Chapter 140: The Four Oaths

Li Lin, Bai Zhiwei, and Zhao Hao gathered in a tavern.

The three ate and drank, laughing and chatting; when the food and wine were nearly finished, Zhao Hao asked, “Brother Li, you’d better tell us now why you invited us for drinks.”

Bai Zhiwei also looked at Li Lin with curiosity.

“Do you remember our four-man vow?”

The other two nodded.

“I’m going to Bo Bai’s military post, and I have authority to command the township militia. I can find a chance to reclaim the treasure again.”

Both Bai Zhiwei and Zhao Hao’s eyes lit up.

No one ever has too much money.

Last time, limited by time and transport, each of us could only bring back thirty taels of gold. This time, as county constable, I can redirect the township militia’s movements—just a short drill will create enough time for all three of us to take the gold.

“But what about the Su family?” Li Lin asked.

Both men sighed.

Su Huafang’s death was completely unexpected.

Not only does the Su family have no heir among their spirit hunters, but from what we’ve recently learned, none of their sons can shoulder the family’s burdens.

They’re even fighting over the inheritance.

Under these circumstances, it’s hard to say who truly counts as Su’s direct bloodline.

By convention and custom, the legitimate son and grandson qualify.

But Su’s legitimate son… is rather abstract.

He excels at drinking, gambling, eating, and whoring.

Especially gambling—he squanders wealth faster than anyone.

He’s the root cause of the family’s split.

After all, his younger brothers don’t want their inheritance slowly drained away by their elder brother.

After a long pause, Bai Zhiwei said, “Old Su’s share must go to his descendants, but who exactly? It’s a headache.”

Li Lin didn’t know how to handle it either.

They hadn’t anticipated anything like this.

Then Zhao Hao said, “Old Su has a daughter—she married out.”

Both men looked at him.

Zhao Hao continued, “But her husband was a drunkard—he beat his wife and children when drunk, and they’ve since divorced. The daughter has spirit: after leaving, she changed both her sons’ surnames to hers, abandoning the Su name entirely. She’s got a bit of Old Su’s old fire.”

“Why didn’t I see her mourning at Old Su’s funeral?”

“The Su family wouldn’t let her in.”

Pfft!

Bai Zhiwei couldn’t help scoffing: “Afraid their daughter-in-law will come back to claim the inheritance? To this extent?”

“Then let’s talk to her,” Li Lin said. “According to our rules, Su’s family must have a direct bloodline present. Since she changed her sons’ surnames to hers, they’re Su blood!” “Is she in Yulin County?”

“She is!”

“Then let’s go see her?”

Bai Zhiwei stood up: “Let’s go.”

All three of them keep their word—Old Su’s share is non-negotiable.

But which branch of the Su family gets it? That’s up to us three.

Under Zhao Hao’s guidance, they arrived at a low, single-story house.

This was the “commoner district” of the county—houses were tightly packed, but luckily, there was a small independent courtyard with two apricot trees and a vegetable patch; with occasional needlework for others, she could still support her two children.

“This house was bought by Old Su and given to his daughter after her divorce.”

From this, it’s clear Su Huafang still cared deeply for his daughter.

Their voices startled someone inside.

Soon, a small boy in plain clothes, snot running down his face, came out.

Seeing Li Lin and the others, he was startled and dashed back inside shouting, “Mother! Brother! Three men are outside—they look terrifying!”

The three exchanged glances. Li Lin said to Bai Zhiwei, “He said you look terrifying.”

Hearing this, Zhao Hao laughed.

Bai Zhiwei chuckled too: “Not my fault—you’re wearing your official robes.”

Li Lin sighed—it was true.

He’d come straight from work to invite them for drinks and forgotten to change into civilian clothes.

But standards for officials weren’t that strict back then—wearing official robes while drinking out wasn’t a major issue.

After a while, a woman and a teenager emerged from inside.

Seeing Li Lin and the others, their faces showed surprise.

Then the woman bowed slightly: “Your humble servant greets Constable Li, Uncle Bai, and Young Master Zhao.”

She recognized all three.

Li Lin often patrolled the streets; few in Yulin County didn’t know him.

Bai Zhiwei had visited Su Huafang’s home many times; she’d met him before.

Young Master Zhao… perhaps from elsewhere.

“Won’t you invite us in, niece?” Bai Zhiwei smiled.

“Please, honored guests, come in,” the woman said, startled.

The three entered the house.

The room was tiny—three adults inside made it feel cramped.

The woman looked flustered, rummaging through chests and cabinets to find something to offer guests, but found nothing.

“Don’t trouble yourself, niece,” Bai Zhiwei smiled. “We’re here to tell you something.”

The woman exhaled in relief: “Uncle Bai, please speak.”

“We made a pact with Old Su,” Bai Zhiwei said. “A great fortune awaits—but each of the four families must have a direct bloodline present. We’re ready to go, but Su’s representative is missing.”

The woman stared at Bai Zhiwei for a long moment, then turned to Li Lin: “Constable Li, can you guarantee this isn’t a lie?”

Li Lin was surprised—why did she seem to trust him more?

But he still nodded.

The woman exhaled: “Do I need to go? And why me, not my brother?”

Bai Zhiwei snorted: “Your brother? The one who drinks, gambles, eats, and whor—hmm, we’re not interested.”

“Then it shouldn’t be me either.”

Zhao Hao added, “Because you changed your sons’ surnames back to Su—we consider them part of the Su bloodline.”

The woman froze, then tears welled in her eyes: “So that’s it… thank you, honored guests.”

“Do you trust us?” Li Lin asked.

“With our poverty, you surely don’t care for us,” the woman said clearly. “But I’m willing to gamble this fortune with you.”

“You can’t go—your son must go,” Bai Zhiwei said, looking at the teenager. “Are you training in martial arts?”

The boy was the eldest—his skin was dark, his frame thin.

He gave a slight nod.

“Stop training,” Bai Zhiwei said to him. “The poor don’t train in martial arts. Your own essence barely sustains life—how dare you waste it on cultivation? If you keep this up, you won’t live past thirty. First, heal your body.”

The woman immediately turned to the boy: “Did you hear? No more martial arts from now on.”

The boy hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.

Li Lin said: “Since you trust us, tomorrow have your eldest son come to the county office. I’ll assign him a position in the township militia. In a few days, he can officially join us.”

The woman was overjoyed: “Da Bao, thank Constable Li right now!”

The boy obeyed instantly, dropping to his knees: “Su Bei thanks Constable Li for your patronage.”

Li Lin helped him up: “No need for such a bow. I became a spirit hunter only because of Senior Su’s guidance—I’m merely returning the favor.”

The woman looked at Li Lin and the others with deep gratitude.

Their situation was truly dire—now her eldest would join the militia, with food, clothing, pay, and Li Lin’s protection. Their future would improve greatly.

Soon after, the three left the small house and parted ways.

Li Lin returned home and resumed studying the Foundation Establishment method.

He increasingly felt his spiritual energy absorption had slowed since first learning the method.

As if… the ambient spiritual energy had diminished.

Li Lin had a quiet suspicion forming.

The next day, he took his written first half of the Foundation Establishment manual to Ding Yingqiu’s place.

He knocked.

The door opened, revealing Ding Yingqiu’s anxious face.

“You finally came!” Ding Yingqiu said eagerly. “Let me see it!”

The moment Li Lin pulled out the small booklet, she snatched it from his hand.

Then she turned and hurried toward the back courtyard; Li Lin could only follow quickly behind.

(End of Chapter)