https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-36-Jade-Liquid-Golden-Yang-Eight-Treasures-Mystical-Body/12553806/
Chapter 37: You Deserve to Die
Chapter 37: You Deserve to Die
In the quiet classroom, Shen Yi held a brush with some awkwardness, as calligraphy was not his forte. Nonetheless, he focused on making each stroke clear and distinct.
In his previous life as a rogue, he had diligently studied martial arts, boxing techniques, social skills, and even basic literacy to achieve his goal of working in the government office.
With muscle memory on his side, his handwriting, while not aesthetically pleasing, was passable.
The Blood Slaughter Blade Technique had been deduced from the panel, with all the details imprinted in his mind, so transcribing it was not a challenging task.
As the end of the work day approached, Shen Yi put down his brush and allowed the ink to dry before reaching for the food that Chen Ji had brought.
The yellow steamed buns from Huang Ji in East Street, along with the salted fish sold by the street vendor at the intersection, were not particularly delicious, but they were quite affordable.
He quickly devoured the food and then stood up to stretch his body before stepping out of the room.
In the courtyard, Zhang Dahua was drenched in sweat, looking miserable as he practiced a set of warm-up boxing techniques. The Niu brothers and Chen Ji were repeatedly swinging their knives, and Zhang the Butcher frowned, watching their forms. Whenever he spotted an incorrect posture, he would kick them to correct it.
"In such a large Bayun County, are you few the only ones putting on a show of slaying demons and exterminating evil?" Zhang the Butcher asked, turning his head at the sound of Shen Yi's voice.
"This is too much," he continued, confusion evident in his voice. "Apart from that Chen kid who's barely passable, what are the rest of you even doing here?"
Before anyone else could respond, Zhang Dahua spoke up, his voice filled with resentment. "Who wants to exterminate demons? It's only because that old clerk is targeting our master that he's forcing us to the point of death!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang the Butcher paused for a moment, as if realizing something, and then spat on the ground in disgust. "Those bastards."
It was only after arriving in Bayun County that he had learned from his senior brother about the prevalence of demons in the area.
While the concealment of demon infestations was common in various places, with over ten county magistrates beheaded last year alone due to this reason, using these demonic forces to eliminate political opponents was utterly despicable.
"Come here," Shen Yi said, ignoring the conversation and handing over the transcribed blade technique.
His own need to kill demons to obtain their lifespan ran counter to the government office's plans, so he knew that he couldn't rely on rules or regulations to get his way. Even if he had to resort to underhanded tactics, it would be entirely justified.
"So soon?" Zhang the Butcher exclaimed, a hint of delight in his voice as he took the pages. "What I've figured out is just a type of body-refining martial art. To be blunt, among the various sects in Qingzhou, it's one of the lowest thresholds. As long as there's enough time, there are practically no bottlenecks."
He tucked the blade technique into his pocket. "Just be mindful not to be impatient. If you have any questions, come and ask me."
"Thank you," Shen Yi nodded and bid him farewell, carrying the fresh meat and spices that he had asked Chen Ji to buy.
"Does he know how to cook as well?" Zhang the Butcher scratched his head.
"If you had seen Shen Yi from half a month ago," Chen Ji took a deep breath and continued standing steadily, "you would have realized that for a person like him, it wouldn't be surprising if he knew how to do anything."
"Is that so?" Zhang the Butcher didn't argue, merely smiling at the comment.
After all, it was just a small county town, and he hadn't been to Qingzhou himself, so he had no idea what true geniuses looked like.
In his eyes, Shen Yi possessed a commendable temperament and strength, superior to his own, but that was the extent of it.
...
The sky was ablaze with fiery hues.
Shen Yi knocked on the door and then pushed it open.
A woman was lying on the table, her black hair cascading like a waterfall. Her fair face was serene and captivating, except for the slightly furrowed brows and trembling thick eyelashes that betrayed a hint of anxiety.
Shen Yi walked slowly towards her, his gaze falling on the thick stack of yellow paper that her arm was pressing down on. The edges were stained with ink, and some had even smudged onto the corners of her mouth.
She clenched her teeth on the brush handle, mumbling with her eyes open. "Ptooey, ptooey!"
Then, concerned about the paper, she quickly reached out to tidy it up. "I've already copied half of it..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Baiwei noticed what Shen Yi was holding, and her face lit up with joy.
"I'll leave this to you!"
She took the meat and turned to go into the backyard.
"..."
Shen Yi looked at the scattered sheets of paper on the table and carefully gathered them together.
He walked into the backyard kitchen.
There, Lin Baiwei had tied up her hair and was skillfully washing vegetables. Without turning her head, she waved her hand. "Get out, get out."
Feeling that he couldn't help, Shen Yi simply sat in the yard and started chopping wood with an axe.
As the sky gradually darkened, the ground was piled high with neatly chopped firewood.
The scent of rice and meat wafted through the air.
Shen Yi turned around and saw the woman standing behind him, carefully holding a piece of half-fat, half-lean stewed meat with chopsticks. She blew on it to cool it down, her delicate cheeks puffed up as she asked, "Hey, open your mouth and taste it. See if it needs more salt."
As a lone wolf in two lifetimes.
He subconsciously leaned back, about to say something, but the other party was quick and had already poked the chopsticks into his mouth: "..."
"How is it?" Lin Baiwei asked expectantly.
While it wasn't delicious, it was surprisingly good, somewhat reminiscent of the stews from his past life. It was a bit rough, but it would probably go well with rice.
"It's edible."
Shen Yi threw down the axe and stood up to get the meat soup.
"Of course." Lin Baiwei snorted lightly, like a master chef, with her hands behind her back.
Just then, there was a loud banging on the door.
Bang, bang, bang!
"Mr. Shen, get your ass out here!"
Shen Yi's steps faltered, and he frowned slightly before turning and walking outside.
Lin Baiwei looked puzzled but didn't ask any questions. She quickly went into the kitchen.
The next moment, five or six officers broke down the door and rushed in.
Two figures entered the room, one in front of the other.
The first was an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a blue shirt, his face gloomy. It was Liu Dianli.
The thin monk behind him stood with his hands behind his back, looking like an onlooker to a good show.
Outside the door, Chen Ji and the other three were being pressed against the wall by officers with knives at their shoulders, struggling. Zhang the Butcher stood at a distance on the street, his face dark, his huge fists clenched tightly.
"The government office trusted you, giving you an important task to manage the demon-slaying affairs."
Liu Dianli was furious, his fingers trembling with anger. "In two nights, more than ten children have been abducted in Bayun County and its three villages and six suburbs. Yet, you lie comfortably at home. The entire office is in collusion, knowing but not reporting it... I treated you like my own nephew, and this is how you repay me?"
The old man opened his mouth angrily, his voice sharp. "You deserve to die!"
"Our office door was wide open, and we didn't receive any reports!" Chen Ji panted, arguing loudly.
Which family wouldn't panic if their child went missing? Now that Shen Yi's reputation was rising, who would go looking for him and instead go to Liu Dianli?
In response, Chen Ji received a crisp slap across the face.
Liu Dianli retracted his hand. "Still daring to argue?"
As he spoke, about twenty young and strong men approached from the street, all holding bows and crossbows. Their clothing was different from that of the officers; they were the city's military troops.
Liu Dianli turned to Shen Yi. "If the demon isn't eliminated today, I'll take your head!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
