Chapter 33: People from the Demon Suppression Bureau Arrive

Li Lin was the sort of person who listened to advice.

Bai Liwei had told him not to go to the county seat recently, so he did not go.

In any case, he had enough supplies at home, so he honestly stayed in the village.

He never told anyone that he had killed two black-clothed men and seized two Gui-Hiding Cloaks.

The Tree Immortal Lady was probably the only one who knew.

Thus, throughout this period, he devoted himself to martial training and cultivation.

Although he still had not obtained any spells, he continued practicing the Nourishing Yin Cultivation Method.

Opportunities always favored those who were prepared.

If he waited until after obtaining spell techniques before cultivating the Nourishing Yin Cultivation Method, it might already be too late.

Additionally, his White Tiger Turning Frame Fist technique had already reached its limit.

Simply practicing it no longer increased its “proficiency.”

However, when practicing this fist technique, he still received effects such as 【Fist Technique +1】.

In other words, he had already mastered the White Tiger Turning Frame Fist thoroughly, but there was still room for improvement in fist techniques overall.

So he continued practicing it.

As for the Yu Clan Spear Technique, it truly lived up to its reputation as a battlefield spear art.

Although its name sounded very modest, it was genuinely formidable.

Even now, whenever he practiced the Yu Clan Spear Technique, prompts such as 【Yu Clan Spear Technique +】 and 【Spearsmanship +1】 still appeared frequently.

Another thing worth mentioning was that Zhao Xiaohu’s recovery speed regarding qi and blood was indeed extraordinary.

After eating blood rice for only a few days, not only had his body fully recovered, but signs of overflowing qi and blood had begun to appear.

This was likely related to his unusual background.

As a result, Li Lin taught him the Spring Renewal Health Preservation Art.

Unfortunately, the results were rather average.

The Spring Renewal Health Preservation Art produced remarkably obvious effects for Li Lin.

Its speed in refining the qi and blood from blood rice was astonishing.

But for Zhao Xiaohu...

It was not that there was no effect.

It was simply quite slow.

Slow was still better than nothing.

They could just grind away at it over time.

After all, Li Lin had already known what Xiaohu’s aptitude was like from the beginning.

After remaining at home for another four days, a total of twelve days had passed.

Qixi Festival was approaching.

Li Lin decided to make a trip to the county seat.

First, he wanted to investigate the situation there.

If the influence of the Qin family had been driven back by the Wang, Ding, and Huang families, then next time he would bring Zhao Xiaohu to the county yamen to register as a Spirit Hunter.

Second...

He needed to buy some daily necessities for himself, and also purchase several red forehead flowers for the Tree Immortal Lady.

He picked up his red-tasseled spear and also carried a small bottle of Shengxi Pills in his pocket.

If an emergency arose, the pills might still prove useful.

Better safe than sorry.

After finishing his preparations, he set out.

At the village entrance, Zhao Xiaohu watched Li Lin leave with longing eyes.

As a young boy, he also wanted to visit lively places.

But since Li Lin was not taking him, there was nothing he could do.

After half a shichen, Li Lin arrived at the county seat.

Holding a red-tasseled spear in his hand gave him considerable presence.

Along the way, nobody dared get too close to him.

After entering the county seat, he headed directly toward the county yamen.

There, he struck up a conversation with the constables at the entrance.

He got along fairly well with the people here.

“I heard that people from another county recently came here looking for trouble?”

The constable answered proudly,

“They were from Feirong County. They even brought some constables with them. But Magistrate Huang saw through them long ago and secretly stationed fifty archers and one hundred saber soldiers around the county yamen. They captured them all in one stroke.”

Li Lin was impressed.

Their magistrate was quite capable.

“What happened afterward?”

“The magistrate of Feirong County personally came to collect them and offered a great deal of compensation before he was allowed to take half of them away.”

“Only half?”

“That’s right. Several are still locked in prison, and two were beheaded.”

Wow!

Magistrate Huang was even more formidable than he had imagined.

It seemed he had carried his red-tasseled spear for nothing!

Just as he was preparing to leave and head to the marketplace for supplies, someone called out to him.

“Brother Kunge, you’ve finally arrived.”

Li Lin turned around and discovered it was Huang Qi.

