Chapter 130: Bargaining

Ding Yingqiu flipped through the book Li Lin had handed her; though thin, it was packed with essentials.

Yet Ding Yingqiu still found it difficult to read.

After a long while, she closed the book and said, “I don’t know what kind of talent one needs to cultivate, but I believe you, Brother Li, possess the qualification.”

Li Lin smiled. “Thank you.”

“I’ll take this book. As for the other cave dwelling, it lies in the wilderness of our Gui Commandery,” Ding Yingqiu smiled. “Within two days, I’ll draw you a map and deliver it to your residence.”

Li Lin stood and bowed. “Thank you.”

Leaving the Ding residence, Li Lin returned home.

His first act was to resume cultivation.

Fist techniques, spear skills, Nourishing Life and Revival Art, Nourishing Yin Heart Method, and more.

He didn’t yet know which would lay the foundation for his future cultivation, so he simply learned them all.

Having more skills on hand was never wrong.

He had plenty of time.

Another day passed, and he returned to work, patrolling the county with his government office runners.

Due to Huang Yan’s relative integrity, Yulin County’s surface security had always been fairly good.

And recently, Li Lin had eliminated the Assistant County Magistrate; now the underworld had diminished greatly, many underground bosses were cautious, and inhumane acts had correspondingly decreased.

Recently, no outrageous cases had occurred—only petty squabbles and domestic disputes.

As he patrolled near the city gate, he happened to see Wang Tianyou returning from outside.

Li Lin walked over to greet him.

“Young Master Wang, back in triumph?”

Wang Tianyou beamed. “Thanks to the County Wei ’s favor, this trip went quite smoothly.”

“Congratulations. Your life at home should improve considerably now.”

“Haha, nothing much,” Wang Tianyou pulled Li Lin aside and whispered, “Brother Li, once I’ve trained this female ghost well, if you need her, come to my Wang household—I’ll let her assist your cultivation.”

Li Lin instinctively stepped back.

He didn’t like becoming brothers-in-law.

“Thank you for the offer.”

Besides, if one truly needed a female ghost to aid cultivation, Yan Jing from Hongxiuzhao was also viable—no need to go specifically to Wang’s house.

Of course, even Yan Jing was someone he preferred not to provoke.

Aside from his two wives, only the Tree Immortal Lady held any interest for Li Lin.

Seeing Li Lin’s strong resistance, Wang Tianyou said, “Brother Li, I know you might think it dirty, but female ghosts—especially beautiful ones—are rare. Be a bit rougher in conduct, broader in heart—it’s no problem.”

Li Lin still waved him off. “Forget it.”

“What a pity,” Wang Tianyou said with clear regret.

In his view, this was a good way to strengthen their bond.

“In a few days, I’ll send you a cultivation technique.”

Li Lin thought for a moment and said, “If you have information on the Hui Character Secret, or any cultivation resources, we can trade.”

Though the Wang family wasn’t nobility, they had a lineage of over a hundred years.

They had heard the term “cultivation.”

He paused, then whispered, “You’re also in contact with the Ding family on this matter?”

Li Lin nodded.

“Then alright,” Wang Tianyou said. “My family has a lead on this—it’s not powerful, but still useful. But I need you to offer something in return.”

“Speak.”

“The secret formula for the Youth-Preserving Pill.”

Li Lin paused, then said, “Not suitable.”

Indeed, not suitable.

A lead is just a lead—whether useful or not is another matter.

The Youth-Preserving Pill was Li family’s largest current income source.

His wife Huang Qing had already used the Youth-Preserving Pill to bring the family great benefits.

Both in connections and in actual silver taels.

If he gave away the secret formula, the pill might soon flood the market.

“Then the Strength-Enhancing Pill.”

Li Lin thought a moment, then smiled. “Your original target was the Strength-Enhancing Pill.”

Yulin County was small—any good thing Li Lin had was already known to many.

The Strength-Enhancing Pill’s effects had been verified.

Before Su Huafang died, he had privately praised it often.

Wang Tianyou, caught out, wasn’t embarrassed—only chuckled.

Li Lin thought again and said, “Fine… but you’ll need to add something else.”

A secret formula.

A pill formula—its value, Li Lin was no longer a novice; he knew well.

Wang Tianyou thought a moment, then nodded. “Agreed. In a few days, I’ll have my servant bring you the items—you hand him the formula. Also… if you truly find any cultivation leads, please trade them with us. The Wang family will exchange anything for them.”

“Fair enough.”

Wang Tianyou left happily.

As for the female ghost he had captured, Li Lin hadn’t seen her.

Probably some special storage method.

Li Lin returned home, made love with his two wives, and jointly explored the Twin Cultivation Dao.

【Twin Cultivation +1】

【Twin Cultivation +1】

The Ding family’s Twin Cultivation technique was indeed effective.

In just a few days, Huang Qing and Hongluan’s complexion improved greatly.

Moreover, both seemed to be beginning to return some yin energy into his body.

No longer the one-way outflow of just days ago.

Another morning, Li Lin drank millet porridge.

Zhang Afu walked over and handed him a rolled scroll.

“Master, this was delivered by a servant from the Ding residence.”

Li Lin took it and unrolled it.

It was indeed a terrain map.

He studied it a moment, then said to Hongluan beside him, “After breakfast, take this to my study.”

Hongluan naturally nodded in agreement.

Li Lin donned his official robe and went to work.

At the county government office, he met Jiang Jili again.

The man still treated him coldly; Li Lin had no interest in kissing his cold rear.

Yet as Li Lin gathered his men to begin patrol, Jiang Jili approached and said, “County Wei , come here—I have something to discuss with you.”

Li Lin paused, then followed.

The man was a frail scholar; Li Lin was now an eighth-rank Spirit Hunter—no reason to fear him.

In the “Household” office, Jiang Jili’s face was cold. “County Wei , why do you break the long-standing rules?”

“What rules?”

“Paying the government office runners their monthly stipend.”

Li Lin looked at him strangely. “The government office runners work for the government office—they get not a single cash coin. I use my own salary to give them a little for daily life—what’s wrong with that?”

“But it causes us great trouble.”

“How does it trouble you…” Li Lin then laughed. “I remember—you hired ten government office runners yourself a few days ago. You get five taels monthly—feeding ten runners isn’t hard.”

“I never needed to spend a penny, you fool,” Jiang Jili snapped.

Li Lin snorted and turned to leave.

Feeding ten runners cost five hundred cash per month—just one-tenth of Jiang Jili’s salary.

He didn’t even want to spend that—clearly stingy and didn’t regard government office runners as human.

Li Lin felt speaking another word to such a man was an insult to himself.

After patrol, Li Lin went to the brothel Hongxiuzhao and found Yan Jing.

“Aren’t you willing to obey our orders and assignments?”

Yan Jing smiled. “What does the County Wei have in mind? Or are you planning to pity me?”

Li Lin shook his head. “Soon, I plan to travel outside—I need you to accompany me and guard against wilderness ghosts.”

Yan Jing thought a moment. “I can agree—but in the wild, will you trust me?”

“Then… I’ll use the Ghost-Nurturing Art to temporarily control your movements.”

“Impossible!” Yan Jing shook her head.

"Then forget it."

Li Lin turned and walked away.

"Wait!" Yan Jing stood up, urgently calling out: "Everything can be discussed—just because you set a price doesn't mean I can't haggle!"

(End of Chapter)