Chapter 77: A One-Foot Threshold

The person who leapt up was Zhao Hao.

He thrust his large hand into the arrow’s path.

Thud!

The arrow struck his palm, but it was also stopped by him.

Li Lin and Zhao Hao landed on the ground at the same time, while the others gathered around them.

At this moment, both Li Lin and Zhao Hao looked toward the enemy camp.

On one of the watchtowers there stood a man slowly lowering a longbow.

His eyes stared straight in their direction, as if he could see what was happening here.

Bai Liwei pulled out a short knife, pressed down Zhao Hao’s hand, swiftly cut off the tail of the arrow, pulled it out, then took out wound medicine and applied it to the injury.

Looking at the white jade plaques that were becoming increasingly red, Su Huafang said,

“Let’s go. We’ve been exposed.”

The group rapidly withdrew.

And after they had run far away, the cat-shaped True Lord that had been frozen in midair began turning around and looking toward the southern barbarian army camp with its pair of gray-white eyes.

The enemy camp immediately began frantically sounding retreat bells.

On top of the city wall, Tang Su clenched his fist tightly.

“It worked!”

They had seen the two blue-red bolts of lightning and then watched the enemy begin a large-scale withdrawal.

They immediately knew that the crisis facing Bobai Military Town had been resolved.

It was just a pity that neither of them was a Spirit Hunter.

They could not see the cat-shaped True Lord slaughtering its way through the enemy camp.

Otherwise they would have been even happier.

Tang Su did not pursue the retreating enemy.

He understood that chasing out at night was extremely dangerous.

If the soldiers stayed together, things were fine.

But if some became separated, they could easily attract wild gui.

Moreover, large amounts of bloodshed and death at night could trigger a riot among the wild gui.

Watching the enemy continuously retreat, Tang Su said somewhat regretfully,

“It’s a pity the imperial court is unwilling to assign Spirit Hunters to our frontier army. Otherwise, how could there be incidents like these barbarians attacking the passes?”

In his imagination, Spirit Hunters could cooperate with the army to carry out many tactical plans.

Huang Qi merely smiled.

Naturally, the imperial court could not allow the frontier army to possess Spirit Hunters.

Otherwise, if the frontier army ever harbored rebellious intentions, combined with the strange abilities of the Spirit Hunters, it would become an extremely troublesome matter.

Soon, Li Lin and the others returned.

Because a large mass of red light came “floating” rapidly out of the forest.

Tang Su smiled.

“Come, let’s go welcome our great heroes.”

Very quickly, Li Lin and the others arrived at the gates of Bobai Military Town.

The soldiers here looked at all the Spirit Hunters with admiration.

In the eyes of ordinary people, Spirit Hunters were already mysterious and formidable.

Now that they had also played the decisive role in a great victory, they naturally earned even greater respect.

Tang Su stepped forward and cupped his fists toward Li Lin.

“Many thanks to Patrol Hunter Li for braving danger and destroying the altar, thereby creating the opportunity for a great victory for our army. You are truly a hero. I wonder whether you would be interested in visiting our Tang Family. At that time...”

Huang Qi squeezed forward and interrupted Tang Su.

Patting Li Lin, he laughed.

“Go get some rest. Tomorrow we’re returning to the county seat.”

Li Lin nodded lightly.

As for Tang Su, who had been squeezed aside, he fell into thought.

The Spirit Hunters returned together to the military barracks.

Li Lin cupped his fists toward Zhao Hao and said,

“Young Master Zhao, many thanks for saving my life. Once we return to Yulin County, I will properly repay you.”

There was absolutely no way Li Lin could have dodged that arrow.

Had it hit him, even if he did not die, he would have been severely wounded.

Zhao Hao laughed.

“No need to stand on ceremony. I said before that as long as I’m alive, I’ll protect all of you.”

Everyone laughed.

Zhao Xiaohu had not gone out with them and had remained in the barracks.

In such a situation, a thirteen-year-old child like him would have been of little use.

Seeing everyone laugh, he laughed as well.

The next day, Huang Qi led several hundred local soldiers away from Bobai Military Town.

As the County Lieutenant of Yulin County, he could not cross into another jurisdiction.

Beyond this point lay the territory of other prefectures and provinces.

