Chapter 104: Who Dares Rank Like This?

The Tianyi Sect is a pure Wu Lin sect and does not involve strange and bizarre techniques like the Buddhist and Daoist schools.

Therefore, the Tianyi Sect does not possess very powerful 'long-range attack' moves.

They focus on abundant Vital Energy, speed, and fierce striking power.

It sounds impressive, but the pain of lacking long-range attack methods is understood by all martial artists.

So when Li Lin spent two hours, right before An Xin's eyes, silently copying the Fallen Thunder Incantation and adding annotations, An Xin's expression was one of excitement.

He took the paper Li Lin had written on, then exclaimed, "Li Xunshou, your handwriting... is truly beautiful."

Li Lin wrote in Song typeface.

This is the font most suitable for writing articles and making them easy to read; Li Lin had practiced it specifically while studying.

Because writing essays this way made it easy for teachers to give high scores.

But in the eyes of calligraphers, Song typeface lacks personality and is a crafty, mechanical script.

An Xin was a martial man who understood nothing of calligraphy; he simply felt Li Lin's handwriting looked clear and read comfortably.

After glancing through it hastily, he said, "Thank you, Li Xunshou. Please wait a moment; the pills will be delivered soon."

Half an hour later, the three of them emerged from the Tianyi Sect.

In Li Lin's hand was a small bottle containing six pills.

They had originally thought they could only exchange for one or two pills, never expecting it to be a full six.

Su Huafang sighed, "The Tianyi Sect is honest."

"Actually, it was the annotations Li Xunshou wrote for the Fallen Thunder Incantation that were impressive."

Li Lin looked at them and smiled, "Do you want them? I can write two more copies for you."

Both of them waved their hands repeatedly.

Soul Hunters rarely had anyone willing to practice Thunder Arts; they didn't even want to collect them.

There was simply no need.

The three arrived at the Zhao family again and saw Zhao Hao lying in bed.

"Three of you, why have you returned?"

Li Lin placed the small bottle by the bedside: "Pills obtained from the Tianyi Sect."

Zhao Hao was so startled he sat up directly, then let out a cry of pain and lay back down.

"How did you get them? Did you fight the Tianyi Sect?"

Su Huafang smiled, "Li Xunshou traded the Fallen Thunder Incantation for them."

Zhao Hao paused, then said, "Thank you, Li Xunshou."

Li Lin waved his hand, "At the Bobai Army Garrison, you blocked an arrow for me; now the debt is fully repaid."

Zhao Hao's eyes turned slightly red, "You repaid it long ago; now I am the one who owes you."

Li Lin sighed, "Additionally, I have some words I wish to say to you."

"Please."

"Pursuing a woman is not done like you do it."

"I am not! I only see her as a sister!"

Li Lin sneered, "I didn't even say who it was... You continue to argue sophistry; look at the three of us, which one would believe you?"

Su Huafang and Bai Zhiwei both chuckled.

Only Zhao Hao thought he had hidden it well.

Zhao Hao's expression was somewhat awkward, then he became quite indignant: "Li Xunshou, you are merely a virgin... no, your Yang energy is not as vigorous as before; you are no longer a virgin. But you, someone who just lost your virginity, want to teach me the true meaning of love and romance; is that not too arrogant?"

Li Lin said, "But my elders taught me knowledge in this area, and there are books in my family for me to study on this subject."

All three looked at Li Lin simultaneously.

"They even have such books?"

"They do!"

Thinking of Li Lin's 'family background', the three felt this was not something unacceptable.

Zhao Hao fell silent for a moment, then asked, "What did those books say?"

"They said many things; after reading some of the books, I hardly dared to believe in love between men and women anymore."

Everyone fell silent again for a while.

Then Zhao Hao asked, "So what should I do?"

"I cannot teach you the specific actions, as everyone's specific situation differs, but there are some words you must listen to."

Zhao Hao nodded vigorously.

"Love between a man and a woman is like a deep pool; the more one falls in love, the deeper one sinks. If only one falls in love, it ultimately becomes the calamity of a lonely heart, causing lovers and letters to grow distant. A good match cannot be supported by a single tree; it must be like twin lotuses blooming, requiring the momentum of two carp holding pearls to jointly build the orchid fate."

Su Huafang and Bai Liwei heard these words and also gained realization.

They were old hands; many things became clear to them with just a hint.

Zhao Hao pondered these words carefully; after a while, he asked, "Do you mean I should treat her coldly for a period, waiting for her to take the initiative to do things for me?"

"Correct!"

Li Lin nodded lightly.

Zhao Hao closed his eyes and pondered for a while longer, then said, "Li Xunshou, I trust you. I will do this next."

Su Huafang laughed heartily, "Then is the matter resolved?"

Bai Liwei's expression also became relaxed.

"I will go explore Jincheng by myself first; let us return to Yulin County together in two days," Li Lin smiled.

"Good!"

The three parted ways.

Li Lin went to the Gold Workshop.

He wanted to have a set of gold ornaments made for Lady Tree Immortal and Huang Qing each.

These two women had been of immense help to him.

Just as he had advised Zhao Hao earlier, matters of the heart require mutual investment from both sides.

After selecting two sets of gold ornaments, Li Lin paid with silver notes worth several hundred taels.

Carrying two small gift boxes, he had not walked far before sensing he was being followed.

He thought some formidable figure had targeted him again; walking into a sparsely populated alley, he entered stealth mode and drifted onto the rooftop.

It turned out... the ones following him were a few petty thugs.

They likely saw him exit the Gold Workshop and conceived evil intentions.

After knocking these people unconscious, Li Lin was about to leave when he spotted a person in white robes on a nearby rooftop, following him.

Li Lin was initially wary, but then relaxed.

That person was An Xin.

The eldest senior brother of the Tianyi Sect.

"Impressive, truly impressive!" An Xin clapped and walked over, saying, "Li Xunshou, this technique of yours, the Invisibility Incantation, is a revelation. I never expected you to possess a Daoist lineage; no wonder the annotations for the Fallen Thunder Incantation were written so well."

The other seemed to misunderstand; Li Lin did not wish to explain and instead asked, "Young Hero An, what brings you here?"

"I am on patrol," An Xin smiled. "I heard many ruffians near our Tianyi Sect are robbing merchants, so I came to check. I was just watching them; I never expected they would run afoul of Li Xunshou."

"Does the Tianyi Sect have a share in the Gold Workshop as well?"

"Not exactly," An Xin waved his hand. "The Gold Workshop merely rents shops from our Tianyi Sect."

So they were the landlords.

"No wonder the Tianyi Sect has become a renowned major sect in the South," Li Lin said admiringly.

Sects with money are generally not lacking.

An Xin smiled. "Since we have met, it is fate; why not share fine wine and chat freely about Jianghu affairs?"

Li Lin clasped his fists. "Excellent."

He also wished to learn about the so-called Jianghu.

The two found a tavern nearby and sat down.

While waiting for the waiter to bring wine and dishes, Li Lin said, "Young Hero An, I know nothing of the Jianghu, so I have a question I wish to ask you."

"Please speak."

"Is there a ranking list in the Jianghu?"

Hmm? An Xin looked somewhat puzzled.

Li Lin explained, "Like the Top Ten Great Masters of the World ranking, the Top Ten Weapons ranking, the Top Ten Beauties ranking, and so on."

An Xin immediately laughed. "Who would dare to make such a ranking? Does he not fear those ranked second and below coming to trouble him?"

(End of this chapter)