Chapter 200: Zhou Ji Yi Er

Over five days, Li Lin squatted outside the Tree Immortal Goddess Temple, in a small grove, watching his familiarity slowly increase.

Under these circumstances, the Tree Immortal Goddess seemed unable to detect him.

Of course, whether she deliberately chose not to notice him… only the Tree Immortal Goddess knew.

When the success came, Li Lin intuitively understood that his Stealth Technique had received a comprehensive minor enhancement.

It sounded like no major change, but Li Lin knew this was, in fact, a significant boost.

Comprehensive, balanced.

Any ability becomes harder to improve the deeper one goes.

And balance is precisely the most effective way to enhance it.

Harder to detect, faster movement speed while using Stealth Technique, and more.

This indirectly increases the ability’s “feel,” making it more comfortable to use.

He tested it: now, under Stealth Technique, he could use Light Body Art, as long as his movement speed wasn’t excessive, he wouldn’t “reveal” himself.

He felt more confident then.

With his small bundle in hand, Huang Qing and Hong Luan watched him leave the house with worried eyes.

Li Lin first went to the county government office.

Jiang Jili saw him and tossed over a document.

“Read it yourself.”

After reading it, Li Lin smiled: “Good. Now I have a legitimate reason.”

“Remember, you owe me a favor,” Jiang Jili said with a grin.

Li Lin nodded: “Noted.”

Then Li Lin went to the Military Office, briefed Xiao Chunzhu on official matters, and collected a fine steed.

Yulin County is still quite far from Yue Commandery; even on horseback, it would take four or five days.

Mounted on the steed, Xiao Chunzhu said beside him: “County Wei , perhaps I should accompany you.”

“No. Do your own duties.”

Saying this, Li Lin left the county government office.

Not letting Xiao Chunzhu come along had its reasons.

First, Qin Donglai was a Qin Army officer; Li Lin going to see his concubine carried the suspicion of improper conduct.

Second… the Southern Barbarian Divine Bone sounded important, and he didn’t want more people to know.

Along the way, Li Lin faced little hardship; he had a map and made sure to reach villages or towns before nightfall.

With a mount, his travel speed was fast, and his schedule was comfortably flexible.

Five days later, he arrived at Yuecheng.

Although the Qin Prince had rebelled, military outposts along the way imposed no restrictions on civilians or goods entering.

Rebellion didn’t mean total isolation from the outside world.

One simply had to undergo inspection of carried goods and the number of merchants in the caravan before entry.

Of course, they also checked household registration.

Before leaving, Li Lin used a false identity: a Li-family scholar from Guixun.

He himself was a County Wei , Jiang Jili was Assistant County Magistrate—both were “inside the system”; forging a convincing household registration document was trivial.

Moreover, Li Lin looked exactly like a refined scholar.

The Yuecheng guards held the household document, scrutinizing Li Lin, while several other guards had already checked his luggage three or four times, thoroughly.

The soldiers also repeatedly asked: “You’re definitely not a spy?”

When the soldier asked for the third time, Li Lin finally “understood.”

He suddenly realized and quietly slipped a fragment of silver into the soldier’s hand: “Sir, I truly came to join the Qin Prince as a student.”

The soldier swiftly pocketed the silver and smiled: “Of course you’re a scholar. Go in.”

At these words, the other soldiers checking the baggage on the horse moved aside.

“Thank you, sir,” Li Lin said with a smile, then led his steed into the city.

These soldiers had been quite restrained—they hadn’t even confiscated his steed.

Li Lin led his steed into the city.

Yuecheng was large, with a population similar to Jincheng; the population size and customs of the three southern commanderies differed little.

Streets teemed with pedestrians, brimming with prosperity.

Clearly, the Qin Prince was not a brutal rebel.

Li Lin found a nearby inn and checked in.

The servant took his steed to the stable in the back courtyard to feed it.

He asked the servant to bring warm water, bathed, then went to the inn’s main hall to sit and prepare to eat.

But as soon as Li Lin sat down, he felt someone “watching” him.

He turned his head, following his instinct, and saw a girl in green martial attire staring at him.

When she noticed him looking, she immediately averted her gaze, a faint blush rising on her ears.

Li Lin then paid no more attention—this happened nearly every day.

He ordered a dish of lamb and a pot of yellow wine, and ate slowly.

After eating a while, several more people entered—all dressed as martial artists.

At that moment, Li Lin scanned the entire hall and realized almost everyone inside was a martial artist.

Why so many martial artists in Yuecheng?

Li Lin was puzzled.

He called over the servant, gave him two copper coins, and asked: “Why are so many heroes coming to Yuecheng?”

The servant pocketed the coins and smiled: “The Qin Prince issued a call for talented men—surely you didn’t come for anything else?”

“I hadn’t heard of it. I’m here to find family.”

“Judging by your appearance, you’re clearly learned. Try your luck at the Qin Prince’s mansion.”

Li Lin bowed: “Thank you for the insight.”

“You’re too courteous, sir.”

The servant left. Li Lin ate a few more bites, then prepared to go out for a walk.

As he stood up, someone suddenly shouted: “That scholar… come here!”

Li Lin turned and saw a man in black martial attire staring at him, his expression hostile.

“I’m talking to you. Come here,” the man pointed at Li Lin.

At his table sat several other men in martial attire, all armed with swords, dressed identically—clearly fellow disciples of the same sect.

As Li Lin was about to respond, the girl in green martial attire slammed her table and rose to stand—but halfway up, a middle-aged man beside her grabbed her and forcibly pushed her back into her chair.

“Don’t interfere!” the middle-aged man said coldly.

The girl bit her lip, her face full of Weiqu , glanced at Li Lin, then lowered her head, looking deeply distressed.

The black-clad man glanced at the green-clad girl’s table, chuckled, then bowed: “Thank you, brother, for your courtesy. Next time we meet on the Jianghu, I’ll show you the same respect.”

Then he turned back to Li Lin: “I’m talking to you, boy. Come here.”

Li Lin walked over, smiling: “What do you want?”

“Yes!” The black-clad man had an ordinary, almost ugly face—his triangular eyes were particularly unpleasant: “You came here alone?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, I’m short on silver,” the black-clad man grinned happily: “You’re eating well, dressed nicely—you must be wealthy. Could you spare a little?”

“Of course,” Li Lin replied with a bright smile: “But I have a question—what sect are you from?”

The black-clad man’s expression darkened: “What do you mean?”

“If you’re not from a major sect, borrowing silver from me will bring you bad luck.”

As Li Lin spoke, his right hand gripped one corner of the table and applied gentle pressure—the “Tiger Claw” technique snapped off the thick wooden corner.

Instantly, everyone in the hall fell silent, watching quietly.

The black-clad man stared at the broken table corner, then stood and bowed: “Young hero, I was blind to your greatness. Forgive me.”

Li Lin ignored the man and left the inn.

He had no time for the petty grudges and vendettas of the Jianghu—he needed to find Qin Donglai’s concubine, obtain the Southern Barbarian Divine Bone, and return immediately.

He was an eighth-rank official, a Horse Supervisor; these martial artists belonged to an entirely different world.

After he left, the black-clad man broke into cold sweat.

The middle-aged man said to the green-clad girl: “See? The Jianghu is dangerous. Never underestimate anyone.”

Whether the green-clad girl heard him or not, she kept staring at the direction Li Lin had left, unable to look away.

(End of Chapter)