Chapter 127

Someone left a secret manual at a newcomer’s doorstep?

This matter seems suspicious in every way.

He took the Hui Zi Jue from the other’s hand, flipped through it for a while, and confirmed it was genuine.

Moreover, this was not a handwritten copy—it was a printed edition.

Handwritten characters could never be perfectly identical across every single character; only printing could achieve this.

“Were there any outsiders in your village that day?” Li Lin asked.

Zhao Xiaohu chewed on a large piece of meat and shook his head vigorously.

“There haven’t been any outsiders these past few days… Brother Lin, you know the village rarely sees outsiders.”

Li Lin nodded, thought for a moment, then said: “Take this back and keep it safe—don’t practice it for now.”

“I’ll follow your advice.” Zhao Xiaohu nodded, then added: “Besides, I can’t even read.”

Li Lin had been about to laugh, but suddenly something occurred to him.

He had been a Spirit Hunter for so long, yet no one had ever secretly slipped a manual into his home—but Zhao Xiaohu had.

Could it be precisely because he couldn’t read?

Is the Hui Zi Jue… not meant to be read, but merely to be observed?

Thinking this, Li Lin looked again at the Hui Zi Jue—this time, he stopped trying to read the characters and simply turned the pages slowly.

He treated each page as a whole, flipping them one by one.

Then, flickering lights and shadows appeared before his eyes.

He immediately snapped the book shut.

The flickering lights vanished; a cold sweat formed on his forehead.

So it really was about seeing the “pictures.”

【Hui Zi Jue +1】

Li Lin took a few deep breaths. Nearby, Zhao Xiaohu was happily feasting, completely unaware of Li Lin’s unease.

He returned the Hui Zi Jue to Zhao Xiaohu and said: “Remember, you can’t look at this yet… Forget it, just burn it.”

“Then just throw it away,” Zhao Xiaohu said indifferently. “I’ll do whatever Brother Lin says.”

Li Lin thought again, then returned the Hui Zi Jue to him.

“The Hui Zi Jue is said to be extremely powerful,” Li Lin said after a moment’s thought. “But you must not practice it until you have sufficient strength.”

“Alright,” Zhao Xiaohu paused. “When will I have enough strength?”

“At least…”

Zhao Xiaohu laughed. “Then I’ll probably never reach it.”

“Don’t be so self-deprecating,” Li Lin smiled. “You’ve got real talent.”

“Really?”

Li Lin nodded firmly. “Yes.”

Zhao Xiaohu’s face lit up with joy.

Li Lin had not lied to him.

Based on Zhao Xiaohu’s talent, he should barely have produced any Yin Qi by now.

Yet Zhao Xiaohu already had about three strands of Yin Qi—this pace was highly abnormal.

Still, compared to Li Lin, there was still a wide gap.

After finishing the wine and dishes on the table—most of which ended up in Zhao Xiaohu’s stomach—the two parted ways.

Zhao Xiaohu had come to the city to buy household goods and also to visit Ding Yingqiu.

Li Lin returned home.

Zhang Afu opened the door and told him: “Madam is entertaining the ladies from the Fang and Lin households in the back courtyard.”

The current Madam of the Li household was Huang Qing.

She had her own social circle.

Since she was hosting other families’ women, Li Lin could not go over.

He went to the study, where Hong Luan had already moved most of his belongings.

This was also the most important place in the entire Li estate.

He read the Yang Xing Jing for a while and gained two more 【Body Cultivation +1】.

Cumulatively, he could now faintly sense the benefits of high Body Cultivation proficiency.

His body felt lighter; his mind clearer.

Perhaps… this was the origin of the Yang Xing Jing.

Strengthen the body to enhance the nature?

Most importantly, improved physical condition boosted all martial techniques.

He could clearly feel a slight enhancement to the “White Tiger Flip Stance” and “Yu Family Spear Technique.”

Even the Light Body Technique seemed affected.

Though the increase was minor for now, it raised his growth ceiling.

Over time, this would accumulate into an extraordinary upper limit.

When that time came, so-called geniuses would likely find themselves unable to even reach his threshold.

Therefore… the Yang Xing Jing must be studied daily, even if only for a little.

Yet he was puzzled—why, if this book was so effective, was it so obscure in the martial world?

He found this extremely strange.

Moreover… he vaguely sensed a deep connection between this book and the Hui Zi Jue.

After another hour of reading, he finally gained another point of proficiency—truly satisfying.

He stretched, about to call for some clear tea, when he heard a knock at the door.

Hong Luan’s voice came from outside: “Husband, it’s time for evening meal.”

Li Lin opened the door. “Have the guests left?”

“They left half an hour ago,” Hong Luan smiled.

Li Lin went to the back courtyard hall and saw Huang Qing already waiting.

He took the main seat; Huang Qing and Hong Luan sat on either side.

The retainers dined in the side rooms beyond the second gate.

The three ate in silence.

Li Lin glanced left and right: “For some reason, I feel it’s unusually quiet.”

Huang Qing smiled. “Three people eating together—I think it’s quite lively.”

At that moment, Hong Luan said: “Husband, if you work harder and Madam bears more children, the house won’t feel so empty.”

Huang Qing’s cheeks flushed slightly as she looked at Li Lin expectantly.

Li Lin nodded. “Alright. Tonight, I’ll challenge two enchantresses at once.”

Even Hong Luan blushed.

Time quickly arrived at the next day, and Li Lin arrived at work precisely on schedule.

He happened to see Jiang Jili arrive.

He pretended not to notice him and walked straight into the county office.

The Assistant Prefect did the same.

Li Lin went to the Military Office, ready as usual to lead the government office runners on patrol.

But Huang Ying came over and said: “Brother-in-law, I need your help with something.”

“What kind of help?”

Huang Ying pulled Li Lin aside and whispered: “I have a mistress at the brothel…”

“Does your father-in-law know about this?”

“If you don’t tell him, he won’t know,” Huang Ying sighed, glancing at Li Lin. “My mistress had trouble last night.”

“What kind of trouble? Was she possessed by a spirit?”

“How did you know?”

Li Lin sighed. “Aside from spirit matters, nothing else should be beyond you.”

Huang Ying nodded slightly. “Logically, with the Four Marvels True Lord present, there shouldn’t be any spirits here—but she was still possessed.”

“Then let’s go take a look,” Li Lin nodded.

Huang Ying immediately said: “I’ll come with you.”

“Just stay behind.”

“No problem.”

So Li Lin led ten government office runners to Chunshui Street.

They arrived at Hongxiuzhao.

He had assumed it was just an ordinary possession spirit—

one of those minor spirits that barely influence the minds of the living.

But the brothel girl before him was a major spirit.

But the courtesan before him was a great phantom.

The opponent smiled sweetly, looking at Li Lin and Huang Ying.

As if she had been waiting for them to come over.

Invisible yin energy enveloped her, thick as ink spreading in water.

“Ziqing, go back and summon all the Spirit Hunters.”

“No need to rush—I have no intention of harming you,” the spirit suddenly laughed. “Li County Wei , how about we make a deal?”

“I don’t make deals with spirits.”

“What’s the difference between a spirit and a True Lord?” the female spirit chuckled. “One who can control their emotions and murderous impulses is a True Lord.”

“So, I am a True Lord—no problem, right?”

Li Lin regarded her: “Si Miao True Lord is here, and it’s still daytime… How bold of you to dare enter the city.”

“So what? Si Miao True Lord can’t see me.”

(End of Chapter)