Chapter 33: The Demon Extermination Bureau Arrives

Li Lin was easy to persuade; when Bai Liwei told him not to go to the county town recently, he stayed put.

His home supplies were sufficient, so he remained quietly in the village.

He had killed two black-clad men and seized two Veil-Devil garments, but told no one—likely only the Tree Immortal Lady knew.

Thus, during this time, he trained in martial arts and cultivation.

Although he had not yet found any spellcraft, he continued practicing the Yin-Nourishing Scripture; opportunity favors the prepared, and if he waited until acquiring spellcraft to begin training the Yin-Nourishing Scripture, it might already be too late.

Moreover, his White Tiger Rolling Frame fist technique had reached its peak—mere practice no longer increased its “familiarity.”

Yet, each time he practiced this fist technique, he still received the effect: [Fist Technique +1].

That meant he had already mastered the White Tiger Rolling Frame, yet his skill in it could still improve.

So he kept practicing.

As for the Yu Family Spear Technique, it was no surprise it was a practical spear art—though its name was humble, it was truly powerful.

Even now, whenever he practiced the Yu Family Spear Technique, he still frequently received prompts: [Yu Family Spear Technique +] and [Spear Skill +1].

Additionally, Zhao Xiaohu’s blood qi recovery rate was indeed extraordinary; after eating blood rice for just a few days, his body had fully recovered and even begun exhibiting blood qi overflow.

This might be tied to his unusual origins.

So Li Lin taught him the Spring Revival Nourishing Art.

But the effect was mediocre.

The Spring Revival Nourishing Art worked remarkably well for Li Lin—he metabolized blood rice at an astonishing speed.

But for Zhao Xiaohu… it wasn’t without effect, just slow.

Slow was fine; better than no effect at all.

Let time wear it down—he had known Zhao Xiaohu’s talent from the start.

After staying home another four days, twelve days had passed in total, and the Qixi Festival was approaching; Li Lin prepared to go to the county town.

First, to scout the situation there—if the Qin family’s influence had been driven back by the Wang, Ding, and Huang clans, Li Lin would take Zhao Xiaohu to the county government office to register as a Spirit Hunter next time.

Second… he needed to buy himself some daily necessities, and also purchase several red meidian ornaments for the Tree Immortal Lady.

He picked up his red tassel spear and slipped a small vial of Life-Restoring Pills into his pocket—should an emergency arise, they might still prove useful.

Better safe than sorry.

Having finished these preparations, he set out.

Zhao Xiaohu watched helplessly from the village entrance as Li Lin departed; as a boy, he longed to visit lively places, but since Li Lin wouldn’t take him, he had no choice.

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

Carrying his red tassel spear, he still carried considerable intimidation—no one dared approach him too closely along the way.

Entering the town, he headed straight for the county government office.

There, he chatted casually with the government office runners.

He got along well with the people here.

“I heard people from another county came here causing trouble recently?” Li Lin asked.

The government office runner replied proudly: “It was officials from Feirong County—they brought some constables, but the County Magistrate saw through them immediately, having already stationed fifty archers and a hundred sabre troops around the government office, capturing them all.”

Li Lin was impressed; our County Magistrate was quite formidable.

“And then?”

The Feirong County Magistrate came personally to retrieve his men, offering many gifts, and managed to take back half of them.

“Only half?”

“Yes—several are still imprisoned, and two were beheaded.”

Ho!

Huang County Magistrate was even more formidable than imagined.

His red tassel spear had been unnecessary after all!

He was just about to leave and head to the market for supplies when someone called out to him.

“Brother Kunge, you’ve finally arrived.”

Li Lin turned and saw Huang Qi.

“Zijing.” Li Lin greeted him with a smile.

“You’ve come at the perfect time!” Huang Qi grabbed Li Lin’s sleeve and pulled him toward the courtroom: “I’ll introduce you to someone.”

Huh?

Li Lin paused, asking: “Has someone from the Demon Extermination Bureau arrived?”

“You guessed right.”

Huang Qi pulled Li Lin into the courtroom, where several people stood inside.

County Magistrate Huang Yan sat on his dais, chatting with them; seeing Li Lin enter, he smiled: “Li Xunshou, you’ve arrived just in time—these colleagues from the Demon Extermination Bureau wish to ask you for details about the Bo Bai Village incident.”

“County Magistrate.” Li Lin placed his red tassel spear in the corner, then stepped forward and bowed.

He studied the others around him.

The Demon Extermination Bureau personnel looked no different from ordinary people, mostly dressed in civilian attire.

If anything set them apart, it was their stern, expressionless faces.

Put plainly, they all looked as if everyone owed them money.

Yet one man’s gaze was unusually warm.

A middle-aged man with a square face stepped forward, bowed, and said: “I am Zhang Minsheng, Deputy Commander of the Military Forces under the Funan Military Governor of the Demon Extermination Bureau.”

“Greetings, Commander.” Li Lin bowed.

The man held a military rank; Li Lin operated under the civil bureaucracy, so this man was not his superior—politeness sufficed, no formal salute required.

“You’re one of the six who survived Bo Bai Village?”

“Yes!”

“I’ve read the official reports, but two points remain unclear—I need your answers.”

Li Lin nodded: “Commander Zhang, ask away.”

“You saw the altar shattered—did you see the True Lord wandering within the fortress?”

Li Lin shook his head.

Zhang Minsheng’s face was mature and dark, exuding the imposing aura of a seasoned general.

He narrowed his eyes and asked: “When you left the fortress, it was evening—you saw it shrouded in black mist?”

“Yes!”

“Could it have been an illusion?”

“Everyone saw it, but none could confirm its truth—we had no Spirit Hunter among us skilled in soul arts. The one who claimed the black mist was a grievance mist was Xu Saifeng—he was a traitor, so his words carry little credibility.”

Zhang Minsheng nodded: “Thank you, Li Xunshou. I’m done.”

He stepped aside and respectfully said: “County Magistrate Huang, my team will rest at the official inn for two days before departing for Bo Bai Village. Also, I request to mobilize all Spirit Hunters in Yulin County to accompany us.”

Huang Yan considered a moment, then said: “I currently have only seven Spirit Hunters left.”

“Enough.”

“Very well,” Huang Yan said slowly. “But you must swear to me—you will not send them to their deaths.”

“I will treat them all equally.”

Huang Yan nodded: “You should know my standing—even in the capital, the Huang family still commands some influence.”

Zhang Minsheng bowed, signaling he had taken the warning to heart.

“Now that business is settled,” a sturdy man in his early thirties stepped forward, looking at Li Lin: “I notice your eyes gleam with spiritual radiance, and you carry a spear—surely you’re a spear master. Could you demonstrate for us?”

Li Lin glanced at him, puzzled.

The man returned his gaze with a gentle expression.

“Show us,” Huang Qi whispered, stepping closer.

Li Lin understood.

He walked to the corner, picked up his red tassel spear, and began performing.

Experts recognize skill; Li Lin’s spear merely thrust straight out, then shook twice—and the dozen or so men across from him all changed expression.

“Yu Family Spear Technique… it carries some spear intent within it,” Zhang Minsheng said, surprised.

(End of Chapter)