Chapter 11: You Carry Dignity Within

Chunju Tower.

Inside the private room.

Although delicacies and fine wine were arranged on the table, no one had the heart to eat.

Wang Tianyou's face remained dark, and Su Huafang sighed from time to time.

After a while, among the several people following Wang Tianyou, a cold-faced middle-aged man said, "Young Master, do not blame yourself too much; this matter has little to do with you."

In fact, the atmosphere just now was quite acceptable, but then a servant came to report that the clay statue in the Earth God Temple had vanished, and a white skeleton lay there. Wang Tianyou then knew that the most important mission of this journey had failed.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!" Wang Tianyou muttered.

Su Huafang said nothing, and Li Lin certainly would not say anything.

Then Wang Tianyou said, "Brother Li, among weapons, fist techniques, and Spirit-Controlling Methods, which two do you choose?"

"Two?" Li Lin was somewhat puzzled: "Wasn't only one allowed?"

"I said double compensation for you."

"Then the Spear Manual and the Spirit-Controlling Method, is that acceptable?"

"No problem!" After taking a sip of wine, Wang Tianyou stood up and said, "I will return to Diancheng first; I must go apologize to the Ding family. As for the agreed-upon items, I will send someone to deliver them in a few days."

Having spoken, Wang Tianyou departed with his servants.

Su Huafang breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Li Lin asked, "Were you very nervous, Senior Su?"

"Indeed, a little." After taking a sip of wine, Su Huafang said, "Your strength is not yet strong enough to feel it... Each of the few people beside Young Master Wang could defeat this old man within three moves."

Li Lin knew those few were formidable, but he did not expect them to be so formidable: "But they are not Spirit Hunters, are they?"

"Those are true martial artists!"

Spirit Hunters destroy ghosts; martial artists kill men.

Each has their own duty.

However, once a certain level of strength is reached, Spirit Hunters are still stronger.

"Tell me about these things," Li Lin said as he poured a cup of wine for Su Huafang, continuing, "so I won't offend people without knowing it in the future."

"Then let me tell you about the powerful families here in Jincheng."

Immediately, the two chatted casually while drinking wine.

After all, someone had already paid for this table of delicacies; it would be a waste not to eat.

From morning until noon, the two finally left the restaurant.

Before leaving, Li Lin asked Su Huafang for Zhan Shijun's home address, then went there.

It was a very common single-room courtyard; the walls were not high, and one could see an old woman sitting inside the courtyard embroidering, while beside her a small boy played with sand and mud on the ground.

"Is this the home of Zhan Shijun... Brother Zhan?"

The old woman stood up, slightly bowed in greeting, and said, "Yes, may I ask what brings Young Master here?"

"This is the silver I owe Brother Zhan; please accept it."

Li Lin handed over two silver notes, totaling forty taels, ten taels more than previously agreed.

Actually, red rice should have been given, but... for ordinary people, eating red rice is not only useless but harmful.

Silver is more practical.

"My son did not tell this old woman that anyone owed him silver." The old woman's expression became somewhat panicked: "Why did you not give it directly to my son..."

She seemed to have guessed something.

She stood motionless, refusing to accept it, as if accepting it would cause some great calamity.

Li Lin placed the silver notes on the low wall, turned, and walked away.

The old woman looked at the silver notes on the wall, then at Li Lin's retreating back; she swayed, nearly falling.

Then, suppressed weeping sounds came.

Li Lin walked even faster.

He wandered around the market, bought some necessities like salt and oil, and was just about to return to the village when a scholarly young man approached him face-to-face.

"Brother Kunge, we meet again." Huang Qi clasped his fist and smiled.

"Brother Zi Jing." Li Lin clasped his fist in return.

"The matter I mentioned a few days ago, have you considered it?"

Li Lin looked at the other party and asked curiously, "Brother Zi Jing, I have some unclear points; please clarify them for me."

"Please speak."

"This junior has been a Spirit Hunter for only a little over half a year; my strength is at the very bottom among all Spirit Hunters in this county town. Why are you so persistent in recruiting me? Are there not others better?"

Huang Qi snapped open his fan with a swish, looking extremely elegant and scholarly: "There are no weak Spirit Hunters; even if one is weak now, one can stand alone in the future. Of course, this is not the reason I favor you; rather, I see in you a Lin Qiyu similar to that noble gentleman."

"Me, noble?" Li Lin laughed at himself: "I am greedy for money and lustful; I cannot bear the title of 'noble'."

Huang Qi smiled with narrowed eyes: "Brother Kunge, you underestimate yourself too much."

"That's all for now; I must return to the village first." Li Lin clasped his fist and said, "If I don't return soon, it will probably be dark."

"Hmm, Brother Kunge, be careful on your way." Huang Qi returned the greeting and said, "If you change your mind, you may come find me anytime."

Before the sky grew dark, Li Lin returned to the village.

At this time, most people in the village had already closed their doors and were resting; the village was quiet.

Li Lin habitually went to the altar to check on Lady Tree Immortal; the latter seemed to be resting and did not appear.

Afterwards, Li Lin returned home, closed the door, and began cooking.

After filling his stomach with a full pot of red rice, he finally felt much more comfortable in his body.

Last night, he had close contact with that female ghost; although he was not injured, he still suffered significant loss of vital energy due to erosion by resentment and yin qi.

He did not rush to refine the Blood Rice; instead, he opened the cloth bag and took out the books and pills inside.

These had all been looted from the black-clad man.

The book was not thick, with a blue background, and written on the cover were the words: Wraith Embryo Secret Rite!

Several large characters.

Li Lin's face grew stern; he instinctively looked around, then went to close the door and windows.

Only then did he return to the desk and begin to peruse the book.

After spending a bit more than an hour, he finally finished reading the book.

【Nether Embryo Profound Storage +1】

【Nether Embryo Profound Storage +1】

"What a vicious technique!"

After Li Lin sighed, he placed the book on a candle to ignite it, then threw it aside, watching it burn to ash before finally exhaling in relief.

Next, his gaze fell on the two small bottles; there were no labels on them. He shook them, and a sound came from within, indicating they contained something.

Logically, they should contain medicine pills, but... who could guarantee they didn't hold poison? So he dared not sniff or smell them recklessly, let alone eat them.

"Store them first; in a few days, buy a few chickens to test the medicine." Li Lin placed the two small porcelain bottles inside the wardrobe for safekeeping.

If they were not poison, he would find a doctor in the county town to help identify the medicine's purpose.

After finishing all this, he went to the small courtyard to fetch two buckets of well water to wash his body, changed into clean clothes, and was just about to blow out the lamp and rest when he heard the sound of a woman crying outside again.

"Xiaohu, Zhao Xiaohu, where are you!"

"Come out quickly; your Sister Xiu Niang is waiting for you to reunite."

Her voice, repeated again and again, sounded extremely resentful.

Li Lin's face grew slightly cold; he pushed open the window and looked down from above, seeing that familiar woman in white wandering outside the village, and beside her followed another female figure.

She looked familiar; who else could it be but Sister Xiu Niang!

After watching the two female ghosts wandering outside for a while, Li Lin closed the window and returned to sit cross-legged on the bed.

【Vitality +1】

【Vitality +1】

When dawn broke the next day, Li Lin went directly to Uncle Zhao's house and knocked on the door.

Aunt Hua opened the door, her face full of terror; upon seeing Li Lin, her expression carried a hint of joy: "Li Xiaolang, we were just about to look for you. Xiaohu is very unwell; you must save him."

(End of Chapter)