Chapter 91: All Matters Settled
Li Lin handed the handwritten copy of the Yin Dharma Heart Scripture to He Yumao.
He also happened to have 35 kg (~77 lb) of blood rice on hand, so he shared 15 kg (~33 lb) of it with him.
If someone truly had talent, that amount of blood rice would be enough.
He Yumao cupped his hands.
“Many thanks, Patrol Hunter Li. I will surely repay this kindness generously in the future.”
Li Lin asked,
“The Longwind Escort Agency has been sealed. Do you still have a place to live?”
“Although the County Magistrate investigated and liquidated the Longwind Escort Agency’s assets, compensating the families of the deceased did not require that much money. Several properties were returned.”
He Yumao spoke with some regret.
“If only I had listened to you back then and hired a few more Spirit Hunters. Perhaps none of that would have happened.”
Li Lin patted his shoulder.
“What’s done is done. Don’t dwell on it. Look forward instead. If you need anything, come find me.”
“Alright.”
He Yumao nodded gratefully to Li Lin.
Then he suddenly remembered something and said,
“Oh, right, Patrol Hunter Li... While I was in prison, I heard from the yamen runners that my wife said some outrageous things to you. On her behalf, I’d like to apologize.”
As he spoke, He Yumao bent at the waist.
Li Lin held his arm and helped him back up.
“It’s in the past.”
He Yumao smiled gratefully.
Then he left carrying the blood rice.
After He Yumao had gone far away, Li Lin turned and looked toward the entrance of a nearby alley.
Su Huafang walked out from there.
“You watched for so long. Why didn’t you come out and meet him?”
Li Lin had long since noticed Su Huafang “spying” nearby.
Su Huafang said helplessly,
“Actually, Chief Escort He invited me along back then. But I had... family matters and didn’t agree. Lately I’ve been wondering whether the tragedy of the Longwind Escort Agency could have been avoided if I’d gone with you.”
Li Lin shook his head.
“Hard to say. It’s also possible that even if both of us had gone, it wouldn’t have made any difference.”
Only after exchanging blows with the Daoist and the Bear True Lord within the illusion realm had Li Lin realized how terrifyingly powerful they were in reality.
Had he not been lucky enough to learn the Obscure Character Formula, he would likely have died that night.
Su Huafang said,
“I just feel like I’ve let him down somehow. We’ve known each other for years after all. Sigh.”
“By the way, how much do you know about Yue City?”
Li Lin asked.
“You’re thinking of taking a trip to Yue City?”
Su Huafang asked with a smile.
Li Lin nodded.
“That old ghost of the Qin Family has already started targeting me in secret. Fortunately, the Tree Immortal Lady is protecting me. I don’t believe the Qin Family of Yue City had no involvement in this. I want to find an opportunity to take a look.”
“And then recreate what happened to the Qin Family of Feirong?”
Su Huafang shook his head.
“The Qin Family of Yue City is different from the Qin Family of Feirong. They’re an old aristocratic clan with several hundred years of history. Back then, they were only a step below the Three Surnames and Five Great Clans. ”
Su Huafang suddenly thought of something.
Looking at Li Lin, he recalled the medicinal pills that had been delivered a few days ago.
Then he said,
“If you want to deal with the Qin Family, you’d better gather more capable people. Going alone would be very dangerous.”
“No rush. I only want to find a chance to take a look.”
“As long as you’ve thought it through.”
Su Huafang responded casually.
Given Li Lin’s steady temperament, he felt there was no need to persuade him further.
He simply told Li Lin everything he knew about the Qin Family of Yue City.
By the time he finished, it was already nearing evening.
Just as Li Lin was about to bid Su Huafang farewell, he saw Bai Bufan and Zhao Xiaohu approaching from afar with their arms around each other’s shoulders.
Before they even got close, the smell of alcohol and perfume reached them.
“Brother Lin...”
Zhao Xiaohu wore a foolish grin.
“Brother Bufan is amazing. He taught me so many things. Turns out women are so...”
