Chapter 144: The Lady's Divine Ability

White Elephant Divine Flesh?

Li Lin's expression showed some confusion: "Are you sure this news is true?"

Xie Shuyou nodded repeatedly, then he spoke in a low voice: "About half a month ago, I was on leave... and went to the home of a childhood friend I've known since I was small. He is a minor officer in the Tang Family Army! I saw that kind of divine flesh in his home, and I ate it!"

Li Lin became interested: "Tell me, what does that divine flesh look like?"

"County Lieutenant Li should have seen Yin Qi Stones, right?"

Li Lin nodded; there was still half a box at his home.

"At first glance, the divine flesh looks like a Yin Qi Stone, but Yin Qi Stones have a glass-like texture, while White Elephant Divine Flesh is also translucent, yet feels like flesh when touched, with faint meat textures inside, and ordinary people can eat it."

"You ate it?"

"I ate it." Xie Shuyou's expression carried some lingering savor: "The taste is very unique, but not hard to eat. After finishing it, my whole body felt blood qi surging, and my strength felt endless. My childhood friend and I didn't sleep for three days and three nights, yet we remained full of energy."

It sounded a bit like some kind of stimulant potion.

Li Lin asked: "Is there anything else?"

"My childhood friend has practiced martial techniques and cultivation methods; he said one can absorb a certain amount of energy for one's own use. Unfortunately, his cultivation method isn't mastered well, so he could only absorb a little, wasting most of it. If it were a master, they should be able to absorb a lot, which would be greatly beneficial."

Li Lin nodded: "Sounds very impressive. Do you have a way to get the flesh?"

"No, I'm just a mere garrison guard." Xie Shuyou said helplessly: "However... my childhood friend's home is in Yulin County town; he has a way. He returns to rest there for a few days every so often; the County Lieutenant might be able to find his address."

"What is your friend's name?"

"Jiang Chen."

Li Lin smiled: "Thanks, I owe you a favor."

Xie Shuyou was overjoyed; this was exactly the effect he wanted. But he still clasped his hands together and said: "County Lieutenant, you are too polite."

After chatting idly for a few more moments, they parted ways.

Li Lin returned to the village militia camp and slept in his own tent.

By the next day, the village militiamen were escorting over two hundred Southern Barbarians away from Bobai Military Town.

On the road, Bai Zhiwei gave Li Lin a look and even smiled.

Li Lin then knew that the matter of transporting the gold was settled.

At first, the Southern Barbarian women looked at the village militiamen with expressions of anger and despair.

After all, many of their relatives had died at the hands of these

But when they ate food that was quite good for them, when they instinctively wolfed it down... their anger and hatred toward the village militiamen and toward the Great Qi people gradually crumbled and vanished.

What was the reason they came to Great Qi despite all dangers and obstacles!

It was for a mouthful of food, it was to live.

Now it seemed they could survive.

At the same time, they also felt that the Great Qi people were indeed, just as rumored, very kind-hearted.

Even willing to give food to the women of their enemies.

If... they could just not kill their husbands and relatives, that would be even better.

Originally there were five hundred village militiamen, plus over two hundred Southern Barbarians; the seven-hundred-plus-person formation had far more blood qi than a small village.

Therefore, even without using a protective barrier powder along the way, it could keep the wild anomalies from approaching.

With over two hundred people, some of whom were young children, the marching speed was much slower.

It took seven days to return from Bobai Military Town to Yulin City.

As soon as they entered the city, it caused a sensation.

Almost everyone in the entire county town ran out to see the spectacle.

The streets on both sides were packed, mostly with men.

The men looked at the women in the village militia formation, each one excited.

"It's been many years; finally, we see border troops bringing back female captives."

"Not border troops, but village militiamen. Didn't you see the County Lieutenant Li riding on the big horse?"

"They must have been captured by the border troops, then handed over to the village militiamen."

"Who cares who captured them; I've been a bachelor for thirty years, couldn't afford a bride price, but can't I buy a Southern Barbarian woman?"

"Haha, I'll buy one too."

"Didn't you already marry a wife?"

"Yes, but I still want one! Just taking a concubine, to bear me two or three more sons for my family."

All the women were escorted into the prison, temporarily guarded by the government office Runners.

And the children were all enrolled in the Broker Bureau.

Only a few who had not yet been weaned remained by their mothers' sides.

Huang Ying held a register and came over, looked at these women, glanced down the line, and then picked one out.

"Big Brother-in-law, count one person less," Huang Ying said with a smile.

"You are the Registrar; when counting the people, you have the final say."

"Thanks, Big Brother-in-law." Huang Ying laughed.

