Song Changfeng lay in the corner, barely clinging to life, his peripheral vision catching the figure of the young man walking towards him at a leisurely pace.
His facial muscles twitched, his Adam's apple bobbed, producing a "hhheim hhheim" sound, as his body, numb with pain, involuntarily shrank back.
Everything he had witnessed earlier made him doubt his own eyes.
Years ago, it was Song Changfeng who had personally picked Shen Yi from a group of ruffians, precisely because he saw the clever spark in him.
He had not expected that Shen Yi would be too smart for his own good, not only thriving in Baiyun County but also fraternizing with demons and settling affairs for the government office with absolute competence.
Even so, Song Changfeng had merely avoided him, not looking for trouble, while inwardly feeling a considerable disdain and aversion.
However, at this moment, he felt an intense fear welling up inside him.
Facing three alone, he had slaughtered the three Ape Demons effortlessly with his movements, a display of martial strength that certainly could not have been developed overnight.
When he thought about Shen Yi's usual demeanor of calling over friends, singing late into the night, and needing to support his waist after just a few steps, Song Changfeng inexplicably felt a chill.
What could he be plotting with such restraint?
Lost in thought, the young man had already approached, and Song Changfeng instinctively reached out to protect his face.
The next moment, he was hoisted up on someone's back.
Shen Yi, feeling the trembles of the middle-aged man on his back, sighed, "Is all this necessary? It's not like you really lost an arm or a leg."
The government office's criminal department was in charge of the county's public security. The head of a department such as this, shivering even when the Ape Demons were dead, was a pitiful sight.
If it weren't for the military department still having eight hundred soldiers guarding the city, the citizens of Baiyun County would probably have long been devoured by the demons.
Song Changfeng did not respond.
Shen Yi wanted to ask where his house was, but as soon as the thought arose, his feet naturally moved forward.
He left the government office and headed onto Dong Street.
It was deep into the night, and pitch darkness obscured the way.
Yet Shen Yi didn't feel unfamiliar at all, standing confidently in front of a small courtyard and knocking on the door.
"You still know to come back? Better to die out there."
With that cold voice, the courtyard door was gently pushed open.
A beautiful woman in her thirties appeared, dressed in a thin pink gauze, charming in appearance, well-maintained, with smooth, firm skin, and a voluptuous and graceful figure.
Seeing Shen Yi's face clearly, she changed her expression slightly, a trace of delight emerging in her slender eyes, "What brings you here? Is that old man still in the office?"
"..."
Shen Yi looked odd, slightly turning to let her see the "old man" on his back.
The beautiful woman showed surprise but didn't panic, glaring at the lifeless faced Song Changfeng, "You managed to get yourself in this state just sitting and drinking tea in the office? Have some dignity."
Hearing this, even Shen Yi felt a bit of pity for Song Changfeng.
Job troubles, having to hide from his own subordinates as a boss, and getting bullied at home, this man in his forties approaching fifty, married to a young and seductive wife, only to have someone else pluck the fruit.
He walked into the courtyard, entered the house, and laid Song Changfeng on the bed. The old man turned his head towards the wall and started to feign unconsciousness.
Saving your life and not even a word of thanks... Shen Yi shook his head and stepped out the door.
Just as he entered the courtyard, a warm and tender body pressed against him.
"What happened today?" Song's sister-in-law wrapped Shen Yi's arm into her bosom and asked worriedly, "Are you alright? Come, come inside with me, and let sister-in-law check you over."
"Cough." Shen Yi was momentarily distracted.
After a brief moment, he glanced at the door that had just closed, and gently withdrew his arm, "Song Head has slain a demon, and I must return to the office to handle the aftermath. I won't disturb you."
The beautiful woman watched the young man walk away, stamping her foot, "He could slay demons? If he had that skill, you heartless thing."
...
After leaving the Song residence.
Shen Yi stood at the deserted intersection, slightly drawing his clothes tighter around him.
