Chapter 67: Human Hearts Are Full of Cunning

At this moment, Bai Bufan revealed an expression of envy that had reached its absolute limit.

Li Lin could imagine the pain in their hearts right now, but he had no desire to experience it.

Never.

Su Huafang walked over to He Yumao, his face slightly flushed as he said, “We’ve already made our offering to the True Lord. There shouldn’t be any problems from here on.”

He Yumao subconsciously took half a step backward and said somewhat awkwardly, “Many thanks for your trouble, Patrol Hunter Su.”

“You’re too polite.”

After a brief conversation, Su Huafang returned to Li Lin and the others.

Looking at Su Huafang’s appearance, Li Lin felt that the image of him as a reliable and steady senior seemed to have shattered quite a bit.

Small groups existed everywhere and at all times.

The martial artists from the escort agency sat near the entrance.

They were responsible for keeping watch and guarding against external threats.

The four Spirit Hunters sat deepest inside, not far from the altar.

The approximately two hundred ordinary people huddled together in the middle of the temple.

Some lay down openly to sleep, while others leaned against one another and dozed.

As Li Lin ate his dry rations, he observed these ordinary people and discovered that many of them truly did not dare sleep deeply.

At the slightest sound around them, they would open their eyes, look around, and only then close them again.

Su Huafang arranged for the four of them to take turns standing watch.

Soon, the entire night passed.

The next day, after everyone ate a simple breakfast, they set off beneath the morning sun.

The crowd was noisy and bustling.

Children burst into tears from time to time.

Overall, however, it did not affect the speed of the group’s progress.

Li Lin remained at the rear together with Su Huafang, observing their surroundings while chatting.

Time gradually passed.

According to the plan, they would arrive at the first rest stop at noon.

It was also at that moment that the convoy came to a halt.

Li Lin and Su Huafang exchanged a glance and immediately ran from the rear toward the front of the group.

There, they saw a three-way intersection ahead.

Another convoy had arrived from the left-hand road.

Both sides had stopped and were cautiously watching each other.

He Yumao stepped forward with several escorts and cupped his fists from a distance.

“I am He Yumao of Yulin County’s Longwind Escort Agency. People of the martial world know me by the title Life-Taking Sword. May I ask which esteemed expert is in charge on the other side?”

Very quickly, a middle-aged man emerged from the opposite side.

He looked rather amiable.

“I’ve long heard of your reputation. I am Lin Qiyu of Jin City’s Shunfu Escort Agency. In the martial world, I am known as Thousand-Li Chasing Wind. Greetings, Chief Escort He.”

He Yumao’s expression became noticeably less tense.

The two sides approached somewhat closer and began chatting.

Seeing that there appeared to be no danger, everyone in the convoy breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Lin turned and asked, “Senior Su, Senior Bai, do either of you have martial world titles?”

Bai Liwei shook his head.

“I spend most of my time in Yulin County and rarely travel. I don’t have one. However, I heard that Patrol Hunter Su traveled extensively in his younger days and once had a title.”

Su Huafang stroked his beard somewhat sheepishly.

“When I was young, I was arrogant and immature. That’s all in the past now.”

“What was the title?” Bai Bufan asked curiously from the side.

But Su Huafang refused to say.

Seeing this, Bai Bufan did not press the matter further.

At that moment, the middle-aged man opposite them looked over.

When he saw Su Huafang, he froze for a moment and then exclaimed, “Could that be Senior Su, the Fragrant Thief Gentleman, ahead of us?”

The expressions of Li Lin and the other two immediately became strange.

The corners of Su Huafang’s cheeks twitched twice.

Helplessly, he cupped his fists and said, “It is indeed Su. However, I left the martial world long ago. Please don’t call me by that title anymore. Just call me Patrol Hunter Su.”

He did not even need to turn around.

He already knew what expressions Li Lin and the Bai uncle and nephew were wearing.

They were definitely suppressing laughter.

His guess was correct.

Li Lin was struggling terribly to hold it in, his eyebrows twitching repeatedly.

After He Yumao and Lin Qiyu finished their discussion, they learned that the other convoy was also headed for Jin City.

