Chapter 1: Forming a Society, Speaking to No One

At the foot of the mountain, on the outskirts of Yulin County.

Li Lin squatted in the grass by the country road, motionless.

From time to time, farmers carrying hoes or bearing loads passed by, yet not a single one discovered him.

And in the lower right corner of his vision, a row of text was rising upward.

【Stealth +1】

【Stealth +1】

【Stealth +1】

Although his legs had gone numb from squatting, watching these characters keep appearing filled Li Lin's heart with a sense of achievement.

As long as he squatted like this for a few hours every day, after some time, half a year or a year, even if he ran into the wild to spend the night, he would possess some ability to protect himself.

Just as he was feeling delighted, the grass was parted by a pair of large hands, and a bearded face appeared before his eyes: "Lin Ge, why are you squatting here?"

Ah, how did this kid find me!

Li Lin felt utterly baffled.

He leaned on his knees and stood up, but his numb feet meant he still could not straighten his body completely within a short time.

At that moment, the bearded face wore an expression of sudden understanding: "I know, you must have come to take a..."

"Shut up." Li Lin interrupted the other without hesitation: "If you dare say that last word, I will immediately pull out all your beard hairs."

The bearded man, terrified, covered his face and backed away.

Seizing this opportunity, Li Lin finally straightened his body; he stamped his feet, took a few steps, felt his legs were not so numb anymore, and asked: "Zhao Xiaohu, what do you want with me?"

"Today is the day the county town distributes public grain." Zhao Xiaohu looked at Li Lin with an expression of admiration: "Then Da asked me to beg you, and said that if you go to collect the grain, I should follow you to the county town and buy some sundries for everyone on the way back."

"Alright then." Li Lin walked along the country road toward the village: "You know the rules."

"I know, I know, I will absolutely obey."

Zhao Xiaohu nodded repeatedly, then, very happily, hopped and skipped back toward the village.

Yet this cute and adorable appearance somehow did not match his face at all.

Li Lin knew this was normal; after all, this child was only thirteen; looking old for his age was not his fault, it was his father's fault.

Following the country path back into the village, he returned to his own simple home.

First, he drank some water to quench his thirst, then took a white jade tablet from under his pillow, tied it to his belt, and walked out.

At this time, Zhao Xiaohu also came running over, carrying two empty baskets on a shoulder pole.

"Lin Ge, Lin Ge, I am ready."

At this moment, a larger version of Zhao Xiaohu walked over from behind.

The other spoke in a muffled voice: "Li Xiaolang, I am troubling you to take good care of my Xiaohu; old Zhao thanks you here in advance."

"Uncle Zhao, you are too polite."

Li Lin smiled and responded with a bow of his hands.

Zhao Xiaohu and his father looked extremely similar; the only difference was simply one big and one small.

Leaving the village, Li Lin walked ahead, while Zhao Xiaohu carried the empty baskets on the shoulder pole, hopping and skipping, appearing very happy.

The village was not far from the county town; walking there took about half a shi.

Entering through the city gate, one saw a rather lively area; unlike the muddy roads everywhere in the village, the main thoroughfare in this county town was paved with bluestone slabs.

Zhao Xiaohu carried the empty baskets, looking at the lively scene around him, his eyes full of curiosity and envy.

He was completely unaware that many people were staring at him with mocking looks.

Li Lin walked ahead and soon arrived before the government office.

The government office Runner on guard outside saw him and immediately came forward, saying: "Master Li, here to collect the public grain?"

"Yes."

"It has already been prepared for you; please wait a moment."

After speaking, the government office Runner ran inside, and not long after came out holding a yellow cloth bag with both hands.

He handed the bag to Li Lin, somewhat out of breath, then took out a seal from the side: "Master Li, please."

Li Lin pressed a red handprint on it, then said: "Trouble you."

This government office Runner showed a somewhat flattered expression: "It is my duty, it is my duty."

Li Lin lifted the fifty-jin heavy bag with one hand and walked toward the direction of the market, effortlessly.

Zhao Xiaohu followed from behind and said: "Lin Ge, you are truly majestic; even the officials treat you with such respect."

Li Lin walked and spoke: "It is not truly majestic; there is a price."

Zhao Xiaohu did not quite understand.

After walking for a while, he said again: "Lin Ge, how about you put this bag of rice into my basket?"

"No need for such trouble; this thing is very light to me." Li Lin smiled: "And if your basket is heavy on only one side, it will be uncomfortable to carry."

Zhao Xiaohu naturally understood, so he said nothing more.

The two walked for a while and arrived at the market, then saw that the market was not as lively as usual, seeming much quieter.

It was not that there were no people... there were just as many people as usual, but now they were all gathered in a circle, facing inward.

Li Lin's ears were sharper than ordinary people's; he heard screams from within that crowd.

