Chapter 204: And Now There

Qingcheng Sect, Ji Feng.

He sat in the inn’s main hall, drinking well water.

Two days ago, he drank fine wine; now, he could only drink well water.

No choice—he was running low on silver, so he had to cut expenses.

He brought over twenty disciples to track down news of the Linglong Jade Box; more people meant better chances of finding leads, but the downside was the soaring expenses.

Across from him sat his wife and his daughter.

His wife’s expression remained as distant as ever, but his daughter sat motionless, eyes fixed on some distant point, not moving for half an hour.

As someone who had been there, he knew full well: his daughter was thinking of a man.

Men think of women, and women think of men too.

He even knew which man she had taken to—the young lord with the impressive claw technique.

That air of refinement could not be cultivated by an ordinary family.

He was handsome enough; it was no surprise his daughter had taken notice.

Soon, a young man entered the inn and approached him, clasping fists: “Master, the young lord you had me follow bought a small detached house in the western part of town.”

“So rich?”

“The clothes he wore alone would cover our twenty-odd people’s expenses for a month,” the middle-aged woman said slowly. “Made entirely of Shu brocade. Buying a small house is nothing.”

Ji Feng sighed, deeply envious.

Qingcheng Sect was a major sect, but even among major sects, there were vast differences.

Qingcheng Sect had its own lands and tenants, but its income paled in comparison to Tianyi Sect’s.

At that moment, the young girl leaned over, sounding displeased: “That young lord didn’t provoke us—why are you sending people to spy on him?”

Ji Feng said: “He hasn’t provoked us, but he might be connected to the Linglong Jade Box.”

“You just said yesterday he wasn’t here for the Linglong Jade Box,” the green-clad girl protested.

“I was bluffing,” Ji Feng whispered. “But something about that young lord feels off—I can’t put my finger on it, so I had someone keep watch.”

The middle-aged woman nodded gently; she supported her husband’s decision.

The green-clad girl, however, looked displeased but said nothing more.

Then another disciple returned: “Master, that young lord bought a huge amount of cinnabar, inkstones, and yellow paper to take home—no one knows why!”

The middle-aged woman frowned: “Is he opening a funeral goods shop?”

“Sounds like paper effigy craft,” Ji Feng said, his expression odd.

The middle-aged woman said: “I don’t think so. A wealthy young master like him wouldn’t waste time learning paper effigy craft—it’s said to shorten one’s lifespan.”

“Who knows?” Ji Feng stood up. “I’ll go speak to him myself.”

At this moment, Li Lin sat in his room, facing Zhou Qingqing and the little boy.

“Stay here for now. Those martial artists have already begun searching the slums—they’ll find you eventually.”

The hidden paper figures in the slums had noticed increasing numbers of martial artists wandering the area.

Li Lin concluded the martial artists were conducting a systematic sweep.

Though it sounded foolish and exhausting, such a method was highly effective if enough manpower was available.

Zhou Qingqing said nothing, only nodded.

“There are three small rooms here. You’ll take the middle one.”

“I leave everything to your lordship’s arrangement.”

Li Lin smiled, glancing at the small box she held in her arms.

He knew the Southern Barbarian deity’s bone was inside—he had already sensed the faint spiritual energy seeping from it.

Now that he practiced Foundation Establishment, he recognized that spiritual energy’s distinct “taste.”

Zhou Qingqing looked around and saw many yellow papers, and over a dozen paper figures standing still in the room.

“Lord, is this paper effigy craft?”

“Yes.”

Zhou Qingqing recalled the lively paper figures she had seen earlier and asked: “Can these paper figures protect us?”

“You could say that.”

Zhou Qingqing immediately relaxed: “Thank you, Lord, for your care. If you need anything from me, please command me freely.”

“Good,” Li Lin nodded.

Then Zhou Qingqing led Xiao Hua into the middle room and shoved the small box under the bed.

She knew deep down that Li Lin was aware she carried the “treasure,” yet he asked no questions and didn’t trouble her—this made her feel safe.

She thought: What can I do now?

So she changed clothes, fetched two buckets of water from the courtyard, washed the boy clean in her room, then sent him outside and shut the door to bathe herself.

She had played the ugly hag for over a month—she was tired of it.

Xiao Hua was sent out and wandered to the main hall, where he saw Li Lin intently cutting paper figures. He dared not disturb him, so he went into the courtyard and played with the paper figures, hiding and seeking.

The paper figures cooperated well; Xiao Hua laughed joyfully.

But soon, he froze, his laughter cutting off.

Outside the courtyard stood a clearly “fierce” uncle, watching him.

And watching the paper figures.

The man was Ji Feng. He stared at the pink-purple paper figures, seeing them play happily with the child, and frowned.

Paper effigy craft was well-known in the martial world.

Not only did Daoist priests from the Southern Frontier know this art, but some Daoists and spirit hunters in the Central Plains did too.

It was especially effective for reconnaissance—some special paper figures could even transform into “evil spirits,” draining souls and vital energy.

“Young fellow, who taught you to fold these paper figures?” Ji Feng asked gently.

Xiao Hua, already terrified, burst into tears at being spoken to and ran into the room.

The paper figures followed him inside.

Ji Feng felt awkward.

But soon, Li Lin stepped out.

He clasped fists and said: “If it isn’t Master Ji! What brings you here?”

“Just passing by. Saw a child playing happily with paper figures, so I stopped to admire them. Are these your creations, young master?”

“Yes.”

Ji Feng narrowed his eyes slightly: “I didn’t expect you to know paper effigy craft.”

“Only a little,” Li Lin smiled. “These are turbulent times—paper figures help with self-defense.”

Ji Feng nodded. Paper figures did offer protection.

Most martial artists avoided confronting someone who controlled moving paper figures.

This slightly “uncanny” art was feared by nearly everyone.

Li Lin smiled and asked: “Master Ji, won’t you come in and sit?”

“No need,” Ji Feng waved him off. “I’m just passing through—have other matters to attend to. We’ll talk more about martial world affairs another day.”

“Don’t see me off,” Li Lin said with a clasped-fist smile.

“Too kind,” Ji Feng bowed slightly and left.

Yet his brow furrowed in confusion… Li Lin had bought a house right away, and now there was a child in his home—what was going on?

(End of Chapter)