Chapter 105: The Stubbornness of the Soul Hunter

I must say, An Xin's words make a lot of sense.

Creating rankings is indeed a sure way to offend people.

It even carries the suspicion of stirring up trouble.

Yet Li Lin felt somewhat disappointed.

Seeing this, An Xin asked, "Why does Inspector Li look so gloomy?"

"Without these rankings, the world of Jianghu feels less like the Jianghu."

An Xin's expression grew even more confused.

What world of Jianghu... He, a pure Jianghu person, didn't even know what this strange flavor was.

Li Lin asked again, "Then in the Jianghu, there must be someone who bears the heavy burden, or a sect."

"That is true." An Xin thought for a moment and said, "The sect with the greatest fame right now is undoubtedly the Xi Ming Palace in the Central Plains."

"Thus no person is discarded, thus no thing is discarded, this is called Xi Ming?"

An Xin was somewhat stunned: "There is such a reference? We only know it is called Xi Ming Palace."

"A Daoist sect?"

"Yes."

Li Lin nodded: "Then it must be them. Are they very powerful?"

"Of course they are powerful. The Fallen Thunder Incantation was spread from there." An Xin looked at Li Lin, asking with some disbelief, "You actually don't know? You have clearly mastered the Fallen Thunder Incantation."

"That is precisely why I said I have no understanding of the Jianghu at all."

An Xin looked at him with a subtle gaze.

At this moment, the waiter brought wine and dishes.

The two clinked glasses and each drained theirs.

An Xin asked, "Inspector Li, you Soul Hunters are quite close to the government. What is the situation with Yuecheng exactly? Will the imperial court fight or not?"

"Hard to say." Li Lin sighed, "The Northern Di are more dangerous; I estimate the imperial court's attention is currently focused on the northern border."

"Then if Yuecheng attacks, won't it lead to a massacre of the people?"

Li Lin fell silent, because this was very likely to happen.

Afterwards, he said, "Now we can only hope that Tang Qibian's border army can hold out."

At this moment, An Xin slammed heavily on the table.

He shouted angrily, "Tang Qibian's border army! They are all useless. Rather than hoping they can hold out, it would be better to hope the imperial court destroys the Northern Di within half a year and sends a grand army to recover Yuecheng."

His angry shout caused many people to look over.

At this time, there were quite a few diners nearby; a man wearing a bamboo hat stood up: "This brother, I won't stop you from cursing the imperial court, but since you insult the Tang family's border army, I have something to say."

Li Lin felt somewhat helpless, so... at any time, arguing about politics seems to be no good thing.

See, now trouble has been invited.

An Xin also stood up and said displeasedly, "What do you have to say!"

"Why are the Southern Barbarians not as cruel as the Northern Di? It is because the Tang family's border army has always implemented a scorched earth policy against the Southern Barbarians. Without the Tang family's border army, our south would probably be even harder to bear than the north."

"Nonsense! The Tang family's border army only kills innocent people to claim merit."

"Very well, very well, very well! Spreading rumors at random. Who are you, sir?"

"I am speaking the truth." An Xin snorted: "A true man does not change his surname when walking, nor his name when sitting. I am Lin Qiyu of Shunfu Escort Agency."

Hearing these words, Li Lin almost spat out the wine in his mouth.

The man in the bamboo hat snorted: "I have noted this."

Afterwards, An Xin called out, "I am too lazy to speak with you, a dog of the Tang family. Waiter, settle the bill."

Leaving the restaurant, An Xin walked quickly ahead.

After a while, he slowed his pace: "Inspector Li, I am sorry for ruining your mood."

Li Lin saw it; An Xin must have some grudge or conflict with the Tang family's border army.

He smiled: "You gave a false name there. Aren't you afraid of being recognized?"

"Not afraid." An Xin said, "Those who know me won't expose me; they will fear I will trouble them. Those who don't know me will just think I am Lin Qiyu."

