Chapter 45: Fate, Indeed

Su Huafang looked at An Zhijian’s corpse, his eyes filled with sorrow.

Zhao Hao said beside him, “Old Su, don’t think too much about it. An Zhijian brought this on himself—he can’t blame anyone else.”

Su Huafang said, “I understand, but when you’re old, seeing a young man you once knew die right before your eyes—even if it was your own hand that killed him—it’s hard not to feel uneasy.”

Bai Liwei walked over and patted Su Huafang on the shoulder to comfort him.

He was old too, and understood Su Huafang’s complex emotions at this moment.

Zhao Hao spoke again: “An Zhijian’s appearance gives us a perfect excuse. Let’s unify our story: we sensed something suspicious in Bobai Town, came back together to investigate, discovered An Zhijian’s collusion with the Southern Barbarians, and killed him. What do you say?”

Su and Bai nodded. This excuse was good—Hunting Spirits personnel had the duty to investigate strange phenomena.

Li Lin also nodded with a smile.

Su Huafang walked over to examine the withered female heads, and his sorrow vanished instantly, replaced by fury: “That beast An Zhijian truly deserved to die.”

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Hao walked over and asked.

“These are all Han women!”

Li Lin also walked over and looked for a while, noticing the skulls’ features were blurred beyond recognition—there was no way to distinguish Han from Southern Barbarian.

But when Bai and Zhao came over and examined them, they also said: “Indeed, these are Han women. What a true beast.”

Li Lin was puzzled—he couldn’t tell the difference at all.

On the contrary, Li Lin was more interested in another matter.

“You say—if the soldiers of this garrison really were killed by An Zhijian, what was his motive?”

Zhao Hao laughed: “I don’t care what his motive was… Over a hundred soldiers of Bobai Garrison died horribly, yet he alone survived—and he’s the Hunting Spirits agent here. No matter the reason, showing up so many days late, bringing Southern Barbarians with him—it’s a death sentence, no escape.”

Though Zhao Hao’s words hastily condemned An Zhijian and seemed crude, they were undeniably reasonable.

Li Lin thought about it, and stopped pressing the matter.

After all, sometimes digging too deep into things yields no good result.

Bai Liwei crouched down and searched An Zhijian’s body, finding not only a few dozen taels in silver notes, but also a hand-copied secret manual.

“Soul-Refining Body Strengthening Art!” Bai Liwei muttered as he held the book, then opened it and couldn’t help but hiss: “What a vile technique.”

Su and Zhao immediately leaned in to look.

After studying it a while, Bai Liwei said: “Take it. I don’t want to practice this.”

“Techniques aren’t inherently good or evil,” Su Huafang took it, flipped through it casually, and smiled: “I’ll keep it for now. I’ll streamline it later—many of the major herbs here can be substituted with others. When you want to learn it, come to me—I’ll copy you a clean version.”

The others naturally agreed.

“Speaking of secret manuals!” Zhao Hao suddenly clapped his palms, pulled out a hand-copied book from his robe, and said: “Li Xunshou, this is the Lightness Technique I promised you. I was so focused on traveling I forgot to give it to you—here!”

Li Lin took it—it was only a few thin pages, the cover inscribed: “Willow Fluff Thirteen Drifts.”

He flipped through it idly and found the technique intriguing—its focus was evasion and lightness; the illustrated movements resembled willow fluff spiraling gently down from the air.

Hence its name.

This was exactly what Li Lin needed.

A competent Hunting Spirits agent must know at least one body technique, one internal cultivation method or Yin-nourishing heart scripture, and one Lightness Technique.

You don’t need them to be powerful—but you must know them, or you won’t even look like a proper Hunting Spirits agent.

“Thank you!” Li Lin wasn’t the type to take favors for granted. He thought for a moment and said: “I only have one technique—the Thunderfall Spell. I’ll teach it to you.”

But at these words, all three shook their heads rapidly.

“No thanks.”

“Don’t bother.”

“Are you trying to kill us?” Zhao Hao chuckled helplessly.

Li Lin widened his eyes in confusion: “How would I be harming you?”

Su Huafang smiled and explained: “Thunder arts are supremely Yang—naturally opposed to Yin energy. We Hunting Spirits cultivate Yin heart scriptures; practicing Thunder arts is extremely difficult and risks losing control and going insane.”

“Then how do I manage it?” Li Lin asked.

“Virgin status.”

The other three laughed.

Zhao Hao laughed loudest: “The Thunderfall Spell was given to you by Huang Ziyue—we all know that. And everyone in the county office knows you’re still a virgin.”

Su Huafang added: “Haven’t you noticed your Thunderfall Spell emits alternating blue and red lightning?”

Li Lin nodded—he had noticed.

Ordinary lightning is blue or green.

“Techniques driven by Yin energy usually glow red. Those driven by Yang energy are typically blue, white, or green,” Su Huafang smiled with narrowed eyes. “So virgin status has its advantages—you can access unique methods.”

Li Lin worried: “If I marry someday, will I lose this Thunder art?”

