Chapter 123: Bronze Token

When Huang Yan heard that the county magistrate had killed himself, he was so furious that he nearly smashed the gavel to pieces.

All the local thugs were sentenced to death, because every one of them had tortured or killed those pitiful women.

As for Yu Tong... he only received a three-year prison sentence.

Just as he himself had said, he truly had not harmed a single person, not one.

He really had only been responsible for passing information to the county magistrate.

The coroner's autopsy report came out quickly. The county magistrate had indeed not died by hanging; he had first been strangled to death, and only then hung up.

Hanging and strangulation leave different injuries on the neck because the direction of force is different, and for a coroner, this is very easy to tell apart.

After Huang Yan learned of this, he immediately summoned Li Lin, Bai Zhichuan, and Bai Bufan.

"The county magistrate was strangled to death. At the time, both Bai Xunshou were guarding outside the county magistrate's home. Did either of you see any suspicious person coming or going?"

Bai Zhiwei and Bai Bufan both shook their heads in unison.

"Then who on earth could have killed the county magistrate, carried him up high, and hung him? How did he manage to flee so quickly after committing the murder?"

Li Lin thought for a moment, then said, "The county magistrate was able to dig a secret tunnel from Xingzhuang leading outside; there's no reason he couldn't have dug another one at his home. I suspect the person who killed him has already escaped through a secret tunnel."

"That makes sense. Go and check it out."

Li Lin immediately led the government office Runners to seal off the county magistrate's residence and dismissed the remaining servants.

Then a group of them began searching inside for the secret tunnel's mechanism.

During this time, Li Lin even specifically put on the mask the Lady had given him, but there were no special discoveries.

The mask could only see places where Yin Qi gathered; for an ordinary secret tunnel, it was of no use.

But it had to be said, many hands make light work.

Several dozen government office Runners searched together, and in only about two hours, they found the secret tunnel's entrance.

The government office Runners went in and soon came running back from outside the city.

Captain Yan, drenched in sweat, came up to Li Lin and said, "The secret tunnel does indeed lead outside the city."

Li Lin looked at the city wall. The county magistrate's home was near the city wall, so digging a secret tunnel leading outside would not have been all that difficult.

Only... the matter of who killed the county magistrate now had no leads.

But just then, another government office Runner ran over and presented a bronze token, saying, "County Lieutenant, we found this inside the secret tunnel. It should have been left behind by the bandit when he fled."

Li Lin took the bronze-colored token, examined it closely, and his brow furrowed tightly.

On the front of the token was a line-engraved ocean, with a crescent moon above.

And on the back of the token was written the character 'Hui'.

If it were only the ocean and the moon, Li Lin would not have thought much of it.

Because such a composition was very common in this era.

But with the addition of the character 'Hui', the meaning became entirely different.

This token was definitely connected to the cultivation world.

Li Lin took the token and went back to hand it in.

Huang Yan turned the token over and over, then shook his head: "I haven't seen this design before. Have you, Li County Lieutenant?"

Li Lin shook his head as well: "No, I haven't either."

"Then you keep it, and investigate when you have the time." Huang Yan handed the token back to Li Lin: "But you could go ask Li Xunshou. I've vaguely heard that the character 'Hui' seems to have some connection to martial artists and Soul Hunters."

Li Lin nodded in agreement.

Huang Yan thought for a moment, then said, "Regarding the county magistrate... his escaped family members, what do you think should be done with them?"

Li Lin said, "I think they should be pursued and brought back. Almost all the valuables in the county magistrate's home were taken with them. That money was all... the flesh-money of those women. I think it should be recovered and then divided among those poor people, so they have some money to fall back on."

"I also think it should be done, but the current situation makes it difficult." Huang Yan said helplessly: "Qin Tuo has the heart of a wolf; our Jincheng cannot afford to be unguarded. Most of the troops have already been deployed to the front lines, and right now there aren't enough soldiers left to pursue the county magistrate's family."

Li Lin nodded to show his understanding.

At this point, Huang Yan suddenly said, "Yesterday's battle report came back from the front lines. Changmei Military Town has already been taken by Tang Qibian's border army."

Li Lin smiled and said, "That is great news indeed."

"Thanks to you all." Huang Yan explained with a smile: "The grain you burned that night happened to be the very batch Changmei Military Town needed most, because they were nearly out of supplies at the time. When news of the rear being attacked reached Changmei Military Town, the defending enemy lost their morale. Tang Qibian's border army took only a few days to capture the town."

"It was all thanks to the Magistrate's brilliant strategy."

"No need to flatter me." Huang Yan waved his hand: "It still came down to you few risking your lives on that raid. I have already submitted a memorial to the imperial court about this matter. If all goes well, you will receive new rewards soon."

"Hasn't the gold and Blood Rice already been given?"

"What the county gave was the county's; what is being rewarded now is from the imperial court. There's no contradiction."

"Thank you, Magistrate."

Rewards were naturally a good thing.

"Go tell the others about this, so they can be prepared."

"Yes, sir."

Li Lin left the county office and went to find Ding Yingqiu.

It was a medium-sized residence with two courtyards; the one who opened the door was a middle-aged man.

"Li Lin, I've come because I have important business to discuss with your master, Li Xunshou. Please announce me."

"Please wait a moment."

The man went and returned very quickly.

"Please go to the rear courtyard; the Madam is waiting for you there."

Li Lin walked in, passing several women servants along the way.

The way they looked at Li Lin was very suggestive, as if they took him for Ding Yingqiu's man.

Li Lin arrived at the rear courtyard. It was surrounded by bamboo, which almost enclosed the entire rear courtyard, leaving only one entrance and exit.

But it must be said, the bamboo's fresh scent filled the air, and listening to the rustling of the bamboo leaves, there was indeed a quiet, secluded atmosphere.

"County Commandant Li, you've been quite the sensation lately," Ding Yingqiu teased.

Li Lin waved his hand: "That's not the case."

"You forced the County Magistrate to commit suicide; isn't that impressive enough?"

In fact, Li Lin's reputation had already spread throughout Yulin County.

Li Lin smiled bitterly: "I didn't force him. It must be the work of some organization. Look, have you ever seen something like this before?"

He placed the token on the table.

Ding Yingqiu picked it up and examined it for a moment, her brow furrowing: "The ocean and moon on the front—doesn't it resemble that painting in the Immortal's Cave? And this character 'Hui'... the Hui Character Art?"

"The Hui Character Art?" Li Lin instinctively paused in surprise.

"You don't know?" Ding Yingqiu was stunned for a moment, then said: "That makes sense; you've only recently entered the world, and the matter of the Hui Character Art happened over thirty years ago."

"What is the Hui Character Art?" Li Lin pretended not to know.

"It is said to be a very special mental cultivation method; if mastered, one could learn martial techniques, Yang cultivation methods, and Yin cultivation methods alike." Ding Yingqiu wore an expression of disgust: "But that thing, reading it is a waste of time. When I was young, I tried to learn it, and after looking at that secret manual for less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, I vomited, nearly emptying my stomach."

"Has no one ever succeeded?"

"No!" Ding Yingqiu laughed: "Even more absurd is that the Hui Character Art originated from the Imperial Palace, and judging by the scale of it, it seems some figure in the palace hoped that all Spirit Hunters or martial artists in the world would learn this thing. Many copies of this book were printed and distributed everywhere."

(End of this chapter)