Chapter 79: The Daoist Opens His Eyes

Li Lin watched the Daoist and the woman part ways.

After thinking for a moment, he decided to deal with the woman’s situation first.

After all, he had already seen the Daoist’s face and had a way to find him later.

But if this woman used the placenta, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Following behind the woman for a short distance, Li Lin called out to her, “Madam ahead, please wait.”

The woman turned around, somewhat uncertain whether she was the one being addressed.

When she saw Li Lin, she instinctively felt her heart race and her face flush.

“This young gentleman... why are you calling for me?”

Li Lin first raised his white jade token, then said, “I am a Spirit Hunter. Did you happen to encounter a Daoist priest?”

The woman nodded lightly.

Li Lin continued, “Hasn’t the county yamen already posted notices? Recently, criminals have been disguising themselves as Daoist priests and distributing evil objects everywhere... like the thing in your hand.”

The woman’s face immediately turned pale.

“I... this humble woman knew nothing of that.”

“Hand it over to me.”

Li Lin extended his hand.

“Then forget this matter.”

The woman looked at the piece of brown hide in her hand.

“But that man said...”

“Did he say that if you soaked it in water and drank it, you’d become as beautiful as a celestial maiden?”

The woman nodded repeatedly.

“How did you know, young gentleman?”

“Because you’re not the first woman to suffer from this.”

Li Lin smiled.

“You can think about it. If this thing were truly so wonderful, why would he give it to you instead of presenting it to nobles and high officials?”

The woman said with some difficulty, “Perhaps I really do have... an affinity with the Dao?”

”Ha ha.”

Li Lin let out a cold laugh.

He had expected such a response.

“No matter. You can keep it if you wish. But next, I’ll be heading to the county yamen to report to the County Magistrate that you’ve colluded with criminals and accepted an evil object with the intent to harm others. You’ll be thrown into prison.”

The woman was terrified.

She threw the placenta onto the ground and turned to run away.

These days, ordinary people were still very afraid of the authorities.

They were even more afraid of being imprisoned.

Picking up the placenta, Li Lin headed to the county yamen.

As luck would have it, Huang Yan was currently handling official business in the main hall.

When he saw Li Lin enter, he asked warmly, “Patrol Hunter Li, what brings you to the county yamen today?”

Generally speaking, Spirit Hunters were not required to report for duty at the county yamen.

Most of the time, they remained within their own territories and occasionally took on some miscellaneous assignments.

As for Spirit Hunters accepting private jobs to earn money, the government maintained a neutral stance.

It neither encouraged nor opposed it.

After all, if Spirit Hunters were forbidden from earning money, the government itself would have to cover those expenses.

And that would not be a small sum.

“I found that Daoist priest.”

Li Lin displayed the placenta.

“He gave this thing to a woman, and I intercepted it.”

“And where is the Daoist now?”

Huang Yan’s expression became serious.

Li Lin shook his head.

“I believed preserving that woman’s life was more important, so I dealt with the placenta first. However, I have a way to find him.”

“You handled that very well.”

Huang Yan nodded with a smile.

“Next, should I dispatch men to secretly protect that woman?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. The Daoist probably doesn’t know the woman either. What he’s tracking should be the evil aura of this placenta.”

Huang Yan nodded.

“Very well. Leave the handling of this matter to you Spirit Hunters. If you require support from the local militia, simply ask.”

“Thank you, County Magistrate.”

Huang Yan stroked his beard and smiled.

“When you have time, come visit my home more often. Also... if your schedule allows, bring a few more bottles of Body-Strengthening Pills.”

“Certainly!”

Li Lin cupped his fists.

Afterward, Li Lin went to the military affairs office within the county yamen.

Captain Shi was on duty there.

Upon seeing Li Lin, he cupped his fists and asked, “Patrol Hunter Li, a rare visitor. Is there any official matter you need my help with?”

“I’d like to ask you to send a few constables to notify Patrol Hunters Su Huafang, Bai Liwei, and Zhao Hao.”

