Chapter 4: Blood Sword Dance, Level 4

An order from the Government Office?

Shen Bai found it a little strange.

Usually, when Zhou Qing came looking for him, the two of them would just chat about everyday trifles.

Here in Shengyun County, Zhou Qing was Shen Bai’s only friend, and the same was true for Zhou Qing.

But now, Zhou Qing wore a rare, solemn expression. Shen Bai felt this was no simple matter.

It was indeed easy to be overheard talking outside. After a moment’s thought, Shen Bai led Zhou Qing into the pawnshop and casually closed the door behind them.

Shen Bai poured a cup of tea and handed it to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing took it and drained it in one gulp.

Before Shen Bai could even speak, Zhou Qing began.

"Lao Shen, you must remember. If anyone comes to your shop recently to pawn any strange or peculiar items, keep them there and have Zhang Chaofeng report to the Government Office immediately."

Shen Bai took a sip of tea. "What in the world is going on? Why all the secrecy?"

As a Shopkeeper, Shen Bai knew the ins and outs of the pawn business.

He received all sorts of strange and peculiar things on a regular basis.

Zhou Qing glanced left and right, looking secretive. "The Observatory has issued an order. All shops in Shengyun County are to be on alert. If any strange objects appear, report them immediately. Anything you think is strange counts. The Government Office is offering a hefty reward."

Hearing this, Shen Bai had a moment of realization.

At any other time, Shen Bai wouldn’t have been able to guess the reason. But after the incident with the Locust Tree, and especially after what Wuhua had told him, he knew why.

’This might be related to the Deceitful Object the Observatory lost,’ Shen Bai thought.

’Aren’t strange and peculiar things just another way of saying Deceitful Objects?’

’The Observatory is probably just being deliberately vague because they’re afraid of causing a panic.’

Shen Bai nodded. "Don’t worry. If I come across anything, I’ll report it to the Government Office right away."

That was the long and short of it, and of course Shen Bai would cooperate fully.

He needed Deceitful Objects, but he didn’t need trouble, so he would weigh his options carefully.

Zhou Qing nodded. "Good. I still have things to do at the Government Office. Lao Shen, I’ll be going now."

Official duties had been piling up recently, and the Shengyun County Government Office was unusually busy.

Shen Bai asked, "Old Zhou, the people from the Observatory will be here soon. What are your plans?"

At these words, Zhou Qing’s body suddenly froze.

After a long moment, Zhou Qing gave a bitter smile. "I’m not going this year."

Shen Bai was slightly surprised. "Getting into the Observatory has always been your dream. Why don’t you want to go anymore?"

Every year, the Observatory recruited personnel from the various Government Offices, admitting them after a series of assessments.

Shen Bai knew Zhou Qing well; his dream was to enter the Observatory.

But now he was suddenly saying he wouldn’t go, which puzzled Shen Bai greatly.

For the past few years, Zhou Qing had taken the assessment almost every year. He came closest last year, missing the mark for entering the Observatory by just a hair.

Zhou Qing sighed. "I’m still in the Daoist Scripture Realm, and the assessment gets more difficult every year. There’s no point in wasting my time."

Shen Bai frowned. "Old Zhou, there’s no need to lie between us."

Zhou Qing gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "We have to give up a spot. This year, the County Magistrate’s nephew joined the County Magistrate’s Office, and the Magistrate wants us to give up our spots for him."

"His nephew was originally studying in another county, trying to earn an official title, but he failed every time. So he came to Shengyun County to use the County Magistrate’s influence to clear some obstacles."

"I... I’ll try again next year."

Hearing this, Shen Bai finally understood what was going on.

"Do you need my help?"

Zhou Qing was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. "Lao Shen, don’t do anything reckless. You’re just an ordinary person. You don’t know the difficulties of this world. It’s fine. It just means I have to wait another year."

In Zhou Qing’s mind, Shen Bai had always been an ordinary person.

He and Shen Bai were good brothers, and he never wanted Shen Bai to get involved in this circle, so he rarely brought it up.

After all, it would be a bad thing for an ordinary person to get involved.

This was Zhou Qing’s way of protecting Shen Bai. Even now, he was still thinking about Shen Bai’s safety.

"Lao Shen, I have to go. I’m really busy."

At this point, Zhou Qing really did have things to attend to and couldn’t stay long. He turned and left the pawnshop.

Shen Bai watched Zhou Qing’s retreating back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

’It seems things in Shengyun County aren’t so peaceful. I’ll wait and see what happens when the people from the Observatory arrive.’

’The most important thing for me right now is to increase my strength.’

’But... as for Old Zhou’s problem, it’s not entirely without a solution. I’ll see how things develop.’

Shen Bai was also extremely displeased about the County Magistrate forcing Zhou Qing to give up his spot.

He treated others as they treated him.

Zhou Qing treated him like a brother, and of course, he felt the same way.

However, there was still some time before the Observatory’s next assessment. For now, Shen Bai decided to lay low and see how things played out.

With that in mind, Shen Bai sat down in the pawnshop and began his business for the day.

Time passed slowly amidst a life of routine.

For Shen Bai, the recent period had been calm and peaceful, without any waves.

There were no strange occurrences, no enemies, no one came looking for him, and none of those trivial annoyances.

Shen Bai had ample time. He spent his days engrossed in the Liver Blood Sword Dance, completely obsessed.

He ran the shop during the day and practiced the Liver Blood Sword Dance at night. Aside from eating and working, Shen Bai focused almost all his thoughts on the Blood Sword Dance.

During this time, Zhang Chaofeng had someone send a message, saying he had encountered a landslide on his way back and would need more time before he could return.

It was the rainy season, and besides, the pawnshop hadn’t had much business lately, so Shen Bai agreed.

This routine life became more and more intoxicating for Shen Bai.

He suddenly felt that if his Golden Finger didn’t require Evil Qi and appraisals, he could even find some forgotten corner of the world and grind until he was invincible before re-emerging.

It was worth mentioning that after Wuhua returned to Xuanxin Temple, he had sent Shen Bai a letter.

Xuanxin Temple knew the details of Wuhua’s situation, so they asked him who had helped him.

When Wuhua wrote to ask for Shen Bai’s opinion, Shen Bai thought about it and agreed.

He needed connections.

His Golden Finger required Evil Qi and Deceitful Objects. Shen Bai couldn’t stay in Shengyun County forever, so Fenglin State was a very good option.

Xuanxin Temple was one of the Renowned and Righteous Sects, so Shen Bai felt it would be a good thing to build a relationship with them.

Afterward, Wuhua wrote again, saying that if Shen Bai were to go to Fenglin State, Xuanxin Temple would host a welcome for him.

Shen Bai wasn’t in a hurry for the time being. He currently had Skill Level to grind.

And so, Shen Bai passed this period of time with ease.

And from this period of frantic grinding, Shen Bai also reaped corresponding rewards.

"Finally... Level 4."

Shen Bai looked at the smoke before him and let out a sigh of relief.

Before his eyes, the words formed by the smoke were gradually becoming solid.

The Blood Sword Dance was at Level 4!

The Attributes of the Blood Sword Dance gradually appeared.

Shen Bai’s eyes lit up when he saw this line of text.

"These Attributes... are pretty interesting."