Chapter 43: Another Twist
Chapter 43: Another Twist
As Zhang Butcher continued his lively conversation, a vast world of martial arts began to take shape in Shen Yi's mind.
The swordsman of Qingfeng Mountain, a knight of iron bone and soft heart, rode off to the distant mountains and rivers, slaying the Bull Demon to rescue his beloved consort. After a three-day-long battle at home without stepping out, his reputation echoed throughout Qingzhou.
The flying thief of Pingsha Valley secretly infiltrated the prince's mansion, drinking all the Jade Nectar Wine, the prince's favorite, and then urinated it back, earning the nickname "Borrow and Return."
The Vajra Sect's master went on a pilgrimage and acquired two Lady and Courtesan Spring Love Scrolls, which he secretly hung on both sides of the Buddha statue. This opened the eyes of the prefect who came to burn incense, but the master was beaten out of Qingzhou by the abbot with a Zen staff, fleeing to Baiyun County...
Shen Yi's face showed a peculiar expression.
Zhang Butcher smacked his lips, "Anyway, since I've offended them and they've withheld my martial arts treasure, I might as well give them a hard time before I leave."
"Makes sense."
Shen Yi looked towards the courtyard gate.
For the entire morning, not a single outsider had visited the office hall.
Although he wasn't afraid of being held accountable, the fact that the matter of killing Liu Dianli had passed so lightly still felt unfamiliar to him.
With nothing to worry about, he felt light-hearted.
Occasionally, he chatted with Zhang Butcher, and in his free time, they would spar.
The butcher was also a martial arts fanatic, and even though he knew that Shen Yi was far stronger, he remained eager to fight.
Shen Yi only used the Cloud Dispelling Long Fist and Spirit Snake Eight Steps to engage with him, and it was worth mentioning that he gained some valuable insights.
Martial arts proficiency and combat experience couldn't be generalized.
One had to not only know how to execute their own moves but also anticipate their opponent's reactions.
Although the improvement wasn't as fast as gaining lifespan by slaying demons, the area around Baiyun County was already on high alert, and no demons had dared to intrude. As far as Shen Yi knew, there were only two demon lairs nearby: the Green Unicorn Mother and the Northern Cliff Fox Demon.
The Green Unicorn Mother was a renowned Jade Dew Realm demonic being, and if Shen Yi ventured out of the city alone, it was uncertain whether he would be gaining lifespan or risking his life.
He had also asked Zhang Butcher if there were any stray minor demons around.
Zhang Butcher gave him a puzzled look, "Even the hooligans in the city know to form gangs and divide territories; otherwise, they wouldn't get any money. If you were a demon, would you let unfamiliar demons stay in your territory to scavenge for food? You'd either recruit them or crush them without a second thought."
"In such a situation, if a demon could survive alone, it wouldn't be some unknown minor demon."
"..."
Shen Yi temporarily abandoned this idea.
Whenever he had a sudden realization, he would retreat to his room, using the pretext of getting water to slightly push his martial arts understanding with the help of a wooden board.
When it was time to close the office, he would take the vegetables and meat that Chen Ji had bought for him and head home.
This routine continued for five days.
During this time, the office hall was so quiet that it seemed forgotten by everyone, making Chen Ji a bit uneasy.
However, Zhang Butcher was delighted. The absence of visitors proved that no one was suffering from demonic afflictions, and he only had to make the law enforcement officers patrol the streets more frequently and occasionally check the countryside to ensure nothing was amiss.
"Today it's lotus root and lettuce. I listened to you and asked the butcher to keep two pounds of lamb ribs; here's the change." Chen Ji returned from his patrol and placed the items on the table.
"Good, you can go back. I'll close up today."
Shen Yi collected the copper coins and looked at the reminder on the wooden board, feeling slightly pleased.
Although the gains from these days couldn't compare to Quad Harmony True Aura, the lifespan consumption was minimal.
First, he combined Spirit Snake Eight Steps with Mind Monkey, creating a new step technique, and then he perfected it, all within just thirty-seven years.