“Not at all,” Su Huafang explained carefully. “Almost all cultivation methods and martial techniques enhance the body. If you master Thunder arts, your Yang energy will naturally become abundant—just don’t neglect your Yin heart scripture training. Balance the two, and you’ll have no problems.”

Hearing this, Li Lin felt reassured.

He bowed to Zhao Hao: “Young Master Zhao, this manual is extremely useful to me. I owe you a favor—anything you need in the future, just say the word.”

“No problem, no problem,” Zhao Hao nodded happily.

Bai Liwei walked over and said: “Time’s running out—we need to head back.”

“Alright!”

The four of them slung their heavy packs, left the fortress, and returned home, fully laden.

Outside Shangtikou Village, Li Lin bid farewell to the other three and returned to the village.

It was noon; many villagers were working, and upon seeing Li Lin, they greeted him warmly.

Li Lin responded to each one.

He first went to the altar, intending to greet the Tree Immortal Lady—but found she was gone!

Where had she gone?

Li Lin was puzzled, but when he returned home, he saw the Tree Immortal Lady floating inside.

“Tree Immortal Lady, you’re here! Come in, sit down!”

Li Lin was delighted, setting down his pack as he invited her.

But the moment he set down his pack, the Tree Immortal Lady seized his left hand and licked his palm with her pink serpent tongue, one slow lick after another.

A wave of bliss washed over him—he remembered: last night was the agreed day to offer blood essence, but he’d been out all day.

After absorbing enough essence, the Tree Immortal Lady’s beautiful face showed satisfaction, then she gave Li Lin a playful scowl before drifting away slowly.

Li Lin then put away the bag of gold ingots and lay on his bed, falling into a deep, restful sleep.

In the following days, Li Lin resumed his usual routine.

Cultivation, then teaching Xiaohu the spear techniques and the secrets of the Reviving Health Cultivation Method.

After nine days, Li Lin took four gold ingots to the county seat.

He felt he needed a house there—he had a sense he’d occasionally stay overnight in the city.

Sleeping at inns every night was inconvenient.

He first visited the real estate agent, who showed him several small courtyard houses—he wasn’t impressed by any.

“Master, if none of these suit you, there’s a top-tier old mansion in Chengxi you might consider.”

“Oh? What’s the catch?”

Li Lin knew—if it were truly a good house, it wouldn’t still be unclaimed.

It must have some serious flaw most people couldn’t accept.

The agent bowed: “It’s near the Temple of the Four Marvels Immortal—extremely heavy Yin energy.”

So that was it.

Li Lin thought for a moment, then shook his head—he wouldn’t consider it.

Heavy Yin energy was beneficial for a Hunting Spirits agent.

But Li Lin had too many secrets himself—he didn’t want to live near the Four Marvels Immortal, in case the latter noticed something he shouldn’t.

The Four Marvels Immortal wasn’t the Tree Immortal Lady—he wouldn’t be so lenient.

The agent thought again and said: “If you don’t mind isolation, there’s a large courtyard in Chengbei you could live in.”

“How big?”

“Three courtyards deep!”

“Let’s go see it!”

At Chengbei, it was indeed a three-courtyard mansion—well-built, but long abandoned, overgrown with weeds, and filled with spiderwebs inside.

Li Lin looked around and asked: “It looks fine—why hasn’t anyone taken it?”

“It’s too far from the Temple of the Four Marvels Immortal,” the agent said helplessly. “People who live there at night hear eerie wailing.”

“How much for the deed?” Li Lin, as a Hunting Spirits agent, could tell the place was still within the Four Marvels Immortal’s protection.

But ordinary people were too haunted by the fear of the strange—living in isolation made them fearful, and they imagined sounds.

The agent brightened immediately: “One hundred thirty-seven taels. We’ll hire people to clean it for you—you’ll need to buy your own furniture.”

Li Lin handed the agent a gold ingot: “Buy the furniture too, and hire three or four servants to maintain it—just enough to keep things in order. Keep the change as a tip.”

He wouldn’t live here often, but the place was too large to leave empty—it would decay again. Hiring a few servants to maintain it meant he wouldn’t have to clean it himself when he visited.

“Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!”

The agent clutched the gold ingot, grinning broadly.

Finally, a big client—he was thrilled.

With the house settled, Li Lin wandered the county seat.

In the past, whenever he came here, he rushed in and out—first because he had to get back to the village, and second because he had no money.

What’s the point of wandering around if you have no money?

But now things were different—he had money on him, and his mood had grown far more relaxed.

He went to the best tavern, ordered the finest wine and dishes, and ate his fill.

Then, under the light haze of alcohol, he walked to the lakeshore outside the county town.

Many townspeople came here to stroll and enjoy the spring breeze; during daylight, free from the threat of wild demons, it was lively.

Li Lin walked slowly along the embankment, the cool breeze pleasant and soothing—but soon, rain began to fall.

He took shelter in a pavilion, and not long after, four more people rushed in to escape the rain.

Two women, and two men dressed as retainers.

When the two groups caught sight of each other, Li Lin froze, and the two women froze too.

Then Li Lin bowed and smiled: “What a coincidence, Huang Da.”

(End of chapter)