If he truly pursued the enemy there and someone decided to accuse him, the unlucky one would not be him but his father.

At this time, Tang Su had already departed at dawn with several hundred frontier soldiers in pursuit of the enemy.

Meanwhile, as before, Bobai Military Town retained only a little over a hundred soldiers as its garrison.

Before leaving, Li Lin went to take a look at the new altar of Bobai Military Town.

The new True Lord here was a lizard-man.

It was not very tall, only about 1.7 metres (~5.6 ft) high.

It was sprawled atop the altar, lazily basking in the sun.

It looked as though it had quite a good temper.

On the journey back, Huang Qi once again tried to persuade Li Lin to join the service of that “noble gentleman.”

Li Lin raised a hand and interrupted him.

“Some time ago, I made a trip to Jin City and met His Highness Prince Lu.”

Huang Qi froze for a moment, then asked joyfully,

“And what did you think of him?”

“He truly is a prince with great tolerance and magnanimity.”

Li Lin smiled.

“But I have no intention of becoming involved in politics.”

“You wouldn’t need to involve yourself in politics. Serving His Highness Prince Lu would allow you to save the common people from suffering...”

Li Lin sighed and interrupted him.

“Zijing, am I not also walking the proper path by guarding a village here in Yulin? Or is serving under Prince Lu the only proper path and the only way to serve the nation and its people?”

Huang Qi froze.

After thinking for a while, he smiled bitterly.

“You’re right. I’ve become too obsessed.”

Although Li Lin had rejected Huang Qi’s recruitment, Huang Qi held no grudge over it.

Instead, he appreciated Li Lin even more.

Six days later, the local soldiers returned to Yulin County, and everyone parted ways and returned home.

When Huang Qi returned home, he saw his relieved father and his mother wiping away tears.

The Huang Family prepared a huge table of dishes to welcome him back.

“Qi’er, you did very well this time.”

Huang Yan spoke with approval.

Only the First Madam of the Huang Family was still wiping away tears.

There was no helping it.

Cherishing one’s children was every mother’s instinct.

Huang Qi smiled.

Then he looked surprised.

“Big Sister, your complexion... why is it so good!”

Huang Qing froze for a moment and subconsciously touched her face.

It felt much smoother than before.

Although she was beautiful, her skin quality had actually never been as good as her younger sister’s.

After all, most Hu maidens had somewhat rough skin.

In this regard, she had inherited her mother’s traits.

“Really?”

The First Madam also looked over and then nodded.

“Qing’er really does look much better. What face cream have you been using lately? How could it have such an effect?”

“I normally don’t use face cream...”

Then Huang Qing suddenly remembered.

“I’ve been taking the pills that Brother Li gave me recently. They’re called Beauty Preservation Pills.”

At the side, Huang Ling curled her lips in apparent disdain.

Huang Yan, however, raised an eyebrow.

“Pills sent by Patrol Hunter Li are naturally not inferior. Feel free to use them.”

He himself was a beneficiary.

After taking the Body-Strengthening Pills, he had regained the vigor he possessed in his youth.

Now the First Madam at home had been thoroughly brought into line by him, and he had once again taken control of household affairs.

The First Madam looked at Huang Qing’s face with considerable envy.

In only a few days, it had become like this.

It was truly soft and rosy.

Huang Qing immediately said to Hongluan beside her,

“Go to my room and bring me the unopened bottle of Beauty Preservation Pills.”

Hongluan immediately turned and left.

A short while later, Huang Qing accepted the porcelain bottle from Hongluan and presented it to the First Madam with both hands.

“Mother, I haven’t used this bottle yet. You can have it.”

“These were a gift from Patrol Hunter Li. How could I possibly accept them...”

Although she said that, the First Madam still unconsciously accepted the bottle and held it as though it were a treasure.

Huang Yan turned to his son and said,

“Let me test you. Sixty years ago, there was an aristocratic family renowned for refining medicines. Do you know which family it was?”

“Among the Three Prestigious Clans and Five Great Surnames, the Li Clan of Jin Prefecture!”

Huang Yan laughed.

“Exactly. That’s why, after so many generations, whose ancestors didn’t once have a one-foot threshold?”

Huang Ling felt as though those words were mocking her.

She gave an unhappy snort.