Chapter 4: News from the Government Office, Heading Out

Qin Shuang listened, only half-understanding, a look of confusion on her face.

Shen Bai said slowly, "The Observatory is already aware that the Deceitful Object is missing. They also know exactly what it does."

"Under these circumstances, what benefit do you think he could possibly gain?"

Qin Shuang thought for a moment. "None. The Observatory isn’t to be trifled with."

Shen Bai smiled. "If that’s the case, then his goal is to muddy the waters. The more people who get involved, the more the Observatory’s attention will be obstructed. The murkier the water, the more divided their focus becomes, and the better his chances of finding something valuable in the great tomb."

"I have to say, this traitor from your Thief Sect has some brains."

Qin Shuang nodded. "This just makes things more and more complicated."

"A person’s energy is finite."

Shen Bai stood up to pay the bill. "With more people involved, the Observatory’s energy will be spread thin, and they won’t be able to pay attention to everything."

Qin Shuang followed him. "So what do we do?"

"We wait and see."

Shen Bai started walking toward the pawnshop. "Our target is the tomb. As for this guy from the Upper Evil Sect, he’s the Observatory’s headache. Of course, if I happen to find him, I wouldn’t mind ending his life with a single strike of my sword."

Qin Shuang watched Shen Bai’s back, and after hearing the Evil Qi lacing his words, she shivered and quickened her pace to catch up.

Back at the pawnshop, Shen Bai went about his business as usual.

Qin Shuang sat to the side, curiously observing Shen Bai’s daily routine.

"So you really are a pawnshop owner."

"What else would I be?"

"With your level of strength, why would you be willing to be a pawnshop owner?"

"I have to eat, too."

"You could eat better in Fenglin State."

"I can eat better here, too."

Shen Bai chatted with Qin Shuang while tallying the accounts.

Qin Shuang’s curiosity only grew.

In her eyes, his identity as a pawnshop owner didn’t seem like an act. Shen Bai’s various actions were just too practiced; it was as if he had truly been a pawnshop owner for a very long time.

After finishing the accounts, Shen Bai checked on the various pawned items before finally starting to lounge around like a salted fish.

’Is Old Zhang enjoying himself so much at home that he’s forgotten to come back?’

Zhang Chaofeng still hadn’t shown up. The leave Shen Bai had granted him only had a few days left, yet there was still no word from him.

Shen Bai missed the days when Zhang Chaofeng was around. At least when Zhang Chaofeng was here, he could go to the backyard and grind his Skill Level.

The two of them continued to chat idly.

After they had been talking for a while, someone suddenly walked in through the door.

"Lao Shen, don’t go out much for the next few days. I’m about to leave Shengyun County for a bit."

Zhou Qing had just entered when he bellowed this out.

Halfway through his sentence, Zhou Qing noticed Qin Shuang sitting obediently beside Shen Bai and immediately froze.

"What’s... the situation here?" Zhou Qing asked curiously.

Shen Bai pointed at Qin Shuang and said, "A distant relative. She’s here seeking refuge."

Qin Shuang nodded vigorously, playing along. "Seeking refuge."

Zhou Qing asked, puzzled, "Your parents died long ago. How can you suddenly have a distant relative show up now?"

Shen Bai spread his hands. "I don’t know why either. I’m just taking her in for now."

’The simpler the explanation, the better. Besides, their relationship was solid enough that Shen Bai didn’t need to say much.’

Zhou Qing snapped back to his senses. He didn’t press the matter and returned to the topic, repeating the reason for his visit.

"Since yesterday, more and more Jianghu People have been showing up in the county. It’s supposedly related to a great Daoist School tomb."

Shen Bai already knew all this, but he didn’t interrupt, waiting for Zhou Qing to continue.

After a slight pause, Zhou Qing continued, "Not long ago, a Ghost Hunter was injured, remember?"

Hearing this, Shen Bai thought of the middle-aged swordsman who had come to the pawnshop to pawn his sword.

"We healed his injuries, and in return, he told us how to find the Fox Girl. We’re preparing to set out immediately. So, I rushed over to tell you."

Zhou Qing said, "Shengyun County has been chaotic lately. Don’t keep the shop open too late."

Shen Bai asked, "Old Zhou, there’s actually a way to find the Fox Girl?"

Zhou Qing nodded. "That Ghost Hunter has a Deceitful Object on him that can track the Fox Girl. But the Deceitful Object can only be used three times, and there are only two uses left."

Shen Bai understood.

’If it’s a Deceitful Object, then it all makes sense.’

Deceitful Objects had all sorts of abilities; it wasn’t surprising that one existed that could find the Fox Girl.

"I’m off."

Zhou Qing stood up. "Lao Shen, you have to be careful."

Busy with official duties, Zhou Qing didn’t linger and left immediately.

Shen Bai watched Zhou Qing’s departing figure, then rose and gripped the Longsword at his waist.

Qin Shuang had been enjoying the show from the sidelines. Seeing Shen Bai stand up, she asked in surprise, "What are you doing?"

Shen Bai turned his head. "I’m going to follow them and see what happens."

Since there was a clue, Shen Bai planned to check it out.

If he could deal with the Fox Girl beforehand, it would mean one less opponent for Shen Bai when the great tomb was eventually opened.

An opponent from the Upper Evil Sect, no less.

Qin Shuang thought for a moment, then took out a sachet and tossed it to Shen Bai.

Shen Bai caught it and looked. The fragrance seemed to be the same one Qin Shuang wore.

Qin Shuang explained, "It’s made by the Thief Sect. It can mask your own Qi. It loses its effect once the scent fades. The reason I was able to move so quietly when I was searching the pawnshop before was because of this sachet."

There were too many strange and wondrous abilities in this world; Shen Bai didn’t bother asking about the principle behind it.

But Qin Shuang’s actions gave Shen Bai an idea.

’It seems I’m still lacking a Stealth Divine Power. I should try to find one when I get the chance.’

Though the thought occurred to him, Shen Bai didn’t dwell on it. After taking the sachet, he left the pawnshop with Qin Shuang.

On the way from the pawnshop to the Government Office, Shen Bai discovered the sachet worked exactly as Qin Shuang had described.

They were clearly walking down the street, yet none of the common people around them so much as glanced their way.

The two of them followed the street for some time before arriving at the Government Office.

At that moment, the constables of the Government Office had already gathered and were heading out under the leadership of Chief Zheng.

Zhou Qing and the middle-aged Ghost Hunter were among them.

Shen Bai and Qin Shuang exchanged a look, then followed from a distance, silently leaving Shengyun County.

「A barren wilderness.」

After leaving Shengyun County, the middle-aged Ghost Hunter held a Compass-like object, guiding the constables forward.

After trekking for about half an hour, they finally arrived at the bank of a clear river.

Shen Bai and Qin Shuang looked up and saw that wooden stakes stood all around the river.

"Those... are people!"

Seeing this, Shen Bai frowned.

A dozen or so corpses were tied to the wooden stakes, their internal organs ripped out, leaving them completely empty inside.

Not far away, by the riverbank, a fox was crouched over one of the corpses, gnawing on it with heavy breaths.