Chapter 49: Not Empty Promises
The next day, Li Lin took Zhao Xiaohu to the county town.
Uncle Zhao and Aunt Hua watched from afar at the village entrance.
Only after Zhao Xiaohu’s figure disappeared did the two of them return home with worried expressions.
Unlike the two anxious elders, Zhao Xiaohu was brimming with excitement.
He carried a red-tasseled spear in his left hand, his face full of youthful vigor.
Because to him, starting today, he had become someone who earned his livelihood from public service.
He had a future now.
He could hold his head high.
After arriving at the county yamen, they found Registrar Li, who was busy with work, and informed him that Zhao Xiaohu was to be entered into the registry and registered as a Spirit Hunter.
The guarantor was Li Lin.
Registration for Spirit Hunters was extremely simple.
As long as someone acted as guarantor, it could be done.
If fraud were discovered later, the guarantor would also be held accountable.
Looking at Zhao Xiaohu’s full beard and robust physique, Registrar Li could not help sighing.
“One look and it’s obvious you’re a fierce warrior. Impressive, impressive. Please state your place of origin, name, and date of birth.”
In a booming voice, Zhao Xiaohu reported all his information.
Registrar Li wrote for a while before realizing something was wrong.
“Wait a moment. This date of birth... it can’t be right. You’re only thirteen?”
“That’s right. I’m only thirteen.”
“Warrior Li, there’s no point fooling an old man like me.”
“I really am thirteen!”
Registrar Li looked toward Li Lin.
Li Lin nodded.
“He really is thirteen. But Registrar Li, record him as fourteen. It’ll be more convenient.”
“Tsk, tsk. Looking like this at only thirteen. I’ve truly broadened my horizons.”
Registrar Li marveled repeatedly.
Zhao Xiaohu scratched his head and grinned, looking extremely pleased with himself.
“Then next, will he seek a chance encounter at a True Lord temple, or shall we assign him a location to guard?”
Li Lin said, “You should assign him somewhere. He’s only just entered the path. It’s still too early for him to offer blood vitality.”
“Very well.”
Registrar Li looked through the documents and smiled.
“Since he’s newly entered the profession and comes from Shangtikou Village, let’s place him in Shadong Village. It’s very close to Shangtikou Village. It only takes half a day to walk there.”
“Thank you for taking care of him, Registrar Li.”
Li Lin cupped his fists.
He could tell that the man was showing Zhao Xiaohu special consideration out of respect for him.
Otherwise, there were many villages without Spirit Hunters that were much farther from the county town.
If Zhao Xiaohu, only thirteen years old, were assigned to such a place, he would have a hard time.
Registrar Li chuckled.
“Patrol Hunter Li, you’re too polite. Five hundred years ago, we might even have been one family.”
“Haha, that’s entirely possible.”
Seeing that Li Lin accepted the favor, Registrar Li was quite satisfied.
He knew that Li Lin was highly valued by the County Magistrate.
Since he could do this man a favor, naturally he had no intention of causing trouble.
Turning around, Registrar Li took a dull gray jade token from a black wooden cabinet and placed it on the table.
“Patrol Hunter Zhao, this is your Spirit Hunter Token, number one hundred and thirty-seven. Please keep it safe.”
Zhao Xiaohu excitedly picked up the gray jade token.
Then he curiously asked, “Why is my jade token gray? The ones Brother Lin and the others carry are all white.”
“Nurture it with your blood vitality. In as little as two or three nights, or as long as half a month, it’ll turn white.”
“Oh!”
Zhao Xiaohu nodded.
Li Lin looked at Registrar Li and cupped his fists.
“I’ll have to trouble you to guide Xiaohu from here. I need to go meet a friend.”
“You’re too polite. It’s part of my duty.”
Registrar Li looked toward Zhao Xiaohu.
“Patrol Hunter Zhao, please come with me. You’ll collect your blood rice, Gui-Hiding Cloak, official provisions, and other items. At the same time, I need to explain some matters that Spirit Hunters should pay attention to.”
Zhao Xiaohu answered affirmatively.
He had been craving blood rice for quite some time.
Recently he had been living off Li Lin’s blood rice.
Now that he had his own, he could finally eat as much as he wanted.
Li Lin turned and left the county yamen.
He arrived at the Huang residence and knocked on the gate.
An elderly gatekeeper opened it.
Upon seeing Li Lin, he immediately smiled.
“So it’s Patrol Hunter Li. You’ve finally come. My young master has been waiting for you for a long time. He specifically instructed us that if you arrived, there would be no need to report it. You may go directly to the rear courtyard.”
“Thank you for the trouble.”