"The rest of the matter, I leave to you; I'll go handle the handover."

"Good."

Li Lin arrived at the courtroom, clasped his hands, and said: "Reporting to the County Magistrate, the matter of the Southern Barbarian prisoners from Bobai Military Town is concluded; the Registrar is currently counting the people."

Having spoken, Li Lin presented the previously stamped record documents.

Huang Yan took them, looked for a while, and smiled: "This matter was handled very well; County Lieutenant Li, your commission was hard work. Go home and rest first; this official grants you three days of leave."

Li Lin smiled: "Thank you, County Magistrate."

After Li Lin returned to the backyard of his home, he discovered a strange scene.

Tree Immortal Lady sat in the main seat of the main hall, with Li Yanjing beside her, waiting like a maid.

Upon seeing Li Lin, Tree Immortal Lady glanced at him once before withdrawing her gaze, appearing completely indifferent.

Li Yanjing, however, raised her hand and waved, very happy that Li Lin had returned.

Then Tree Immortal Lady glared fiercely at Li Yanjing, and the latter sheepishly lowered her hand.

Li Lin walked over and asked with a smile, "Does Tree Immortal Lady find her stay comfortable?"

"Mm."

She remained sparing with her words.

Li Lin looked around: "Where are Qing'er and Hongluan?"

Li Yanjing answered: "Because the county magistrate will take up his post in Jincheng in a few days, the First Lady..."

At this moment, Tree Immortal Lady stared fixedly at Li Yanjing again.

Li Yanjing swallowed, immediately corrected herself, and said: "The Second Lady and Hongluan went to her maiden family to stay for a few days. She hopes to fulfill more filial piety, after all, once the county magistrate goes to Jincheng, meeting again won't be as easy as it is now."

Li Lin nodded, indicating he understood.

Then he sat beside Tree Immortal Lady, looking at the circle of coiled snake tails on the ground, feeling that the scales on them were round and smooth like pearls, quite cute.

Seeming to sense Li Lin's gaze, Tree Immortal Lady appeared somewhat uncomfortable; the tip of her snake tail suddenly shot up, trembling like a king cobra, as if both intimidating an enemy and... nervous.

Li Lin asked: "Tree Immortal Lady, have you heard of the White Elephant God of the Southern Barbarians?"

Tree Immortal Lady looked at Li Lin and nodded lightly.

"I heard it died."

Tree Immortal Lady frowned slightly: "Let it die."

Li Lin scratched his head: "Someone ate its flesh."

"Mm, highly nourishing."

Hearing this, Li Lin nodded; since Tree Immortal Lady said it was highly nourishing, it seemed he should try to get some.

At this time, Li Yanjing also leaned over and asked: "Does the House Head have a way? I want to eat a few bites too."

"Can Apparitions eat it?"

"How novel! After all, it is a god of the barbarian tribes. Although its origin is improper, how proper is the origin of us Apparitions?"

That was true.

At this moment, Tree Immortal Lady whipped Li Yanjing away with a snake tail.

"I... am righteous." Tree Immortal Lady said softly.

Li Yanjing flew back while holding her face, looking utterly aggrieved: "First Lady, I wasn't talking about you."

Tree Immortal Lady snorted, then hid inside the altar.

Meanwhile, Li Lin looked to the side; the peach tree there now had no flowers, having borne small peaches instead.

He said curiously: "When these peaches ripen, I wonder how many Tree Immortal Lady will share with me."

"You can take them all, it doesn't matter." Li Yanjing covered her mouth and laughed: "Setting other things aside, these small peaches are imbued with your scent. I can smell it."

Li Lin now had a question: "When these peaches ripen, if we eat the flesh, can the remaining pits be planted to grow new peach trees?"

Could one plant a new Tree Immortal Lady!

"Yes!" Li Yanjing answered.

It really could!

Then wouldn't these little Tree Immortal Ladies count as my and Tree Immortal Lady's children?

Seeing Li Lin's expression, Li Yanjing answered: "You misunderstood. Although new peach trees can be grown and can become little Tree Immortal Ladies, they are not the Lady's children, merely her external manifestations. You could consider this a special divine power."

Oh... so that's how it is.

"Then how do you know so clearly?" Li Lin asked.

"Because over a hundred years ago, there was a Pine Seed Taowu Zhenjun who was exactly like this."

Li Lin asked curiously: "What happened to Pine Seed Taowu Zhenjun?"

"He died." Li Yanjing smiled: "He relied on his external manifestations to run amok, was discovered, and was beaten to death by five Third Rank Spirit Hunters. I heard the scene was very brutal."

(End of this chapter)