Chapter 51: Everything Goes Without Saying

Very quickly, only Huang Yan and Li Lin remained in the county yamen.

Huang Yan turned around, took a scroll from the shelf behind him, and spread it out on the table.

“Come here.”

Li Lin walked over as instructed.

What lay on the table was a map.

Li Lin looked at it for a while, then raised his head and looked at the other man in confusion.

Why are you showing me this thing?

“These are the markings of the military garrisons throughout the commanderies of Great Qi. What thoughts do you have after looking at it?”

Li Lin stared at it a little longer and said, “Circles nested within circles?”

Huang Yan stroked his beard and laughed.

“Haha, exactly. Large circles and small circles, one after another. Because of what happened sixty years ago, the court became afraid.”

Li Lin revealed a questioning look.

He truly did not know what had happened sixty years ago.

After all, he was actually very unfamiliar with this world.

“Your elders never told you about it?”

Huang Yan thought for a moment before nodding in understanding.

“That makes sense. Telling you youngsters about it would not have much meaning. Sixty years ago, among the Northern Di tribes, a remarkable man appeared. Wearing armor adorned with flowers, he led ten thousand soldiers and swept through everything in his path. In less than a month, he advanced from the grasslands all the way to the foot of the imperial capital.”

Impressive!

At this point, Huang Yan’s expression carried a trace of mockery.

“Back then, the entire capital kept its gates tightly shut. The Di people acted arrogantly beneath the walls, hurling vulgar insults, yet no one dared leave the city to fight them. Reinforcements from the various commanderies arrived far too slowly. Just when the city seemed on the verge of falling and countless lives were about to be lost, the Empress walked onto the city wall and removed her phoenix robes before the eyes of the world. The Di army withdrew.”

Li Lin’s eyebrows rose.

“A ghost?”

“That’s right!”

Huang Yan laughed.

“No one had imagined that the Empress was actually a ghost, and a great ghost at that. Afterward, the Empress disappeared without a trace. The Demon Suppression Bureau began targeting every official and noble family connected to her. Within only half a year, over a thousand people were beheaded, most of them officials. From that point onward, the great clans were severely weakened. Some hid among the common people, while others retreated into the mountains and forests.”

Li Lin listened quietly.

Huang Yan continued.

“In order to prevent the Northern Di from entering Great Qi so easily again, the court established military garrisons at all strategic locations throughout the realm. Originally, this was a good thing. But now those garrisons have become a burden. They consume too much grain and silver, and the court can no longer afford to maintain them. Things are somewhat better in the south. I’ve heard that many northern garrisons have gone months without receiving supplies or military pay. Patrol Hunter Li, if you were in charge, would you abolish some of the garrisons to reduce the court’s expenses?”

Li Lin shook his head.

“Difficult. Too many officials’ interests are involved.”

Huang Yan nodded in satisfaction.

“You and Qi’er are alike. Both of you can see the advantages and disadvantages involved. I asked my two daughters the same question. Do you know how they answered?”

Li Lin shook his head.

“The elder girl said that such matters should naturally be decided by the ministers at court, and that she, a mere woman, did not understand affairs of state.”

Huang Yan snorted softly before continuing.

“The younger girl was much more arrogant. She said that if she could obtain an imperial decree from His Majesty and forcefully implement a policy of reducing the population quotas and dismantling garrisons, it would certainly succeed.”

Hearing this, Li Lin smiled.

It was not because he was mocking Huang Ling.

The idea was simply too naïve.

“If His Majesty ordered you to resolve this matter, how would you handle it?”

Li Lin cupped his fists.

“My position is too humble. I dare not discuss state affairs rashly.”

Huang Yan gave him a strange look.

“Perhaps it’s better that you don’t answer. The main reason I kept you behind today was to tell you that the current court is no longer what it once was. The signs of turmoil are already apparent. I heard that you refused Qi’er’s invitation. Whether that was good or bad, I won’t judge. But I do know one thing. The more chaotic the times, the more important influence becomes. You’re entering the world alone. You need to find a great tree to lean against. That way, you’ll have fewer concerns when doing things and more support behind you.”

Li Lin abruptly raised his head and looked at him.

Huang Yan smiled faintly.