He walked forward, parted the wall of people, and saw a youth dressed in tight-fitting clothes kicking a middle-aged man with dark skin.

With every kick, the middle-aged man let out a scream.

And nearby, several attendants were holding a youth down, forcing him to kneel on the ground.

That youth, watching the middle-aged man being beaten, had eyes full of tears; he looked at the kicking youth in tight-fitting clothes with a look of venomous hatred.

"Lin Ge, he is like you; he is also a Spirit Hunter."

Li Lin nodded lightly; at this young man's waist also hung a white jade plaque.

Then he asked the onlookers nearby, "Elder, what happened?"

"I'm not clear either," the old man with a face full of wrinkles beside him shook his head. "That nobleman came over and started beating Old Man Wu without saying a word."

Li Lin raised his eyebrows.

The matter was unclear, and he didn't want to get involved; moreover, he saw that although the young man looked fierce in his beating, the spots he struck were all fleshy areas unlikely to leave lasting injuries.

The old man looked quite miserable, but in reality, after a few days of rest, he should be fine.

Only Zhao Xiaohu's expression beside him seemed indignant, as if he wanted to speak but held back.

At this moment, the young man in tight clothing grabbed the injured old man's hair, lifted him up, then his throat rumbled as he was about to spit a mouthful of clear phlegm onto the old man's face.

"Stop!"

A mighty shout, full of inner strength, reverberated through the entire market.

Everyone's gaze shifted over... and then all landed on Zhao Xiaohu.

There was no choice; the sound came from this side, and Zhao Xiaohu's eyes were as big as copper bells, his face covered in thick black beard, his figure tall and imposing, a veritable fierce man; everyone thought the loud shout just now had been his roar.

The young man in tight clothing also looked at Zhao Xiaohu, his eyes carrying displeasure.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Zhao Xiaohu immediately panicked, shook his head vigorously, and shouted, "Not me, not me."

Then he hid behind Li Lin.

And at this very moment, a young man dressed as a scholar squeezed in from outside the human wall.

Li Lin saw this person and his expression showed some surprise, for he recognized him.

This scholar-like young man walked up in front of the young man in tight clothing, cupped his hands, and said, "This brave sir, as a Spirit Hunter, bullying common people is not right."

"Bullying?" The young man in tight clothing flung the old man aside and smiled, "Rather, you are bullying me, a stranger here."

The scholar-like young man seemed confused, "What do you mean by that?"

"This old man sold his daughter to me yesterday and took ten taels of official silver, but now his daughter is gone," the young man in tight clothing said with a smile, "I came over to ask, he said he didn't know, yet refused to return my money; tell me, shouldn't he be beaten?"

The scholar-like young man's expression became subtle.

The onlookers also began to murmur among themselves.

The old man made no rebuttal; it seemed the matter was indeed so.

He truly deserved a beating.

The young man in tight clothing continued to smile, "Ten taels of silver, I can afford; anyway, I've beaten him up and my anger is gone. As for you, stepping in blindly without knowing right from wrong, you'll surely suffer losses in the future."

The scholar-like young man's expression became awkward.

"Release that little wolf cub," the young man in tight clothing shouted.

Several attendants threw the youth down beside the old man.

The young man in tight clothing walked over, stepped his right leg onto the youth's right hand, and said, "I can see you hate me, even want to kill me."

The youth withdrew the fierce light from his eyes.

"But you didn't act, so I have no reason to deal with you; after all, I am a kind-hearted person." The young man in tight clothing wasn't pressing hard, merely using this method to restrict the boy's movement, "Remember, my surname is Wang, my name is Tianyou! When you grow up and become capable, come find me. Either you kill me, or I kill your whole family; understand?"

Wang Tianyou's face was grim and sinister, making people afraid.

The youth dared not look at him, his whole body trembling.

Wang Tianyou straightened up, laughed heartily, glanced around, and when his gaze met Li Lin, it paused briefly, then he turned and left with several attendants.

Seeing the fierce man leave, several people familiar with the old man went over to help him up.

Meanwhile, the scholar-like young man walked up to Li Lin, cupped his hands, and smiled, "Brother Kunge, it's been some time since we last met."

Li Lin also clasped his fists and smiled, "Indeed it has been some time; why has Brother Zi Jing come to this market?"

This scholar-like young man was the eldest son of the local county magistrate Huang Yan, Huang Qi, courtesy name Zi Jing.

As the descendant of an official family, his status was noble; by rights, there was no need for him to come to such a chaotic place as a market.

"I came here specifically to find Brother Kunge; the government office Runners said you should have arrived here." Huang Qi made a gesture of invitation, "May I invite you to sit at a nearby tavern and chat for a while?"

