Chapter 64: Obscure Character Formula

Li Lin frowned slightly.

He knew that what he had done to the Qin family of Feirong County could not remain hidden for long, but he had not expected Huang Yan to learn about it so quickly.

Still smiling, he said, “I merely did what I wanted to do.”

“It is a good thing for a man to have spirit. If you’ve suffered an injustice, it should naturally be repaid.” Huang Yan did not hold back his praise. “But you were still too reckless in this matter. You should have discussed it with us. At the very least, my Huang family could have provided some assistance. The Qin family of Feirong County has been rising for more than twenty years. Though their foundation is insufficient, their backer is still that Noble Consort in the imperial palace, and they do possess some capabilities. To some extent, you were fortunate in this matter. Otherwise, at best you would have suffered greatly, and at worst you would have died. Take this as a lesson.”

“Thank you for the County Magistrate’s guidance, and thank you as well for intercepting the Qin family’s request for reinforcements on my behalf.”

Li Lin cupped his fists.

Huang Yan nodded lightly.

“It’s good that you understand. In the future, discuss matters with this old man more often. Very well, I am somewhat tired as well. Coincidentally, Qing’er has some matters she wishes to ask you about. You two may chat.”

Having said that, Huang Yan stood up and left, his face full of smiles.

Huang Qing was extremely shy. Her face was almost completely red, yet she still bravely sat down opposite Li Lin.

“Senior Brother, the storybook tale you told us last time hasn’t ended yet. Could you tell your little sister the rest of it?”

“Of course.”

This time Huang Qing had changed into another outfit.

She was wearing a plain ruqun dress with a fitted waist that accentuated the curves of her upper body.

And Huang Qing’s proportions happened to be exceptionally good.

The outfit suited her perfectly.

It displayed her considerable advantages to the fullest.

Li Lin looked her over, and Huang Qing sensed his gaze.

Yet she did not feel offended.

Instead, she felt somewhat delighted.

This man genuinely liked her rather than coveting her father’s power and influence.

“Yang Erlang and Wukong rescued Wukong before Tang Sanzang could do so. This enraged Sanzang, because Wukong himself was central to the grand plan of the Western Heaven. He immediately flew into the air and unleashed a move called Mighty Heavenly Dragon against Yang Erlang. Erlang responded with the Law of Heaven and Earth, transforming into a mountain-sized azure lion. He tore apart the Heavenly Dragon and sent Sanzang flying back to Spirit Mountain. Just as Sanzang was about to suffer grievous injuries and die, a princess named Bai Xue rescued him with a Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill and demanded that Sanzang become her husband so that together they could rule the Kingdom of Women...”

Huang Qing’s eyes widened into perfect circles.

She truly had never heard such a wild storybook tale.

Even the little maid beside her was completely captivated and forgot to pour tea for Li Lin.

Seeing that the sky was about to grow dark, Huang Ling walked out from the house.

“Elder Sister, it’s time to return and rest.”

Li Lin knew that Huang Ling was indirectly asking him to leave.

He stood up and took two porcelain bottles from his pocket.

“I didn’t have an opportunity earlier and forgot for a moment. Please deliver this small gift to the County Magistrate on my behalf, Elder Sister.”

Huang Qing accepted them with both hands and said softly, “Rest assured, Senior Brother. I will personally place them into Father’s hands.”

Afterward, Li Lin took his leave.

Huang Qing remained standing where she was, watching Li Lin depart through the moon gate.

Huang Ling walked over and said unhappily, “He’s already gone, yet you’re still staring. You’re about to turn into a stone waiting for her husband.”

Huang Qing smiled shyly.

“Little Sister, you don’t understand.”

Huang Ling rolled her eyes.

“I understand everything. Isn’t it just lovesickness?”

“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth apart.”

Huang Qing shot her younger sister a reproachful glance before walking toward the house.

Huang Ling asked the little maid beside her, “Hongluan, what do you think of Li Lin?”

“He’s very good.”

The little maid’s face also turned especially red.

“Young Master Li is handsome and distinguished, and he is quite witty in conversation. Very good.”

Looking at the blushing little maid, Huang Ling snorted.

