Chapter 181

Jincheng's beacon fires blazed up in three columns!

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

This was a mutual alert: an external enemy had invaded, and it signaled the highest level of alert.

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

The guards on the wall spotted Li Lin and opened the main gate.

Li Lin said to Su Bei: "Go notify the village militia camp outside the city—they must enter Yulin immediately to assist in defense."

Su Bei bowed his fists: "Yes, sir!"

Then he left.

"Xiaohu, Bu Fan, you two go rest for now. Come to the county government office 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, County Lieutenant."

"How many men are on the wall now?"

"Fifty!"

"Once the village militia outside enter, you're in charge of this section's defense. 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 vigilant—do not let spies slip in disguised as refugees."

"Yes!"

After giving these orders, Li Lin immediately went to the government office.

The place was utterly silent.

The government office Runners sighed in relief when they saw Li Lin return.

One of them said: "My lord, you're finally back—the County Magistrate has been waiting for you in the hall for a long time."

Li Lin nodded and quickly went to the hall.

Jiang Jili was pacing back and forth, clearly anxious.

He heard footsteps, turned, saw Li Lin, and immediately relaxed.

"You're finally back," he rushed to Li Lin and asked urgently: "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 inside? Why are so many people flocking to Qin Tuo, that rebel?"

"Maybe they've lost faith in the current court."

Jiang Jili instinctively glanced around, his expression tense, then sighed: "Don't say things like that."

"You know, I know—if it gets out, I'll beat you."

Jiang Jili pointed at Li Lin, his finger trembling with anger, then swept his sleeve aside: "Hmph. Brute."

Li Lin smiled: "Alright, I'm going home first—to wash up and change clothes."

"Aren't you worried?" Jiang Jili asked. "An enemy is invading!"

Li Lin pointed upward: "We have the Tree Immortal Lady watching over us."

"True—the Tree Immortal Lady is your family's," Jiang Jili nodded slightly, his expression easing considerably.

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

"You must go to the wall yourself," Li Lin suddenly said. "Many villagers will flee to the county. You must help inspect and verify their identities—prevent spies from slipping in."

"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—these duties were truly the County Magistrate's official responsibilities.

As County Lieutenant, 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 Qin and Hong Luan rushed over, 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 sighed in relief.

"Hong Luan, cook something—I'm hungry." Li Lin turned to Huang Qin: "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 God's flesh, 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 floating behind him.

Her gaze seemed icy.

"My Lady, it's been so long—I've missed you."

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

But the Tree Immortal Lady clearly loved to hear them—her expression softened considerably.

"If enemies come to attack, this time we must rely on the Lady."

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

She is very busy now.

Busy digesting that incense offering, transforming it into her own power.

This is also the reason why most Zhenjun stationed in temples rarely appear; they are busy every day becoming stronger and simply have no time to attend to other matters.

Li Yanjing covered her mouth with her sleeve, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "I feel the Lady is easily deceived by you."

"I did not deceive her; I truly miss her."

"Then you don't miss me..."

Li Lin raised an eyebrow: "You run out almost every day; there is no way around it."

"It seems I must be more reserved in the future."

Just then, Huang Qi stepped out from the side: "Master, hot water is ready. Shall I help you scrub your back?"

"No need... if you are present, the bathing time will become very long."

Huang Qi immediately blushed, because what Li Lin said was the truth.

Li Lin bathed alone, then ate a meal; by then, it was nearly evening.

He picked up his long spear and went out the door under the worried gazes of the two women.

Arriving at the public hall, he found that all the Spirit-Hunters had arrived.

He even discovered an unexpected person.

He Yumao.

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

"After all, I am a person of Yulin County, and moreover I am now a Spirit-Hunter; with such a major event occurring, naturally I must come."

Li Lin asked: "How is the Yin-Nourishing Art progressing?"

"Barely considered to have entered the door," He Yumao smiled.

Li Lin looked at Bai Zhiwei, Ding Yingqiu, and the others, and smiled: "Let us go to the city wall to guard as well."

The crowd nodded.

Regarding Li Lin's words, they offered no opposition.

Besides subduing demons and exorcising evil, Spirit-Hunters indeed also have the duty of guarding the locality.

When necessary, they must even obey the orders of the Battalion Commander.

The group arrived at the city wall, and then heard a commotion from the direction of the West Gate.

Li Lin led the people over to look and found dozens of archers on the city wall, drawing their bows but not releasing, watching the area below the wall with vigilance.

The County Magistrate's Assistant, Jiang Jili, was also here.

"What has happened?" Li Lin walked over and asked.

"A group of people who should not be here have arrived!"

Hmm?

Li Lin looked down and discovered that below the city wall, roughly at the position of the wall, at least four hundred people had gathered.

Judging by the appearance, they should almost all be villagers.

"Should not come?"

Jiang Jili said helplessly: "They are people from the surroundings of Beiliu County; according to the rules, they should seek refuge inside Beiliu County and should not come to our Yulin County."

(End of this chapter)