Chapter 160: Strike First

The next morning, Li Lin set out with the village militia.

Zhang Guangqi stood at the city gate to see Li Lin off.

Only after the two hundred village militiamen vanished down the road did he return home with his servants.

On the city wall, Assistant County Magistrate Jiang Jili fanned himself and watched Zhang Guangqi, a faint smile forming on his face.

Zhang Guangqi went to the county office and handled local affairs as usual; when tired, he rose to walk around and occasionally spoke with the Registrar.

Then he resumed his duties.

At noon, he greeted the other officials in the office with a smile, even nodding to Assistant County Magistrate Jiang Jili, before strolling slowly home.

His wife was not in Yulin County; she remained in Jingcheng.

This was the southern frontier, nearly a borderland, with sweltering weather—far more arduous than the central plains of Jingcheng.

Those with any influence were unwilling to come here.

But such places also meant ample opportunities to accumulate merit.

Huang Yan had stayed here for over a decade… and earned his promotion through upright means.

He needed almost no support from the Huang family.

Now, Zhang Guangqi had come here too.

He believed he could replicate Huang Yan’s success.

Zhang Guangqi entered his study and began reading.

Books hold beautiful women; books hold golden halls.

He had barely glimpsed the golden halls, but the beautiful women… he had none.

The two daughters of the Huang family were both stunning beauties.

Yet the wife he married was plain in appearance.

And her temper was exceedingly haughty.

She didn’t even follow her husband—he was lucky if she didn’t beat him.

That was why she stayed in Jingcheng and never came with him to Yulin County.

Zhang Guangqi loved reading; he felt it calmed his mind.

No matter how sorrowful or stirring the event, once he picked up a book, his heart grew still.

Time quickly passed into evening, the sky darkening.

He sat in the main hall, slowly eating his evening meal.

Soon after, a dozen black-clad figures emerged from a nearby side room.

He pulled out a vial of Imperial Barrier Powder and had them sprinkle it around the main hall.

When this was done, he said: “The altar is behind us. Carry it carefully. Don’t let it jolt or bump.”

The dozen black-clad figures bowed in unison.

At that moment, a transparent figure appeared beside Zhang Guangqi.

None of the black-clad men could see him, but Zhang Guangqi could: “Kong Donglai, whether you succeed or I rise depends entirely on this.”

The great apparition, Kong Donglai, smiled: “No problem. I’ve heard of Liu Zhe—she’s a serpent, but that form was cursed. Her true power is weak, and all her spiritual energy is bound to the peach tree spirit form. With enough Yin Spirit Stones to mask our presence, evading her perception won’t be hard.”

Zhang Guangqi nodded: “Good!”

Kong Donglai chuckled: “But the Huang family seems to be declining—only a dozen years passed, and already the brothers are turning on each other.”

“Let them fight among themselves—it’s perfect. If they didn’t, how would I get my chance?” Zhang Guangqi sneered. “I’ve had enough of the Huangs. They give me an opening—I’ll take it.”

Kong Donglai shook his head, gently fanning himself: “Deceit and scheming are minor paths. If your learning were exceptional, you could advance with dignity—no need for such exhausting tricks.”

“Dignity?” Zhang Guangqi scoffed. “I believed that for ten years—and accomplished nothing. I served as Assistant County Magistrate for a decade, did countless tasks, and barely earned the post of County Magistrate. But Li Lin—that boy—is Huang Yan’s son-in-law, barely out of his cradle for a year, and already he’s County Warden. Let him stay two or three more years, and Huang Yan will surely promote him to the prefectural capital—as Inspector or Superintendent.”

Kong Donglai looked at him helplessly: “What happened to your original ideals?”

“My ideals haven’t changed—I aim to rise above all others,” Zhang Guangqi snorted. “Otherwise, with her temper and looks, why would I have married her? But the Huangs never helped me. I served them faithfully, trembling with caution—and they disliked me. Yet Li Lin caught Huang Yan’s eye. Why?”

