Chapter 7: The Truth Must Not Be Revealed
Another morning arrived, and from the village came the mournful wail of suona horns mixed faintly with the howling cries of women.
Li Lin sat in his home, slowly sipping light tea to wash away greasiness.
Xiuniang’s funeral procession was taking place, but he did not need to attend.
After all, he was a Spirit Hunter, and his vitality and blood were vigorous.
Following behind the coffin would instead disturb the deceased.
At this moment, he was pondering who exactly had harmed Xiuniang.
If Xiuniang had merely been devoured by strange entities, then there would be nothing unusual about the matter.
There were always unfortunate people in this world who ventured out, failed to return to a village or city in time, spent the night in the wilderness, and became food for strange entities.
But the problem lay with the Secret Rite of Wraith Womb Gestation.
This was an evil art.
Even Li Lin, a novice Spirit Hunter, had heard of its infamous reputation.
Utterly wicked and monstrously inhumane.
The Tree Immortal Lady had drained twelve mouthfuls of his vital essence before speaking a single term.
Fetal Garment!
Although he now had a clue, Li Lin felt it was not worth it at all.
Just one word.
No beginning, no end.
How was he supposed to investigate?
That said, although the Tree Immortal Lady’s voice was cold, it really was quite pleasant to listen to.
He took several more sips of tea.
After waiting more than half a shichen, he picked up the white jade token and tied it to his belt, preparing to head into the county seat to meet Wang Tianyou.
Nearly everyone in the village was occupied with Xiuniang’s funeral affairs.
There was hardly anyone left in the village.
When Li Lin arrived at the village entrance, he unexpectedly discovered Zhao Xiaohu sitting beneath a large tree, looking extremely dejected.
“Why aren’t you seeing Xiuniang off on her final journey?” Li Lin asked curiously.
“Brother Lin...”
Zhao Xiaohu responded first, then said gloomily, “They won’t let me go.”
“Why not?”
“Because Sister Xiuniang was actually my fiancée.”
“They said there were taboos involved or something. I don’t really understand it.”
Ah!
Li Lin truly had not known about this.
He had only been in the village for a little over half a year.
Moreover, he spent most of his time cultivating and rarely chatted with the villagers, so he knew little about village affairs.
Zhao Xiaohu stood up and said sadly, “Originally, once I turned fifteen, I was supposed to marry Sister Xiuniang.”
“She was three years older than me.”
“My dad always said that when the wife is three years older, she brings a brick of gold. Sister Xiuniang was always very good to me as well. I never expected that...”
“My condolences.”
Li Lin patted his shoulder.
He knew very well how difficult it was to find a suitable wife in a rural area like this.
Besides, the two of them could be considered childhood sweethearts.
Though Zhao Xiaohu looked far more mature than his age.
Then again, paired with a girl three years older, that mature appearance might have worked quite well.
But...
That was all in the past now.
The person was gone.
What more could be said?
“Brother Lin.”
Zhao Xiaohu suddenly stared straight at Li Lin.
“Was Sister Xiuniang murdered?”
“No... why would you think that?”
“Because Sister Xiuniang wasn’t that kind of person.”
“She was sensible and obedient.”
“She wouldn’t run around recklessly.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
Li Lin patted his shoulder again.
“Everyone has moments when they lose their judgment.”
He would never tell the villagers that someone had harmed Xiuniang.
Ordinary villagers simply could not bear the consequences of knowing the truth.
Zhao Xiaohu lowered his head.
After leaving the village, it took more than half a shichen to reach the county seat.
Li Lin headed straight for the county yamen.
Upon arriving, he found that Wang Tianyou was already waiting there.
Besides him, there were two middle-aged men.
Li Lin knew both of them.
Walking over, he cupped his fists and smiled.
“Senior Zhou, Senior Su, we meet again.”
Zhou Yutong returned the greeting with a smile, his tone neither warm nor cold.
“Brother Li, greetings.”
As for Su Huafang, he approached with obvious friendliness and patted Li Lin’s shoulder.
“Not bad.”
“Your body is much stronger than before.”
“Looks like blood rice really is nourishing.”