The previous warmth and moisture lingered, somewhat inescapable.
It wasn't that he was thinking about the beautiful woman, but he felt empty, a sense of unease settling over him.
Although he disliked the situation at Song's household, the fact that someone like Chen Ji still had a lamp left on for him when he returned home wasn't too bad.
Unfortunately, his predecessor was a scoundrel, orphaned from an early age, with no kin or friends to speak of; the only company he had in bed were prostitutes.
Shen Yi took a deep breath of the night air and summoned the panel.
[Intelligent Ape Demon, not yet entered the Initial Realm, total lifespan of three hundred and twenty-six, forty-four years remaining, absorption complete]
[Intelligent Ape Demon, not yet entered the Initial Realm, total lifespan of three hundred and fifty-five, seventy-eight years remaining, absorption complete]
[Intelligent Ape Demon, not yet entered the Initial Realm, total lifespan of four hundred and twenty, eighty-three years remaining, absorption complete]
[Remaining demon lifespan: two hundred and twenty-two years]
...
Shen Yi planned to invest all of this lifespan into the Wind-Thunder Precious Scroll.
The power of the Demon-trapping True Sun Sword was indeed impressive, truly worthy of a move that involves the Initial Realm.
When he was killing the last Scholar-Robe Ape Demon, Shen Yi genuinely felt the process of his blood energy transforming into a mist within his body.
This sword was no longer limited by the extent of physical strength or the sophistication of technique, but rather, it was a different realm altogether.
But after all, it was just a path divergently explored by average mortals, forcibly consuming one's own life to temporarily reach that realm, and it was never comparable to the true Initial Realm.
"I wonder if two hundred years will be enough."
Shen Yi knew he wasn't a genius; to carve out a path from nothing, he could only use massive amounts of time to accumulate.
He didn't have the luxury to simply wait for success.
The disappearance of three Ape Demons in Baiyun County, unlike the previous encounters with the Dog Demon and Huang Lao Liu, would soon be noticed by other Ape Demons.
If the children are killed off in large numbers, the legitimate Great Demon surely won't let him off.
Baiyun County was located in a remote area, surrounded by four Demon Race factions: the Yellow Skins to the west, the Apes of Dongshan, a Demon Snake reputedly called Green Qilin Mother, and a group of foxes.
Shen Yi had already offended two of them.
Although he had been careful, there was no reasoning with the Demon Race's thirst for revenge; mere suspicion could lead to the annihilation of the entire Baiyun County.
"Let's head home first."
Shen Yi thought with a headache; he wasn't a ruthless person.
Previously, he had been indifferent due to the mere year of life left, tainted with a hint of recklessness, but now, after unexpectedly gaining twenty extra years and having seen the mystery of martial arts realms,
he certainly did not want to give up if he could continue living.
Shen Yi's thoughts meandered as he finally returned to a side room.
As a minor official, his lodging arranged by the government was somewhat better than Chen Ji's, but not by much.
Although he had looted quite a bit of money, his predecessor had no interest in buying a house; after all, in Baiyun County, apart from a few untouchable figures, he could sleep wherever he wished.
The house was in complete disarray.
Shen Yi, with some disdain and fighting off fatigue, began to tidy up, regretfully without a broom, so he decided to throw all the clutter and the wine jars scattered across the floor to the backyard.
He glanced at the greasy straw mat, frowning, and promptly threw it out as well.
After finishing all this, Shen Yi lay on the hard wooden bed, his eyelids starting to fight each other.
In theory, his body should no longer feel fatigue,
but perhaps due to experiencing too much in a short time and seeing too many distasteful things, he yearned for rest.
A heavy drowsiness overcame him.
Shen Yi closed his eyes completely, enjoying a moment of peace.
The only dissatisfaction was the lack of a soft, fragrant body by his side to hold while sleeping.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Shen Yi opened his eyes, looking towards his bed with confusion.
...