【First Rank. White Ape Teasing Python (Perfection)】
Compared to Spirit Snake Eight Steps, this new martial art was not only faster but also enhanced close combat, making it a very suitable First Rank martial art for Shen Yi.
Of course, what Shen Yi anticipated the most was the Blood Fiend Blade Technique, which finally showed a response after more than fifty years of cultivation.
【In the fifty-fourth year, you attempted to refine the Blood Fiend into Heaven Earth Slaughter, an extremely perilous step. Fortunately, you have mastered a True Essence Aura technique, which allowed you to vaguely touch that threshold.】
If the deduction succeeds, he will have personally created a Jade Dew Realm Martial Art, one that he has honed for many years, specifically tailored for himself.
Unfortunately, the Demon's lifespan is almost up.
Shen Yi sighed, turning his attention to the Wind Thunder Demon Subduing True Explanation.
The problem likely lies in the Wind and Thunder Treasure Scroll. He only obtained the upper part and then, through the clumsy method of self-mutilation, forced a deduction that led him down a wrong path, allowing him to break through the Initial Realm. He then continued down this wrong path, straying further and further.
It was so stupid, yet he poured over a hundred years of his lifespan into it, and all he got was the words "Seeking from Heaven and Earth."
【Remaining Demon Lifespan: One hundred and eighty-five years】
"I'll try again tonight and leave a hundred years as a backup."
Shen Yi dismissed the panel and left the office hall, holding a rack of lamb ribs.
In recent days, he had tasted various meats and vegetables that went well with rice, and his taste had become more discerning. He praised Lin Baiwei's cooking skills more and more, and only then was he willing to spend money on some good meat.
Even the salted meat flatbread that Chen Ji brought back at noon couldn't spark his interest.
With the daily contrast of a hot bowl of soup and a warm meal at home, the dead dough pancake was slightly hard to swallow, and the meat was overly salty.
"It's hard to go from luxury to frugality."
Thinking of this, Shen Yi felt a twinge of self-reproach and quickened his pace slightly.
Upon returning to his room, he casually pushed the door open.
He didn't see the familiar figure at the back door.
Shen Yi took a puzzled step forward.
Suddenly, two arms emerged from behind his waist, encircling his waist and clasping tightly at his lower abdomen.
The familiar white sleeves, delicate hands, and a hint of her scent encircled him from behind.
"Why did you come back so late?"
Her exquisite face, like a lazy little cat, leaned against Shen Yi's arm. Her moist eyes held a hint of reproach, her red lips slightly parted, exhaling a fragrant breath. Her voice was soft and mosquito-like, yet it was soft and alluring as she said, "I missed you."
Shen Yi remained silent, lowering his gaze slightly, and lifted the rack of lamb ribs in his hand.
Lin Baiwei pressed her heavy chest against his straight back, not glancing at the lamb ribs, but instead staring intently into his eyes. "Why aren't you talking? What are you thinking about?"
Hearing this, Shen Yi casually dropped the lamb ribs, allowing them to fall to the ground. His voice carried a hint of impatience, "I actually wanted to keep acting with you, but your acting is so terrible. If I continue pretending not to know, it'll really make me look stupid."
"And..."
"What else?"
Lin Baiwei widened her eyes, looking up at him with a smile.
Shen Yi's eyebrows furrowed slightly, disdainfully saying, "Your fox-like flirtatiousness is suffocating me."
As he spoke, his fingers rested on the black hilt at his waist, and the blade with a black sheen instantly unsheathed, releasing a dense Blood Fiend along with the blade.
The ringing of the blade was like a wailing spirit, captivating one's soul.
The woman's pupils contracted slightly, quickly retracting her arms.
But no matter how fast her reaction was, it couldn't compare to the black blade. In an instant, the sharp blade energy tore through her sleeves and ripped open her fair skin.
This powerful and heavy strike aimed to cut her delicate body in half! Just then, a crisp bell rang out in the room.
Two floating copper bells appeared in Shen Yi's vision, and as the bell chimed lightly, the black blade seemed to sink into a quagmire, suspended in midair.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
