We made you practice martial arts, and you've mastered the Great Golden Body?

"Wow~"

Deep in the alley, the gate was tightly shut.

The barking of dogs rose and fell, drifting like the tide from the depths of the winding, secluded alley.

Xu Xian instinctively hugged the child in his arms tighter, gently rocking him, his dark eyes deep, and he unconsciously murmured softly.

“Shapi Lane, Baoqing Lane, Shapi Lane, Baoqing Lane…”

He recalled the scene of watching the play that day, and the decadent music that echoed in his mind, and a faint sense of foreboding crept into his heart.

However, Xu Xian, caught up in the series of shocks, failed to notice that his own flesh and blood, though only recently born, was not crying or fussing like other children.

A pair of large, bright eyes blinked playfully, a strange glint in them that flashed by quickly being replaced by a nascent bewilderment.

The baby stared intently at Xu Xian's face, his biological instincts prompting him to familiarize himself with something.

Xu Xian was completely unaware of this.

Of course, it's also because he simply didn't have the mind to care about these things at that moment.

Xu Xian stared at the tightly closed gate, and for a long time stood there motionless, like a wooden or clay sculpture.

My once peaceful heart, as calm as a still lake, is now rippling with waves, and many thoughts that I was unwilling to think about before are now emerging like leaping fish.

He seemed to have vaguely understood something, and understood the answer he had been avoiding imagining.

But how can anyone believe that?

If Bai Suzhen were truly a snake demon, even if she had ulterior motives, why would she look down on an ordinary mortal like him?

If it were merely about flesh and blood, wouldn't her brother-in-law, Li Gongfu, be a better target, given his vigorous martial arts skills? Besides, why would Bai Suzhen be willing to be his wife in hardship?

And she gave birth to the child she was carrying.

The reason for this is truly perplexing.

All sorts of doubts, like a tangled mess, tightly bound Xu Xian's mind, causing him to rack his brains, but he could never find a solution or understand the reason behind it.

"Officer Shen, what do you think of my wife...?" Xu Xian thought for a long time but couldn't get an answer, or perhaps he didn't want to think about it.

He thought for a moment, and finally subconsciously turned his head and shifted his gaze to Shen Bailian, who was sitting silently by the stone table.

At this moment, Shen Bailian was dressed in a black martial arts outfit, with a long sword at his waist. He stood tall and straight, like a great bell, with a cold and stern face, exuding the heroic spirit of someone who had practiced martial arts for many years, as well as a murderous aura.

Bathed in silvery light, it resembled an unshakeable, majestic mountain peak.

Xu Xian's lips twitched slightly, but he stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

He then realized that the reasons behind this matter were far too complicated.

As an official, and a highly renowned head constable, Shen Bailian was someone whose reputation was most valued by the powerful and influential families.

And what about Bai Suzhen?
It is very likely a snake demon.

Humans and demons are different, let alone the relationship between the government and the demon race? That would be an irreconcilable conflict.

If he rashly asked Shen Bailian, he would probably be arrested immediately or treated as a madman.

Furthermore, Xu Xian is kind-hearted by nature, and even if Shen Bailian is willing to step into this quagmire, he is unwilling to involve Shen Bailian in this storm.

Even if Shen Bailian had some wealth, he was just an ordinary martial artist in the government office. How could he possibly contend with demons? How could he possibly contend with the world?

The prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain.

Being born into a prominent family is both a blessing and a great constraint.

If Shen Bailian were to be dragged into this turmoil, he could certainly gain considerable help, but the price would be that Shen Bailian would be expelled from the family at best, and at worst, his body would be torn apart by five horses if the higher-ups found out.

This is something Xu Xian doesn't want to see.

The secrets of this matter were so profound that even his brother-in-law, Li Gongfu, could not be revealed to him.

Xu Xian knew that now, the only thing he could rely on was that place name that had inexplicably echoed in his ears—Shapi Lane, the owner of Baoqing Lane.

Although this was tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin, it was the only solution he could think of.

however.

"Are you trying to ask me if your wife is a snake demon or not?" Shen Bailian quickly noticed the changing expression on Xu Xian's face and sighed softly.

