Chapter 4: A Visitor to the Pawnshop

Shen Bai saw this, put down his cup, and spun it gently.

The wounds carried a strange aura. Having dealt with aberrations many times before, Shen Bai recognized it at a glance.

’So that’s what happened. This person must have been fighting an aberration,’ Shen Bai thought.

At that moment, Zhou Qing was already leading the constables away from Shen Bai’s location.

The matter was urgent, and Zhou Qing was so busy directing the men carrying the injured person that he didn’t notice Shen Bai eating in the shop.

Shen Bai thought for a moment, then called out, "Old Zhou."

Zhou Qing, who was ordering the constables to hurry, heard the voice and instinctively turned his head. He saw Shen Bai waving at him.

Zhou Qing said to the other constables, "You all take him back to the County Magistrate’s Office first. I’m going to have a quick word with my brother."

In the entire County Magistrate’s Office, among the constables, Zhou Qing was second in command only to Chief Zheng. The other constables obediently departed.

Zhou Qing walked over and said, "Lao Shen, finish up and head home. Don’t linger on the streets at night."

Shen Bai pointed at the retreating figures of the constables and asked, "What happened here?"

Zhou Qing sighed helplessly. "A Fox Girl appeared. This man is a Ghost Hunter who took on a mission from the Observatory. He nearly lost his life, escaped to the city gate on his own, and was saved by the patrolling constables."

Fox Girl?

Shen Bai stroked his chin. "What’s that?"

Shen Bai knew about Ghost Hunters. To put it simply, they were no different from bounty hunters.

The Great Zhou Country was too vast for the Observatory to manage everything on its own.

Thus, the Ghost Hunters came into being.

They accept missions, complete them, and receive rewards from the Observatory.

It was simple and direct, with no complex entanglements of interest. Ghost Hunters were purely in it for the reward.

But as for the term "Fox Girl," this was the first time Shen Bai had heard it.

Zhou Qing glanced around. Seeing that the people nearby were giving him a wide berth, he leaned closer to Shen Bai.

"The Fox Girl is an aberration. You might not understand what an ’aberration’ is..."

"Let me put it this way, have you heard the story of the grateful fox spirit?"

Shen Bai thought for a moment and nodded. "I’ve heard of the grateful fox spirit. Also, I know what aberrations are. I run a pawnshop, so I’ve collected a lot of interesting stories and information."

The so-called ’grateful fox spirit’ story is about a fox spirit who, after being saved from a calamity, would often bring all sorts of things to its savior to repay the kindness.

This story was widely circulated among the common folk, and some even adapted it into a love story where the fox spirit transforms into a woman to spend the rest of her life with her benefactor.

Zhou Qing was slightly surprised. "Lao Shen, you know about aberrations too?"

Shen Bai nodded. "A pawnshop is a place where all sorts of people and matters come and go, after all."

They were good brothers, so Zhou Qing didn’t question it further and began to explain.

"After animals die, if they are influenced by resentment, they can also become aberrations. The Fox Girl is one such type."

"They also hate the living, but their method of killing is different."

"The Fox Girl will bring back many things from the outside, some good, some bad."

"If you don’t accept them, the Fox Girl will fly into a rage and kill you. If you do accept, your entire Essence, Qi, and Spirit will be damaged by the things it brings."

"The better the item, the greater the damage. Over time, you’ll die either way."

At this point, Zhou Qing paused for a moment.

A look of realization dawned on Shen Bai’s face.

To be honest, this was the first time he had heard such a bizarre story, and it felt quite strange.

"So what are you guys going to do?" Shen Bai asked.

Zhou Qing said, "The Observatory’s inspection is imminent, and now this business with the grateful Fox Girl has cropped up. The Government Office has to handle it seriously, or else the County Magistrate will have to take the fall."

Shen Bai stroked his chin. "That’s certainly true."

Zhou Qing glanced in the direction of the County Magistrate’s Office. "Lao Shen, I can’t talk anymore. I have to get back."

With an aberration-related incident, Zhou Qing naturally had to go back and deal with it first.

Shen Bai didn’t stop him; after all, the man was on official business.

"By the way, Old Zhou, if there’s any important news, let me know."

Zhou Qing asked quizzically, "Lao Shen, what do you need this information for?"

Shen Bai spread his hands. "The world is unstable. It’s always good to have more information. I’ve got to protect my own neck."

Zhou Qing clapped Shen Bai on the shoulder. "Lao Shen, don’t worry. As long as I, Zhou Qing, am in Shengyun County, you won’t get into any trouble unless I die before you do."

Shen Bai: "..."

He really wanted to say that Zhou Qing currently resembled a General on an opera stage, covered in death flags.

As for the matter of information—it concerned an aberration.

If he could get his hands on a wisp of Evil Qi, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for Shen Bai.

Zhou Qing was very busy and had no time to say more. He turned and left.

After finishing his meal, Shen Bai had nothing else to do, so he turned and walked back toward his pawnshop.

「Nighttime.」

Shen Bai stood in his courtyard, practicing the Vajra Demon Subduing Fist.

His Skill Level was rising steadily, getting closer and closer to Level 4.

While grinding, Shen Bai was also thinking about the day’s events.

’I don’t need Evil Qi right now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t need it in the future.’

’I’ll wait for news from Old Zhou. If an opportunity comes up, I’ll go for it.’

Having made up his mind, Shen Bai continued to grind.

The Skill Level of his Vajra Demon Subduing Fist kept increasing.

Just as Shen Bai was immersed in his intense grinding, the Qi inside his body stirred, and he sensed something unusual.

A faint, unusual sound came from the outer door.

If not for the quiet of the night, even Shen Bai wouldn’t have heard it.

’The sound is too soft. It’s not something an ordinary person could make.’

Shen Bai frowned, drew the longsword from his waist, and crept quietly toward the front room of the pawnshop.

The room was dark, without any light.

A figure was rummaging through the room.

What was surprising was that even as the figure rummaged, it didn’t make the slightest sound, as if on silent mode.

The various chests in the pawnshop had been turned upside down, their pawned contents strewn about.

"That can’t be right. That man was talking with the constables this morning. He should have something of substance."

"How is it all just common, everyday stuff? Did I misjudge him?"

The voice was clear and crisp; it was a woman.

Shen Bai, hidden in the shadows, took in the entire scene.

After a moment of thought, Shen Bai lifted his foot and took a step forward.

The instant his foot landed, the woman spun around abruptly.

"Who’s there!"

In the darkness, Shen Bai saw a flash of white flying toward his face.

’Lime powder?’

’Such a dirty trick?’

Shen Bai swung his longsword casually, as if simply swatting a mosquito.

The lime powder was completely dispersed.

In the darkness, after throwing the lime powder, the woman prepared to flee.

Seeing this, Shen Bai smiled faintly.

A blood-red glint shot from his longsword. The Sword Qi, carrying a magnificent and righteous aura, pierced the opposite wall less than three inches from the fleeing woman.

FWOOSH...

A gust of wind swept by, and an oil lamp flickered to life.

Shen Bai looked at the woman before him, his tone as calm as still water. He held a lamp in his left hand and his sword in his right as he slowly approached.

"Run again, and the next sword strike will be for your neck."