Chapter 15: Hu Ji, Vast in Grace

Wang Tianyou walked through the village, gazing at the red scraps of firecrackers on the ground, feeling a quiet pang of reflection.

“Li Lin is the sort to risk himself for lowly commoners—his character must be decent, worth cultivating a close bond with.”

A burly warrior nearby, his aura heavy with yin, said: “Young master, could that female spirit at the Tudimiao have been slain by this boy?”

“Unlikely,” Wang Tianyou shook his head. “You felt it too—he has strong yang, but his blood qi is mediocre. He’s only been a Hunting Spiritman for half a year; killing a few minor spirits is normal. But that female spirit at the Tudimiao? He couldn’t possibly have slain her. And there was that black-cloaked figure… a master who even I barely escaped unscathed. How could he have had any chance? Just surviving is proof enough of his great fortune.”

The warrior nodded, convinced Wang Tianyou spoke sense.

The group arrived at the village center; the villagers, seeing them, instinctively stepped aside, avoiding any closeness.

Wang Tianyou gazed at the green stone altar before him and bowed: “Lady Tree Immortal, might you appear for a brief chat?”

He waited a moment; when the altar gave no response, he sighed and walked away.

Meanwhile, Li Lin sat at home, flipping through the newly acquired spear manual.

[Yu Family Spear Art +1]

[Yu Family Spear Art +1]

[Yu Family Spear Art +1]

The Yu Family Spear Art was created by a famed general of the previous dynasty, renowned for repelling foreign invaders—practical in both battlefield formations and one-on-one duels.

As a combat-oriented spear art, its techniques bore plain, unadorned names.

“Lift Spear,” “Thrust Spear,” “Sweep Spear,” and so on.

At first glance, the names seemed unremarkable, but as Li Lin carefully studied the manual, he realized this was a spear art easy to learn but hard to master—with a very high ceiling.

After finishing the spear manual, Li Lin turned to the Spirit-Controlling Heart Method.

[Nourishing Yin Scripture +1]

[Nourishing Yin Scripture +1]

Unlike warriors, Hunting Spiritmen must cultivate yin energy.

Blood rice boosts blood qi, used for protection.

Without the nourishment of blood rice, the yin energy accumulating on a Hunting Spiritman’s body would eventually turn against him.

After all, a living person cannot harbor too much yin energy.

After reading, Li Lin sighed: “Wang Tianyou truly keeps his word—these heart methods he sent are genuine, not mere flimsy fare.”

They weren’t top-tier, but neither were they common trash.

If bought with silver, they’d cost at least dozens of gold ingots.

The days that followed were orderly.

He trained in spear techniques and fist methods by day; in the first half of night, he refined blood rice using the “Spring Revival Heart Method,” and in the second half, he cultivated the “Nourishing Yin Scripture.”

He felt his progress was swift.

But whether it truly was, he wasn’t sure—yet each day he felt himself growing stronger.

He also constantly felt time was running short.

The fulfilling days flew by.

Then came the time to collect the “public grain.”

This time, Zhao Xiaohu didn’t come along; Li Lin went alone to the county office.

The government office runner in charge of distributing blood rice saw him and immediately bowed: “Master Li, the County Magistrate says if you come, please go to the back courtyard to see him.”

Li Lin paused, then entered the office and made his way to the back courtyard.

The courtyard wasn’t large; trees lined the high walls to shield from outside view.

To the east stood a pavilion, where a middle-aged man with black beard in official robes sat, surrounded by several “familiar faces.”

He walked over; Su Huafang smiled and nodded to him first; the others turned, most nodding in greeting.

All were fellow Hunting Spiritmen; though they rarely met, there was no conflict of interest.

“Greetings, County Magistrate.”

Li Lin bowed before the pavilion.

The middle-aged official was Huang Yan, the local County Magistrate, who smiled and nodded: “Master Li, no need for such formalities.”

Then he looked at the group: “Everyone is here… yet in half a year, three have been lost. I deeply regret it.”

The others’ expressions turned uneasy.

Zhou Yutong and Zhan Shijun died by human hands; the third, Wu Yihuan, perished to a spirit.

He guarded a small town invaded by a roaming spirit; as a Hunting Spiritman, he naturally had to stand his ground.

That roaming spirit’s abilities were bizarre; in the end, both sides perished together.

Wu Yihuan died horribly—his bones vanished entirely, leaving only a ceremonial tomb.

“I’ve called you here because the prefectural capital plans to hold a Hunting Spiritmen’s gathering in half a month. Each county must send two representatives. I don’t know the details—since the Demon Extermination Bureau operates independently, they don’t consult civil or military officials,” Huang Yan smiled. “But I’ve heard it’s a good opportunity. I’m unsure who to send, so I’ve asked you all here to decide among yourselves.”

“Count me in,” a burly man stepped forward. “My uncle-in-law is the Assistant Prefect of Jincheng. I ask you all to honor me.”

He scanned the group, confidence on his face.

With that, no one dared oppose him.

“And the second?” Huang Yan smiled.

No one spoke.

After a pause, Huang Yan chuckled: “Since no one volunteers, I’ll appoint one. Su Hunting Spiritman—you’re the eldest, steady, and have overseen the people of Yulin County for over thirty years with diligence. This opportunity must surely be yours. Any objections?”

Silence followed.

Su Huafang stepped forward and bowed: “Thank you, Magistrate, for your favor.”

Congratulations, congratulations.

The group offered their felicitations.

Su Huafang bowed to his colleagues: “Thank you all for yielding this rare chance to old Su. Should you ever need anything from me, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Their congratulations grew more sincere.

“Now that this is settled, I won’t keep you any longer,” Huang Yan gestured to dismiss them, but turned to Li Lin: “Master Li, stay behind. My son asked me to invite you home—he says he has urgent matters to discuss.”

The Hunting Spiritmen dispersed. Su Huafang had intended to speak with Li Lin, but seeing him taken by the Magistrate, he let it go.

The Huang residence was close to the office—just a hundred steps beyond the gate.

Huang Yan led Li Lin into his home; the front door closed behind them, and then a clear voice rang out ahead.

“Father, you’re back! I want you to take me to… ah!”

A blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl burst out from behind the moon gate, saw a stranger—a young man—and gasped, covering her face before dashing back into the inner courtyard.

A foreign beauty!

Li Lin blinked.

A foreign beauty dressed in Han clothing!

No—she should be called Hu Ji.

“Forgive the disturbance,” Huang Yan smiled. “My eldest daughter—poorly disciplined, quite noisy.”

Though he spoke of reprimanding her, his face carried a faint, indulgent smile.

“Your daughter is truly lively and lovely, as beautiful as a golden lotus.”

Li Lin spoke with sincere admiration.

Huang Yan’s expression shifted strangely.

He could tell—Li Lin genuinely thought his daughter was beautiful.

That was unusual.

Never before had a guest praised his daughter’s looks without ulterior motive—others merely flattered him out of respect.

Now his smile grew warmer: “My son is likely sipping tea in the inner courtyard. You may go directly to him.”

(End of Chapter)