Chapter 220: Grace of the Sect

Zhou Qingqing settled down in Yulin County, where she had a small courtyard.

She possessed quite a few silver notes herself; let alone raising a child, if she spent frugally, her food, clothing, and daily expenses would never run out for a lifetime.

Moreover, when she moved in, Li Lin had personally escorted her there.

Therefore... within Yulin County, for the time being, no one would dare to provoke her.

But this also brought up a small problem.

When Li Lin finished everything and returned home, he saw Huang Qi with red eyes.

"Husband, if you wish to take a concubine, as the principal wife, I will naturally agree; you need not keep her outside. I am not the kind of jealous woman who would do anything to her."

Li Lin immediately realized Huang Qi had misunderstood.

He hurriedly explained the situation once more.

Only then did Huang Qi weep from sheer joy.

Hong Luan was also nearby, wiping away tears.

The two had truly been worried that Li Lin was keeping a woman outside.

At this moment, Li Yanjing spoke from the side: "I said last night this matter was impossible; if the Young Master wanted to, he would have already carried me to bed, so how could it come to some wanton woman from outside?"

Yet as soon as Li Yanjing finished speaking, Li Lin chased her out.

Next came the time for intimacy between him and his two women.

By the next day, the two women, radiant and cheerful, prepared breakfast for Li Lin.

Meanwhile, Li Lin sat in the study, placing the Southern Barbarian Divine Bone and the Jade Sword together.

His original intention was to keep these two items together for easy access.

But he did not expect that as soon as the Southern Barbarian Divine Bone was placed beside the Immortal Jade Sword, it burst forth with brilliant light, and finally transformed into a streak of flowing light, sinking into the Immortal Jade Sword.

After the brief radiance, the Immortal Jade Sword appeared slightly more solid.

This Immortal Jade Sword... can it 'consume' things related to Immortals and Gods?

Li Lin picked up the Immortal Jade Sword; it seemed to have become slightly more moist and warm, yet when he infused spiritual energy into it, there was still no reaction.

All in all, it was because he was not powerful enough yet.

In the following days, Li Lin lived a life much the same as before.

Work, cultivation, and dual cultivation with his two women.

Occasionally, the Tree Immortal Lady would appear in the backyard, catch sight of Li Lin, say nothing, simply look at him, and then vanish again.

Overall, life was quite comfortable.

Until the day of the Winter Solstice.

Although it was the Winter Solstice, Yulin County was not particularly cold; after all, being located in the Southern Frontier, even in autumn the temperature was pleasant, requiring only an extra coat.

And on this day, many martial artists from the Jianghu arrived in Yulin County.

Generally speaking, there were not many martial artists in the Southern Frontier, for the Central Plains region was the main stage for martial artists.

After all, that place was as prosperous as brocade, and opportunities were somewhat greater.

Xiao Chunzhu arrived at a certain inn, with more than thirty government office Runners following behind him, ten of whom were archers.

He sat on a chair, looked at the middle-aged man before him, clasped his fists, and said: "Elder Uncle Li, it has been several months since we last met; it seems your health is still quite good."

The middle-aged man with a long beard opposite him, dressed in a pale gray robe with a green sash tied at the waist, snorted: "I dare not... what if Captain Xiao takes a dislike to me again and smashes my head to pieces!"

Xiao Chunzhu knew the sarcasm in the other's tone; he sighed and said: "Elder Uncle, you should have heard from the junior brothers; I was forced to do that."

This man was the Law Enforcement Elder of the Lingxiao Sect, Li Xingzong.

"Good! Even if you were forced, to protect the other junior brothers, you took the initiative to kill the youngest junior brother." Li Xingzong said with a gloomy face: "But you actually defected to Li Lin, that dog official... he is the enemy of your youngest junior brother."

Xiao Chunzhu took a deep breath: "Elder Uncle, I believe the junior brothers should have told you; the situation at that time was not the fault of County Magistrate Li, but rather the youngest junior brother was too aggressive."

