Chapter 49: Homesickness
Chapter 49: Homesickness
The name was uttered by the beggar, his voice light and airy.
Chen Ji and the others hadn't reacted yet.
Zhang the Butcher, however, snapped out of his astonishment from earlier and gave his big belly a firm squeeze.
Hiss! It wasn't his imagination!
But why?
Zhang the Butcher wasn't envious of his friend, he was genuinely perplexed.
Although he wasn't particularly interested in court affairs, the Qingzhou Commander-in-Chief was of the same generation as the leaders of the major sects. Moreover, the Demon Suppressing Bureau itself held a position above the martial world. In Qingzhou, the Commander-in-Chief's word was law.
For ordinary martial artists, the Commander-in-Chief was more like a legendary figure in their idle chatter, a tale told by storytellers to pass the time.
How did this suddenly become relevant to someone nearby?
"Nonsense!"
Old Liu furrowed his brows and glared at the beggar.
Spreading rumors without a shred of truth was a sure way to prolong one's begging days.
He shook his head and turned back to Shen Yi, offering a bitter smile, "The letter to the Commander-in-Chief did mention it briefly, but he's often away, and no one knows when he'll return. Even if he does come back... well, it's best not to get your hopes up too high."
Old Liu was a straightforward man who didn't want the other party to be disappointed due to unrealistic expectations, potentially wasting a talented seedling.
He glanced casually to the side, and Zhang the Butcher understood the hint, scratching his head as he entered the main hall to chat with Chen Ji and the others.
"Lord Lin was affected by a demon spell and has been escorted out of Baiyun County to seek the Commander-in-Chief. He won't be returning to Qingzhou for now."
Old Liu lowered his voice, "Once you enter the Demon Suppressing Bureau, we'll be brothers who'd die for each other... These brothers won't hesitate to take a blade for you, but they also don't want to see you rise too quickly, especially if you're new. It's only human nature, so please understand."
His words were concise and to the point.
Rather than a warning, it was more of a gentle nudge.
Shen Yi pondered for a moment and understood the other party's intention.
The "talent" he had deliberately displayed in front of Lin Baiwei had indeed served its purpose.
But there's a price to pay for every gain.
Although the group before him wore smiles, in reality... their hearts might not be as joyful as they seemed.
They were all risking their lives for merit and recognition.
If Shen Yi were to flaunt a connection with a powerful figure, it wouldn't matter if his background was solid, but if it wasn't, he'd be asking for trouble.
"According to Li Xinhan's instructions, we'll send you back first. Everything will proceed as usual, and we mustn't let any news slip. We'll wait for the two superiors to return before making further arrangements."
Old Liu finished speaking and remained silent.
Li Xinhan was indeed a bit stubborn, but he had a good heart. If Shen Yi had his own plans or felt they were suppressing him, then that was the end of the matter, and he'd let Shen Yi be.
"I have no objections," Shen Yi shook his head.
Joining the Demon Suppressing Bureau had two purposes: first, to have a powerful backer when fighting demons, and second, to gain access to martial arts and precious elixirs.
The former would provide him with more information when dealing with demons, rather than being in the dark about everything beyond the county town, as he was now.
With sufficient demon lifespans to support him.
Coupled with martial arts and elixirs, his cultivation would progress much faster than if he were to cultivate alone.
Compared to these practical benefits, Shen Yi didn't value empty titles that could only bring temporary trouble.
Old Liu quietly observed Shen Yi's expression.
He saw clarity in Shen Yi's eyes, and his words and demeanor genuinely showed a lack of concern.
This reaction surprised Old Liu.
Everyone understood that promises were empty, but when such a massive opportunity presented itself, even if it was mostly false, how many people could truly ignore it?
Of course, there was another possibility—that the other party had already eaten the pancake.
"Damn, you didn't actually capture him for Lord Lin, did you?!"
Recalling the loose robe Lin Baiwei wore yesterday, Old Liu clenched his teeth, his steadfast belief suddenly wavering.
The men behind him hurriedly kicked him to the ground, "Are you out of your mind?!"
To spread rumors about a demon hunter, if those ascetics who roamed the demon caves heard it, they'd surely flay the kid alive.
"We're on official business, just making a temporary trip to Baiyun County. Hurry home and pack, you can come with us."
The beggar pressed Old Liu's face to the ground, helpless, he smiled at Shen Yi.
...
Outside the government office.
The selected strong men were excited, clenching their fists.
In a world plagued by demons, having some martial arts skills was undoubtedly the fastest way to improve one's status.
Don't be fooled by their ordinary law enforcement officer and soldier roles today. If they could pass the Demon Suppressing Bureau's trial training, by the time they returned to Baiyun County, even the County Magistrate would have to treat them with respect.
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but look at the young man ahead.
No one was blind or deaf, and although they couldn't quite make out what the captains were saying to Shen Yi, they could tell from their attitude.
Shen Captain was definitely not going for trial training like the rest of them.
Unfortunately, they didn't have much of a relationship, and it would be awkward to try to forge a connection now... At least they shared the same hometown, and once in the Demon Suppressing Bureau, they might have a slight advantage.
"Shen LaoDa, I need to go home and spend time with my mother, and also comfort my wife."
Oddly enough, the two men closest to Shen Yi didn't have much on their minds. Niu Da was in a hurry to go home, scratching his crotch, and wanted to run off as soon as he finished speaking.
Chen Ji had long believed that Shen Yi was no ordinary man, and even if the Commander-in-Chief took him as a disciple, it wouldn't be surprising.
Whether it was trial training or directly joining as an official, it was only a matter of time.
"Sir Shen..." Chen Ji bowed.
"That's enough," Shen Yi said, waving his hand after organizing his thoughts.
Finally, he could take off this official uniform and have a clean break from the messy affairs of his previous life.
Not being an official in the government office meant he didn't need to be called 'Sir' anymore.
But looking at Niu Da's departing figure, Shen Yi felt a twinge of emotion.
Leaving one's hometown was always a melancholy affair.
Shen Yi tried hard to feel some sadness, but upon careful thought, he had no relatives to bid farewell to, no home to remember, and the attic room he lived in belonged to the government office.
He only had two friends he could talk to, one was a fellow traveler, and the other...
Shen Yi turned to look at Zhang Butcher, who was following behind with a smirk, remembering his words about going back to Qingzhou to see an old flame.
Well, the other friend was likely to be a fellow traveler too.
He certainly couldn't go bid farewell to the Green Unicorn Mother.
"Let's go, let's eat out," Shen Yi shook the silver bill in his hand.
"Sure, sure, my mouth's been dry for days. Let's find three flute players and singers," Zhang Butcher said, patting his belly.
"..."
Who goes to a restaurant with a silver bill?
Chen Ji took out the silver ingot from his waist and sighed, "Two will do, I won't need one."
"No problem, I'll use two," Zhang Butcher patted his shoulder reassuringly.
Thank you, dear readers, for your monthly passes and rewards, and for your support yesterday. As a new writer, I appreciate your willingness to continue reading and help, even though I still have one more chapter to update.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
