Chapter 150: Ritual Sword

Li Lin placed the brocade box down and said, "A jade sword."

"Can I take a look?"

Li Lin opened the box.

A green jade sword appeared before Li Yanjing's eyes.

She lightly brushed her fingers over the sword, her expression clearly delighted.

"Is there anything special about it?" Li Lin asked.

"The aura on this sword is very similar to your blood qi," Li Yanjing unconsciously licked her red lips: "I really like it."

Li Lin smiled. "Then I'll give it to you."

Li Yanjing looked at him for a moment, then smiled. "Rather than saying you're giving it to me, it's more like turning it into a small altar."

"Altar?" Li Lin was surprised.

Li Yanjing raised the jade sword high; sunlight seeped through its surface, revealing fine, interwoven patterns inside the blade.

At first glance, the patterns seemed chaotic, but upon closer inspection, they carried an eerie, mysterious quality.

"This is a ritual sword—a Spirit-Calling Sword," Li Yanjing said with awe: "I don't know if it's an immortal sword, but I can feel that if I spend time inside it each month, I'll gain great benefits."

"Can't I just live inside it permanently?"

Li Yanjing sighed. "My body couldn't withstand it. I'm a phantom, not a spirit."

"Then live in it for now," Li Lin said with a smile.

Li Yanjing thought for a moment. "How about you keep the sword at home normally, and when you go out, put me inside it to carry with you? That way, I can still help you."

She had her own little plans.

If Li Lin took her outside, she could avoid the Tree Immortal Lady and Second Madam, and beg Li Lin for some blood qi to consume.

Just thinking about it felt thrilling.

"I don't know any sword techniques."

Li Yanjing froze. "Then why do you want this sword?"

"I plan to get back a Gentle Breeze Sword Manual," Li Lin smiled. "I'll study this sword occasionally, then give it to my wife so she can learn a sword art. My Meow Meow Fist isn't suitable for women—it's only good for self-defense. Sword art can kill enemies."

Li Yanjing laughed. "You're so good to your wife."

"It's nothing much," Li Lin waved his hand.

At that moment, Huang Qin walked over from the side and asked, "What are you talking about that's so cheerful?"

"Telling you to learn a sword art."

Huang Qin was surprised. "Husband, I already struggle enough with the Tiger Fist…"

She wanted to say it was improper for a wife.

After all, who ever heard of a respectable wife practicing martial arts?

She learned the Tiger Fist only because she couldn't refuse her husband.

Now she's being asked to learn sword art—this would spread poorly.

After all, she'd been raised on the Three Obediences and Four Virtues.

"You must learn," Li Lin smiled. "Practicing martial arts won't just give you enough strength to defend yourself—it'll also make you more beautiful."

"You're teasing me," Huang Qin said helplessly.

Every woman who trains martial arts ends up with calloused hands, coarse skin, and a darker complexion.

She didn't want that at all.

Li Lin knew what she was thinking. "Trust me. If it were ordinary martial arts without a matching cultivation method, yes, you'd end up like that. But I have a special cultivation method. You didn't believe in dual cultivation before—yet now you're addicted to it."

"Husband!" Huang Qin blushed, glancing at Li Yanjing beside her, and said sweetly: "I'll learn, but don't say things that make me blush."

That was more like it.

Li Lin nodded in satisfaction. "You two chat for now. I'm going back to my study."

"Oh!" Huang Qin suddenly said: "Last night, Bai Xunshou delivered a heavy bundle. I didn't dare open it, so I put it under the bed."

Li Lin smiled. "They're gold ingots. Go count how many there are."

"Gold ingots?" Huang Qin exclaimed. "Where did they come from?"

Before marrying into the Li family, she'd already prepared herself for hardship.

She never expected the Li household to have a large mansion—and over twenty gold ingots.

That wasn't a small amount.

Though far behind the Huang family's wealth, it was enough to ensure comfort.

Now, her husband had brought home another pile of gold ingots—the household was suddenly prosperous.

"Don't worry. They're clean."

Huang Qin exhaled in relief.

Li Lin took the jade sword to his study, raised it, and stared at its patterns for a long time.

He hoped this method might trigger his proficiency effect.

But after staring at the patterns for nearly half an hour, there was no reaction.

He helplessly set the jade sword down and let out a long sigh.

This thing couldn't be shortcut like the last circular immortal artifact.

Li Lin was certain the patterns within the jade sword were extraordinary.

But because they seemed beyond his own "understanding," his special ability hadn't triggered.

He put down the jade sword and continued writing annotations for the Fallen Thunder Incantation.

The next day, after his routine patrol, Li Lin met Yan Han at a tavern.

"These are the annotations for the Fallen Thunder Incantation." Li Lin handed over the newly written booklet.

"Many thanks." Yan Han also handed over a hand-copied booklet.

After Li Lin opened it and flipped through a few pages, he smiled and said: "This sword art is indeed very profound — I've gotten a bargain."

Yan Han cupped his hands: "I don't deserve the praise. The Fallen Thunder Incantation is an orthodox thunder art; my humble Soothing Wind Sword Art hardly dares to compare."

Li Lin asked: "The Fallen Thunder Incantation isn't what Inspector Yan wanted to learn, was it."

Yan Han smiled and said: "Naturally. Those who first practice yin-type cultivation methods — hardly any of them can learn the Fallen Thunder Incantation, and I'm no exception. This is for my younger brother to learn. He has quite a talent for martial arts."

"I haven't yet asked where Inspector Yan is from!"

"The northern lands of Lu Commandery, Ji Water City!" Yan Han's expression visibly sank.

As far as Li Lin knew, Lu Commandery had already been seized by the Northern Di two years ago.

"Don't worry — one day we'll take it back." Li Lin offered in comfort.

Yan Han forced a smile with some difficulty.

Because of this little interlude, Yan Han's mood remained poor for a while; the two chatted briefly and then went their separate ways.

Li Lin took the sword manual home and handed it to Huang Qi.

After Huang Qi looked at it for a while, she said, embarrassed: "I can't understand it…"

Although there were illustrations, asking someone who had never learned martial arts to study swordplay from pictures was indeed a bit difficult.

With no choice, Li Lin could only learn it himself first, and then teach them.

Li Lin immediately began flipping through it.

In just a moment, he had already initially grasped the basic routines of this Soothing Wind Sword Art.

He immediately took up a wooden sword and ran through a set.

Huang Qi and Hongluan watched from the side without so much as blinking.

Li Lin had already finished and sheathed his stance for quite a while before the two of them came back to their senses.

Huang Qi's face flushed slightly and she said nothing, her eyes full of admiration.

Hongluan walked over and handed him a towel: "Husband, you should only use a sword from now on."

"Why!"

"You look extraordinarily elegant." Hongluan said with a smile.

Li Lin, somewhat puzzled: "Don't I look good when I wield a spear?"

"You also look good, but not as striking as when you wield a sword."

Li Lin smiled and said: "I'll practice this sword art together with you two from now on, but the spear art absolutely cannot be neglected."

Huang Qi walked over and said: "Hongluan, don't make things difficult for husband. Although I don't understand martial arts, I also know that the long spear is the king of all weapons. As a county commandant and a Spirit Hunter, husband will naturally have to contend with others — using a spear is better."

Hongluan nodded, indicating she understood.

And just at this moment, Zhang Afu said: "Master, Assistant County Magistrate Jiang is waiting outside and says he has an important matter to see you about."

"Invite him to the study." Li Lin turned his head and said to Hongluan: "Go prepare tea."

(End of chapter)