At this moment, both men understood exactly what the other meant.

After several breaths, Li Lin cupped his fists slightly.

“Thank you for your guidance, County Magistrate.”

Huang Yan’s expression became even gentler.

“No need to be so polite. Visit my home more often in the future.”

“Of course.”

By the time Li Lin left the county yamen, it was already morning.

Seeing Zhao Xiaohu dozing at the entrance, Li Lin walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

“Brother Lin.”

Startled awake, Zhao Xiaohu immediately spoke with delight.

“We’ll have breakfast and then head back to the village.”

Zhao Xiaohu asked worriedly, “I’ve been assigned to Shadong Village. Does that mean I’ll have to stay there from now on?”

“No need to rush there immediately. Go home first and discuss it with Uncle Zhao. Once you’ve made proper preparations, it won’t be too late to go.”

Zhao Xiaohu let out a sigh of relief.

“I’ll follow Brother Lin’s advice.”

The two first returned to the new house, casually ate some breakfast, and then caught up on sleep.

Only around noon did they set off, munching on coarse steamed buns as they traveled.

When they returned to Shangtikou Village, Zhao Xiaohu ran home excitedly carrying his blood rice.

Li Lin, meanwhile, went to the altar.

The Tree Immortal Lady was floating there.

Li Lin extended a hand.

The Tree Immortal Lady’s long tail wrapped around him.

Coiling around his body, she hugged his arm and slowly leaned against him while licking his palm.

A pleasantly numbing sensation surged through him.

Suddenly, Li Lin said, “Perhaps in another six months or a year, I’ll have to get married.”

The Tree Immortal Lady paused briefly.

Then she continued licking away his essence energy as if nothing had happened.

Her expression remained unchanged.

After a while, she released Li Lin.

She smiled at him, then vanished from sight.

Was she angry or not?

Li Lin could not quite tell.

But it was not particularly important.

Setting down his bundle, Li Lin swallowed a Shengxi Pill and began resting.

It was still early.

The reason he was resting so soon was naturally to conserve his energy.

Because he was preparing to make a trip to Feirong County.

There were two matters he needed to handle there.

By the next day, after cultivating through the entire night, Li Lin felt refreshed and invigorated.

He brought his red-tasseled spear, Gui-Hiding Cloak, Shengxi Pills, and some banknotes to the altar.

“My Lady, I’m going to Feirong County. I may not return for two or three days. The village’s safety is in your hands.”

The Tree Immortal Lady appeared before him.

Having received a great deal of essence energy the previous day, her vitality appeared exceptionally strong.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

“Be careful.”

Her tone remained cold as ever.

But Li Lin could hear the concern hidden within it.

Feirong County was not particularly far away.

Since he had begun cultivating his lightness skill, his traveling speed had increased greatly.

Setting out in the morning, he arrived at Feirong County City by evening.

Li Lin did not display his white jade token.

After all, he had come here to cause trouble.

Displaying the token would be equivalent to revealing his identity.

He paid the two-copper head tax and entered the city.

Feirong County had originally been called Yourong County.

More than thirty years ago, the most beautiful woman in the world came from there and entered the imperial palace as a noble consort.

People called her the Shy Flower Noble Consort.

From then onward, Yourong County was renamed Feirong County.

Li Lin sat on the third floor of an inn.

Through the window, he looked across the street.

There stood a large residence occupying commanding ground.

From its layout, he could tell it was a four-courtyard estate.

And on the plaque at the entrance were the words Qin Residence.

The Qin Family of Feirong County.

Before the Shy Flower Noble Consort entered the palace, their ancestor had been her steward.

Once the noble consort entered the palace, Steward Qin’s fortunes soared.

From that day onward, Feirong County gained the Qin Family.

At that moment, the vermilion gates of the Qin Residence opened.

A fat man waving a paper fan walked out.

Li Lin recognized him.

He immediately withdrew his gaze.

Many Spirit Hunters were highly sensitive to being watched.

He did not want the Qin Family to discover his presence.

The fat man looked around suspiciously.

Then he shook his fan and left.

After waiting a while, Li Lin turned his head back again.

From his elevated position, he carefully observed the architecture and terrain of the Qin Residence.