Su Huafang was Li Lin’s benefactor.
He had been the one to discover Li Lin’s potential as a Spirit Hunter and personally taught him the basics.
Even the Spring Renewal Health Preservation Art had been gifted to him by Su Huafang.
Li Lin said gratefully, “Senior Su, how have you been recently?”
“Not bad.”
“It’s just that running around everywhere helping people eliminate demons takes its toll over time.”
“My old bones can’t quite endure it anymore.”
“I’m getting old. After a few more years of work, I’ll be able to retire.”
At that moment, Wang Tianyou stepped forward and laughed.
“Senior Su still looks like he’s in his prime. It’s far too early to speak of retirement.”
Su Huafang stroked his beard and burst into laughter.
He specialized in the Spring Renewal Health Preservation Art.
Although he was already over fifty years old, he looked only a little past thirty.
That was the thing of which he was most proud.
At this moment, two more people arrived together.
One man and one woman.
Li Lin had never met either of them before.
Wang Tianyou immediately began introducing everyone.
Before long, they all became acquainted.
“So this is the ‘yang object’ you found?”
The woman was a young married woman.
Her appearance was ordinary.
Only her figure was noteworthy, making her reasonably attractive.
She looked at Li Lin with considerable curiosity and clicked her tongue repeatedly.
Li Lin felt somewhat displeased.
“Isn’t it a bit unpleasant to describe me as a yang object, Patrol Hunter Ding?”
Ding Yingchun burst out laughing.
“Your yang energy really is exceptionally strong.”
“I’m only speaking the truth.”
“If you’re unhappy, you’re welcome to scold me a few times.”
“Or perhaps after this matter is over, I could give you a red envelope?”
The others laughed upon hearing this.
At the same time, they looked at Li Lin with a trace of envy.
Li Lin was momentarily stunned.
He had no idea what that meant.
Su Huafang stroked his beard and said, “Patrol Hunter Ding, let’s forget about that.”
“Brother Li still relies on this yang energy to support and strengthen his vitality and blood.”
“Then we’ll talk about it another time.”
Ding Yingchun sounded rather regretful.
At this point, Wang Tianyou interjected.
“It’s not that early anymore.”
“Let’s first get some food and wine into our stomachs.”
“We’ll need our strength tonight.”
Naturally, no one objected.
Wang Tianyou therefore treated them to a meal at the finest restaurant in the county.
They chatted while eating.
These people were all seasoned veterans of the Spirit Hunter profession.
When they exchanged gossip and stories, they were extremely entertaining.
Li Lin, as a newcomer, truly learned quite a few things.
Three hours later, the group rode horses out of the county seat and arrived near a small town more than ten kilometers away.
There stood an abandoned Earth God temple.
From horseback, Wang Tianyou pointed toward the temple entrance.
“That gui is inside the temple.”
“It will come out at midnight.”
Ding Yingchun swung herself off her horse.
“I’ll go set up a boundary first.”
“That way no other gui will come interfere.”
“Many thanks, Patrol Hunter Ding.”
Wang Tianyou cupped his fists.
Ding Yingchun smiled.
Then she took out a white porcelain bottle from her belt.
Pulling out the wooden stopper, she walked forward while scattering powder.
As the powder touched the ground, it turned pale green.
In the dim surroundings, it appeared exceedingly eerie.
Like ghostly flames falling to earth and drawing a prison around the area.
Li Lin was quite curious.
Su Huafang walked over and spoke quietly.
“Patrol Hunter Ding is a descendant of the Ding family of Gui City.”
“Her alchemy skills are a profound inheritance of her clan.”
“She’s very formidable.”
“She can nourish the body and craft ritual tools.”
“This powder is Boundary Powder made through alchemy.”
“Only members of three families know how to refine it.”
“But don’t get too close to her.”
“The Ding family possesses a dual cultivation technique. ”
“I’ve heard they learned it from gui.”
“It can supposedly drain a person dry, right down to their marrow.”
So powerful!
Li Lin immediately thought of the Tree Immortal Lady back in the village.
“By the way, what did she mean by giving me a red envelope?”
Su Huafang looked at him strangely.
“You really don’t know?”