Indeed, that makes sense.

After the two walked for a distance, An Xin said, "Inspector Li, you are a good person. In the profession of Soul Hunters, few end well. If you can quit, quit as soon as possible."

"What do you mean?"

"Yin Qi affects the human physique and shortens lifespan. Even with Blood Rice, it cannot be completely eliminated, only delayed. That Inspector Su, judging by his blood energy, already shows signs of the lamp running out of oil."

Li Lin was stunned: "What?"

"You Soul Hunters carry Yin Qi, so your sensitivity to blood energy is not as good as us martial artists. Moreover, our Tianyi Gate has special secret techniques to sense a person's blood energy." An Xin continued, "I can guarantee that Inspector Su does not have much time left."

Li Lin was silent for a moment, then clasped his fists and said, "I will return first."

"Good." An Xin understood Li Lin's meaning: "We will meet again another day."

Li Lin quickly returned to the inn and knocked on the door next door.

"Who is it!"

It was Su Huafang's voice.

"Me."

The door opened.

Su Huafang's expression was normal; he smiled and invited Li Lin into the room.

"Inspector Li is not out playing; what does an old man like me need from you?"

Li Lin said, "I suddenly want to check your pulse."

Su Huafang paused for a moment, then still placed his left hand in front of Li Lin.

Li Lin's medical skills were already quite good now; although he had not reached the level of a divine physician, he could already detect the vast majority of symptoms through pulse-taking.

After a while, he released Su Huafang's hand and said, "You still have half a year—why didn't you tell us?"

Su Huafang said helplessly, "I didn't expect your medical skills to be learned so quickly either! How did you suddenly know there's a problem with my body? Clearly I've been taking great medicines and hiding it very well."

"Young Hero An reminded me."

Su Huafang said with a bitter smile, "As expected of someone from Heaven One Sect—truly capable."

Li Lin said, "Stop doing this line of work. Take a rest."

"No need."

"Your body can't hold on much longer now. Wouldn't it be better to go home and dandle your grandchildren?"

Su Huafang said, "Some things always need someone to do them. I've never regretted becoming a Spirit Hunter. If you want to talk about regret, it's regretting not becoming a Spirit Hunter sooner. I wandered north and south in my youth, wasting more than ten years for nothing."

"But you only have half a year now. What can you accomplish?"

"Plenty." Su Huafang smiled. "Helping the common folk deal with Apparitions—I couldn't be happier."

Li Lin said, "If you break the Yin-attribute cultivation method, you can live another five years."

"Five years no different from being a cripple?" Su Huafang said with a beaming smile, "I wouldn't be willing to accept a situation like that."

Li Lin let out a long sigh. He knew he couldn't persuade Su Huafang.

Looking at Li Lin's gloomy expression, Su Huafang said, "Also, Li Xunshou—bringing you onto the path of a Spirit Hunter is actually something I owe you an apology for. I knew long ago that the Yin-attribute cultivation method shortens a person's lifespan, but for that little bit of selfish desire in my heart, I still did it. I'm sorry."

"I heard you've brought many Spirit Hunters to light."

"Yes."

"Many died young."

"That's right."

"Then do you regret harming them?" Li Lin asked.

"Never once regretted it. In fact, I'm somewhat glad now." Su Huafang looked at Li Lin as though gazing upon an unparalleled masterpiece he was about to finish carving: "You have a tremendous talent for being a Spirit Hunter. You'll be a hundred, a thousand times stronger than me. You can destroy more Apparitions and save more common folk."

Li Lin sighed, "Do many people know about this?"

"Not many." Su Huafang's expression carried a hint of teasing: "Remember to keep it secret. You don't want the Spirit Hunters to learn of this and leave in droves, leaving the common folk with no one to watch over them, do you? Without Spirit Hunters, Taowu Zhenjun won't receive offerings and restraint for long. Once it loses its senses, it really will kill a great many people."

(End of chapter)