Chapter 178: Prevent the Villain, Not the Gentleman

By the next day, Li Lin led over one hundred and twenty people departing from Yulin County.

The specific personnel arrangement is as follows.

One hundred village soldiers, seventy blade-and-shield bearers, and thirty archers, all under the command of Deputy Commander Su Bei.

Twenty government office Runners, under the command of the newly appointed Head Constable Xiao Chunzhu.

Also accompanying them were the two 'newcomers', the Spirit Hunter Zhao Xiaohu and Bai Bufan.

It can be said that everyone here is almost Li Lin's trusted confidants and direct subordinates.

As the village soldiers marched, by nightfall, the hundred-plus people huddled together, forming a blood qi so dense that those wild spirits dared not approach lightly.

But for safety's sake, Li Lin still scattered a ring of protective barriers powder around the perimeter.

He can make this himself now; the cost has been driven down, it is not expensive.

Then Li Lin summoned Zhao Xiaohu, Bai Bufan, Xiao Chunzhu, and Su Bei, all four coming into his tent.

"One bottle of Boiling Blood Pill for each person, take them all."

Li Lin distributed the four bottles of Boiling Blood Pills.

Zhao Xiaohu opened the bottle cap, inhaled a breath, felt a warm current surge through his body, and said, "Lin Ge, what kind of pill is this? I've never heard the name."

Li Lin has two types of pills that are famous in Yulin County on the surface.

Body-Strengthening Pills and Youth-Preserving Pills.

These are also the main source of the Li family's income.

Especially the Youth-Preserving Pill; any woman with a bit of money wants to buy a few to eat.

And Huang Qi, relying on this Youth-Preserving Pill, became the woman with the highest status and the most voice in the 'circle of noble ladies' of Yulin County, without exception.

The others also looked at Li Lin.

Li Lin smiled and explained, "Boiling Blood Pill, an ancestral pill; I only recently managed to barely cultivate it. Its effect is to temporarily enhance one's blood qi and improve one's martial arts, but the duration is only about a quarter-hour. You can eat a few consecutively, but it is best not to eat five in a row."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

Temporarily enhancing blood qi is a disguised enhancement of one's strength; although there is a time limit, but... at a critical moment it might be the key to deciding victory, possibly even something that can save a life.

Bai Bufan opened the bottle cap, saw there were at least twenty or thirty pills inside, poured one out, and put it in his mouth.

Immediately after, his face turned red violently; he jumped aside, drew two short knives, and began to wave them.

Waves of blade wind rose, carrying whistling sounds.

It was clearly visible that Bai Bufan's strength now was indeed much stronger than usual.

Zhao Xiaohu and the others watched with great joy, then immediately put away the porcelain bottles in their hands.

"Thank you, County Commandant." Xiao Chunzhu clasped his fists in gratitude.

Su Bei also followed suit to express thanks.

A while later, Bai Bufan walked back; the redness on his face had faded, but his forehead was covered in sweat.

"Huff... truly comfortable. Except for some softness in the hands and feet, there are no other major problems; the side effects can almost be considered non-existent." Bai Bufan clasped his fists and said admiringly, "No wonder you are County Commandant Li; this alchemy skill, if you went to Jingcheng, you would definitely be summoned directly into the palace by the current Emperor."

The current Emperor cultivates alchemy and seeks immortality, widely recruiting people who understand alchemy.

"Go in to become a eunuch?" Li Lin laughed, "I can't bear to leave my wives and concubines at home."

Everyone laughed heartily.

After another five days passed, they finally arrived at the western suburbs of Jincheng.

Upon arriving there, they discovered a small camp was already stationed.

A large flag hanging on it bore the character 'Gao'.

"That should be the village soldiers from Beiliu County; they are closer to Jincheng, so arriving earlier is quite normal." Su Bei stood beside Li Lin and explained.

Li Lin nodded, waved his hand, and said, "Set up camp here."

The village soldiers began to set up a simple camp on the spot.

At this moment, several people came out from the adjacent camp.

