Chapter 206: Idle Persons, Step Aside

Ji Feng changed his clothes and returned to the inn.

At this time, there were not many people in the hall, only a few fellow practitioners of the Wu Lin, waiting for news.

Ji Feng went upstairs, arrived before his guest room, knocked on the door—a short, a long, three beats—then spoke softly: "It's me, open the door."

The door opened; it was his wife.

The middle-aged woman saw her husband's face, her expression immediately turned serious; after pulling him inside, she slowly closed the door.

Then she supported her husband's arm and sat down on a chair in the inner room.

At this moment, Ji Feng's expression finally turned painful.

He unbuttoned his clothes, looking at his left chest; there was a blood-colored wound, through which a beating heart could be vaguely seen.

"How did you get injured like this?" Seeing this wound, the middle-aged woman was greatly shocked: "Who did this!"

With an injury like this, if just a tiny bit more force had been applied, someone would have died.

"The opponent ambushed me; I didn't see them, but I suspect it must have been that young hero Li."

The middle-aged woman took a white porcelain bottle from her clothes, removed the stopper, and poured yellow powder onto the wound, asking at the same time: "Did he use a spear?"

"Yes!" Ji Feng nodded.

"How were you injured?" Seeing the wound medicine take effect, the middle-aged woman sighed with relief and said: "Although our Qingcheng Sect's sword techniques do not emphasize offense, in terms of defense, very few can compare with our sect; logically, even if you were injured, it should not be like this."

Ji Feng smiled bitterly: "When I reached that small courtyard, I found nothing unusual, so I went up to the roof, crouched down, and tried to lift a tile to see the situation inside the house; just as I bent my waist, that long spear thrust out. If I hadn't dodged quickly, I would have been pierced through the heart by a single spear thrust. Even now, I don't understand how he 'saw' me."

"Could it be that person named Li has extremely keen hearing?"

"That is also possible."

The middle-aged woman sighed: "It seems this thing this time will not be easy to seize. Not to mention that inexplicably appearing young hero Li, who already possesses such strength. Moreover, even if we seize it, we may not be able to escape; now almost all sects in Jiangnan have sent people here. By then, the whole world will be our enemy."

Ji Feng thought for a while, then said: "How about... we form an alliance with someone?"

"Alliance with whom?" The middle-aged woman wore a mocking expression on her face: "In this world, besides family, who can be trusted!"

Ji Feng thought for a while, then said: "The Tianyi Gate has also sent people; during the day, I saw An Xin!"

"The Tianyi Gate... has a good reputation, and they also have a connection with our Qingcheng Sect; indeed, they are quite suitable."

Ji Feng smiled: "Tomorrow I will go find them."

"But the Linglong Jade Box is only one; how will we divide it afterward!"

"Once we get it, cut it into two pieces and split it equally!"

The middle-aged woman sighed: "But I always feel things will not go this smoothly."

Ji Feng smiled: "One must try everything."

With this smile, he felt a pain in his chest and instinctively covered it.

"Then let's do as you say."

Li Lin put the Southern Barbarian Divine Bone back into the box.

At this time, the spiritual energy within his body had almost fully recovered.

It took only about one shichen.

Then he continued making paper figures.

One by one, the paper figures were made and then placed aside.

At the same time, paper-crafted sedan chairs, horses, and so on were also made, with a speed much faster than before.

Zhou Qingqing watched from the side; finally, she could not help but ask: "Relying on these paper figures, can we escape Yue Commandery?"

"Yes!"

"Although the paper figures are frightening, they cannot frighten so many people of the Jianghu, can they?"

"You will know when the time comes."

Zhou Qingqing nodded, then went to the side to continue working.

She understood that since she could not help with the main task, she should do some miscellaneous work to lighten Li Lin's burden.

Time quickly reached evening.

Li Lin finished the last soul-guiding paper figure, then painted it in the likeness of the Tree Immortal Lady.

He then counted the number of these paper figures and nodded in satisfaction.

The paper figures occupied little space; although there were over a hundred paper figures, the room could still hold them.

Li Lin waved his hand and said: "Prepare rations tonight, then rest well; at dawn tomorrow, we will set out."

"Good!" Zhou Qingqing looked at the room full of paper figures; although she seemed somewhat fearful, she was also reassured.

"By the way, when do the city gates of Yuecheng open in the morning?"

"When the sky is slightly bright."

"That is perfect." Li Lin nodded: "Go to sleep early."

Li Ba, Li Lin took the Five-Colored Divine Bone from the box, returned to his own room, and sat cross-legged to cultivate.

Zhou Qingqing began to pack things.

She prepared some rations and dried meat, took some silver notes and a few sets of clothes, then lay down to sleep with her clothes on.

At this moment, she felt a bit nervous and also very expectant.

She felt a thrill of escaping a cage.

She kept her eyes open, letting her mind wander for a long time before falling asleep.

When dawn came and the rooster outside crowed, she woke up immediately.

She got up at once, shook her son Xiaohua awake, picked up the bundle, took her son by the hand, and came to the main hall.

At this time, Li Lin was already standing there.

He turned back, saw Zhou Qingqing dressed very modestly, and said, "Do you have any splendid robes? The more gorgeous, the better."

Zhou Qingqing thought for a moment, immediately went back into her room, and not long after, came out wearing a splendid robe, with three golden dangling hairpins in her hair, the fragmented gold swaying; she looked at once like a noble lady.

Li Lin nodded, then took out a yellow talisman paper and lit it.

Green smoke filled the entire house; the paper figures around it, upon contacting this green smoke, instantly 'came to life.'

They transformed from paper figures into 'living people,' looking no different from ordinary humans: some carried placards, some served as government office Runners acting as guards, and there were several maids; altogether more than a hundred, they walked out of the room.

Next, the sedan chair was lifted by them, and the horses were led out by these paper figures.

Zhou Qingqing stared in shock at everything around her, unable to come to her senses for a long time.

The little boy, however, was quite excited, felt no fear, followed the paper figures looking left and right, laughing heartily, dancing with joy.

Li Lin watched the talisman paper burn to ash and said, "Alright, go out now."

"Are you an immortal?" Zhou Qingqing looked at Li Lin.

"Just an ordinary man, that's all."

Zhou Qingqing looked at Li Lin's handsome face and sighed, "I suppose an immortal should look like a wealthy gentleman."

Having said that, she dared not look at Li Lin's face again, fearing that if she looked a few more times, she would sink into it.

She stepped outside the door and saw a hundred-person formation appear beyond the courtyard.

A maid approached, vaguely hearing 'them' say, "Master, Lady, Young Master, please board the sedan."

Zhou Qingqing hesitated a bit; at this moment, Li Lin walked over first, stepped onto the eight-bearer sedan chair, and then waved at her from there.

She bit her pink lips, took her son's hand, and boarded the sedan as well.

She knew this was a paper sedan, but once seated in it, the sedan felt as real as any actual one.

Afterwards, the paper figure sedan bearers lifted the sedan.

Next, the gong beaters struck the bronze gongs.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"A noble person travels; commoners, step aside!"

The sound spread throughout the entire street.

(End of this chapter)