Chapter 19: A Hasty Guess That Hit the Mark

The pills he was currently producing were called Shengxi Pills, one of the most basic medicinal pills.

Their effect was to slightly increase the consumer’s vital essence.

Speaking of vital essence, one had to mention martial warriors.

Martial artists strengthened their bodies by invigorating their qi and blood, but the effects of qi and blood on improving physical constitution had a limit.

After reaching a certain point, qi and blood had to be compressed and refined into the more powerful vital essence before one could advance further.

This was also the most important standard for distinguishing the realms of martial warriors.

Only martial warriors capable of condensing vital essence could be considered to have truly stepped into the realm of martial artists.

Martial warriors who reached this stage also possessed a certain ability to deal with the uncanny.

However, in terms of specialization, they still could not compare to Spirit Hunters.

Because yin energy was more effective... though it harmed the user as well.

Without blood rice sustaining them, the bodies of the vast majority of Spirit Hunters would develop problems.

That was also why Li Lin was so happy. With Shengxi Pills directly providing vital essence, a higher-grade form of energy, his dependence on blood rice would be greatly reduced, perhaps even eliminated entirely.

This would save him a great deal of time, because refining blood rice was quite troublesome and required a considerable amount of time.

The time saved could be used directly to cultivate the Nourishing Yin Cultivation Method.

After swallowing two more Shengxi Pills, Li Lin felt the sensation of energy within his dantian become abundant, so he sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating.

The night passed in silence. Upon hearing a rooster crow, Li Lin opened his eyes.

He felt refreshed in both body and spirit. One night of cultivation had actually equaled three nights in the past.

Thinking of this, he could not help but feel delighted.

For the next three days, he practiced spear techniques in the morning, boxing in the afternoon, and took two Shengxi Pills each night while cultivating the Nourishing Yin Cultivation Method in the most efficient manner possible.

On the fourth day, he began packing the furniture and miscellaneous items in his house and moved them to another unoccupied residence.

Then the entire village came to help.

Many hands made light work. What should have been a troublesome move was completed in less than two hours.

Li Lin cupped his fists and thanked everyone. Originally, he had wanted to host several banquet tables and treat the villagers to food and drink, but Village Chief Zhang stopped him.

“It’s perfectly normal for neighbors to lend each other a hand. If a banquet had to be held for something like this, outsiders would laugh at Shangtikou Village for having no sense of human warmth and being full of people who only know how to take advantage of others!”

So the matter was dropped.

It had to be said that Li Lin quite liked this sort of village culture.

The new house was not better than the previous one, but... it stood on higher ground, and opening the window allowed one to see farther.

Then, at noon on the following day, the Han family arrived.

Several horse-drawn carts carried furniture packed to the brim, along with various household items.

Driving their carts, they entered from the village entrance in great style, even setting off firecrackers.

The villagers stood in the distance, watching coldly.

Only the village chief stepped forward and stood in the middle of the road.

An old man also jumped down from one of the carts. “Brother Zhang, four years apart, and your health has deteriorated quite a bit.”

Village Chief Zhang looked at him with an indifferent gaze. “Han Tie, none of the villagers object to your Han family returning, but setting off firecrackers all the way into the village, are you trying to give our village a display of dominance?”

Old Han chuckled. “No such intention. The firecrackers are only for warding off evil.”

“Warding off evil, not celebrating?”

“Of course it’s for warding off evil.” Old Han laughed loudly.

“The Tree Immortal Lady is right behind us, and you still dare talk about warding off evil?”

Old Han froze for a moment, a trace of apprehension appearing on his face. He shouted to the people behind him, “No more firecrackers later.”

Village Chief Zhang’s expression remained calm, but his tone carried anger. “Han Tie, I don’t care why you’ve come back, whether you couldn’t stay in Feirong County or whether you have ulterior motives... but there is one thing you must remember. Do not provoke Patrol Hunter Li. If you provoke him, then you are making enemies of our entire village.”

After speaking, Village Chief Zhang turned around and slowly walked away, leaning on his cane.

Old Han clicked his tongue unhappily and paid it no mind. Then he waved toward the carts behind him.

The Han family had originally intended to enter the village in grand style, but now they became very low-key.

The villagers dispersed with meaningful expressions on their faces.

Naturally, Li Lin also paid some attention to the Han family, but soon returned to practicing his spear techniques. At that moment, Zhao Xiaohu ran over, drenched in sweat. “Brother Lin, that Elder Han wants someone to invite you over.”

“Invite me over?”

“Yeah. The person should be here soon.”

Sure enough, a young man appeared ahead, a young man Li Lin had never seen before.

The fellow looked extremely arrogant. Even while walking, he kept his chin raised high. “You’re Patrol Hunter Li, right? My grandfather invites you over. He has something he wants to discuss with you.”

Li Lin smiled. “Does your grandfather hold an official position?”

“Not that.”

“Does he have any scholarly degree?”

“No.”

“Then what gives him the right to summon me?” Li Lin looked at him coldly. “I am a Spirit Hunter. Though not an official, I still draw a government salary. Yet he doesn’t come pay his respects to me and instead dares demand that I go pay respects to him. Has he grown the courage of a dog?”

The young man’s expression became ugly. He was frightened.

Yet he still stiffened his neck and said, “My grandfather knows the county magistrate of Feirong County. If he’s willing to say a word...”

“The officials of Feirong County have no authority over Spirit Hunters in Yulin County.” Li Lin smiled. “Originally, I didn’t intend to bother with your family, but I really dislike the way you’re acting. You want me to come over, right? Fine. I’ll come over right now, but I’m going there to investigate your Han family and determine whether you’ve been colluding with gui.”

Hearing this, Zhao Xiaohu chuckled happily from the side.

With such a heavy accusation thrown at him, the young man became somewhat at a loss. He turned and ran.

Li Lin, meanwhile, returned to his room, picked up the white jade plaque, and then grabbed the red-tasseled spear.

Originally, he had merely suspected there was something wrong with this family.

Now he was certain.

There was a faint resentment clinging to the other man’s body. He had obviously come into contact with a ghostly being recently.

Ordinary people could not sense it. Was a Spirit Hunter supposed to be unable to sense it?

The very first thing they did was bring up the county magistrate of Feirong County, trying to use power and influence to pressure others. Meanwhile, Xiuniang had died on the road precisely because she had been trying to return to Feirong County. Not only had she been subjected to the Secret Rite of Wraith Womb Gestation, she had then been devoured by a wild gui until nothing remained but bones.

Afterward came her transformation into a gui and then the silver hairpin.

And the silver hairpin was connected to the Jin City Silverware Bureau.

It was obvious that someone with an official identity had participated in a certain incident.

And he, Li Lin, had accidentally been dragged into it.

Now the other side had made their move.

Li Lin intended to break that move immediately.

Picking up the red-tasseled spear, Li Lin said to Zhao Xiaohu, “Tell all the villagers that I suspect the Han family is colluding with gui. If anything really happens, either stay hidden at home or go to the altar and seek the Tree Immortal Lady’s protection.”

Zhao Xiaohu nodded and immediately turned around and ran off.

Carrying the red-tasseled spear, Li Lin arrived at the Han family’s gate. The moment he reached the entrance in the fence, he subconsciously lowered his head.

The white jade plaque at his waist was emitting a faint red glow, but because it was daytime, the glow was extremely difficult to notice.

“So my random guess actually turned out to be right.” Li Lin let out a soft sigh. “A gui that can appear in broad daylight!”