Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Demons Run Rampant
Chapter 1: Demons Run Rampant
Mottled earthen walls, dim oil lamps.
An old, red-cloth-covered bed emanated the musty scent of decaying wood.
Shen Yi stared at his surroundings, his mind in a daze as he struggled to accept the fact that he had time-traveled and become a lowly soldier in Boyun County.
Yet, everything around him felt so real.
Fragments of memories began to crystallize in his mind.
A world plagued by demons and evil spirits.
His past self was once a rogue who had clawed his way up from the bottom. Eventually, he donned the uniform of an official, securing a worry-free life—a truly inspiring story.
But why did that person suddenly meet his end?
Shen Yi felt a throbbing pain at the back of his head as he thought of this.
He reached back and touched a sticky mess.
The glaring crimson between his fingers was like a trigger, snapping him out of his post-drunken stupor. A violent pain surged through his head.
"Ah!"
His eyes widened as he panted rapidly.
Looking down, he saw a skinny young girl cowering at the foot of the bed, clutching at her undergarments in fear.
Next to her stood an old man clad in patched-up clothes, his hunched body trembling as he feebly gripped a wooden stick, droplets of blood dripping from its tip.
The pair stared at him with wide eyes, as if they had seen a ferocious beast, their gazes filled with despair and terror.
"Now, listen..."
Shen Yi clenched his jaw, the intense pain stimulating his anger, making his chest heave.
He glared at the old man, intending to ask him to put down the stick.
Just then, the young girl suddenly went crazy, yanking at her remaining undergarments. She wrapped them around Shen Yi's leg, wailing hysterically like a rabid beast, "Sir! I'll give you anything you want! Please, let my father go back to the village!"
The old man's hand loosened, and the wooden stick clattered to the floor.
His face was numb, and his eyes were vacant, as if that one swing of the stick had exhausted all his strength.
Given Shen Yi's infamous reputation in Boyun County, once the old man opened his eyes again, he and his daughter would surely be doomed.
"Could you please shut up?"
Shen Yi rubbed his temples, his eyes twitching from the pain.
He was already in pain and annoyed, and he couldn't take the girl's howling on top of that.
His past self had intended to forcefully marry this girl from the Liu family tonight. The old man's blow could be considered a service to the people, worthy of praise.
But he, Shen Yi, was innocent. Why did he have to bear the brunt of this silent treatment?
Shen Yi was frustrated, but he couldn't bring himself to scold them. After all, to outsiders, Shen Yi, the constable, had merely fainted for a moment and then regained consciousness. No one knew that he had been replaced by another person.
He grabbed the clothes from the bed and tossed them at the Liu family's girl, shooing her away with a weak wave of his hand. "Scram."
Even after getting hit, he was still being blamed. If it were his previous life, he would have at least extorted half a house from them.
He rubbed his temples, but the vision before him only became clearer.
[Current Martial Arts]:
Bone-Piercing Capture Technique (Great Accomplishment)
Demon-Subduing Blade Technique (Beginner)
[You can infuse your lifespan into martial arts to gain corresponding progress]
[When your lifespan is less than one year, you cannot continue to infuse]
[Current remaining lifespan: Thirty-four years]
...
Shen Yi read the words, a frown forming on his face.
Indeed, according to the residual memories, his past self was skilled in these two abilities.
The Bone-Piercing Capture Technique was taught by the government office, and every officer had to learn it. It was considered their signature move.
It was also because of his proficiency in this capture technique that his past self was able to climb the ranks and become a low-level commander.
As for the Demon-Subduing Blade Technique, it was taught by a colonel from the Demon Suppression Division to the officers after Boyun County was plagued by demons. It was an authentic demon-slaying martial art.
However, by the time his past self learned this technique, he had already gained a little status. Indulging in wine and women had taken a toll on his body, and instead of learning martial arts to protect himself, he had another way to survive under the demons' rule.
So, was this status screen real and not an illusion?
But it seemed rather lackluster.
Infusing lifespan to gain progress in martial arts—this was no different from what he had thought of doing in his previous life: trading a shorter lifespan for money.
The problem was that in his previous life, he had already lived a miserable existence, devoid of hope and attachments. He was like a walking corpse, and even if he had traded years of his life, he could have at least enjoyed a few more years of pleasure.
But the whole point of learning martial arts was to protect his life. What was the point of learning it if he was already dead?
Why couldn't he just practice slowly by himself?
"Hiss."
Shen Yi turned his head, intending to dismiss the status screen.
Just then, he caught sight of the father and daughter again.
They stood there like wooden posts, their souls seemingly detached from their bodies.
"I told you to scram..."
Shen Yi gritted his teeth and rubbed the back of his head, intending to speak, but then he remembered something.
His past self had come here in the middle of the night to forcefully marry the Liu family's girl. So, this place was the Liu family's home, and the ones who should be leaving were...
Shen Yi's eyes widened in embarrassment as he realized this.
Fine, he would leave.