Li Lin sighed helplessly.
“Xiaohu, your talent is average. The only reason you’ve managed so far is because your blood energy and yin energy balance each other better than most people’s. Visiting brothels too often isn’t good for you.”
“Brother Lin... that’s because you don’t know...”
Xiaohu swayed unsteadily and let out a drunken burp.
“How wonderful... women are. Brother Bufan said you’re still a virgin... you don’t understand... once you know... you won’t lecture... me anymore.”
Li Lin shook his head helplessly.
Su Huafang looked at the two youngsters and could neither laugh nor cry.
“Brother Lin, I’m... going to stay... at Brother Bufan’s place tonight...”
Zhao Xiaohu continued swaying.
“Tomorrow... I’ll come find... you.”
“Go ahead.”
Li Lin smiled.
Another friend meant another path in life.
Bai Bufan looked unreliable, but that was only on the surface.
The boy was quite scheming underneath.
Following him, Xiaohu would learn a few more tricks.
Watching the two drunks stagger away, Su Huafang looked at Li Lin strangely.
“I’ve always had a question. Aren’t you a bit too steady for your age?”
Li Lin raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m actually quite lustful.”
“I’ve never seen you visit a brothel.”
“There aren’t any peerless beauties in brothels.”
Su Huafang froze.
Then he inhaled sharply.
“You had your eye on... the County Magistrate’s daughter from the very beginning?”
He lowered his voice for the last few words.
Li Lin shook his head.
“I only got to know the County Magistrate’s daughter recently.”
“Then how have you managed to resist all this time?”
Unlike Bai Bufan and Zhao Xiaohu, Li Lin was clearly already in his early twenties.
Ordinarily, it was perfectly normal for the sons of aristocratic families to learn about relations between men and women from servant girls at fourteen or fifteen.
“Because I’ve already seen true beauty. I have no interest in ordinary looks.”
“Oh...”
Su Huafang understood.
“So that’s why you turned down Patrol Hunter Ding more than two months ago!”
Li Lin raised an eyebrow.
At that moment, a familiar person came running over.
“Patrol Hunter Su, Patrol Hunter Li... I’ve finally found you two.”
The newcomer was Zhao Hao.
He pulled the two of them to the side of the street and said,
“Have you heard the news from Jin City?”
Su Huafang asked curiously,
“What happened?”
“The Prefect of Jin City was beheaded by the Third Prince.”
“He really got beheaded?”
“That’s right. I heard the execution took place at noon three days ago.”
Zhao Hao laughed.
“Now that Jin City has no prefect, it should be our County Magistrate’s turn to fill the position.”
Li Lin and Su Huafang already knew about this.
It had never been a secret.
Huang Yan had remained in Yulin County precisely because he was waiting for a direct promotion.
Otherwise, with the Huang Family’s connections in the capital, Huang Yan would never have remained merely a county magistrate.
“Do you think the County Magistrate will take us with him if he goes to Jin City?”
Su Huafang shook his head indifferently.
“I’m old. I don’t want to leave my homeland.”
Zhao Hao lowered his voice.
“As for me, I definitely want to move up. Besides, my family has a residence in Jin City. If the County Magistrate is willing to take me there, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
The two then looked toward Li Lin.
Li Lin smiled.
“I plan to stay in Yulin for the time being.”
“Why?”
Zhao Hao asked curiously.
“If you wanted to go, the County Magistrate would definitely bring you.”
“It’s because I don’t want to go.”
Li Lin smiled.
The Huang Family’s influence could be borrowed...
But he could not follow behind it.
There was a difference.
Zhao Hao did not understand.
Su Huafang, however, vaguely understood what Li Lin meant.
He did not try to persuade him further.
Besides, Li Lin remaining in Yulin County was quite beneficial to Su Huafang as well.
The three parted ways.
When Li Lin returned home, he found Zhang A’fu pacing anxiously outside the gate.
The moment he saw Li Lin, he immediately came over.
“Master, the County Magistrate’s son and daughter are both waiting for you in the main hall.”