Anyone trying to make a living in Shengyun County naturally had connections with the constables, and Shen Bai was no exception.
Running a pawnshop business, he sometimes needed to deal with officials.
While Chief Zheng was speaking, a young constable behind him kept trying to catch Shen Bai's eye.
Shen Bai understood instantly. Putting two and two together, he realized the Government Office was investigating the old Daoist's death.
"Lord Zheng, an old Daoist did indeed come to redeem a Peach Wood Sword a few days ago, but he left right after."
There wasn't a single false word in his statement, and Shen Bai had no reason to lie.
Chief Zheng mulled it over for a moment before saying, "Shopkeeper Shen, I know you and Zhou Qing are close, but this matter is of great importance. Would you mind if my men went inside to conduct a search?"
Shen Bai gestured for them to enter and smiled. "Old Zhou works as a constable at the Government Office, and he often relies on your guidance, Chief Zheng. Of course, I'll cooperate."
Chief Zheng grunted in acknowledgment and waved to the constables behind him. "Be careful. Don't break anything inside."
Several constables immediately headed into the Shen Family Pawnshop, but the young constable was the only one who didn't go in.
Chief Zheng smiled. "I'll go in and have a seat as well. You two can catch up on your own."
After Chief Zheng had left, the young constable, Zhou Qing, sidled up to him.
"Old Zhou, that wasn't very loyal of you. If you were coming to search the place, you could've at least given me a heads-up, right?"
Shen Bai slung an arm around Zhou Qing's shoulder. "You really gave me a scare."
Zhou Qing was a constable in Shengyun County and also Shen Bai's friend in the Government Office.
Over the past few months, whenever people who had pawned items they couldn't redeem tried to cause trouble at the Shen Family Pawnshop, it was always Zhou Qing who smoothed things over.
Zhou Qing gave a bitter smile. "Lao Shen, this is a huge deal. There was no time to inform you. Don't go out at night for the next few days. If you encounter anything strange or bizarre, you must report it to the authorities."
Shen Bai asked, puzzled, "Don't tell me this is all related to Master Qian's death?"
Zhou Qing nodded. "A new faction has appeared in Shengyun County recently, calling themselves the Five-Heart Sect. They preach about 'Five Hearts Facing Heaven' and living a carefree life. Master Qian believed in the Five-Heart Sect, and he died not long after. The Government Office investigated them but found nothing. But only a fool would believe that."
The Great Zhou Country was home to countless factions, and Shengyun County was no different. As long as such groups submitted to official oversight, the authorities wouldn't interfere arbitrarily.
Besides, with the Great Zhou's dynasty in turmoil, a remote little county like this had little power to regulate them anyway.
Shen Bai stroked his chin.
He had heard of this Five-Heart Sect. It seemed they had quite a few followers in the county town.
While the two were chatting, Chief Zheng emerged from the building with his men.
"We're done with the search. Shopkeeper Shen, you can get back to business. Sorry for the disturbance."
"You're too kind, Chief Zheng. We're just common folk; of course we'll cooperate with the Government Office."
Shen Bai glanced at the pawnshop and said, "Why don't you and your men stay for a meal? When Zhang Chaofeng gets back, I'll have him buy some food and wine."
Chief Zheng shook his head. "Some other time. Zhou Qing, take your men. We're heading to the next place. Wait... Shopkeeper Shen, are you carrying a sword?"
"Everyone knows what happened to Master Qian. I'm just carrying a sword for self-defense," Shen Bai said with a smile.
Chief Zheng clapped Shen Bai on the shoulder. "As long as you stay indoors at night, you'll be fine. Men, let's move out!"
The constables left in a hurry, without any further pleasantries with Shen Bai.
Shen Bai watched Chief Zheng's retreating back, and after a moment's thought, he mused to himself, 'But I'm really craving it.'
...
Back at the pawnshop, it wasn't long before Zhang Chaofeng arrived.
It was an ordinary day as usual, with the only difference being that Zhang Chaofeng was alone at the counter.