He shook his head helplessly.

He knew that Xu Xian probably already had a vague understanding of this matter.

There's a saying that goes like this: people in ancient times were simply constrained by the limitations of their era, so their thinking wasn't as expansive, but that doesn't mean they were stupid.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, did those people lack ideas on how to properly develop firearms?

No.

Rather, it's because firearms are simply too powerful. Any carbon-based life form, without the aid of extraordinary power, will eventually be reduced to charred remains in the face of artillery fire.

A battle-hardened army needs to be tempered by blood and fire to be reborn from the ashes.

However, even the strongest warriors, capable of holding off an entire pass, can only flee when faced with firearms. If firearms continue to develop, their attack range will become longer and longer, and they will also become smaller and easier to carry.

If, among the "troublemakers," a lawbreaker suddenly appears.

What will happen then?
Ha ha……

Therefore, it is quite normal that Xu Xian, as a sensible scholar who had practiced medicine for several years, had a relatively broad perspective compared to ordinary people.

However, these words, when placed in Xu Xian's mind, were like a raging storm. His dark pupils suddenly contracted, and his eyeballs trembled violently.

what?
What is Shen Bailian saying?!

Do not!
He absolutely cannot admit it, he absolutely cannot admit that Bai Suzhen is a snake demon! Shen Bailian must be bluffing him! Yes, he must be!
Although he was brainstorming in his mind, he didn't show it.

Xu Xian suppressed his disbelief and turned his head away, making it impossible for Shen Bailian to see the changes in his expression or the uncontrollable trembling in his eyes.

Little did they know, all of this was laid bare in Shen Bailian's eyes.

However, before Xu Xian could figure out how to deny it, Li Gongfu's astonished laughter rang out from the side.

"Huh? You're saying Bai Suzhen is a snake demon?" Upon hearing this, Li Gongfu burst into laughter. After laughing for a while, he wiped the wetness from the corner of his eyes.

I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

Li Gongfu then shook his head helplessly, glanced at Shen Bailian's serious face, and said with a smile, "Little Shen, I understand what you mean. But it's not appropriate to make this kind of joke at a time like this. How could that girl Xiaobai be a snake demon? This joke is not funny at all."

As he spoke, Li Gongfu laughed again.

However, the more he laughed, the more a chilling feeling crept into his heart, because not only did Shen Bailian's expression remain unchanged.

Even Xu Xian was the same, his expression was very subtle.

Could it be... that this isn't a joke?

But how could this be? How could a perfectly healthy woman suddenly turn into a snake demon?

In an instant, the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze, becoming eerily quiet.

Li Gongfu's smile froze on his face, tinged with embarrassment.

He glanced at Shen Bailian, who appeared handsome and gave off a sense of security, and then looked at his frail brother-in-law, muttering to himself.

Could Xiaobai really be a snake demon?
But how could that be? If Xiaobai really was a snake demon, how could she have fallen for Xu Xian?
Even if it were a round, it wouldn't be Xu Xian's turn. Among the handsome men of Lin'an City, Shen Bailian is second to none. No one dares to be number one. He's the second most handsome man after Shen Bailian.

Without a doubt, it's him!

Li Gongfu knew that although he was a bit fat, if he were on the battlefield, he would definitely have the physique of a general!
Even his round belly is a potbelly.

Moreover, he was a vigorous and innate martial artist! In the eyes of those monsters, he was no different from a hundred-year-old ginseng in the eyes of ordinary people.

A highly nutritious food!

"Young Master Shen...did you already know about this?"

Xu Xian ignored Li Gongfu, who was standing to the side with a puzzled look on his face. He took a deep breath, glanced at the child in his arms, and touched the warm face. A gentle smile appeared on his face.

The child is real, their love is real, and Bai Suzhen truly loves him; she has no ulterior motives.

As the saying goes, some people are born to perform well in big situations. They may seem weak in ordinary times, but they never disappoint when it matters.

Xu Xian was perhaps such a person.

He tried to calm his inner turmoil, turned to look at Shen Bailian with a serious expression, his eyes burning with desire, hoping to glean some useful information from Shen Bailian's expression.

