Chapter 54 Wind-Thunder Sun-Melting Manual_1
Chapter 54 Wind-Thunder Sun-Melting Manual_1
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"..."
Shen Yi looked on calmly, extending his index finger, "First, that's your Sister Lin; she has nothing to do with me. Although I did gain a bit of an advantage, in the end, it was a transaction agreed upon by both parties."
Upon hearing this, Fang Heng's eyes widened.
"Second," Shen Yi raised another finger, his voice suddenly deepening, "you asked your Sister Lin to come over, and I'm very curious to see if she can draw a line at the courtyard entrance."
After those words landed, Fang Heng was plunged into bewilderment.
However, everyone else besides Li Mujin couldn't help but purse their lips, feeling somewhat downcast.
That unbearable memory surged back into their minds.
In that dilapidated side house in Baiyun County, Sister Lin had been bustling about wearing his clothes, while this damn man just stood by the table waiting.
Based on that situation, what Shen Yi said was not entirely false.
It was just that, more likely than not, it wasn't strength he relied on but a bunch of other messy stuff.
"Lastly."
Shen Yi looked toward the little old lady awakening at the door of the house. Seeing her timidly support herself against the door, he couldn't help but smile helplessly, his tone unconsciously becoming much gentler, "He struck first."
The old lady nodded, whispering softly, "I saw everything. It's Heng'er who is thoughtless. You're a good child, you just taught him a little lesson, helping him to remember. That's a good thing, much better than getting taught a lesson by someone else outside."
Hearing this, Li Xinhan and the others couldn't help but shake their heads inwardly.
The grandmother really thought a fight between warriors was child's play. Neither of them even had a scratch on their skin; the fight hadn't even begun.
But seeing Fang Heng eat humble pie was quite a rare sight.
"I thank you for your care over these past few days; I take my leave now."
Shen Yi bowed slightly and turned to leave the courtyard.
Seeing Fang Heng standing still, with no intention of stopping him, Li Xinhan finally breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded ahead, followed by the others.
After walking a distance, he still felt puzzled, "What just happened? Why did he suddenly withdraw and leave?"
Li Mujin, who was slowly following from behind, sheathed her short sword, said offhandedly, "Who knows, maybe he ran so fast he sprained his back."
As she spoke, however, she couldn't help but look curiously at Shen Yi.
Even though she had never seen it with her own eyes, she had heard of the General's young days and his five exceptional skills, the least conspicuous of which was Intercepting Veins and Capturing Dragons.
Connecting that to Fang Heng's expression and actions just now.
She discreetly glanced at his hand resting on the sheath of his sword, hmm, fair and slender, actually quite beautiful.
"Sister, won't this affect your relationship with him?"
Li Xinhan, with a touch of a headache, rubbed his temples, "After all, that was the son-in-law personally chosen by father, sending you to the Demon-suppression Bureau, was also with the thought of getting to know him in advance."
"Bullshit son-in-law,"
Li Mujin withdrew her gaze, speaking indifferently, "Encountering a problem, he just brings up Sister Lin, nothing but an immature brat."
Hearing this, the rest showed odd looks, and Li Xinhan's expression changed slightly, "I never asked you to come. If my men hadn't been stationed elsewhere, I wouldn't have asked you to step in."
As he spoke, he looked toward Shen Yi, who was walking off to the side, feeling slightly amazed.
Not to mention anything else, just the composure he showed facing Fang Heng was far beyond his own.
Such a disposition, coming from a small place like Baiyun County, was truly beyond comprehension.
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"Are you ready to depart, or do you have any other needs?"
Hearing this, Shen Yi didn't bother with pleasantries and nodded, "I need an inner power manual for the Jade Liquid Realm."
"That's not... What the boss meant was whether you need something that can be used immediately, like weapons or armor." Liu Xiujie smacked his lips, wondering what was going through the other's head—to go out and slay demons with a book in hand was useless.
"If you're willing to get involved with the Qingzhou Li Family, I can give you one right now."
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Li Xinhan halted in his tracks and said something that shocked the others, "You can come to my house and serve as a protector or if there's a chance for marriage, that's fine too. A daughter of the main line might be difficult, but if you fancy any girl from the collateral lines, I can help you make the connection."
Setting aside the latter possibility, after all, a Demon-suppression Marshal willing to marry a girl from the Li family's collateral lines wasn't exactly reaching too high.
But to become a protector was a different matter entirely.
Compared to those who were hired for a price, taking on the title of protector meant joining the Li family, guarding them for life, and even having a closer relationship than the collateral relatives.
The problem was that Shen Yi was, no matter how promising or insightful in martial arts, still just at Initial Realm Perfection.
Even if he could break through to the Jade Liquid Boundary tomorrow, as long as he had not yet broken through, there was a 99% chance it would count for nothing.
In the martial arts world, what seems to be a half-step away can end up taking a lifetime, with that final step never landing, which is quite normal.
"Why not a daughter of the main line?"
Li Mujin, curious, tilted her head slightly.
Li Xinhan's eye twitched, "Because I don't have the final say when it comes to you. It would require Father's approval."
"Ha." Li Mujin placed her hand on Shen Yi's shoulder, smiling, "Just a joke, young friend. Don't be nervous."
Shen Yi brushed off her hand and looked calmly at Li Xinhan, "What about the martial arts from the Demon-Suppression Bureau?"
"..."
Li Xinhan felt somewhat disappointed that even such generous offers had not moved him.
Still, he patiently explained, "Although you're wearing a Cloud-patterned Shirt, after all, you're not yet a person of the Demon-suppression Bureau. It's different here than in the outside sects and noble families where talented and promising young disciples are usually treasured and cared for."
"Because once you join a sect, you're part of the family. The stronger you are, the stronger the sect or nobility becomes. You are one and the same."
"Is it different at the Demon-suppression Bureau?" Shen Yi was hearing this viewpoint for the first time.
"Of course, it's different."
Li Mujin pursed her lips and waved her hands dismissively, "The Demon-suppression Bureau is backed by the Imperial Court and doesn't need to grow exponentially. It only aims for stability in Qingzhou. And whether it's demons or powerful warriors, both are seen as threats to the peace of Qingzhou."
"Of course, it does need enough martial prowess to deter all sides."
"The prerequisite is you have to show that you are a blade for slaying demons, not a parasite that only consumes Precious Medicines and contributes nothing to Qingzhou."
The beggar stepped forward, taking over the conversation, "To put it bluntly, work first, eat later... At least let you have some achievements to show off when you flaunt the Cloud pattern on your sleeve."
"As a reward, what the Demon-suppression Bureau gives in return will exceed any limit that other sects can provide."
"For example, the Wind-Thunder Sun-Melting Manual that helps one break through the Jade Liquid Realm seamlessly connects to the Wind-Thunder Precious Scroll. Throughout Qingzhou, you won't find more than three inner power manuals surpassing it, even if you count the legendary ones."
As he spoke, the beggar glanced at the Li siblings beside him and chose his words carefully, "The Li family is a highly renowned noble family in Qingzhou, and their family's inner power techniques only connect to one hundred and twenty-six apertures; meanwhile, the Demon-suppression Bureau's techniques can stimulate up to two hundred and seventy apertures, more than doubling the efficiency of cultivation."
"Hey!"
Unable to hold back, Li Xinhan kicked him, "As if you know everything."
"..."
Shen Yi's gaze returned, and his grip on his sword tightened.