https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-4-Mastery-of-Fundamental-Martial-Arts/12553774/
Chapter 5: A Grand Harvest
Chapter 5: A Grand Harvest
"Come and see me."
Shen Yi took a step forward, a soft laugh escaping his lips. "Why has Brother Huang suddenly descended from the mountains without so much as a word to me?"
The dog demon paused in its chewing, remaining silent for a long moment. Its body shifted slightly, revealing the scene on the bed.
There, another slightly thinner dog demon lay quietly, gently swallowing soft, tender innards. Beneath it, a pup no bigger than a palm curled up, suckling at its mother's teats.
"There are many enemies on the mountain. I came down to lay low for a while," Huang Laoliu grunted, his voice sullen. "Don't you dare lecture me about rules. There's plenty of food and drink here, and I plan to stay for at least half a year until my son grows stronger."
Seeing this, Shen Yi's eyes lit up with even greater delight. "Congratulations! Mother and child are safe and sound."
As he spoke, he walked over to Huang Laoliu and sat down beside him without a care for the bloody mess on the bed.
Shen Yi placed his hand on the dog demon's neck affectionately. "With such joyful news, you didn't even think to inform your brothers beforehand."
Huang Laoliu glanced at him but made no move to struggle. "Cut the friendly act. I wouldn't leave even if your county magistrate showed up today, let alone you."
"Stay, then. Stay as long as you like."
Shen Yi's eyes narrowed in a smile, his clear, distinct eyes shining brightly.
Hearing this, a slight smile finally appeared on Huang Laoliu's face. Just as he was about to speak, his pupils suddenly contracted.
In that instant of closeness, a steel knife had found its way into his chest.
"Heh! Heh!"
Startled by the strange sound, Chen Ji abruptly lifted his head and froze.
He couldn't believe the scene unfolding before him.
Shen Yi embraced Huang Laoliu, his face calm. "A guest has come, how could I possibly turn you away?"
As his words fell, the knife plunged deeper into the dog demon's heart, spraying blood onto both of them, adding a touch of freshness to the dull red interior of the house.
"You should have... stayed here... never leaving," Shen Yi's voice grew softer, his movements increasingly skilled.
Pu! Pu! Pu!
With each sentence, the knife struck without hesitation, turning the robust body into a pulpy mess.
Huang Laoliu struggled with all his might, but no matter how much force he exerted, it was like a drop in the ocean against Shen Yi's restraining arm—his efforts were futile.
To onlookers, it seemed as if he were a well-behaved pup, sitting quietly as he watched himself being pierced by the blade.
After a long while, Shen Yi finally released his hold, his gaze indifferent as he watched the lifeless body of the dog demon fall to the ground.
He lifted his head. "You may leave now."
Chen Ji's body stiffened like a wooden plank, his mind in a state of chaos.
Under Shen Yi's gaze, he shuddered and turned to walk out of the house, unable to resist one last glance before leaving.
Shen Yi sat on the edge of the bed, slowly pulling the steel knife out of Huang Laoliu's body. His eyes shifted to the terrified dog demon on the bed, and he reached out to take the innards from its mouth, whispering, "Sister-in-law, a family should stick together. Don't you agree?"
Chen Ji stumbled, his mind reeling.
He took large strides out of the doorway and stood outside, closing his eyes to take a few deep breaths.
After a moment, Shen Yi strolled out leisurely, wiping his slender fingers with a cloth. "Go inside and clean up the mess."
Hearing this, Chen Ji opened his eyes and turned to look at the familiar face, his thoughts tangling like a jumbled ball of yarn, eventually forming a single, stupefied question: "Why?"
"Why what?" Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at him with confusion.
Damn! Damn! Damn!
Chen Ji clenched his jaw, his eyes wide.
Of course, he wanted to know why he had suddenly taken action! Why one moment they were exchanging pleasantries, and the next, he was butchering that dog demon like a heartless slaughterer!
Why was he smiling that damn smile as he killed? Did he hate them or not? How did he truly view the deceased villagers and these demonic beasts?
In Chen Ji's eyes, Shen Yi could coldly watch his own kin being devoured, and then treat these dog demons, whom he called brothers, with the same indifference, even the pup that couldn't even open its eyes yet.
"What solution?" Shen Yi frowned, his expression indifferent as he replied, "It didn't want to leave, and I didn't want it to continue devouring people, so I had to find a middle ground that satisfied everyone."
"This... is that even a valid reason?"
Hearing this, Chen Ji took a deep breath, knowing that Shen Yi was unwilling to elaborate further. He brusquely walked into the house and began cleaning up the remains of the dog demons.
After not seeing him for just a few days, Chen Ji realized he could no longer understand this official.
"... "
When he was alone, Shen Yi quietly stood at the doorway, finally tossing aside the cloth and revealing his trembling fingers. He lowered his gaze, staring at his palm, and clenched his fist tightly, forcing his fingers to still.
As a time traveler, this was the first time he had witnessed death so clearly, seeing the putrid flesh being torn away, even the strands of meat between the dog demons' teeth.
Shen Yi felt like vomiting, and he could only vent his fear and anger by repeatedly stabbing the corpses.
However, he had to control his emotions.
Only by staying calm could he persevere until the Demon Suppression Division arrived. If he, too, became afraid, there would be no one in all of Boyun County to lend him a hand.
As for the question Chen Ji had raised, Shen Yi had indeed considered it himself, but he had ultimately realized something.
Was there another solution? The answer was no.
If he did nothing, the villagers would all perish. They were doomed either way, and there was no solution to this predicament. So, it was best to simply do his duty and not trouble himself unnecessarily.
Instead of deluding himself with thoughts of "the greater good" and "enduring temporary peace," it was better to collect more demon lifespans and strengthen his own power. Then, when the next beast showed its claws, he would be able to cut it down!
...
Shen Yi thought of the demon lifespans, and indeed, this harvest had been quite bountiful.
[Canine Demon with Open Wisdom, Not Yet Entered the Initial Realm, Total Lifespan of 145 Years, 59 Years Remaining, Absorption Complete]
[Canine Demon with Open Wisdom, Not Yet Entered the Initial Realm, Total Lifespan of 152 Years, 61 Years Remaining, Absorption Complete]
[Canine Demon Without Open Wisdom, Total Lifespan of 80 Years, 79 Years Remaining, Absorption Complete]
[Remaining Demon Lifespans: 199 Years]
[Remaining Personal Lifespan: 1 Year]
"It even conveniently added up to an even two hundred years for me."
Shen Yi had not yet decided how to allocate these newly acquired demon lifespans.
Should he continue with the Demon Subduing Knife Technique, using the Righteous Sun Knife as a foundation and seeking more information about the Initial Realm?
Or should he focus on the Piercing Cloud Long Fist and see if he could obtain more innate talents for his fists and palms?
As Shen Yi pondered, Chen Ji had already loaded the demon corpses onto the cart and brought over the old donkey.
"Regardless of Lord Shen's plans..."
Chen Ji handed over the reins, his expression complex as he glanced back towards the distant villagers standing listlessly on the field ridges.
Their eyes were vacant, like living dead, but when their gazes fell upon the cart, a hint of emotion flickered in their scattered stares.
"At the very least, you saved their lives today."
After speaking, Chen Ji tried to force a feeble smile, but he felt the reins being pulled from his grasp.
He looked up and saw that Shen Yi had already mounted the donkey and was riding away nonchalantly.
"... "
Shen Yi stretched lazily and rolled his eyes.
What was there to consider? Before praising someone, one had to first make snide remarks—what a pain.
So melodramatic.
(End of Chapter)
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