Li Lin nodded, unfastened the white jade plaque from his waist, then said to Zhao Xiaohu beside him, "Take this thing; go buy things in the market yourself. If anyone troubles you or dares to cheat you, give them my name and show them this thing."

There were many dishonest merchants in the market who liked to bully villagers coming from the countryside to the market.

Selling goods at inflated prices was normal; shortchanging weights and measures was even more common, and sometimes one might pay without receiving goods.

With the Spirit Hunter's jade plaque, surely no one would dare to bully Zhao Xiaohu.

"Okay, Lin Ge."

Zhao Xiaohu took the jade plaque, carried two baskets on a pole, and left.

Huang Qi and Li Lin sat down in the tavern; after the waiter brought wine and dishes, Huang Qi raised his cup and said, "Brother Kunge, this humble one drinks first."

"Drink together."

The yellow wine went down his throat; Huang Qi put down the empty cup and said, "Half a month ago, I went to Jincheng and met a noble gentleman."

Jincheng is a great city; Yulin County falls under its jurisdiction.

Li Lin also put down his cup and listened quietly.

"He has a heart to save the world, talent to rescue the people, and is willing to strive for this cause." Huang Qi said with admiration, "Compared to him, I am far inferior."

Li Lin still said nothing.

Huang Qi had originally wanted to spark the other's interest, but seeing Li Lin not respond, he pondered for a moment and said again, "Brother Kunge, in Yulin County, you are the person I admire most. But don't you feel that with your abilities, staying cooped up in this small county is a bit too much of a waste?"

"I quite like it here," Li Lin said with a light smile.

Seeing Li Lin still unwilling to engage, Huang Qi stopped beating around the bush and spoke plainly, "Brother Kunge, this noble gentleman, feeling that one person's strength is weak, is gathering people to help more suffering souls; I have already joined them, and I hope you will join us to save the common people from fire and water."

"Do you plan to form a society?"

Huang Qi looked left and right, saw no one paying attention to them, then whispered, "It cannot exactly be called forming a society; it is merely everyone discussing how to act together for a shared vision, to rescue more unfortunate people."

Li Lin chuckled softly, "Brother Zi Jing, I am different from you scholars; I am a martial man, I don't understand grand principles, and besides, I am a Spirit Hunter. According to the Great Qi laws, Spirit Hunters cannot join societies, except... the Demon Subjugation Bureau."

"Little brother certainly knows." Huang Qi looked into Li Lin's eyes, his tone slow: "But can the imperial court still spare the strength to govern you Soul Hunters?"

"But I can govern myself."

Huang Qi looked at Li Lin, whose expression remained calm. He sighed lightly, stood up, bowed with folded hands, and then left.

Li Lin stayed in the inn, drinking wine and eating small dishes.

About an hour and a half later, Zhao Xiaohu returned carrying baskets on a shoulder pole.

The two baskets were filled to the brim with things: some belonged to the Zhao family, and others were daily necessities that people from other parts of the village had asked him to buy.

"Lin Ge, I've bought everything. Shall we return to the village now?"

While speaking, he handed the white jade token back to Li Lin.

Li Lin looked at the sky outside and said, "No rush. There is still some time. You should eat something too, or you'll have no strength for the road. Anyway, a noble person has already paid for the wine and dishes."

"Alright."

Zhao Xiaohu sat down without ceremony and ate and drank heartily.

Soon, all the delicacies on the table were finished by him.

The two then stood up and began their return journey.

Compared to when they came, their walking speed was now noticeably faster.

Moreover, many villagers from other villages were leaving the county town with them, and they too were walking with hurried steps.

On the road back to the village, Zhao Xiaohu dared not look at the valleys and forests on both sides of the country path.

He simply kept following behind Li Lin, walking forward with his head down.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the village entrance, where Uncle Zhao was already waiting.

That face with the big beard was very easy to recognize; one could tell it was him from far away.

Seeing the two return, Uncle Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, walked over quickly, took his son's shoulder pole, and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

"Trouble you, Li Xiaolang. I'll take Xiaohu back first."

"Good. Give my regards to Aunt Hua."

"Got it."

Zhao Xiaohu waved to Li Lin, then followed his father home.

After the two returned home, they immediately shut the door tightly. By then, no one was walking outside in the village.

Li Lin did not go home; instead, he went to the center of the village, found a withered tree, and beneath it stood a green stone altar.

Strange lines were drawn on this altar, radiating an aura of evil qi.

Li Lin pressed his left hand onto it. Shortly after, a translucent woman in a gowned apparition appeared on the altar, wearing a black leather mask that obscured her features.

As soon as she appeared, she lay prostrate on the altar, embraced Li Lin's left hand, extended a long, forked snake tongue, and licked Li Lin's palm again and again.

She licked with great vigor.

With each lick, a faint red light was drawn away by her tongue and swallowed into her belly.

(End of this chapter)