Chapter 104: Who Dares Rank Them Like That?

Tianyi Sect is a purely martial arts sect, unlike the Buddhist and Daoist schools, which involve strange and esoteric techniques.

Therefore, Tianyi Sect has no powerful “long-range attack” techniques.

It focuses on abundant qi, speed, and fierce strikes.

It sounds impressive, but all martial artists understand the pain of lacking long-range attacks.

So when Li Lin spent two hours, in front of An Xin, writing out the Thunder Summoning Spell from memory and adding annotations, An Xin’s expression was ecstatic.

He picked up the paper Li Lin had written on and exclaimed: “Li Xunshou, your handwriting… is truly beautiful.”

Li Lin wrote in Song-style script.

This was also the most suitable script for writing essays and reading, which Li Lin had practiced specifically during his studies.

Because writing this way made teachers more likely to give high scores.

But to calligraphers, Song-style script is considered impersonal and overly mechanical.

An Xin was a martial man who understood nothing of calligraphy—he simply found Li Lin’s writing clear and pleasant to read.

After skimming through it once, he said: “Thank you, Li Xunshou. Please wait a moment; the elixirs will be sent shortly.”

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

In Li Lin’s hand was a small bottle containing six elixirs.

They had expected to receive only one or two, but ended up with six entire pills.

Su Huafang sighed: “Tianyi Sect is truly honest.”

“Actually, it’s Li Xunshou’s annotations on the Thunder Summoning Spell that were impressive.”

Li Lin looked at them and smiled: “Want some? I can write two more copies for you.”

Both shook their hands vigorously in refusal.

Few Spirit Hunters are willing to practice thunder arts, not even to collect them.

It’s simply unnecessary.

The three returned to the Zhao residence and found Zhao Hao lying in bed.

“Gentlemen, why are you back again?”

Li Lin placed the small bottle beside the bed: “Elixirs we got from Tianyi Sect.”

Zhao Hao sat up in shock, then cried out and collapsed back onto the bed.

“How did you get these? Did you fight Tianyi Sect?”

Su Huafang laughed: “Li Xunshou traded the Thunder Summoning Spell for them.”

Zhao Hao paused, then said: “Thank you, Li Xunshou.”

Li Lin waved his hand: “You took an arrow for me at Bo Bai Garrison—this settles the debt.”

Zhao Hao’s eyes grew slightly red: “You settled it long ago. Now I owe you.”

Li Lin sighed: “Also, I have something else I’d like to say to you.”

“Please.”

“To pursue a woman, you must not act like this.”

“I don’t! I only see her as a sister!”

Li Lin sneered: “I haven’t even named who it is… keep denying it. Look at us three—who would believe you?”

Su Huafang and Bai Zhiwei both chuckled.

Only Zhao Hao thought he’d hidden it well.

Zhao Hao looked embarrassed, then replied defiantly: “Li Xunshou, you’re still a boy… no, your yang energy isn’t as strong as before—you’re no longer a virgin. But you, just out of your virgin state, dare teach me the true meaning of love? Aren’t you overconfident?”

Li Lin said: “My elders taught me about this, and my family has books on the subject for me to study.”

All three stared at Li Lin.

“You have such books?”

“Yes!”

Thinking of Li Lin’s family background, they found this not entirely unbelievable.

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

“They said much. After reading some, I even doubted whether romantic love was real.”

Everyone fell silent again.

Then Zhao Hao asked: “So what should I do?”

“I can’t teach you exact methods—each situation differs—but you must listen to this.”

Zhao Hao nodded eagerly.

Romantic love is like a deep pool: the more you devote yourself, the deeper you sink. If you pour your heart alone, you’ll face the calamity of a lonely heart, driving the other away. True fortune isn’t upheld by a single tree—it must be like twin lotus blossoms, growing together, with two carp carrying pearls in unison, jointly building a sacred bond.

Su Huafang and Bai Liwei both felt the insight.

They were seasoned veterans; many things became clear with just a hint.

Zhao Hao pondered deeply, then asked: “So you mean I should distance myself for a while, and wait for her to do something for me?”

“Exactly!”

Li Lin nodded slightly.

Zhao Hao closed his eyes, thought again, then said: “Li Xunshou, I trust you. I’ll do as you say.”

Su Huafang burst into laughter: “So the matter is settled?”

Bai Liwei’s expression also grew relaxed.

“I’ll go explore Jincheng on my own. Let’s regroup in two days to return to Yulin County,” Li Lin said with a smile.

“Good!”

The three parted ways.

Li Lin went to the Gold Workshop.

He wanted to commission gold ornaments for Shuxian Niangniang and Huang Qing.

Both women had helped him immensely.

Just as he had advised Zhao Hao, emotional bonds require mutual investment.

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

Carrying two small gift boxes, he hadn’t gone far when he sensed someone following him.

He initially thought a powerful figure had targeted him, so he entered an alley with few people, activated his Concealment Spell, and floated onto a rooftop.

But he discovered… the followers were just a few street thugs.

They must have seen him leave the Gold Workshop and decided to rob him.

After knocking them out, Li Lin turned to leave—then noticed a white-clad figure on a nearby rooftop.

Li Lin was initially wary, then relaxed.

Because the figure was An Xin.

The senior disciple of Tianyi Sect.

“Impressive! Impressive!” An Xin clapped as he walked over. “Li Xunshou, your Concealment Spell is truly eye-opening. I never expected you had Daoist lineage—no wonder your annotations on the Thunder Summoning Spell were so excellent.”

He had misunderstood. Li Lin saw no need to correct him and asked: “Why are you here, An Young Master?”

“I’m on patrol,” An Xin smiled. “I heard many riffraff around Tianyi Sect were robbing merchants, so I came to check. I was watching them when I realized they’d dared to target you, Li Xunshou.”

“Does Tianyi Sect have a share in the Gold Workshop?”

“No,” An Xin waved his hand. “The Gold Workshop merely rents our shopfront.”

So he was the landlord.

“No wonder Tianyi Sect has become one of the most renowned sects in the south,” Li Lin said admiringly.

A wealthy sect rarely fails.

An Xin smiled: “Since we’ve met, it’s fate. Why not share a drink and chat about the Jianghu?”

Li Lin bowed: “Excellent.”

He wanted to learn more about this so-called Jianghu.

The two found a nearby tavern and sat down.

While waiting for the waiter to bring wine and dishes, Li Lin said: “An Young Master, I know nothing of the Jianghu, so I have a question I’d like to ask you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Does the Jianghu have rankings?”

Huh? An Xin looked puzzled.

Li Lin explained: “Like the Top Ten Martial Artists, Top Ten Weapons, Top Ten Beauties, that sort of thing.”

An Xin burst out laughing: “Who dares rank them like that? Doesn’t he fear the others after number two coming after him?”

(End of Chapter)