“Zijing.”

Li Lin greeted him with a smile.

“You’ve come at the perfect time!”

As soon as Huang Qi arrived, he grabbed Li Lin’s sleeve and began pulling him toward the courthouse.

“I’m introducing you to someone.”

“Hm?”

Li Lin was briefly stunned.

“The people from the Demon Suppression Bureau have arrived?”

“Good guess.”

Huang Qi dragged Li Lin into the courthouse.

There, he saw several people standing inside.

Magistrate Huang Yan sat in the official seat chatting casually with the visitors below.

Upon seeing Li Lin enter, he smiled and said,

“Patrol Hunter Li, your timing is excellent. These colleagues from the Demon Suppression Bureau would like to ask you about the details of the Bobai Town incident.”

“Magistrate.”

Li Lin first placed his red-tasseled spear in a corner against the wall before stepping forward and clasping his fists in greeting.

Only then did he examine the people present.

The personnel from the Demon Suppression Bureau looked no different from ordinary people.

Most of them were dressed in everyday clothing as well.

If there was any difference at all, it was that they all appeared rather stern.

To put it more bluntly, they all looked as if everyone owed them money.

One of them, however, looked at him with considerable warmth.

A middle-aged man with a square face stepped forward and clasped his fists.

“This official serves in the Demon Suppression Bureau under the Military Governor of Funan. I am Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang Minsheng.”

“Greetings, Commander.”

Li Lin returned the salute.

The other man held a military rank.

Li Lin, on the other hand, belonged to the civil administrative system.

Thus, the man was not technically his superior.

Courtesy was sufficient; formal obeisance was unnecessary.

“You are one of the six people who returned alive from Bobai Town?”

“Yes.”

“I have already reviewed the official reports, but there are two matters I still do not understand and require clarification on.”

Li Lin nodded.

“Please ask, Commander Zhang.”

“You saw the altar shattered. Did you also see the True Lord wandering within the fortress?”

Li Lin shook his head.

Zhang Minsheng had a mature face and dark complexion, giving him the imposing appearance of a military officer.

He narrowed his eyes before continuing,

“When you left the fortress, it was dusk, and afterward you saw the fortress enveloped by black mist?”

“Yes.”

“Could it have been an illusion?”

“Everyone saw it, but none of us could verify its authenticity. Among the Spirit Hunters present, none specialized in soul-related techniques.”

“Moreover, the person who identified the black mist as a resentment fog was Xu Saifeng.”

“He was a traitor, so his words are not especially trustworthy.”

Zhang Minsheng nodded.

“Thank you, Patrol Hunter Li. I have finished my questions.”

After saying that, he stepped aside and respectfully addressed Huang Yan.

“Magistrate Huang, we will rest at the official relay station for two days before proceeding to Bobai Town.”

“In addition, I hope to requisition all Spirit Hunters in Yulin County to accompany us.”

Huang Yan thought for a moment.

“There are only seven Spirit Hunters left in this county.”

“That will be enough.”

“Very well, I agree.”

Huang Yan spoke slowly.

“But you must guarantee to me that you will not send them to their deaths.”

“I will treat everyone equally.”

Huang Yan nodded.

“You should also be aware of my background. Even in the capital, my Huang family still carries some influence.”

Zhang Minsheng clasped his fists, indicating that he had taken those words to heart.

“The serious matters are finished, yes?”

A robust man who looked to be a little over thirty years old stepped forward from inside.

Looking at Li Lin, he said,

“I see divine brilliance hidden within Young Friend Li’s eyes, and you arrived carrying a spear. Presumably you are an expert in spearsmanship. Could you demonstrate a little for us?”

Li Lin’s gaze swept over him, his expression somewhat puzzled.

The man returned the look with warm eyes.

“Give them a demonstration.”

Huang Qi walked over and whispered softly.

Li Lin immediately understood.

He walked to the corner, picked up his red-tasseled spear, and began displaying his skill on the spot.

Experts could recognize true skill at a glance.

Li Lin merely thrust the spear forward and gave it two simple shakes.

Yet the expressions of the dozen or so people opposite him changed immediately.

“The Yu Clan Spear Technique...”

“It even seems to contain a trace of spear intent.”

Zhang Minsheng sounded astonished.