From slaying demons and eradicating evil, begining the path to immortality 31

Chapter 31: The Overbearing Old Master Lin

Shen Yi finished asking his question and continued to calmly observe the Monk with a Thin Head.

The Monk with a Thin Head was momentarily stunned, almost believing that Shen Yi genuinely wanted an “answer.”

Moments later, rage welled up in his heart.

His eyes were vicious, his breathing rapid. Since arriving in Baiyun County, no one had ever dared to challenge him like this.

The Monk with a Thin Head’s five fingers clenched tight, his nails digging into his palm.

He desperately wanted to strike the other man’s skull with a full-force palm strike.

But for some reason, under the gaze of Shen Yi’s unwavering eyes, he inexplicably felt a sense of panic. His hand remained stubbornly unraised. Had he become complacent in the manor, losing his fighting spirit?

No, it was simply unnecessary to bother with a dead man; it was unwise.

Having offended the North Cliff Fox Spirit, the other man had no way out; there was no need for him to act himself.

Thinking this, the Monk with a Thin Head forced a sneer, but it lacked conviction: “As expected of someone from the Yamen. Sir Shen is even more imposing than the County Governor. It was I who was out of line.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi nodded, turned to leave, then suddenly remembered something and looked back with a hint of concern: “At your age, don’t keep smirking like that; it’ll cause facial paralysis.”

“Hmph…”

The Monk with a Thin Head subconsciously adjusted his mouth, then his eyelids twitched violently.

Watching the other man’s leisurely departing back, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest, a trace of blood welling up in his mouth.

Zhang the Butcher approached his senior brother, giving him a pitying glance before leaving the Lin residence.

“The house actually hid such a ferocious tiger demon!”

Old Master Lin, arriving late, widened his eyes, watching Chen Ji secure the enormous tiger carcass onto a cart.

He then glanced at the Monk with a Thin Head, who remained standing there, bowing and smiling obsequiously, before hurrying towards Shen Yi.

“Sir Shen, please wait!”

His frail body, burdened by his elaborate attire, couldn’t keep up; he could only repeatedly call out.

Shen Yi stopped, puzzled.

“I’ve come to apologize for my earlier behavior.”

Old Master Lin bowed his head in shame, his knees trembling: “You saved my daughter, yet I suspected you of colluding with demons to harm her, causing her memory loss. Bringing her home was merely a ruse to swindle some money for gambling…”

Shen Yi’s expression stiffened.

“My merchant’s eyes were blinded by greed,” Old Master Lin sighed regretfully, but didn’t notice Shen Yi subtly turning his head away.

“You are a good person. Bai Wei was blinded by the demon, and if it weren’t for you today, our Lin family would have been eaten clean by that tiger demon.”

“…”

Hearing that name again, Shen Yi fell silent.

Of all the problems left behind by his previous self, this was the most lethal.

Either he would kill the fox spirit to eliminate the threat.

Or he would eliminate the real Lin Bai Wei and become complicit with the North Cliff Fox Spirit.

There was virtually no third option.

The decisive strike earlier not only severed the tiger demon’s head but also cut off his own retreat.

Shen Yi considered himself an ordinary person, prone to anxiety and indecision.

It was better to be decisive, to follow his heart, without hesitating like a child who couldn’t let go of anything.

“No need. Receiving an imperial salary and fulfilling my duties is only proper.”

Shen Yi composed himself. Seeing Chen Ji approach with the cart, he nodded slightly and bid farewell to Old Master Lin.

“Only proper…” Old Master Lin nodded in agreement, but a bitter taste lingered on his lips. So proper, then why didn’t the Monk with a Thin Head do his job properly after receiving so much silver from the County Governor?

“Sir Shen, once Bai Wei returns, how about I invite you over for tea? She also studied martial arts and knows a bit of it. You’re both around the same age; you’ll likely have much to talk about.”

Chen Ji instinctively frowned.

Everyone in Baiyun County knew the Lin family’s daughter was strikingly beautiful. Countless eligible bachelors lusted after her. Compared to her, his own younger sister, while pretty, was far inferior in terms of background and sophistication.

Wait… why was he comparing his sister to the Lin family’s young miss?

Chen Ji slapped his forehead. Besides, with Sir Shen’s current martial arts skills, he wouldn’t be interested in a woman who consorted with demons.

“What do you think?” Old Master Lin asked cautiously.

Shen Yi looked down at his waist-hung saber and calmly said, “Very well.”

Receiving an affirmative answer, Old Master Lin was overjoyed. Although the other man’s expression was odd, they were young; more contact might lead to something!

Chen Ji rolled his eyes. Sure enough, even if everything else changed, Sir Shen’s restless heart would never change.

Just then, the fat steward, wearing clean clothes, struggled to carry a large silk bag and deposited it on the cart with a grunt.

Chen Ji could tell from the sound what was inside.

Judging from the cart’s swaying, there were at least eight hundred taels—enough to cover a constable’s salary for thirty years.

“Please don’t refuse. If you don’t accept, I won’t be able to live with myself. Besides, the demon-slaying silver is tacitly approved by the court,” Old Master Lin repeatedly bowed.

“Knowing you like to gamble, copper coins are inconvenient, and banknotes aren’t impressive enough, so it’s all in silver,” the fat steward chuckled, taking credit for his ingenuity.

Shen Yi walked to the cart, lifted the silk cloth, and looked at the glistening silver. A subtle hint of envy flashed in his calm eyes.

Rich bastard! I should find a lamppost and hang them all up.

Two double-egg pancakes only cost ten cash; this silver could wrap the entire vendor family in pancakes.

“There is such a saying,” Chen Ji sighed, acknowledging that the other man’s casual sum far surpassed what he could save for his sister’s dowry in a lifetime.

Shen Yi casually tossed around a few pieces, selecting two ten-tael ingots, and threw one to Chen Ji: “This is enough.”

He couldn’t help the Lin family raise a daughter for free; he still needed to contribute to their food expenses.

He pushed the rest off the cart.

Without giving anyone else a chance to speak, he left Old Master Lin standing there dumbfounded and left the Lin residence.

Chen Ji, holding the ingot in surprise, hurriedly followed with the cart.

“Sir Shen.”

Once on the street, Chen Ji finally decided to ask about what happened earlier.

He truly hadn’t expected the other man to so easily fall out with the Monk with a Thin Head.

“Next time, use your brain before acting. Your life wasn’t gifted to you,” Shen Yi stretched, heading towards a tavern, pointing at the various menu boards: “A pot of Huadiao wine, a roasted goose leg – the left one, and a steamed fish…”

Watching his back as he ordered, Chen Ji rubbed his stomach.

Sir Shen’s words sounded as if the other person’s life was gifted to him… Even if it were, why should he stick his neck out for a stranger?

Even to the point of buying them dinner.

When Shen Yi left carrying the earthenware pot and lotus-leaf package, Chen Ji opened his mouth slightly, puzzled, “Aren’t we eating here?”

“Who’s ‘we’?”

Shen Yi turned around, his expression strange: “If you want to eat, buy your own.”

Do you understand the concept of separating public and private matters?

With only two taels and four cash per month, treating him to a meal? Treating him to a fart was more like it.

“…”

Chen Ji took out the ten-tael ingot, looked at the silver, then at the other man, feeling immense emotion:

“What a strange person.”

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