Chapter 148: Assistant Prefect

It was clear that Huang Yan genuinely wanted to cultivate Li Lin.

There was also a reason: the Li family of Jincheng was a renowned alchemical clan, inherently tied to the path of cultivation.

Li Lin’s mastery of alchemy further confirmed his connection to the Jincheng Li family.

The Huang family had served as officials for generations, having held the highest offices, and their human connections were unmatched—but in terms of cultivation resources, they were quite shallow.

In fact, the vast majority of aristocratic families lacked cultivation resources.

This was not something ordinary people could ever access.

Li Lin nodded: “Alright, when Taishan returns to Jingcheng, I’ll consider it.”

Huang Yan nodded in satisfaction.

To Huang Yan, Li Lin’s agreement was a sign that the latter wished to draw closer to the Huang family.

It was a good thing.

In the following days, they marched by day and camped by night, occasionally hearing the murmurs of wild spirits outside.

Though some of the weaker souls found it unsettling, overall, the issue was minor.

Thus, seven days passed, and they finally arrived at Jincheng.

The township troops halted at the city gate.

According to Da Qi law, during peacetime, township troops were forbidden from entering the prefectural city unless ordered by the Prefect.

Hence the name “township troops”—the city had its own military system, though technically also township troops, their status was different.

They were generally called Xiangjun.

Could the people inside the city be the same as those from the countryside!

A group of officials and government office runners came out to greet them, especially the Assistant Prefect—a middle-aged man, slender and sharp-eyed.

He didn’t even glance at Li Lin and the other county officials; instead, he walked straight to Huang Yan, clasped his fists, and spoke warmly.

Huang Yan exchanged a few words with him, then smiled at Li Lin.

Li Lin understood Huang Yan’s meaning and gestured; a group of company commanders brought out the southern barbarian women.

At that moment, a young man stepped forward, clasped his fists, and smiled: “Are these the women mentioned in the official documents for the Washing Bureau?”

Li Lin nodded.

The Washing Bureau had originally been a place within the Da Qi imperial palace where punished imperial consorts performed hard labor—washing clothes.

Later, its function was delegated, and many large prefectures established similar bureaus to detain the wives and daughters of convicted officials.

It was also a de facto government-run brothel, though life within the Washing Bureau was relatively better than in ordinary brothels.

After all, there was no… requirement for revenue.

Private brothels usually had such demands.

Failure to meet them meant a terrible fate.

“Thank you, County Commander,” the young official, judging Li Lin’s rank from his uniform, clasped his fists and said: “Is the number sufficient? Any deaths or injuries en route?”

“None,” Li Lin replied, handing over the official records.

The young official took the documents and pointed to the group of women with his hand.

Then a dozen government office runners went over to count heads.

After a moment, they returned and reported: “Report, Assistant Prefect: two hundred and seven women.”

The young official glanced at the documents and nodded: “The number is sufficient.”

He then signed his name and stamped the seal.

After that, he ignored Li Lin entirely and walked away.

The other government office runners drove the southern barbarian women into the city.

At that moment, Bai Zhiwei walked over and said: “Quite arrogant.”

Zhao Hao also approached, smiling: “That’s the Assistant Prefect, Fang Fengyi—a seventh-rank civil official. With another two or three years of training, he’ll likely be posted as County Magistrate. He’s young and already achieved this—arrogance is natural.”

Zhao Hao was from Jincheng and knew the local “notables” well.

“So now we head back?” Bai Zhiwei asked.

Zhao Xiaohu walked over and whispered: “Brother Li, I’d like to stay here for a few days.”

Li Lin frowned: “We’re all leaving. You staying alone here… isn’t wise. It’ll be hard to return later.”

Zhao Xiaohu blushed slightly: “I won’t be alone.”

Li Lin looked toward Ding Yingqiu standing a short distance away—she seemed unwilling to look this way.

Li Lin smiled: “Alright. Take care of yourself.”

Zhao Xiaohu nodded vigorously.

Bai Zhiwei, shrewd with age, guessed what was going on.

Zhao Hao thought for a moment and said: “I’ll stay in Jincheng a couple more days too—I have some matters to handle.”

“Then you two can return together. Look out for each other.”

Zhao Hao patted his chest and grinned: “No problem. I’ll make sure Zhao Brother is well taken care of during his stay in Jincheng.”

He didn’t need your care.

Li Lin sighed and walked over to Huang Yan, clasped his fists, and smiled: “Your Excellency, I’ll lead the township troops back now.”

The nearby officials frowned.

When a high official is discussing important matters, what is a lowly County Commander doing here?

Seeking attention?

Huang Yan smiled: “My son-in-law, travel safely.”

Li Lin bowed slightly, then turned and walked away.

At that moment, the officials’ expressions improved.

If he was Huang Yan’s son-in-law, then it was no issue.

The township troops began their return, morale noticeably lowered.

Earlier, the troop had many women—though they couldn’t touch them, teasing and crude jokes had been enjoyable.

Now, with only the men, they found it hard to adjust.

Without the women slowing them down, their marching speed increased greatly.

That night, after setting up camp and eating, Yan Han sought out Li Lin.

“County Commander,” Yan Han said, his tone deferential: “I heard you possess the Thunderfall Spell—it’s quite powerful.”

“I do have the Thunderfall Spell, but it’s not powerful—just average,” Li Lin demurred.

“Could you teach it to me?” Yan Han whispered. “Of course, I’m not a dishonorable man—I’m willing to exchange it for my family’s Wind-Caressing Sword Art.”

Sword art!

Li Lin wasn’t particularly eager to learn it.

Because, frankly, in the early stages, swords couldn’t match spears unless there was a huge gap in skill.

And later, once both sides mastered sufficient spiritual energy and could wield sword qi and spear qi, there was little difference between spear and sword.

Only the cultivation of intent mattered—and that depended on who had the higher realm.

So Li Lin felt he didn’t need to learn sword techniques.

But then he thought of his two wives—spear training wasn’t suitable for them, but sword training was.

Moreover, he had seen the Yan family’s Wind-Caressing Sword Art before—it was elegant and truly suited for women.

“Alright,” Li Lin smiled. “When we return to the county, I’ll write you a commentary.”

Yan Han exhaled in relief, his face filled with gratitude: “Thank you, County Commander.”

“No need for thanks—we’re simply exchanging what we each need.”

Li Lin now greatly enjoyed resource exchange.

It allowed him to acquire valuable things with minimal conflict.

For instance, he had traded the Thunderfall Spell for three other “items.”

Perhaps he could trade even more in the future.

Besides, he didn’t have just the Thunderfall Spell—he had more valuable things.

The more valuable things he acquired, the more he could trade with others.

This would form a virtuous cycle.

Li Lin returned to the county with over five hundred township troops, and all of them gasped upon seeing the transparent peach-tree spiritual manifestation in the sky.

After recovering from their shock, Li Lin ordered several company commanders to lead the troops back to camp, while he went to the county government to meet the newly appointed County Magistrate.

Zhang Guangqi.

(End of Chapter)