Chapter 33: The Demon-Extermination Bureau Arrives

Li Lin was very open to advice; when Bai Liwei told him not to go to the county town recently, he simply didn't go.

Since the household supplies were sufficient, he stayed quietly in the village.

He had killed two men in black robes and seized two Ghost-Hiding Robes, but he told no one about it; only the Tree Immortal Lady likely knew.

So during this period, he had been practicing martial arts and cultivating.

Although he had not yet found any spell techniques, he would practice the Nourishing Yin Method for now; opportunities are always reserved for the prepared, and by the time he obtained spell techniques, it might already be too late to cultivate the Nourishing Yin Method.

Additionally, his Bai Hu Turnover Frame fist technique had reached its peak; mere practice no longer increased its 'familiarity'.

However, while practicing this set of fist techniques, the effect of 【Fist Technique +1】 still occurred.

In other words, Li Lin had become sufficiently proficient in the Bai Hu Turnover Frame fist technique, yet he could still refine his fist techniques further.

So he continued practicing.

As for the Yu Family Spear Method, it could only be said that, true to its nature as a combat spear technique, although its name was modest, it was indeed formidable.

Even now, when practicing the Yu Family Spear Method, the prompts 【Yu Family Spear Method +】 and 【Spear Technique +1】 still appeared frequently.

Incidentally, Zhao Xiaohu's blood qi recovery speed was indeed unique; after eating blood rice for only a few days, his body had not only fully recovered but had even begun to exhibit an overflow of blood qi.

This might be related to his special background.

So Li Lin taught him the Spring-Returning Health Preservation Art.

However, the effect was merely average.

The Spring-Returning Health Preservation Art had a very significant effect on Li Lin; the speed at which he refined blood rice was incredibly fast.

But with Zhao Xiaohu... it could not be said to have no effect, only that it was slower.

Slow was fine; it was better than having no effect at all.

He would just grind it away with time; after all, Li Lin had known Xiaohu's aptitude from the very beginning.

After staying at home for another four days, a total of twelve days had passed, and the Qixi Festival was approaching, so Li Lin prepared to go to the county town.

First, to scout the situation in the county town; if the Qin family's power had been driven back by the Wang, Ding, and Huang families, then Li Lin would take Zhao Xiaohu to the government office to register as a Spirit Hunter next time.

Second... he needed to buy some daily necessities for himself, and also purchase a few red hairpins for the Tree Immortal Lady.

He picked up his red-tasseled spear and, for good measure, tucked a small bottle of Life-Generating Pills into his pocket; in case of an emergency, these might still come in handy.

Better safe than sorry.

After finishing all this, he set off.

Zhao Xiaohu watched Li Lin leave from the village entrance with longing; as a youth, he also wanted to go play in the lively places, but since Li Lin did not take him, he had no choice.

Half an hour later, Li Lin arrived at the county town.

Holding a red-tasseled spear in his hand, he possessed considerable deterrent power, and no one dared to approach him too closely along the way.

Upon entering the county town, he headed straight for the government office.

Then, at the entrance, he began chatting with the government office Runners.

He got along quite well with the people here.

"I heard that people from another county recently came here to cause trouble?" Li Lin asked.

The government office Runner said very proudly: "They were from Feirong County, and they even brought some Constables, but the County Magistrate saw through them long ago, ambushed fifty archers and one hundred blade-wielding soldiers around the government office in advance, and captured them all directly."

Li Lin felt somewhat impressed; our County Magistrate is quite formidable.

"And then?"

The County Magistrate of Feirong County personally came to retrieve the prisoners and offered many gifts before he was allowed to take half of them away.

"Only half were taken away?"

"Yes, several are still locked up in the prison, and two have been beheaded."

Wow!

Magistrate Huang is even more formidable than imagined.

It seems I brought this red-tasseled spear for nothing!

Just as he was about to leave to buy some supplies at the market, someone called out to him.

"Brother Kunge, you have finally arrived."

Li Lin turned around and found it was Huang Qi.

"Brother Zi Jing." Li Lin said with a bowing smile.

