Chapter 111: Narrow Victory

Logically, the Paper Spirit Invocation technique posed little threat, its symbolic value far outweighing its practical use.

Yet for some reason, Eunuch Qi felt his entire body trembling.

“Go!” Eunuch Qi said, his face grim.

But Qin Shuang smiled: “Just a few Soul-Calling paper figures…”

The clothing suddenly rose into the air, and beneath it emerged a colossal tail formed entirely of yin energy.

With a simple horizontal sweep, Qin Shuang’s longsword thrust forward without hesitation.

“An illusion!”

Qin Shuang had seen paper figures before; he knew the upper limit of Soul-Calling paper figures.

But this time, his judgment was wrong.

The sword struck the green serpent tail and instantly shattered into three pieces; before he could dodge, the tail slammed into his left side.

His entire upper body was instantly reduced to bloody mist, his head flung high into the air, lost somewhere unseen.

At this moment, the Tree Immortal Lady radiated a violent aura, her gaze fixed on Eunuch Qi.

Eunuch Qi did not hesitate—he turned and ran.

Li Lin’s clothing, more precisely, the Tree Immortal Lady, flew after him.

Flight was far faster than running; within three breaths, the Tree Immortal Lady caught up.

The green serpent tail rose high behind him, like a scorpion’s stinger, driving straight downward.

This strike echoed like thunder.

Eunuch Qi spun around, his face twisted in fury, all his spiritual power channeled into his hands.

“Boundless Ocean!”

Exaggerated spiritual energy condensed into a single sphere and was hurled forward.

The surrounding air rippled with shockwaves.

The two collided.

A violent explosion erupted.

Eunuch Qi was blasted backward, smashing through four trees as thick as a bowl before finally stopping.

Meanwhile, the clothing bearing the Tree Immortal Lady’s “divine carriage” turned into a cloud of blue flames.

Watching the clothing turn to ash, Eunuch Qi laughed loudly, touching his chest as he stepped forward: “Even a True Immortal… the Soul-Calling technique summons power less than half its own. I’ve won, hahaha.”

He sneered at the few figures ahead.

But at that moment, a swarm of small paper figures surged toward him.

“Pathetic trick.”

Eunuch Qi’s spiritual energy vibrated, and the small paper figures shattered before they could touch him.

Then seven bolts of lightning struck down; Eunuch Qi froze, his eyes filled once more with terror—he tried to dodge, but it was too late.

All seven bolts struck him full force.

His body convulsed violently as he staggered backward.

Each lightning bolt that hit him sent sparks flying.

Though his face turned black and half his hair was charred, his clothing remained intact.

But Eunuch Qi felt minor damage to his meridians; his strength had temporarily dropped significantly.

“Such a brutal thunder art.”

At that moment, he snapped his head up—he sensed another disturbance in spiritual energy.

He immediately turned and fled, daring not to pause.

A dual-colored green-red lightning bolt struck the spot where he had stood.

Eunuch Qi glanced back at the lightning’s form, then ran even faster.

Watching the red glow vanish into the distance, Li Lin gasped for breath several times.

He had used nearly all his cards—if Eunuch Qi hadn’t fled, they would be dead.

Then he looked at his waist; the white jade tablet’s red glow was now clearly visible, and numerous Wilderness Wraiths were closing in.

Li Lin rushed to Ding Yingqiu’s side; she had fainted. Without hesitation, he reached into her clothing and quickly found the bottle of Boundary Powder.

He quickly “drew” a circle on the ground with the Boundary Powder, then stepped out and dragged Ding Han, Bai Zhiwei, and Bai Bu Fan, one by one, inside.

He wiped the sweat from his face, about to return for Su Huafang’s corpse—when he saw… only a skeleton remained.

Su Huafang had been flung far by Eunuch Qi’s palm blast, landing outside the red glow’s range; with so much blood lost, the Wilderness Wraiths had easily found him.

Li Lin sat down and lit a fire.

Soon after, Bai Zhiwei and the others sat up, beginning to cultivate and heal.

The surroundings were silent; no one spoke, the atmosphere heavy and terrifying.

The next day arrived.

Li Lin buried the fire’s embers with earth, then walked farther away and wrapped Su Huafang’s bones in his clothing.

Bai Zhiwei walked over and whispered: “Let me handle it—I’m more experienced with this.”

Li Lin nodded and handed him the bundle.

The other three gathered around, their expressions sorrowful.

Then they turned and returned to Yulin County.

Three days later, the group sat in the magistrate’s backyard.

Huang Yan stood with his hands behind his back.

Bai Zhiwei had already recounted the entire sequence of events.

After a long pause, Huang Yan said: “Word came yesterday from the imperial road—Captain Shi’s squad was ambushed; Shi died, only five survived.”

No one spoke.

“Captain Shi, Patrolman Su… both rare talents,” Huang Yan sighed. “I bear undeniable responsibility—I failed to properly verify the authenticity of those transferred.”

Li the Registrar bowed deeply: “The true fault lies with me—I was in charge of verifying Bai Yunfei’s records. I trusted without thorough verification. It has nothing to do with my lord.”

Huang Yan shook his head: “This is the main county office’s failure—therefore, it is my failure. I will provide full compensation to Patrolman Su, Captain Shi, and the fallen village guards.”

He paused.

“Also, Li the Registrar, retire and return home.”

Li the Registrar exhaled in relief: “Thank you, my lord.”

With that, Huang Yan departed.

Li Lin did not return to the village; he rested at his new home.

For two days, he had no interest in anything—not even intimacy with Hong Luan, nor cultivation.

Two days later, Li Lin went to pay respects at Su’s household.

The Su family’s estate was large, but so many people came that it nearly overflowed.

Li Lin arrived, took several incense sticks from a young man, bowed six times before the coffin, placed the incense in the censer, then stepped aside.

Su Huafang’s widow, an elderly woman, sat in sackcloth before the coffin, expressionless and motionless.

His new concubine wept bitterly, clearly heartbroken.

Su Huafang had lived here for decades and helped many; most of them had come.

After a while, Li Lin stepped outside.

He was about to leave when a little boy ran out from within.

“Big brother over there.”

Li Lin assumed he wasn’t being called and kept walking—but after a few steps, he felt his clothing tugged.

“You’re a Spirit Hunter, aren’t you, brother?” the boy looked at him. “I saw you come to our house looking for Grandpa.”

“Yes,” Li Lin nodded.

“I want to become a Spirit Hunter too—I want to be as good as Grandpa, someone everyone admires. I want to avenge him.” The boy’s eyes were red and swollen from crying: “Can you teach me, big brother?”

Li Lin opened his mouth to reply—but a woman burst out and snatched the boy into her arms.

She eyed Li Lin warily, as if fearing he would “kidnap” her child.

Li Lin forced a smile, then turned and walked away.

Power… Li Lin felt he could move faster in his pursuit of it.

(End of Chapter)