Chapter 99: Chance and Circumstance

Li Lin was the first to charge out.

The two men opposite him were standing side by side, resting. Seeing a young man leap from behind the bushes, they were immediately startled.

Just as they were about to question him, they saw a spear thrust toward them and instantly split left and right.

This suited Li Lin perfectly. His spear feinted, creating layers of spear shadows that forced back the slightly heavier man.

Meanwhile, Bai Bufan and Zhao Xiaohu rushed out simultaneously, joining forces against the skinny man.

Bai Bufan specialized in short blades, while Zhao Xiaohu used a spear. Neither was particularly powerful on his own, but together, one fighting at close range and one at long range, they complemented each other well.

The skinny man wielded a waist saber and was quite capable. His pupils were dark gray, with faint white light flickering within them.

Zhao Xiaohu’s spear technique was well-practiced. Every attack was swift, but his own blood vitality was not strong, and his power was lacking.

Each time the skinny man blocked, he could knock the spear tip aside. Under normal circumstances, he should have been able to counterattack, but whenever such an opportunity appeared, Bai Bufan would rush forward with his twin daggers, attacking positions that forced an immediate defense.

The skinny man retreated step by step, but he was not anxious. He merely waited quietly for an opportunity.

After blocking several more spear strikes, the light in the skinny man’s eyes surged dramatically, as though yin qi was about to burst forth.

At that moment, Bai Bufan suddenly threw out a cloud of white powder.

The skinny man’s eyes seemed to be using some sort of technique. They protruded outward and could not close. He could only watch helplessly as the white powder struck him full in the face.

His two large eyes were instantly coated with a thick layer of white dust.

He then let out a miserable scream, threw away his saber, and rolled around on the ground.

It was quicklime. Upon contact with water, it boiled violently. The pain was so intense that the man wanted to gouge out his own eyes.

Zhao Xiaohu took two steps forward and drove his spear into the man’s chest.

The man made a couple of rasping sounds in his throat, then fell silent.

After killing their enemy, the two immediately turned around, intending to assist Li Lin, only to find him standing nearby, smiling as he watched them.

Not far away, the fat man lay collapsed on the ground. Blood flowed from his throat, and all light had left his eyes.

Zhao Xiaohu said admiringly, “Brother Lin, you’re still the most impressive. You killed your enemy all by yourself.”

Li Lin waved his hand. Looking at the two corpses, he felt somewhat helpless.

They had come here to find all the missing Spirit Hunters of Beiliu County and reassure the local county magistrate.

Instead, the final two had been killed by them.

Still... Li Lin did not regret it.

Everyone had their own side.

Whether it was Su Huafang or Bai Liwei, both had a good relationship with Li Lin. Naturally, he chose to help people he knew.

He could hardly help two complete strangers instead.

Besides, those two did not look like good people.

Li Lin released another small paper effigy.

This time, it was to search for Su Huafang and the others.

The little paper effigy darted joyfully through the mountains and forests. Before long, Li Lin knew which direction they should go.

After leading the two youths over a mountain pass, Li Lin heard cries of alarm coming from ahead.

“Where did these paper effigies come from? Could those two beasts still know this kind of technique? I’ll destroy them.”

It was clearly Ding Yingqiu’s voice.

The moment Zhao Xiaohu heard it, his expression became excited.

“Wait! These little paper effigies look very familiar.”

“They’re full of tricks. They must belong to Patrol Hunter Li.”

Bai Bufan shouted happily, “Uncle, where are you?”

“Is that Bufan? We’re over here.”

“Have you all gone mad? They were tracking us, and you actually...”

Following the voices, the three found the group.

They were beneath a gigantic boulder. There was a cool, open platform there, and the three were sitting cross-legged upon it.

A group of pink paper effigies danced nearby, wiggling their bottoms.

Su Huafang and Bai Liwei were naturally delighted to see the three of them.

Ding Yingqiu, however, looked at Li Lin with vigilance and even a trace of hostility.

“Patrol Hunter Li, you really are... despicable.” Ding Yingqiu looked at him and mocked, “You claimed you weren’t interested and didn’t want to come. Yet now you’ve followed us here. These path-finding paper effigies of yours are truly impressive.”