He rolled his eyes, stood up, and reached for his sword. With his clothes in disarray, he walked out of the courtyard.
Not only did he have to deal with time-traveling, but he also had to walk home after getting hit with a stick. What kind of karma had he accumulated to deserve this? Pathetic!
"... "
The Liu family's girl clutched her father's hand tightly, her slender body trembling under her clothes.
She couldn't understand why Shen Yi's temperament had changed so drastically. Instead of tormenting her as expected, he had neither harmed her nor beaten her father. He had simply left in a sullen mood.
The creaky, dilapidated gate was pushed open.
Shen Yi stepped out, inhaling the dry night air.
Intending to clear his mind, the foul stench that invaded his nostrils made him frown subconsciously.
"Is there something I forgot?"
"Are you done? Then, it's my turn."
A hoarse voice rang in his ear, and the stench intensified severalfold.
Shen Yi's body stiffened as he glanced sideways.
A humanoid figure as massive as a small mountain squatted at the gate.
Its body was stacked with tight muscles, broad shoulders, and a sleek, black fur coat. With a forward-leaning neck, it sported a canine head.
It turned its head slowly, its clawed hand reaching into its waist pants.
Then, it stood up, towering a full head above Shen Yi, with shoulders twice as wide. Its massive shadow loomed on the ground.
"Be quicker next time. Going hungry makes me angry."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi lowered his head, his expression complex. Finally, he recalled his previous self's means of survival.
It was to collude with demons, engaging in the trade of human flesh.
With people like him pulling the strings within the government office, they could fabricate cases, ensuring the demons were well-fed without alerting the Demon Suppression Division.
Just like tonight, he had already laid the groundwork for the Liu family's demise. After the dog demon finished its meal, there wouldn't be a ripple of suspicion left in Boyun County tomorrow.
Realization dawned on him.
After a moment, Shen Yi forced a smile, bumping the demon's arm with his shoulder. "You know my skills, brother. How could I be quicker?"
After saying this, he tried to push past the demon, saying, "Let's go. I'll treat you to a drink tonight as an apology."
However, the bulky figure remained unmoving.
The dog demon looked down, its gaze indifferent as it sized up Shen Yi. "Do you take me for a fool?"
As it finished speaking, it turned and lifted the roof, stepping into the courtyard.
Having his thoughts seen through, Shen Yi instinctively reached out to stop it, but even he was surprised by his own action. What gave him the right to extend his hand?
Damn it! What does this have to do with me?
He quickly tried to retract his arm, but it was already caught by a thick, furry dog paw.
The dog demon turned abruptly, its face close to Shen Yi's. Sharp fangs glinted in its blood-filled maw, and viscous saliva hung like silk threads from its long mouth.
"Mr. Shen, you seem to truly think highly of yourself."
"Have you forgotten what kind of demon I am? I heard everything that happened inside. Are you daring to betray me?!"
The implication was clear when one of the two accomplices abandoned the other mid-crime.
As it spoke, the dog demon's robust thigh suddenly kicked out!
"Hey, you dog! Are you going to turn on me so easily?"
An unimaginable force struck his abdomen, causing Shen Yi's brain to go numb. The veins on his neck bulged, and he was sent flying backward like a torn sack, crashing through the house door.
He swore this was the closest he had ever been to death.
"Ungrateful wretch! You deserve to have your body sacrificed to my five viscera and six bowels."
Hearing the indifferent voice from outside the courtyard, Shen Yi lay on the ground, his hand pressed against his abdomen. He looked up at the father and daughter beside him, who were shaking like a sieve.
He averted his gaze and panted, "Couldn't you have... warned me... to leave through the back door?"
The old man and the girl furiously swallowed their saliva, as if doing so would suppress the scream caught in their throats.
Their faces were filled with confusion, unable to comprehend why the man before them, who was supposed to be colluding with the demons, had also been kicked in.
"Forget it... knife..."
Shen Yi lifted his hand weakly, seeing the dumbfounded pair. He reminded them again, "Hand me the knife."
Liu'er quickly picked up the knife and passed it to him. She couldn't understand who he wanted to stab. Surely not the demon outside?
Shen Yi swallowed the sweet and putrid blood in his mouth, gripping the hilt of the knife. Under the father and daughter's gaze, he suddenly spat, "Disgusting."
Whether it was the chaotic world in his residual memories, his previous self's means of survival, or the fact that he now had to mimic those actions to barely survive, it was all disgusting.
Not only disgusting but also utterly meaningless.
"... "
As he watched the dog demon push down the wall and enter the courtyard, bending its body to lick its thick claws with its fat tongue, ready to feast, a hint of madness crept into Shen Yi's eyes.
If he was going to play this game, he'd play it well.
His life was borrowed, but the demon's life was its own. What gave it the right to play with his life?
The status screen quickly unfolded before his eyes.
Infuse lifespan into martial arts to gain corresponding progress.
"Yes, the Demon-Subduing Blade Technique. Please fill it up for me."
"Thank you."
(End of Chapter)
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