"You have arrived at the perfect time!" Huang Qi, upon arriving, grabbed Li Lin's sleeve and pulled him toward the courtroom: "I will introduce you to someone."

Hmm?

Li Lin paused, asking: "Has someone from the Demon-Extermination Bureau arrived?"

"Your guess is spot on."

Huang Qi pulled Li Lin into the courtroom, where they saw several people standing inside.

Magistrate Huang Yan sat on the official seat, chatting with those below; seeing Li Lin enter, he smiled and said: "Li Xunshou, you have also arrived at the perfect time; these colleagues from the Demon-Extermination Bureau wish to ask you for details regarding the Bobai Town incident."

"Magistrate." Li Lin first placed his red-tasseled spear in the corner, then walked over, clasped his fists, and addressed him.

Finally, he surveyed the crowd around him.

The personnel of the Demon-Extermination Bureau looked no different from normal people, and their clothing was mostly casual attire.

If one had to point out any difference, it was that they all appeared somewhat unsmiling.

To put it more bluntly, they all wore expressions as if everyone owed them money.

However, one person among them, judging by his gaze, seemed quite enthusiastic.

A middle-aged man with a square face walked up to Li Lin, clasped his fists, and said: "I am Zhang Minsheng, a Deputy Commander of the Army and Cavalry under the Funan Military Governor of the Demon-Extermination Bureau."

"Greetings, Commander." Li Lin clasped his fists.

The other party held a military position, while Li Lin was subject to the civil official system; therefore, this man was not technically his superior, so a polite greeting was sufficient, and no formal bowing was required.

"You are one of the six who came back alive from Bobai Town?"

"Yes!"

"I've already read the official report on the specifics, but there are two points I still don't understand and need you to answer."

Li Lin nodded: "Captain Zhang, please go ahead."

"You saw the altar shatter, but did you see Zhenjun wandering within the fortress?"

Li Lin shook his head.

Zhang Minsheng's features were relatively mature, and relatively dark, giving him quite the imposing air of a martial general.

Then he narrowed his eyes and asked, "When you left the fortress, it was evening, and you saw the fortress shrouded in black Qi?"

"Yes!"

"Could it have been an illusion?"

"Everyone saw it, but we can't vouch for its truth or falsehood. Among our Spirit Hunters at the time, there wasn't anyone skilled in soul techniques. And the one who said that black fog was a miasma of resentful Qi was Xu Saifeng — he's a traitor, so his words can't really be trusted."

Zhang Minsheng nodded: "Thank you, Li Xunshou. I'm done with my questions."

Having said that, he stepped aside, then said respectfully: "Magistrate Huang, my men and I will rest up at the official post station for two days before setting out for Bobai Town. Also, I hope to requisition every Spirit Hunter in Yulin County to accompany us."

Huang Yan thought for a moment, then said: "This county only has seven Spirit Hunters left now."

"That's enough."

"Very well, this official grants your request." Huang Yan said slowly: "But you must give this official your word that you absolutely will not send them to their deaths."

"I will treat them all equally."

Huang Yan nodded: "You should also be aware of this official's standing. Even in Jingcheng, my Huang family carries some weight."

Zhang Minsheng cupped his fist in salute, indicating he had taken those words to heart.

"If the official business is done." A burly man in his prime stepped out from inside, looking to be just past thirty. He looked at Li Lin and said: "I see this young friend Li's eyes hold a hidden divine light, and he's come carrying a long spear — he must be a spear arts expert. Could you give us a demonstration!"

Li Lin's gaze swept over, his expression slightly puzzled.

The man met Li Lin's eyes with a gentle look.

"Give them a demonstration." Huang Qi walked over and said quietly.

Li Lin understood.

He walked to the corner, picked up a red-tasseled spear, and began to brandish it on the spot.

As the saying goes, the expert sees the trick within. Li Lin's long spear merely thrust out in a simple line, then trembled twice — and the expressions of the dozen or so people opposite him all shifted.

"The Yu family's spear art… and it seems there's even some spear intent woven in." Zhang Minsheng was somewhat astonished.

(End of chapter)