Chapter 4: 2 Wisps of Evil Qi Acquired

A terrifying wave of Sword Qi, seeming to tear through anything in its path, crossed a vast distance and arrived in a flash.

A sickening thud echoed.

The Sword Qi pierced the Fox Demon. Its powerful and terrifying force slammed the demon to the ground, pinning it there.

A man dressed in black with his face covered by a dark cloth emerged from the shadows.

He held a longsword, and a rage so palpable it was almost visible emanated from him, like a volcano about to erupt.

Hiding in the shadows, Qin Shuang stared as Shen Bai charged forward, utterly stunned.

She had never sensed such fury from this mysterious man. Even on that other night, all she had felt from him was a profound sense of calm.

But now, she felt it. The rage was overwhelming, as if it could blot out the sky, and it was utterly terrifying.

’That constable must be someone extremely important to him.’

As this thought crossed Qin Shuang’s mind, she discreetly pulled a small notebook from her robes and meticulously jotted it down.

In the next moment, Shen Bai was at the riverbank, longsword in hand.

Though a black cloth hid his face, the fury in his eyes was practically bursting forth.

Zhou Qing opened his eyes, and when he saw the black-clad figure before him, he froze.

Even with the mask, the two of them were so familiar that Zhou Qing recognized Shen Bai in a single glance.

A thousand questions took root and began to sprout in his mind.

’Isn’t Lao Shen just an ordinary guy?’

’What is happening? What is this oppressive aura?’

’And what’s the deal with the Fox Demon struggling on the ground?’

Zhou Qing suddenly felt like his good brother had become some kind of powerhouse overnight.

Of course, Zhou Qing didn’t say any of this out loud. He could see that Shen Bai was wearing a mask.

They were both smart men. Obviously, Shen Bai was wearing a mask to hide his identity.

That being the case, Zhou Qing decided he might as well play along.

’After this is all over, I’ll go to the pawnshop and find Lao Shen,’ Zhou Qing thought.

While he had his own thoughts, the others were even more baffled.

This was especially true for Chief Zheng.

Chief Zheng was currently fighting a Fox Demon, but he kept glancing over at Shen Bai.

He couldn’t figure out the man’s identity, but since he had appeared and immediately dealt a heavy blow to the Fox Demon, it seemed he wasn’t an enemy.

Everyone present had their own theories, but Shen Bai was different.

Shen Bai’s gaze was icy as he slowly approached the Fox Demon, longsword in hand.

The Fox Demon, grievously wounded by the Sword Qi, struggled to its feet.

But just as it managed to stand, a blood-red wave of Sword Qi tore through the air and struck.

"SHHNK!"

The muffled sound was like a blade slicing through old cloth.

The moment Shen Bai attacked, several blasts of Sword Qi shot forth.

The brilliant, righteous Qi, combined with the innate Anti-Demon Attribute of his Blood Sword Dance, caused the blasts of Sword Qi to interweave into a net of blades.

As the net of blades closed in, it instantly diced the Fox Demon.

The Fox Demon had no strength to resist. It was reduced to a pile of mangled flesh that twitched a few times on the ground before dissolving into foul-smelling smoke.

A wisp of Evil Qi materialized and was absorbed by Shen Bai.

This scene left everyone present frozen in shock, like wooden statues.

The terrifying Fox Demon, which had sent them all into a panicked frenzy, was dispatched in just two strikes from Shen Bai’s sword.

The first strike, a grievous wound. The second, annihilation.

A few constables swallowed hard, their mouths suddenly dry as dust.

When had Shengyun County produced such a formidable figure?

Chief Zheng called out, "Sir, please lend me your strength!"

Now that he had an ally, Chief Zheng naturally had to say something.

Although he didn’t know the man’s identity, the fact that he could handle these demonic creatures was enough.

Shen Bai said nothing, but he did indeed intend to act.

These Fox Demons were demonic creatures, and to Shen Bai, that meant they were a source of Evil Qi.

Shen Bai’s longsword vibrated, and blood-red Sword Qi materialized once more.

The Fox Demon fighting Chief Zheng was pierced through the head by the Sword Qi. It fell to the ground, convulsed for a moment, and then dissipated into black smoke.

Another strike, another dead Fox Demon.

A look of utter astonishment crossed Chief Zheng’s face.

Killing the first one could have been luck. Killing the second was pure skill.

Chief Zheng cupped his fists. "Thank you for your assistance, Sir. May I ask your name? I will ensure you are handsomely rewarded when we return."

Shen Bai remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings.

He couldn’t speak.

Chief Zheng knew him, just not as well as Zhou Qing did.

As for putting on a raspy voice like in the novels... well, that sort of thing only happens in novels.

A disguised hoarse voice is still easy to see through.

Shen Bai’s silence made the scene fall quiet.

Chief Zheng felt a bit awkward and lowered his hands. "You’re right. A hero who hides his identity wouldn’t give his name. Are you perhaps here for the great tomb?"

News of the great tomb had already leaked out, which was why Chief Zheng made that guess.

The man had probably come for the great tomb, happened to run into the Fox Demons by chance, and simply lent a hand.

Shen Bai stroked his chin, ignoring Chief Zheng’s question. He was lost in thought.

’At first, I thought the Upper Evil Sect was foolish for exposing the Fox Demons so easily, but now I don’t think so. In fact, I think they’re quite clever.’

’They want to cause a bigger stir, to muddy the waters even more.’

’With these two Fox Demons, if I hadn’t been here, these constables would have suffered heavy casualties.’

Shen Bai’s gaze shifted to the middle-aged man.

’This guy... he didn’t survive by a fluke. He was intentionally allowed to escape. The one controlling the Fox Demons knew he could find help, so they used him to set a trap here and cause an even bigger incident.’

The only variable today was Shen Bai.

Shen Bai may have dispatched the Fox Demons in two strikes, but that was only because of his immense strength.

Such is the nature of a variable.

Having figured this out, Shen Bai turned to leave.

He had obtained two wisps of Evil Qi and resolved the immediate problem. Now he had to go back and wait for the great tomb to open.

Chief Zheng watched Shen Bai’s retreating figure. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words died on his lips.

"Clean up this mess. We’re returning to the Government Office."

Chief Zheng ordered, and the constables began to clean up the scene.

But none of them could forget what they had just witnessed, especially the image of Shen Bai felling a demonic creature with each strike.

Zhou Qing, especially, was already thinking that he would definitely corner Shen Bai when he got back and interrogate him thoroughly.

「Shengyun County, Shen Family Pawnshop.」

When Shen Bai and Qin Shuang returned to the pawnshop, Qin Shuang’s eyes were full of curiosity.

"That constable... he’s someone important to you, isn’t he?" Qin Shuang asked.

Shen Bai nodded. "In all of Shengyun County, he’s the person who’s treated me the best. He’s also my only true friend here."

"Ah," Qin Shuang murmured. "No wonder. But now that the mastermind’s plan has been ruined, I expect there will be a follow-up."

Shen Bai smiled. "I’m only afraid he *won’t* have a follow-up."

Qin Shuang blinked, taken aback.

Shen Bai raised a single finger and said slowly, "Remember this: there’s no such thing as a perfect person in this world, only a difference in the number of flaws they have."

"The more he acts, the more openings he’ll reveal. If he reveals enough of them before the great tomb is opened, he might not live to see what happens after."

Qin Shuang nodded, though she didn’t seem to fully understand. "Aren’t you going to practice your Fist Technique tonight?" she asked.

Shen Bai shook his head. "I’m waiting for someone."

Just as Qin Shuang was about to ask who, a knock sounded at the pawnshop door.