years.
The stone lock alone weighed at least three to four hundred pounds, yet the visitor was juggling it with one hand as if it were nothing...
"Do you usually use this to train your strength?"
Zhang the Butcher asked curiously.
"No, I usually practice martial arts before going to sleep."
Shen Yi replied nonchalantly.
He was telling the truth. After all, constantly practicing martial arts on the streets would likely get him labeled as a lunatic.
"In the pursuit of martial arts, one must avoid secluding oneself. I've been feeling bored and frustrated staying in Baiyun County alone. If you have time, let's spar together sometime." Zhang the Butcher set down the stone lock.
"Sure." Shen Yi nodded. It was quite timely, as he needed someone to help fill in the gaps in his knowledge.
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Zhang the Butcher's face. "I have time right now."
Shen Yi: "..."
"Oh no, he really is here to pick a fight." The Niu brothers shook their heads, feeling like they had almost been fooled by this bearded man.
(End of Chapter)
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