Chapter 221: Something Is Suspicious

Li Xingzong has been imprisoned.

The deceased Lingxiao Sect disciples were collected and buried by Xiao Chunzhu.

Those who were injured were sent by him to the medical hall for treatment.

Xiao Chunzhu stood aside, watching them.

One disciple could not help but ask, "Senior Brother Xiao, why did you suddenly turn against us? Is being an official really so good that you would disregard brotherhood?"

Tears filled the eyes of all the disciples.

Xiao Chunzhu sighed, "Because this is the only path left for me to walk."

Having said this, he left.

From then on, he severed all ties with the Lingxiao Sect; there would be no possibility of reconciliation.

Li Lin learned of this matter quickly; he sat in the Military Office and summoned Xiao Chunzhu.

"I have heard of your affairs, and you have worked hard recently," Li Lin said with a smile.

Xiao Chunzhu bowed with clasped hands, "This is what a subordinate official ought to do."

"Currently, there is a vacancy for a Deputy Commander in the Prefectural Army; are you willing to go there?"

Xiao Chunzhu was overjoyed, knelt, and bowed, "This subordinate is willing."

The Deputy Commander is a nominal post with no real power.

But... it is a path to rising higher.

That is to say, Li Lin is now preparing to push him upward.

Moreover, compared to a Head Constable, the Deputy Commander is a proper official.

Ninth Rank... but still an official.

"Then take the document and report for duty."

Li Lin stamped a seal on the yellow paper, then pushed it forward.

Xiao Chunzhu stood up, excitedly clutching the document.

From then on, he held official status.

How many people desire this document, desire this seal, yet spend a lifetime unable to obtain it?

Only then did he calm down and ask, "But there are more and more martial artists in the Jianghu now; County Inspector, how do you plan to handle them? Perhaps I should go after some time..."

"No need; regarding the matter of the martial artists, I have my own methods to handle it."

Xiao Chunzhu nodded and withdrew.

Li Lin reviewed the case files in the Military Office, found nothing requiring his attention, then stood up and went to the prison.

Li Xingzong of the Lingxiao Sect, wearing tattered prisoner clothes, sat on a moldy pile of straw.

As Li Lin entered, a jailer immediately brought a clean chair and placed it before the bars.

Li Lin sat down, looking ahead.

Li Xingzong looked at Li Lin, then said, "Truly the Paper Young Master; just as rumored, you are handsome, more beautiful than a woman."

Li Lin raised his eyes and asked, "Do you wish to anger me?"

Li Xingzong said nothing.

Li Lin continued, "I read the account of your arrest by Xiao Chunzhu in the documents, and I discovered that you seem to have done so intentionally."

"I do not understand the County Inspector's meaning."

"You allowed Xiao Chunzhu to capture you on purpose."

Li Xingzong narrowed his eyes, still saying nothing.

"To what extent have the rumors about me in the Jianghu spread?"

Li Xingzong said, "They say you... used your charms to seduce that woman, took the Jade Box from her hands, then abandoned her and returned here to Yulin County yourself."

"Where did this news come from?"

Li Xingzhu shook his head, "The entire Jianghu is spreading it."

Li Lin smiled, "Actually, I can vaguely guess who it is... the Buddhist Sect."

Li Xingzong looked at Li Lin, somewhat puzzled; he did not understand how this matter had anything to do with the Buddhist Sect.

Li Lin pondered: that night, many martial artists escaped; logically, the entire Jianghu should already know the Buddhist Sect's plans by now, but judging by Li Xingzong's expression, this matter seems to have been suppressed; he actually does not know.

That is to say, someone is controlling public opinion in the Jianghu.

Impressive!

It is most likely the Buddhist Sect; they have always been quite skilled at this.

"Let us not speak of the Buddhist Sect for now," Li Lin clapped his hands and said, "Now we should discuss you, Great Hero Li, why you allowed yourself to be captured by us on purpose."

Li Xingzong said calmly, "With over a dozen archers and over a dozen government office Runners holding waist-blades, I dared not move recklessly; I was not captured on purpose."

Li Lin shook his head, "Actually, besides your Lingxiao Sect, Xiao Chunzhu captured many other martial artists and brought them in; they are just not in this prison. Your common characteristic is that you were captured very easily."

Li Xingzong's face changed slightly.

Seeing his expression, Li Lin already knew the answer.

He turned and left the prison.

This time he went straight home, then had the steward send a message for him.

By noon the next day, Li Lin hosted a banquet at the Prosperity Restaurant, inviting all the Soul Hunters in Yulin County.

Bai Zhiwei and his uncle, Ding Yingqiu, Zhao Xiaohu, Yan Han, and even He Yumao all came.

Upon seeing Li Lin, they were all very enthusiastic.

Bai Zhiwei raised his wine cup and said, "Commandant Li, this cup is a toast from this old man to you."

Having said this, he drank it in one gulp.

The others immediately followed suit, and Li Lin returned the toast to everyone with a cup.

After a few cups went down, the atmosphere grew warm and lively.

Li Lin said, "Recently, many martial artists have come to the county town; everyone is clear on this."

The group nodded.

They also knew that these people seemed to be targeting Li Lin.

Zhao Xiaohu, being young, had a face flushed red from drinking: "Lin Ge, do you want me to deal with them for you?"

This address of 'Lin Ge' made the others somewhat envious.

After all, Li Lin's current identity is County Magistrate and also Commander of the Army, already their superior officer.

Now, even Bai Zhiwei, upon meeting Li Lin, could only address him by his official title, and could not call him 'Li Xunshou' as before.

But Zhao Xiaohu could still call him 'Lin Ge', which showed that the relationship between the two was indeed good.

Ding Yingqiu looked at Zhao Xiaohu with full joy.

Li Lin shook his head and said, "These martial artists are currently obedient and dare not act rashly. But I feel there is something wrong behind them."

Everyone was curious.

Li Lin continued, "This time I asked everyone here to help me investigate the surroundings of Yulin County, to see if there are anything unusual, for instance, if someone has set up 'bases' in certain places outside the city."

"There are Desolate Abominations outside; how can they set up bases?" Zhao Xiaohu was somewhat confused.

Li Lin said, "Taowu Zhenjun are not completely under the control of the government; things like altars are at least controlled by three or five factions."

Ding Yingqiu understood Li Lin's meaning; she said, "Good, I will investigate outside with Xiaohu for a few days. If we find anything, I will tell you."

The others made the same declaration.

Li Lin clasped his fists and said gratefully, "Whether we find them or not, I owe everyone a favor; in the future, if you have any matters, just come to me."

Hearing these words, everyone laughed.

A favor from a superior officer; who wouldn't want to get their hands on it?

Afterwards, everyone ate and drank.

Especially Zhao Xiaohu, who ate the most; nearly one-third of the wine and dishes went into his stomach.

Ding Yingqiu, sitting nearby like an older sister, advised him not to eat so much, as it might upset his stomach.

Zhao Xiaohu immediately stopped drinking.

Watching the two of them 'show off their love' here, Li Lin thought of something and asked, "Ding Xunshou, when will you and Xiaohu get married?"

Upon these words, everyone's gaze shifted to the two of them.

Ding Yingqiu was extremely shy, lowering her head and saying nothing.

Zhao Xiaohu was also shy, but he still scratched the back of his head and smiled, "Soon. After spring, we will pick a festival to hold a banquet; at that time, we will notify everyone."

The group repeatedly clasped their hands to offer congratulations.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they dispersed.

Li Lin returned home, only to see a familiar person standing at the entrance.

It was Wang Tianyou, Young Master Wang.

(End of this chapter)