“Because my master is superior to you in every way—looks, talent, everything.”

The voice appeared suddenly, thick with seductive charm.

“Who are you?”

The dozen black-clad men turned toward the voice—and saw a woman standing beside the green stone altar.

The woman was Li Yanjing.

She covered her mouth with a green silk sleeve, revealing only her peach-blossom eyes—exquisitely alluring.

Zhang Guangqi instinctively stepped back: “How did you get in?”

“Guess!” Li Yanjing smiled.

Kong Donglai stepped before Zhang Guangqi, his expression grim: “A possession apparition…”

“She’s the possession apparition from Yulin County? But wasn’t she reported missing recently?” Kong Donglai drifted slowly closer, asking.

“You just said your master is better than the County Magistrate in every way… so your master is Li Lin?” Zhang Guangqi’s eyes widened.

Li Yanjing pressed her right hand against the altar and smiled: “Yes. Friend, you look like a scholar—don’t come closer. One firm push from me, and this altar will shatter.”

Kong Donglai froze.

Zhang Guangqi stepped forward two paces, furious: “Li Lin dares to send an apparition to kill me!”

“You dared send men to assassinate me—why can’t I?”

The voice echoed suddenly.

Zhang Guangqi felt a sharp blade press against his back—his entire body stiffened.

“Li Lin, weren’t you supposed to have left for Jincheng?”

“Why can’t I return?”

Kong Donglai looked from Li Lin to Li Yanjing nearby, sighed, and said: “Guangqi, I told you—act with dignity. Look, retribution has come.”

“I won’t accept it!” Zhang Guangqi roared. “Why does everything go smoothly for you? I only had a small, petty thought—and now I’m caught red-handed!”

“A small, petty thought?”

Li Lin pressed slightly harder—the Bone-Drinking Blade pierced through his heart.

Zhang Guangqi trembled violently, struggling to move—but had no strength left. His body slowly slumped to the ground.

Kong Donglai stood motionless, gently fanning himself with a sigh.

Li Yanjing asked: “Won’t you resist?”

“No need. Victory and defeat—this has always been the way,” Kong Donglai bowed. “Please, Lady, make it swift. Don’t let these mortals suffer too long.”

“That’s hard to guarantee—the one who acts isn’t me!” Li Yanjing laughed.

Then she slammed her right hand hard against the green stone altar.

Kong Donglai sighed, his eyes rolling back.

His face twisted into a grotesque mask.

Just as he was about to lose his mind, Li Yanjing appeared before him and swept her hand—dispersing him like dust.

As if scattering a cloud of ashes.

At last, the dozen black-clad men reacted—they tried to flee.

But peach petals rained from the sky, obscuring their vision—yet the petals fell only within this courtyard.

Moments later, the petals vanished.

Only Li Yanjing remained in the courtyard.

And a shattered green stone altar.

She glanced left and right, then laughed softly, turned transparent, and vanished into the night.

At that moment, Li Lin suddenly appeared on the road several miles outside the city.

Beside him stood a dozen black-clad men.

Faint, transparent peach petals drifted and dissolved around them.

Li Lin reacted instantly—he leapt backward, landing in the grass beside the road, entering stealth mode.

The black-clad men, stunned by the sudden change, stood frozen.

Then they screamed.

Soon, their bodies withered—within the time of one incense stick, they were bleached bones.

The Wicked Apparition had come.

Li Lin moved stealthily forward. Two hours later, he spotted a camp.

He slipped inside without alerting anyone, found his own tent, and lay down to sleep, fully clothed.

Another two hours passed; dawn began to break.

Li Lin crawled out of his tent, stretched, and muttered: “This ground is so uneven—I slept terribly.”

Su Huafang walked over: “County Warden, it’s my fault—I failed you, and you suffered.”

“No matter. Just level the ground tonight,” Li Lin waved dismissively.

[95] (End of Chapter)