Chapter 41: Only the Eyes of the Rest

Two True Lords?

Huang Qi blinked, then waved his hand, and an elderly warrior walked over.

“Uncle Fang, go tell my cousin about this.”

Zhao Hao interjected: “If I’m not mistaken, the extra True Lord is the Hundred-Faced True Lord who caused great chaos in Wan City years ago!”

Except for Li Lin, everyone’s expressions turned grim.

Huang Qi said to the elderly warrior: “Hurry and notify my cousin—he needs to prepare.”

The elder immediately stepped forward.

Huang Qi’s expression was grave: “How could the Hundred-Faced True Lord come to Jincheng?”

Naturally, no one could answer him—such entities always thrived on mystery and unpredictability.

He sighed: “This True Lord traveled all the way from the Central Plains, destroying village after village along the way, yet almost no word reached us. You can imagine how rotten the civil administration in those places must have become.”

Li Lin had also heard that a True Lord of this caliber could wipe out a village of a hundred people with ease.

And for experienced bureaucrats, hiding the disappearance of entire villages was a simple matter.

As Huang Qi sighed, Huang Xiu stepped back from the front line and asked urgently: “Is it truly the Hundred-Faced True Lord?”

“Based on Li Xunshou’s description, I believe so,” Zhao Hao stepped forward and said.

Huang Xiu asked: “You didn’t see him?”

Bai Liwei, Su Huafang, and Zhao Hao all shook their heads together.

Huang Xiu looked at Li Lin: “Only you can see him?”

Li Lin took out his mask, put it on, then lowered it again.

Huang Xiu clicked his tongue: “A Gui artifact… from the Tree Immortal Lady. No wonder.”

Huang Qi looked impressed—he couldn’t see Gui , but living in Yulin County, how could he not have heard of the Tree Immortal Lady’s name?

“Then it must be the Hundred-Faced True Lord,” Huang Xiu smiled, looking at the fortress now engulfed in flames after two volleys of arrows: “Let’s retreat. The fire’s already raging, and with the Hundred-Faced True Lord here, Zhang Minsheng and his men won’t survive.”

Huang Qi asked: “But if we leave, and the Hundred-Faced True Lord runs rampant through Yulin County and nearby areas—what then?”

Huang Xiu chuckled: “We’ll return and ask the Four Marvels True Lord to act!”

Huang Qi blinked: “Is that possible?”

“We can’t do it, but my uncle can,” Huang Xiu said calmly. “We’re not even enough to feed a True Lord. Staying here is useless. The sooner we return and inform our uncle, the sooner he can send the Four Marvels True Lord—minimizing casualties in the county.”

No sooner had Huang Xiu finished than a towering surge of resentment rose from within the fortress.

Faint screams could be heard.

Under the veil of resentment, not only ordinary people—even Spirit Hunters felt a chill crawl over their entire bodies.

The fire inside the fortress began to dwindle, and white frost slowly spread outward from within.

“The Hundred-Faced True Lord is acting,” Huang Xiu said.

“Then let’s go,” Huang Qi was no fool. He rubbed his now-cold hands, pulled out his Assistant County Magistrate’s token, and roared: “All constables and village troops, withdraw immediately! Return to the county seat—no delays!”

Hearing this, Bai Liwei, Zhao Hao, and Su Huafang all exhaled in relief.

Their nerves had been taut until now.

Li Lin had been confused at first, then immediately understood.

Normally, when encountering Gui —whether great or small—it was the Spirit Hunters who led the charge.

These three had feared that Huang Qi, this pampered young master, would send them four Spirit Hunters to face a True Lord.

That would be like throwing meat buns to a dog—no return.

Thank goodness—the Huang family didn’t produce fools.

The nearly four-hundred-strong force, upon hearing the order, withdrew instantly—orderly and disciplined. These troops were clearly well-trained.

Though marching by night, the combined blood aura of four hundred men, mixed with several Spirit Hunters, kept the wild Gui at bay for now.

Moreover, the force was moving, and the wild Gui gathered slowly—so they were temporarily safe.

Several days later, the village troops passed through Shangtikou Village, and Li Lin parted ways with Huang Qi and the others.

“Brother Kun Ge, you’ve worked hard these past days. Rest well, then come back to the county seat—I’ll make amends then,” Huang Qi said sincerely.

“What fault do you have?” Li Lin asked, puzzled.

“Making Spirit Hunters bait was my idea, but I never thought you’d be assigned here by my father,” Huang Qi said with a bitter smile.

“It’s fine. I know you didn’t mean it,” Li Lin waved it off indifferently.

Huang Qi became serious: “You must come. I’m leaving for Jincheng in ten days—I’ll only return to Yulin County on important occasions.”

Li Lin thought for a moment, then said: “Alright.”

Then, I’ll come to see him off.

Satisfied with Li Lin’s promise, Huang Qi happily led the village troops away.

Before Li Lin reached his village, he saw a green shadow at the village entrance.

It vanished in an instant. Though he didn’t see its face, he clearly saw its long serpent tail.

He smiled, walking to the altar.

The Tree Immortal Lady hid inside, not emerging.

Li Lin didn’t mind. He recounted everything that had happened these past days, then said: “If not for the mask you gave me, we’d have died in there—no time to wait for Huang Qi’s rescue. But such luck won’t come again. Still, thank you.”

The Tree Immortal Lady emerged.

She looked at Li Lin. Her beautiful face showed no expression, yet in her dull, gray pupils, something… concern could be seen.

She pointed to the ground and said: “Don’t leave!”

Li Lin understood—she meant to protect him for life.

“Fine. From now on, I won’t leave the village unless necessary. Lady, you must protect me forever.”

The Tree Immortal Lady stared at him, silent.

For the next two days, Li Lin returned to his old routine.

Training, cultivation, teaching Xiao Hu.

Even more diligently than before.

If there was a path to strength, he must pursue it earnestly—this world was not kind at all.

On the third night after returning to the village, Li Lin had just fallen asleep when he was suddenly jolted awake by a massive aura.

He leapt from bed, ran into the courtyard, and looked toward the source of the aura—his eyes widened.

The aura came from the direction of the county seat—where a giant stood!

So immense that even thirty miles away, Li Lin could clearly see its eyebrows and eyes.

The overwhelming aura generated a wind pressure that rippled outward.

At the giant’s center, the entire world seemed to tremble.

Li Lin remembered what Huang Xiu had said—about summoning the Four Marvels True Lord.

“Is this the Four Marvels True Lord?”

Li Lin murmured.

The Tree Immortal Lady appeared beside him, unseen.

She stared at the Four Marvels True Lord, her eyes filled with hatred.

Then she covered Li Lin’s eyes with her hands: “Don’t look at him… from now on, only look at me.”

(End of Chapter)