Chapter 21: Unbecoming of Propriety

The possessed female wraith barely dodged the Tree Immortal Lady’s attack and sneered, “I guessed right, didn’t I…”

Then she fell silent.

Because a long spear appeared from a bizarre angle, stabbing directly into the left side of the female wraith’s body.

The possessed female wraith reacted swiftly—she barely evaded the strike, turned her head, and realized Li Lin had already appeared to her left.

When had he gotten there?

The possessed female wraith found it unbelievable.

At that moment, Li Lin’s attack had just missed, and the Tree Immortal Lady’s tail whip struck again—perfect timing.

This time, the possessed female wraith could not dodge; she was struck straight by the serpent tail and flung far away, her body nearly broken.

But the woman was still alive; she opened her black eyes and spat, “You coordinated so well, I had no chance to counter. Liu Zhe, is this pretty boy your male pet?”

The Gowned Apparition’s eyes blazed with fury; her long tail rose high, ready to strike down.

“Wait!” Li Lin shouted.

And the Tree Immortal Lady truly halted her tail.

“Thank you, Lady,” Li Lin bowed.

Then he turned to the immobilized possessed female wraith: “You came for me, didn’t you?”

“Make a deal with me, and I’ll tell you,” the wraith sneered.

Li Lin frowned.

“I am a wraith myself—I fear no death. I can abandon this body anytime,” the wraith continued.

Li Lin took a deep breath: “What deal?”

“I want blood qi too!” The wraith struggled to extend a hand, pointing at the Tree Immortal Lady: “Just as potent as hers.”

Before Li Lin could speak, a thunderous crash rang out.

The massive serpent tail came crashing down, reducing the possessed female wraith to pulp.

A thick cloud of black mist dispersed, drifting far away.

Freed from the human vessel, the wraith grew stronger.

But it still feared the blazing sun, dared not linger, and fled.

Li Lin had no power to stop it; he could only watch the black mist vanish.

Yet he could see that, after her body was shattered by the Tree Immortal Lady, the wraith’s condition was poor—she wobbled as she drifted away.

The Tree Immortal Lady had wanted to pursue, but she glanced at the scorching sun overhead, snorted in frustration, stared at the direction where the black mist disappeared, then turned and left.

Li Lin watched her back and smiled: “So your name is Liu Zhe.”

His voice was loud enough—he didn’t know if the Tree Immortal Lady heard, but her pace quickened, and her grace vanished.

He stood there awhile, staring at the corpses, pondering how to wrap things up, when he heard sobs from afar.

An old man ran over from a distance; he saw his son and grandson, and the blood-and-mud-stained clothes of his daughter-in-law.

He staggered, then his eyes turned bloodshot as he charged toward Li Lin.

He ran slowly; halfway there, a staff struck his head, and he collapsed unconscious.

The one who struck was Uncle Zhao.

A group of villagers followed behind him.

“Young Master Li, we’ll handle the Han family’s funeral rites,” Uncle Zhao glanced coldly at the old man on the ground: “Don’t worry—our Shangtikou Village is quite skilled at sending people off. We’ll make sure they’re all together, whole and complete.”

To bring a wraith into the village—had it not been for Patrolmaster Li, the consequences would be unthinkable.

The entire village now hated the Han family.

Li Lin smiled: “Thank you for the trouble.”

Then he returned to his new home, rested for a while, gathered some silver notes, and prepared to travel to the county seat.

The Han family affair clearly originated from people in Feirong County—somehow colluding with wraiths and extending their hands into Yulin County.

He must report this, and it’s also his own form of protection.

He wasn’t foolish enough to face a powerful enemy alone.

At this moment, securing a strong ally was the wisest move.

Li Lin reached the village gate and saw Zhao Xiaohu.

The boy asked nervously: “Brother Lin, when you go to the county seat, will you come back?”

“Of course I’ll return. I’m just reporting this matter—I’ll be back by tomorrow.”

Zhao Xiaohu exhaled in relief, then hesitated and asked: “Actually… Xiuniang’s death is connected to the Han family, to the wraiths, and to Feirong County, isn’t it?”

Li Lin was surprised: “You figured it out?”

“Big Brother said so!” Zhao Xiaohu’s large, round eyes glistened with tears: “Xiuniang was so kind—she’d already left her old family behind. If no one had tempted her, she’d never have become like that. Only a wraith could do such a thing.”

Though Uncle Zhao looked like a rugged brute, Li Lin knew the man was actually very perceptive.

Half a year ago, Li Lin had mysteriously appeared in Shangtikou Village, unconscious, wearing strange clothes; the other villagers thought he was a wraith and wanted to bury him alive.

Only Uncle Zhao, bold and observant, believed Li Lin wasn’t a wraith—he revived him, gave him food, added furniture to his room, and helped him survive.

He even took Li Lin to the county seat to broaden his horizons—and that’s how the new Spirit Hunter, Li Lin, came to be.

Li Lin patted Xiaohu’s shoulder: “I’m going to the county seat precisely for this. Don’t worry—Xiuniang’s injustice will be avenged.”

“But I want to seek revenge myself,” Zhao Xiaohu looked at Li Lin with hope: “Brother Lin, can you teach me spear techniques? Can you make me a Spirit Hunter?”

“You’re too weak now. Wait until you’ve regained your strength, alright?”

Zhao Xiaohu nodded firmly.

More than half an hour later, Li Lin arrived at the county government office.

The gate guard was surprised: “Master Li, it’s not time for your grain ration yet—why are you here?”

Usually, Li Lin only appeared at the county office when collecting his grain ration.

Most Spirit Hunters were the same.

“Is the County Magistrate inside?”

“The Magistrate is on leave today.”

Li Lin thanked the guard and went to the nearby Huang residence.

The Huang household servants recognized Li Lin’s face and immediately reported to County Magistrate Huang Yan.

Huang Yan received Li Lin in his study.

Normally, if an elder or superior receives you in his study, it means he holds you in high regard.

After all, a study is a private space—even wife and children aren’t allowed to enter casually.

“Patrolmaster Li, your expression is grave—surely something major has happened. Speak plainly.”

Li Lin exhaled, then recounted everything that had occurred, including his suspicions and deductions, without omission.

Of course, he concealed the matter of the Tudimiao.

Huang Yan slammed his hand on the desk: “Hmph! Qin Jiqing has lost his mind—actually colluding with wraiths!”

Actually colluding with wraiths?

Li Lin was startled—so this side already knew about Feirong County’s affairs?

And the county magistrate there was surnamed ‘Qin’?

He remembered—the wraith who cast the ‘Wangliang Tai Cang Secret Rite’ on Xiuniang the night she died was also surnamed ‘Qin’.

Could that wraith… have been bred by the Qin family?

Was Xiuniang helping them birth wraiths?

Li Lin felt a chill crawl up his spine.

How vile and despicable must one be to commit such an act?

At that moment, Huang Yan suddenly said: “Patrolmaster Li, you rushed here from the countryside to report this—no doubt you’re weary and hungry. Rest briefly in the back courtyard; I’ve already sent someone to summon Qi’er. He planned to visit you in the village these past two days, but you came first—this must be fate.”

Li Lin felt the man’s smile seemed overly amiable.

He bowed in thanks and went to the back courtyard.

After waiting a while, he didn’t wait for Huang Qi—he waited for a pair of sisters.

One was a petite, beautiful young maiden; the other, a tall woman… no, she was Hu Ji.

This violates propriety—without elders or family present, it’s not your place as two virtuous maidens to entertain a guest.

(End of Chapter)