Li Lin smiled helplessly. “Patrol Hunter Ding, you’ve misunderstood. I wasn’t following you. My appearance here is entirely a coincidence.”

Su Huafang said, “I don’t think Patrol Hunter Li is that kind of person.”

Bai Liwei nodded as well.

Only after receiving the guarantees of those two did Ding Yingqiu’s expression become much more normal.

Though she still remained somewhat guarded.

Looking at the three sitting cross-legged, Li Lin asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

“We’ve been poisoned.” Su Huafang said helplessly. “After arriving here, we intended to conceal our identities while acting. But one of them recognized me and invited us to drink. Who could have known they’d poison the wine? For some reason, once we realized something was wrong, we fled desperately. Out here in the wilderness, we tangled with them for three days and four nights... They pursued us relentlessly. We never had the opportunity to completely purge the poisoned wine from our bodies and could only suppress the toxicity with medicinal pills.”

“Then while you meditate to detoxify yourselves, the three of us will guard this place.”

Su Huafang and Bai Liwei immediately closed their eyes and used yin techniques with all their strength to expel the poison from their bodies.

Ding Yingqiu continued staring at Li Lin.

Li Lin smiled and said, “If I truly had ill intentions, you wouldn’t be able to escape anyway. Relax and focus on detoxifying yourself.”

After thinking it over, Ding Yingqiu felt that made sense. Gritting her teeth, she began concentrating on circulating her yin qi.

About one shichen later, the three awoke from meditation one after another.

Su Huafang let out a long breath. “Finally, I feel comfortable again. What I don’t understand is why those four suddenly attacked us.”

Bai Liwei snorted. “Once I find those two bastards who are left, I’ll make them experience torture so severe they’ll beg for life and beg for death.”

Beside him, Bai Bufan said, “Uncle, those two are already dead.”

“They’re dead? How did they die?”

Bai Bufan proudly declared, “Patrol Hunter Li killed one. Xiaohu and I killed the other together.”

Bai Liwei froze for a moment, then stood and rubbed Bai Bufan’s head. “Well done.”

Bai Bufan smiled happily.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaohu moved closer to Ding Yingqiu and asked, “Patrol Hunter Ding, do you need me to support you?”

“No need!” Ding Yingqiu stood up and looked at Li Lin. “Why did you all come here as well? Tell me.”

She still had not completely trusted Li Lin.

Li Lin then explained the entire sequence of events from beginning to end.

After listening, Su Huafang smacked his lips. “That County Magistrate Ma is quite ruthless.”

The moment he heard that, Li Lin also reacted. “You mean... County Magistrate Ma is using a borrowed knife to kill people?”

“Yes. When we rushed out of the tavern, there were plenty of pedestrians around.” Su Huafang chuckled. “Beiliu County is County Magistrate Ma’s territory. How could he not know what happened to us? He could have learned the truth simply by questioning passersby. Yet he claimed to know nothing and just happened to seek help from Yulin County. Tell me, isn’t that strange? Why didn’t he ask Xingye County for assistance? It’s obviously closer.”

Li Lin stroked his smooth chin. “I think I understand why they tried to poison you... Could it be that they believed the three of you were brought in by the county magistrate to deal with the Spirit Hunters?”

Su Huafang pondered for a moment. “That’s possible.”

Bai Liwei immediately spat. “Damn it. We’ve been dragged into someone else’s conflict. What rotten luck.”

Hearing this, Ding Yingqiu realized she had completely misunderstood Li Lin. She immediately bowed slightly and said, “Patrol Hunter Li, I was blind to your good intentions and wronged you. If you wish to hit me or scold me, do as you please. I won’t even frown.”

Li Lin waved his hand. “It’s fine. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up. We’ll all be colleagues in the future, helping each other out.”

Ding Yingqiu nodded heavily. “Good.”

At this moment, Su Huafang said, “How about Patrol Hunter Li joins us too? I feel that... this seems to be your destined opportunity.”

Ding Yingqiu and Bai Liwei also looked at him.

After thinking for a while, Li Lin nodded. “All right.”

He also had a feeling that some unseen force seemed to have ‘guided’ him here.