“Another lovestruck one.”

Holding the two porcelain bottles, Huang Qing arrived at the main hall.

Huang Yan was sitting in a chair reading a book.

Noticing someone approaching from the corner of his eye, he raised his head and asked, “Why didn’t you keep Patrol Hunter Li for dinner?”

Huang Qing’s face turned red.

“Your daughter still can’t quite bring herself to say it.”

“In the future, be bolder. Patrol Hunter Li is truly a rare talent. If you miss this opportunity, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Huang Yan stroked his beard and sighed in admiration.

“Previously, I merely thought he possessed considerable talent and remarkable composure, making him a promising young man. But what he accomplished in Feirong County this time has greatly assisted our Huang family. He severed the connection between the two Qin families in one stroke and spared us enormous trouble. That is no ordinary achievement.”

Seeing Li Lin praised by her father made Huang Qing even happier.

She felt honored by association.

“Oh right, Senior Brother Li asked your daughter to deliver these to Father before he left.”

“Oh?”

The moment Huang Yan saw the two porcelain bottles, delight immediately appeared in his eyes.

He stood up, took them, removed the stoppers, and sniffed them.

“As expected, it’s that marvelous medicine from before. Patrol Hunter Li is truly thoughtful.”

Seeing how happy her father was, Huang Qing asked, “What use does this medicine have?”

Huang Yan coughed lightly.

“It merely strengthens the body and improves health.”

Oh.

Huang Qing gave it no further thought and returned to her room.

She still had embroidery to do.

The red bridal veil embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water had to be completed within six months, and it had to be beautiful.

Meanwhile, Li Lin had returned to his “new home.”

After eating dinner and taking a bath, he sat on his bed and took a book from his bundle.

Nourishing Nature Scripture!

This book was extremely difficult to understand.

It contained numerous coded expressions and technical terms.

After reading through it from beginning to end, Li Lin had not understood any of the content whatsoever.

He only received a single increase in proficiency.

[Body Refinement +1]

What did this have to do with body refinement?

Logically speaking, “nature” referred to temperament, primordial spirit, or soul.

It represented a person’s spiritual power.

How had it become connected to body refinement?

Li Lin could not understand.

He read through it again, but this time there was no increase in proficiency.

Somewhat disappointed, he took out the other book.

Obscure Character Formula.

This was a secret manual the Qin family had obtained from the imperial palace.

It ought to have been extremely powerful.

But this book was even more difficult to understand than the Nourishing Nature Scripture.

Its contents were upside down and inside out, with a completely chaotic order of words.

It was simply a bizarre book.

Suppressing his discomfort, he read it three times in succession before finally receiving a single notification.

[Cultivation +1]

Without his special ability, Li Lin would never have been able to obtain anything useful from this book.

Something related to cultivation?

Li Lin was overjoyed.

He immediately continued reading.

Again and again.

The ancients once said that if a book is read a hundred times, its meaning will reveal itself.

There was some truth to that statement.

After reading through it several more times, Li Lin suddenly felt somewhat dizzy.

Subconsciously, he closed his eyes.

Then he felt himself floating through the void.

Around him stretched a strange white ocean, boundless and endless.

There were waves and the sound of wind.

And above his head hung a full moon.

Transparent shards of ice flowed down from the moon, forming a path of ice that poured directly into his head.

His niwan first throbbed with pain.

Then Li Lin suddenly opened his eyes.

He gasped for breath.

He was still on the bed.

There was no ocean around him.

There was no full moon overhead.

Nor was there that miraculous path of ice.

Yet at this moment, Li Lin felt somewhat cold.

It was as though invisible frigid energy was entering his body.

[Obscure Character Formula +1]

Looking at the notification, Li Lin felt considerable delight.

But he sensed his body becoming increasingly cold.

So he sat cross-legged and circulated the Spring Renewal Health Preservation Art, transforming his blood and qi.

Only after a long time did he finally stop feeling cold.

At the same time, dawn arrived.

Li Lin was extremely curious.

What exactly did this Obscure Character Formula cultivate?

What had that vision been?

And what was that path of ice flowing down from the full moon?