“That’s simple enough.”

Captain Shi agreed with a cheerful smile.

He neither wanted nor dared to make things difficult for Li Lin.

Leaving aside Li Lin’s status as a Patrol Hunter, the County Magistrate’s high regard for him was already common knowledge throughout the county yamen.

There were even rumors that the County Magistrate’s eldest daughter had once emerged from Patrol Hunter Li’s new home one morning.

Well, well.

If that rumor were true, the implications would be entirely different.

Who didn’t know that in another two or three years, the County Magistrate would likely be promoted to Prefect in Jin City?

Li Lin waited in the military affairs office for over a shichen.

Then Su Huafang, Zhao Hao, and Bai Liwei arrived one after another.

Once everyone had gathered, Li Lin led the three of them out of the office and into the county yamen’s rear courtyard.

“What happened that required summoning the three of us?” Zhao Hao asked curiously.

Su Huafang and Bai Liwei also looked at Li Lin with curiosity.

Li Lin said, “I found that Daoist priest.”

All three of them froze simultaneously.

Naturally, they knew exactly what sort of person Li Lin was referring to.

“Do you know where he’s staying?” Su Huafang asked.

“No, but I saw his face.”

Li Lin pulled out a stack of paper figurines from his clothing and scattered them onto the ground.

The little paper figurines hopped and skipped away, some using bizarre and peculiar methods to leave the courtyard.

Zhao Hao could not help laughing.

“Patrol Hunter Li truly retains a childlike heart.”

The other two were also suppressing laughter.

Li Lin felt quite helpless.

He considered himself calm and steady, remaining composed in all situations.

How had the paper figurines he created turned out so strange?

This had to be a problem with the technique itself.

It certainly had nothing to do with him.

The three chatted idly for a while.

After about two incense sticks of time, Li Lin’s expression suddenly turned serious and he stood up.

“We’ve found him.”

The four immediately set out, running in a particular direction.

After half a shichen, they tracked the trail to the vicinity of a small forest.

This area was already on the outskirts of the county city.

However, it still lay within the protection range of the Fourfold Wonder True Lord.

Li Lin glanced at the sky.

It was already evening.

Taking a few steps forward, he heard an angry voice coming from within the trees.

“Ah, this is so annoying! Why are there so many of them?”

The four exchanged glances and spread out.

Then they saw a Daoist priest “hunting” those little paper figurines.

The little paper figurines were quite clever.

They constantly maintained a safe distance from the Daoist.

Whenever he approached, they immediately raised both hands and fled backward.

Meanwhile, other paper figurines hid behind trees or in the grass.

Then they would peek out with a pair of bright, watery “big eyes” and stare at the Daoist.

The four continued approaching.

At that moment, the Daoist suddenly became alert and turned his gaze toward them.

“Who dares secretly spy upon me?”

Since they had been discovered, Su Huafang, Bai Liwei, and Zhao Hao stepped out into the open.

Li Lin, meanwhile, concealed himself.

However, the stealth technique that had always worked so well before suddenly lost its effectiveness.

The Daoist abruptly looked toward Li Lin’s location.

“There’s another one hiding... an invisibility technique? A secret Daoist art. Do you think I can’t sense it? Showing off petty tricks before a master. Ridiculous!”

A mocking expression appeared on the Daoist’s face.

His hands rapidly formed seals.

“The Northern Dipper reverses and cooks away human nature, the Underworld lends me its sight to glimpse heaven’s scars. Open!”

After chanting the spell, the Daoist wiped his left hand across his forehead.

The skin there immediately split apart, and a vertical eye grew out.

The pupil of this eye was blood-red and carried an especially sinister aura.

It remained fixed on Li Lin’s direction.

Being stared at by that thing made Li Lin feel uncomfortable all over.

“So it’s a pretty boy!”

The Daoist grinned viciously.

“Those paper figurines nearby were your handiwork, weren’t they?”