Li Lin also led Xiao Chunzhu to go forward and meet them.

Both sides met, clasped fists, and smiled at each other.

Li Lin remembered having seen this man; once when returning from Feirong County, he had seen the other riding a chestnut red horse, leading village soldiers along the official road.

Li Lin had hidden at that time to avoid any conflict with the other party.

That was more than half a year ago.

The other party smiled, "My surname is Gao, my name is Gao Haiya, County Commandant of Beiliu County; may I ask if you are the County Commandant of Yulin County?"

"Yes, Li Lin, County Commandant of Yulin County."

"Long heard, long heard." Gao Haiya, dressed in the official robes of a County Commandant, walked over and laughed heartily, "I have heard in Beiliu County that Yulin County has produced a handsome man who married the daughter of Prefect Huang and also cultivates excellent alchemy skills."

Li Lin smiled, "It is just that the neighbors gave me face. County Commandant Gao's blood qi is vigorous; you should already be a Seventh-Rank martial artist."

"Hahahaha, County Commandant Li has sharp eyes." Gao Haiya said quite happily, "Gao has practiced martial arts since childhood; the only thing I can show off is this set of water-polished skills. Since we both have arrived, shall we discuss the upcoming matters together!"

"No problem." Li Lin smiled.

"The Prefect ordered us to merge forces first, then split into the east and west sides to sweep the spirits of Luofeng Ridge." Gao Haiya looked at Li Lin and asked, "Which side does County Commandant Li wish to start from?"

"As you wish; County Commandant Gao, please choose first."

"Then I choose the east side."

"Very well." Gao Haiya paused in his tone, then asked, "I heard County Commandant Li is a Spirit Hunter? What rank?"

"Eighth Rank!" Li Lin smiled.

"Do you have any extra Spirit Hunters with you?"

"I brought other Spirit Hunters, but they are not extra."

Gao Haiya said somewhat helplessly, "You should have heard that our Beiliu County had some incidents recently. All Spirit Hunters perished. New Spirit Hunters have not yet arrived; can you lend one or two for us to use?"

Li Lin said with difficulty, "We are not well-stocked on our side either; those who came are all from the younger generation."

"Then forget it." Gao Haiya squinted and smiled, then said, "I will return first. County Commandant Li, rest early as well. Tomorrow morning, we will split into two groups."

"Good!"

Gao Haiya turned and left.

Returning to their side, the makeshift camp had already been built; Li Lin sat cross-legged inside the tent.

Xiao Chunzhu stood and said, "That County Commandant Gao seems a bit off."

"In what way is he off?"

"His blood qi is too vigorous; this is not normal." Xiao Chunzhu explained, "A seventh-rank martial artist should have begun condensing blood qi into primal qi, yet he is still surging his blood qi, with not the slightest sign of condensing primal qi. It feels as though he has cultivated an evil cultivation method."

"If blood qi becomes extremely yang, what will a person turn into?"

"Generally, they will fall into demonic deviation." Xiao Chunzhu shrugged, "Pure yang cannot grow alone... even the most yang and rigid martial arts of the Buddhist sect must rely on Buddhist dharma to suppress and dissolve the excessive yang energy within the body."

Li Lin nodded, indicating understanding. Then he said, "I just do not know; the Northern Flow County side has no Spirit Hunters. How do they rely on to eliminate Apparitions... Could they have brought out a Taowu Zhenjun?"

Xiao Chunzhu fell silent.

Matters of the martial world, matters of martial arts cultivation, he understood clearly.

But matters related to Apparitions are the Spirit Hunters' domain.

Li Lin frowned. If they truly brought an altar and summoned a Taowu Zhenjun, then that would indeed be a good method.

It is just... if Gao Haiya has ill intentions, the Taowu Zhenjun on that altar is a very troublesome thing.

One does not fear the ten thousand possibilities, but one fears the one in ten thousand.

It is better to make some preparations first; guard against the villain, not the gentleman.

(End of this chapter)