"Even so, it was understandable." Li Xingzong snorted: "Why did that dog official not yield a step!"

"County Magistrate Li is an official, and the junior brother is a commoner. Where is the rule of an official avoiding a commoner..."

Li Xingzong chuckled coldly: "Indeed, there has never been a saying of an official avoiding a commoner, but at that time, you all rushed forward; you could have very well captured that county magistrate."

"And then?" Xiao Chunzhu looked at his elder uncle with an expression of disbelief: "Would the Lingxiao Sect be surrounded by the imperial court's army next?"

"It is not as if no one has ever killed a county official..."

"Those were all lone wanderers!" Xiao Chunzhu shouted angrily: "They killed someone and could naturally just leave, hiding in the deep mountains, making them hard to catch. But our Lingxiao Sect is a large family with great assets; could we do such a thing? Do none of us want to live?"

Li Xingzong snorted and said nothing.

Xiao Chunzhu continued: "Elder Uncle, the youngest junior brother's character is truly unacceptable; sooner or later, he will bring disaster upon our Lingxiao Sect."

"That is not something for you to consider."

Xiao Chunzhu sighed, then asked: "Elder Uncle, what is the purpose of your coming here?"

"Is it not allowed to come here for pleasure?"

Xiao Chunzhu's brows knitted even deeper: "Elder Uncle, let us speak plainly; if you are here for the exquisite jade box, forget it."

Now it was Li Xingzong's turn to frown; he asked: "Is that County Magistrate Li, the rumored Young Master of Paper, very difficult to deal with?"

"It is not just difficult; the entire Lingxiao Sect cannot stand against him."

Xiao Chunzhu knew that Li Lin had two Taowu Zhenjun serving him.

One was in the Taowu Zhenjun Temple, and the other was in the backyard.

Ordinary martial artists could almost never be a match for a Taowu Zhenjun.

Unless one was of the Fifth Rank or higher.

But... Elder Uncle Li was only a Sixth Rank martial artist.

"If you were to act as an inside ally..."

Hearing these words, Xiao Chunzhu's face suddenly turned cold; he shouted loudly: "You actually dare to plot against an official of the imperial court... Guards, arrest the assassin!"

He shouted while retreating sharply backward.

Although Li Xingzong possessed deeper cultivation, the suddenness caught him off guard; Xiao Chunzhu was already at the doorway before Li Xingzong reacted.

An assassin?

Immediately after, Li Xingzong roared: "Disciples of the Lingxiao Sect, obey my order—slay the traitorous disciple Xiao Chunzhu!"

Yet the moment his words fell, a volley of arrows flew in.

Li Xingzong, with his profound cultivation, deflected every arrow aimed at him.

But the several disciples around him were not so fortunate; they were all struck by arrows.

Three died on the spot, while the others lay on the ground, groaning in pain.

At that moment, Li Xingzong looked at Xiao Chunzhu in disbelief: "You actually... set an ambush long ago!"

Xiao Chunzhu gazed coldly at the other: "Junior Uncle... no, I am no longer a disciple of the Lingxiao Sect. Li Xingzong, regardless of your identity, trying to bribe me into assassinating County Inspector Li is impossible."

"You!" Li Xingzong was extremely furious, yet dared not move recklessly.

Xiao Chunzhu waved his hand; more than a dozen Constables rushed in, followed behind by over a dozen archers.

"Surrender obediently and await the County Inspector's judgment."

Li Xingzong looked outside, then at the few disciples beside him still wailing, and said, "Very well, I am willing to surrender unconditionally, but you must first treat several of my senior and junior brothers."

Xiao Chunzhu nodded: "I share a brotherly bond with them; naturally, I will not harm them."

Li Xingzong sighed and slowly sat down.

Yet the look in his eyes as he gazed at Xiao Chunzhu had already become as thin as water.

Even hatred was gone.

(End of this chapter)