Chapter 4: Zhang Chaofeng Returns

It was already dusk.

A sudden knock on the door startled Qin Shuang.

When Qin Shuang looked up, she saw Shen Bai casually opening the door.

From her perspective, Qin Shuang could only see an arm reach in and wrap tightly around Shen Bai’s neck.

Qin Shuang was stunned.

’This guy didn’t seem like an easy person to get along with, yet someone actually dared to throw an arm around his neck.’

’Aren’t they asking for a death wish?’

As the thought crossed her mind, Qin Shuang could already picture the scene: Shen Bai, furious, drawing his sword and cutting the person down.

But then, a voice rang out.

"Lao Shen, you really had me fooled! Tell me, what are you going to do to make it up to me? Cured meat isn’t going to cut it."

As soon as Zhou Qing entered, he started shouting boisterously.

Seeing this, Qin Shuang breathed a sigh of relief.

’If it’s Zhou Qing, then it all makes sense.’

With Zhou Qing’s arm still around his neck, Shen Bai said helplessly, "Old Zhou, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. There were reasons."

Zhou Qing let go, sat down to the side, took a sip of tea, and stared blankly at Shen Bai.

After a moment, Zhou Qing sighed.

"I’m happy that my brother has become so strong."

He said this from the bottom of his heart.

Originally, Zhou Qing had been thinking that if he went to Fenglin State, he would take Shen Bai with him to look after him.

But now it seemed Shen Bai didn’t need his protection; in fact, he could be the one protecting him instead.

As for why Shen Bai had suddenly become so powerful, Zhou Qing didn’t ask.

They were good brothers. Zhou Qing wouldn’t pry; asking too many questions would only make things awkward.

He just needed to know that Lao Shen was strong—strong enough to survive in this world.

Shen Bai smiled, refilled Zhou Qing’s teacup, and then asked, "What’s the latest on the Fox Demon case?"

Zhou Qing thought for a moment. "Nothing unusual has happened since we returned."

"Lao Shen, about that great tomb, are you going to get involved?"

Shen Bai nodded. "Since there’s a great tomb, I’ll definitely check it out."

Zhou Qing said, "Alright. If there’s any news, I’ll come and tell you."

The two chatted for a while longer.

Zhou Qing’s purpose in coming over was just to chat with Shen Bai for a bit and, while he was at it, confirm Shen Bai’s identity.

The Government Office had just dealt with the Fox Demon, so Zhou Qing didn’t stay long and left the pawnshop.

"There’s more to this Fox Demon business. We should be careful," Qin Shuang reminded him after Zhou Qing had left.

Then again, she knew her warning was pretty useless. With Shen Bai’s level of strength, it made little difference whether she warned him or not.

Shen Bai thought for a moment. ’For now, it’s best to wait and see. The most important thing is to improve my own strength first.’

With that in mind, Shen Bai went to the courtyard and began grinding his Vajra Demon Subduing Fist.

Qin Shuang brought out a small stool, sat in the courtyard, and watched Shen Bai’s figure as he practiced, her eyes wide.

The night passed quickly.

When Shen Bai snapped out of his state of grinding Skill Level, he let out a long breath.

Another 300 points to its Skill Level. Now, the Vajra Demon Subduing Fist’s Skill Level was approaching the 2,000-point mark, bringing it even closer to Level 4.

Shen Bai stretched, moved his body around a bit, and then took some Qi Blood Medicine.

Qin Shuang, having just finished resting, came out of her room to see Shen Bai drinking the medicine.

"You shouldn’t take too much of that ordinary Qi Blood Medicine. It leaves behind a lot of residue, which isn’t good for your body."

Shen Bai set the medicine jar aside.

’She’s right about that.’

’The more ordinary the medicine, the more dregs it contains.’

’It’s only because my Qi and Blood are like a Dragon that I can forcibly expel the medicine’s side effects.’

’But this ordinary medicine is all I can find at the moment.’

’Even without the Liver Blood Sword Dance, my other Divine Powers still consume Qi and Blood, so I need to replenish it accordingly.’

Qin Shuang thought for a moment, then tossed him a porcelain bottle. "Here, take this. It’s an Elixir for replenishing Qi and Blood, refined by the Hundred Medicines Valley."

Shen Bai caught it but didn’t take it. Instead, he put it away.

Qin Shuang said helplessly, "I know you’re cautious, but I’m really not trying to harm you."

Shen Bai smiled. "One must be careful with things you ingest. I’m curious, you have quite a few treasures. You don’t seem like a Thief Sect Disciple."

From the sachet to this Elixir, if they were all genuine, Shen Bai felt Qin Shuang’s identity warranted further investigation.

Qin Shuang coughed. "We’re the Thief Sect. It’s perfectly normal for us to have a few extra things."

"Really?" Shen Bai raised an eyebrow.

Qin Shuang said very seriously, "Really."

Shen Bai warned, "I don’t care if you’re telling the truth or not. I only want what’s in the great tomb. If you don’t cause any trouble, we’ll still split it fifty-fifty. But if you do, I will personally remove that pretty little head of yours."

Qin Shuang stuck her neck out. "Hmph, I’m taking this cooperation very seriously."

Shen Bai stood up. "Let’s eat."

Qin Shuang asked, "How come you always eat on time every day?"

"Discipline."

After saying that one word, Shen Bai headed out of the pawnshop.

Helpless, Qin Shuang could only follow behind him.

The two ate at a street stall. Shen Bai returned to the pawnshop, rubbing his stomach as if to aid his digestion.

The pawnshop was open for business as usual today, but since no one came by, Shen Bai took a nap on his reclining chair.

Qin Shuang, meanwhile, boredly rummaged through the items in the pawnshop, her only way to pass the time.

"Say, how much good stuff do you think we’ll be able to get this time?"

After being bored for a good while, Qin Shuang rested her chin on her hands and asked.

Without even lifting an eyelid, Shen Bai replied, "We’ll get what we get."

"If we get everything, wouldn’t we be rich?" Qin Shuang added.

Shen Bai chuckled. "You’re quite the dreamer."

Qin Shuang continued, "The two of us go in, and it’ll be a total slaughter, right?"

"More like a *quack-quack* slaughter," Shen Bai said.

Qin Shuang asked curiously, "What does a *quack-quack* slaughter mean?"

Shen Bai opened his eyes. "I’ll be in charge of the slaughtering. You’ll be in charge of the *quack-quacking*."

Qin Shuang: "..."

She suddenly realized it was difficult to communicate with Shen Bai, because his words could be so hurtful.

The two continued to chat idly back and forth.

Time trickled by, and they went out to eat again in between.

Just as night was about to fall, someone entered the pawnshop.

"We’re closed. Come back tomorrow." Shen Bai had rested for a good while and was ready to go back to grinding his Skill Level; he had no more time for business.

But the person didn’t seem to listen and walked into the pawnshop on their own.

Shen Bai looked up and saw who it was.

"Zhang Chaofeng?"

Shen Bai hadn’t expected Zhang Chaofeng to return just as night was falling.

However, Zhang Chaofeng was not in a good state.

He was covered in filth from head to toe, and his eyes were filled with a dazed confusion.

Upon seeing Shen Bai, the look in Zhang Chaofeng’s eyes eased slightly before he collapsed to the ground.

"Shopkeeper, it’s over! It’s all over!"

"My wife is dead! Everyone in the village is dead!"

"A Fox Demon... a Fox Demon is causing this! They’re all gone..."

Inside the pawnshop, Zhang Chaofeng’s desperate cries were painfully clear.