Even Li Gongfu, who was standing to the side, looked at Shen Bailian as if he were a pilgrim whose faith had collapsed and was praying for something.

However, to Xu Xian's surprise, Shen Bailian did not try to hide anything.

"more or less."

Shen Bailian met the other party's burning gaze, nodded calmly, and frankly admitted the matter without any intention of denying it.

Because there is no need to deny it.

He is no longer the Sea Opening Realm warrior he once was; he has now reached the Moon Embracing Realm, and his strength has increased dozens of times.

He is a powerful expert at the Embracing Moon Realm, capable of fighting the Golden-haired Hou.

Having reached this point, without the intervention of deities like Guanyin, he could practically dominate the world, and even those ancient demons would have to bow down to him.

Now that we've reached such a height, why bother hiding like we did back on Earth?

An old man, in a moment of youthful exuberance, realizes that if one doesn't act wildly when the time is right, one day he will lose his indomitable spirit.

Faced with absolute power, all obstacles are paper tigers. In this extraordinary world, the will of the strong is the only truth.

Anyone who dares to contradict me will be sent to hell with one punch.

If you can't win, then run away as soon as possible. You should prioritize your own safety. As the saying goes, "When you are poor, you should cultivate your own virtue; when you are successful, you should help others." That's the principle.

"Then..." Xu Xian was overjoyed when he heard Shen Bailian say this, and his face immediately brightened and a smile appeared on his face.

Since Shen Bailian has said this, it means that Shen Bailian must have a solution. Even if he doesn't have a solution, he can at least give him a hint.

"Don't be so happy yet. Begging me won't help you with this." Shen Bailian saw through Xu Xian's desire for his help with just one glance, and refused directly before the other could speak:
"For certain reasons, I reached a gentleman's agreement with Fahai some time ago that I would no longer be able to interfere in this matter after your child, who is also my adopted son, is born."

"Okay... alright." Upon hearing this, Xu Xian hesitated for a moment, then stopped himself from uttering the words, and the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in his eyes gradually faded away.

As a doctor, he understood the principle of "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you." Since Shen Bailian had already said so, how could he insist?

Moreover, Shen Bailian has already done more than enough.

As the saying goes, of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. If Shen Bailian had not made a gentleman's agreement with Fahai beforehand, it would have been a question whether this child could have been saved.

Xu Xian was not unaware of the reputation of Master Fahai of Jinshan Temple; Fahai always maintained a zero-tolerance attitude towards demons.

If it weren't for Shen Bailian's intervention, her own child would probably have been taken back to Jinshan Temple as a beast, never to be reincarnated.

In severe cases, they would be sacrificed on the spot and displayed to the public.

"No, what's going on here?" Li Gongfu, standing to the side, looked at Xu Xian and Shen Bailian, the two riddle tellers, and felt that the two of them were talking in tacit terms. His doubts grew stronger.

My head is about to explode from all this nonsensical conversation.

How did Bai Suzhen, a perfectly good girl, suddenly become a snake demon?

however.

Hey~
Just as Li Gongfu was about to deny his inner thoughts, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him, and a strange idea arose spontaneously.

If we're talking about the person who first had doubts about Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing's identities, it wasn't anyone else but himself!

It should be noted that long before Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen met by chance and fell in love at first sight, Li Gongfu had feelings for both Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing.

No, now we should call them the two demons, which raises some doubts about their identities.

After all, a person's wealth can be changed in a short period of time through certain means, but a person's daily habits are usually difficult to change.

This is also one of the basic abilities a head constable needs to solve cases.

A frail woman, with impeccable manners and a younger sister, is a rare "resource" in this world.

However, Li Gongfu did not see the signs of a family's decline in either of them.

Furthermore, Xiaoqing, a woman, possessed extraordinary martial arts skills, and was able to slay the white snake with just an ordinary weapon.

Add to that the other inconsistencies... it's fair to say that their disguise was riddled with flaws.

Why did Li Gongfu stop investigating midway through? The reason is quite simple: it was because of a promise! (End of Chapter)