Chapter 181: The Ones Who Shouldn

The beacon fires of Jincheng blazed up in three columns!

Soon after, neighboring counties and military garrisons also lit three columns of beacon fires.

This was a signal to each other that an external enemy had invaded—and it was also the highest level of alert.

When Li Lin led the village militia back to Yulin County, the city gates were already closed.

Only when the guards on the wall saw Li Lin did they open the great gate.

Li Lin said to Su Huafang: “Go notify the village militia camp outside the city—they must enter Yulin immediately to help defend it.”

Su Huafang bowed his fists: “Yes, sir!”

Then he left.

“Xiaohu, Bu Fan, you two go rest for now. Come to the county magistrate’s hall at dusk.”

Both of them left immediately.

Li Lin then ordered the government office runners to return, while he climbed onto the wall.

The captain on the wall hurried over: “Greetings, Assistant County Magistrate.”

“How many men are on the wall now?”

“Fifty!”

“Once the village militia enters, you’re in charge of this section. Ensure at least two hundred men patrol the wall day and night—understood?”

“Yes!” The captain bowed deeply.

Li Lin thought for a moment and said: “Given the situation, villagers from nearby areas will soon flee here. Be careful to verify their identities—don’t let spies slip in with them.”

“Yes!”

After giving these orders, Li Lin went straight to the county magistrate’s office.

The place was utterly silent.

The government office runners sighed with relief when they saw Li Lin return.

One of them said: “Assistant County Magistrate, you’re finally back—the Assistant Prefect has been waiting for you in the hall for a long time.”

Li Lin nodded and quickly made his way to the hall.

Jiang Jili was pacing back and forth, clearly anxious.

Hearing footsteps, he turned and saw Li Lin—immediately, he exhaled in relief.

“You’re finally back,” he rushed to Li Lin’s side. “What happened? Why did Jincheng light three beacon fires?”

Li Lin gave a brief account of the events.

Jiang Jili sighed helplessly: “Again? Another traitor? Why are so many people flocking to Qin Tuo, that rebel?”

“Maybe they’ve lost faith in the imperial court.”

Jiang Jili instinctively glanced around, his expression tense, then sighed: “Don’t say things like that.”

“You know, I know—if anyone hears it, I’ll beat you.”

Jiang Jili pointed at Li Lin, his finger trembling with anger, then swept his sleeve aside: “Hmph. A brute.”

Li Lin laughed: “Enough. I’m going home to wash up and change clothes.”

“Aren’t you worried?” Jiang Jili asked. “An enemy is invading!”

Li Lin pointed to the sky: “We have the Tree Immortal Lady watching over us.”

“True—she’s your family’s patron,” Jiang Jili nodded lightly, his expression relaxing considerably.

He knew well how great an impact a powerful True Lord could have in times of war.

“You must go to the wall yourself,” Li Lin suddenly said. “Many villagers will flee here. You need to help verify their identities—keep spies out.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Jiang Jili nodded. “I’ll have the household registers moved to the wall.”

Li Lin smiled: “Then I’ll head home.”

Jiang Jili gave a slight bow.

This wasn’t because Li Lin refused to help or shirked work—it was simply that these duties fell squarely under the Assistant Prefect’s responsibilities.

As Assistant County Magistrate, Li Lin normally had no need to handle such paperwork.

His primary duty was to lead the village militia and defend the wall when enemies attacked.

He fought on the front line.

When Li Lin returned home, Huang Qing and Hong Luan rushed to him, both visibly tense.

This was the first time they truly faced danger.

“Don’t worry—I’m here, and the Tree Immortal Lady is watching over us. Yulin County will be safe.”

Both exhaled in relief.

“Hong Luan, cook dinner—I’m hungry.” Li Lin turned to Huang Qing: “Boil water for me—I’m going to bathe.”

The two women immediately set to work.

Li Yanjing appeared from the altar. After eating the White Elephant Spirit meat, her form seemed more solid.

Li Lin reached out and touched her hand—it was warm, her texture nearly indistinguishable from a living person’s.

“Are you flirting with me?” Li Yanjing asked with a smile.

“Not at all,” Li Lin shook his head.

At that moment, Li Lin felt a chill on his back—he turned and saw the Tree Immortal Lady hovering behind him.

Her gaze seemed cold.

“My Lady, it’s been so long—I’ve missed you.”

Li Lin smiled without hesitation, uttering words so syrupy they bordered on cloying.

Yet the Tree Immortal Lady clearly liked it—her expression softened considerably.

“If enemies come, we’ll rely on you this time.”

The Tree Immortal Lady nodded lightly, said nothing more, and vanished.

She was very busy.

Busy digesting the incense offerings, turning them into her own power.

This was why most temple-residing True Lords rarely appeared—they spent every day strengthening themselves, with no time for anything else.

Li Yanjing covered her mouth with her sleeve, eyes crinkled in amusement: “You make the Lady so easy to fool.”

“I’m not fooling her—I truly miss her.”

“Then you don’t miss me at all...”

Li Lin raised an eyebrow: “You appear nearly every day—it’s unavoidable.”

“Then I’ll have to be more reserved from now on.”

At that moment, Huang Qing stepped forward: “Master, hot water is ready. Shall I wash your back?”

“No... if you’re here, bathing will take too long.”

Huang Qing blushed instantly—Li Lin spoke the truth.

Li Lin bathed alone, then ate dinner—it was nearly dusk.

He picked up his spear and stepped out, under the worried gazes of the two women.

At the magistrate’s hall, all the Hunting Spirits had arrived.

He even spotted an unexpected face.

He Yumao.

“He Brother is here too?” Li Lin asked with a smile.

“I’m from Yulin County, and now I’m a Hunting Spirit. With such a major event, I had to come.”

Li Lin asked: “How is your Yin Nourishing Scripture coming along?”

“I’ve barely entered the threshold,” He Yumao smiled.

Li Lin glanced at Bai Zhiwei, Ding Yingqiu, and the others: “Let’s go to the wall and stand guard.”

Everyone nodded.

They had no objection to Li Lin’s words.

Besides exorcising demons and monsters, Hunting Spirits also bore the duty of guarding local areas.

In emergencies, they even took orders from the captain.

The group reached the wall and heard commotion from the west gate.

Li Lin led them over and saw dozens of archers on the wall, bows drawn but not released, watching warily below.

Assistant Prefect Jiang Jili was there too.

“What’s happening?” Li Lin asked as he approached.

“A group of people who shouldn’t be here!”

Huh?

Li Lin looked down and saw at least four hundred people gathered just below the wall.

They appeared to be almost entirely villagers.

“Shouldn’t be here?”

Jiang Jili sighed: “They’re from around Beiliu County—they should be fleeing to Beiliu, not coming to Yulin.”

(End of Chapter)