The two groups immediately decided to travel together.

After all, the more people there were, the stronger their blood and qi would be, making them less likely to be attacked by wild ghosts.

And in truth, that was exactly the case.

Combined, the two convoys now numbered more than four hundred people.

There were over thirty martial artists and seven Spirit Hunters.

With such a lineup, it was nearly impossible for them to be attacked by wild ghosts unless they encountered a ghost at the True Lord level.

And reality proved exactly that.

By the time night fell, even while resting in the wilderness, the white jade plaque on Li Lin’s body did not emit the slightest red glow.

In this manner, five days quickly passed.

The magnificent and towering gates of Jin City were now right before their eyes.

The more than four hundred ordinary people cried and shouted with excitement as they lined up to enter the city.

For them, these five days had been spent with death almost constantly at their side.

After entering the city, Li Lin’s first impression was of endless traffic and bustling crowds.

Bai Bufan’s eyes shone brightly as he looked left and right, seemingly searching for some target.

Seeing his nephew’s behavior, Bai Liwei shook his head helplessly.

At that moment, Su Huafang walked over and placed a money pouch into each person’s hand.

“The agreed payment is all in here. Gather at the south gate at noon two days from now. The four of us can travel back together. It’ll be safer that way.”

Bai Bufan asked, “What about the people from Longwind Escort Agency?”

“They’ll stay here for a few more days, gather more travelers, and then escort them back to Yulin County. They want to earn a little extra.”

Bai Bufan continued, “Can they manage without Spirit Hunters accompanying them?”

“Don’t worry. They have their own methods.”

Su Huafang smiled.

Bai Liwei smacked Bai Bufan on the head.

“Don’t underestimate the people of the world.”

Bai Bufan rubbed his head and then walked over to Li Lin, hooking an arm around his neck with a grin.

“Patrol Hunter Li, I heard you’re still a virgin body. Want me to take you to a brothel for a look around?”

Before Li Lin could respond, Bai Liwei came over and smacked Bai Bufan on the head again even harder.

“You can debauch yourself all you want. Don’t corrupt others.”

Bai Bufan immediately fell silent.

Li Lin smiled.

Although he had become a virgin body once again, in terms of knowledge and practical experience, he was far more experienced than anyone present.

Including the two seniors who already had children.

Afterward, Li Lin temporarily parted ways with the three of them.

He immediately found a cheap inn and rented a room, then took a bath.

After all, he had gone five days without bathing.

For someone who valued cleanliness quite a bit, it was extremely uncomfortable.

He then slept for a while.

Only at dusk did he get up and head to the marketplace in search of food.

Jin City was enormous.

Its area was at least six times larger than Yulin County City, and its population density was much higher as well.

As Li Lin walked through the streets, he could look up and vaguely see the image of a colossal dharma manifestation in the sky.

Bi Fang True Lord.

Then Li Lin felt as though a gaze had swept down from the sky.

He did not dare continue looking.

Lowering his head, he kept walking.

After wandering through the marketplace for a while, he bought a flatbread and ate it as he walked.

He intended to purchase a small alchemy furnace.

After asking locals for directions, he entered an alley.

The sound of hammering metal rang out endlessly here.

The air was filled with the scent of burning charcoal.

He searched for a while but could not find an alchemy furnace.

One blacksmith told him that such items could only be custom ordered through the Artisan Bureau.

So he headed toward the Artisan Bureau.

However, when passing a street corner, he saw two groups confronting each other ahead.

The surrounding pedestrians all kept their distance.

More than a dozen men in white martial uniforms were blocking the entrance to a residence.

Li Lin looked over and saw the four characters Shunfu Escort Agency written on the plaque above the gate.

Among those confronting the men in white was a familiar face leading several others.

Lin Qiyu.

At that moment, the other man noticed him as well.

Lin Qiyu’s eyes lit up.

“Patrol Hunter Li, many thanks for coming to lend us your strength. Tianyi Sect has gone too far. Quickly join us and help drive them away.”

The moment those words were spoken, several men in white martial uniforms immediately rushed forward and formed a semicircle, blocking Li Lin’s path.