Shen Bai returned to the backyard, picked up his rusty Longsword, and began to practice the Blood Sword Dance.
[Blood Sword Dance +1, +1, +1...]
His Skill Level was increasing slowly, but Shen Bai wasn't worried. As long as it was going up, that was all that mattered.
Besides, with every increase, Shen Bai could feel his control over the Blood Sword Dance growing more familiar.
Shen Bai spent the entire morning relentlessly practicing the Blood Sword Dance, and his stomach grew emptier and emptier.
"Old Zhang, watch the shop. I'm going out to grab a bite."
Every sword strike consumed a vast amount of his Qi and blood, so Shen Bai got hungry incredibly fast.
Out on the street, Shen Bai wolfed down five bowls of rice and two pounds of meat before returning to the pawnshop, much to the shopkeeper's astonishment.
"Shopkeeper, why aren't you drinking tea and looking at paintings today?" Zhang Chaofeng asked curiously.
Shen Bai coughed. "I'm not cut out to be a man of refined tastes."
With that, Shen Bai planned to return to the inner courtyard to continue practicing the Blood Sword Dance.
Zhang Chaofeng quickly said, "Shopkeeper, I'd like to request some time off in a few days. My pain-in-the-neck wife is going back to her parents' home, and I need to see her off."
Shen Bai thought for a moment and said, "Times are tough. Be careful on your way."
"Will do," Zhang Chaofeng agreed.
...
Shen Bai spent the entire afternoon practicing the Blood Sword Dance as well, breaking once to go devour another meal, and continued until night fell.
Before his eyes, a line of smoke appeared and gradually condensed into text.
[Blood Sword Dance Lv. 3 (Swordsmanship +4, Anti-Demon +4, Vibration +4): 800/5000]
Shen Bai stared at the text until it vanished, then picked up his rusty Iron Sword and walked to the front door.
Zhang Chaofeng had left long ago. People were always eager to get off work.
'I still can't resist.'
Shen Bai looked at the dark street ahead, then down at his all-black attire.
'Grinding is one way, but so is collecting Evil Qi.'
'Evil Qi not only increases appraisal speed but can also cause a qualitative change in my Divine Power at critical moments.'
'And the source of Evil Qi is anomalies.'
'The old Daoist died at the Qian Family's residence and became an anomaly.'
'Master Qian died there too, so it's very likely he also became an anomaly.'
Shen Bai felt that since he had been given a second life here and possessed this Golden Finger, it would be a waste not to take a gamble.
'Laying low is an option.'
'But watching a heaven-sent fortune slip away just wasn't in his nature.'
'It was like watching an unparalleled beauty undress—what man could possibly hold back?'
The night was as black as ink. Shen Bai closed the door, covered his face with a black cloth leaving only his eyes exposed, and stealthily made his way toward the Qian Family estate.
...
「The Qian Family Estate.」
As one of the great households in Shengyun County, the estate was currently shrouded in gloom.
The main gate was draped in white mourning cloth, and the once-bustling residence was now completely deserted.
After such a major incident, followed by the death of a Daoist, no one dared to continue living here.
The entire Qian Family estate was silent, like a soundless, ghostly domain.
Shen Bai found a secluded corner of the wall, and after confirming no one was around, he pushed off forcefully with his legs.
The scorching stream of Qi inside him flowed to his legs, and Shen Bai vaulted over the top of the wall with ease.
Using the cover of the tree branches, Shen Bai cautiously surveyed his surroundings.
The constables had already been here during the day. Now, at night, there wasn't a single person in sight.
Shen Bai thought for a moment, preparing to drop down and investigate the situation.
'Since I'm here, I can't leave empty-handed. Even if I go back with nothing, I should at least have a look around.'
'They say even a fisherman who catches nothing might steal a cow on his way home. How could I do any less?'
Just as Shen Bai was about to drop down from the wall, a gust of wind blew past.
On the wall opposite Shen Bai, a figure appeared, mimicking his posture and using the branches for cover.
Under the high, bright moon.
Shen Bai and the other black-clad figure stared at each other, and an awkward atmosphere filled the air.