Li Lin took a rectangular brocade box from his pocket and handed it over.
“Inside are three bottles of pills I refined. They’re called Strengthening Body Pills. They nourish the body gently, strengthen yang energy, and do no harm.”
Recently, Li Lin had refined another batch of Shengxi Pills.
As his proficiency in Alchemy increased, he had somehow learned how to make these Strengthening Body Pills.
They could smooth the flow of blood vitality, expel impurities, nourish the body, and restore yang energy.
They were of little use to Li Lin.
But to ordinary people, they were extremely useful.
Therefore, before coming to this appointment, he had refined a batch and filled three bottles.
The moment he heard that they could strengthen yang energy, the old gatekeeper’s eyes sharpened immediately.
Lowering his voice, he said, “Patrol Hunter Li, please rest assured. I will personally deliver this to the master.”
After bidding farewell to the old gatekeeper, Li Lin entered the rear courtyard.
There he saw Huang Qi already seated.
A tea table and several cups had been placed nearby.
Huang Qing stood to one side.
The two of them spotted Li Lin almost simultaneously.
Pointing his fan toward the seat opposite him, Huang Qi said, “We’re old friends now. Let’s skip all those formalities. Sit down yourself.”
Li Lin was not particularly fond of etiquette either.
He immediately walked over and sat down.
Huang Qing poured him a cup of clear tea.
“Thank you, Elder Miss.”
“You’re too polite, Senior Brother.”
Huang Qing retreated two steps with a flushed face, looking happy.
“I leave tomorrow. Kunge truly won’t accompany me to Jin City?”
“For now, I have no intention of leaving Yulin County.”
Hearing this, Huang Qing smiled even more brightly.
“It wouldn’t hurt to meet that noble gentleman of high integrity and return afterward.”
Huang Qi smiled.
Li Lin sighed softly.
“Zijing, you’ve kept mentioning this noble gentleman of high integrity, yet I don’t even know his name or identity. Is it something that can’t be discussed?”
“It’s not that it can’t.”
After thinking for a moment, Huang Qi said, “That noble gentleman bears the surname Zhu and comes from the capital.”
“The imperial surname?”
“That’s right.”
“Which prince?”
“The Third Prince.”
Oh!
Li Lin understood.
Zhu the Third.
He had heard one or two stories about this Third Prince.
He was known as a man of integrity and a blunt, straightforward temperament.
The most famous incident occurred two years ago, when he openly criticized the current emperor in court for pursuing alchemy and immortality while neglecting state affairs, saying that such conduct was unworthy of an enlightened ruler.
He had even stated directly:
“If Your Majesty will not diligently govern and care for the people, why not abdicate and allow the Crown Prince to inherit the throne? Would that not be better?”
And then...
Zhu the Third was sent away from the capital and granted a fief as a prince.
Li Lin could not remember whether it was Lu Commandery or Gan Commandery.
In any case, it was not Tian Commandery here.
“The Third Prince is coming to Jin City? A prince leaving his assigned territory without permission...”
Li Lin laughed.
“Isn’t he afraid the censors at court will learn about it and impeach him?”
“That’s why he’s coming in secret.”
After thinking for a moment, Li Lin said, “Forget it. Spirit Hunters should simply do their own jobs properly. Let the affairs of the world be handled by the people of the world. I won’t join that excitement.”
Huang Qi tried to persuade him.
“If Kunge comes with me, he will certainly earn the Third Prince’s appreciation and accomplish great things.”
Huang Qing unconsciously clenched her hands upon hearing those words.
Li Lin still shook his head.
“I can roughly guess what you’re trying to do. I truly don’t enjoy getting involved in such matters. Still, I wish you a smooth journey, Zijing, and success in achieving your ambitions.”
Huang Qing visibly relaxed.
“If Kunge changes his mind in the future, he may come find me at any time.”
Although Huang Qi found it regrettable, he did not force the matter.
Instead, he smiled and said, “By the way, since you won’t accompany me, then regarding the position of County Commandant, you should...”
Li Lin raised a hand and stopped him.
“The position of County Commandant is something I don’t dare accept either.”
Huang Qi frowned.
“Why?”
“What qualifications do I have to become County Commandant!”
Without power, influence, or overwhelming strength, if he became County Commandant, who would obey him?
“That was Father’s decision.”
The County Magistrate’s decision?
Li Lin felt the matter was somewhat sudden.
Huang Qi had mentioned it before, but Li Lin had not taken it seriously.
After all, he had heard plenty of empty promises from superiors in his previous life.
Listening was enough.
He had never expected them to be serious.
But why him?
Then he suddenly saw Huang Qing beside him and instantly understood.