Chapter 49: Not a Big Cake Either

The next day, Li Lin took Zhao Xiaohu to the county seat.

Zhao Shu and Hua Sheng gazed from the village entrance until Zhao Xiaohu’s figure vanished, then returned home with worried expressions.

Unlike the two anxious elders, Zhao Xiaohu wore an excited look.

In his left hand he held a red tassel spear, his face radiant with pride.

For him, starting today, he was now someone who ate from the public grain.

He had become accomplished, able to stand tall and hold his head high.

At the county government office, he found Li Zubo busy and asked to register Zhao Xiaohu as a Spirit Hunter.

Li Lin would serve as his guarantor.

Registering as a Spirit Hunter was simple—only a guarantor was needed.

If any fraud occurred later, the guarantor would be held accountable as well.

Li Zubo looked at Zhao Xiaohu’s thick beard and muscular frame and couldn’t help sighing: “Clearly a mighty warrior—impressive, impressive. Please state your native place, name, and birth date.”

Zhao Xiaohu gruffly gave his details.

Li Zubo wrote them down, then paused: “Wait—your birth date… this can’t be right. You’re only thirteen?”

“Yeah, I’m thirteen.”

“Young man, don’t try to fool this old man.”

“I really am thirteen!”

Li Zubo turned to Li Lin.

Li Lin nodded: “He’s truly thirteen, but record him as fourteen—it’ll be easier.”

“Hmm, looks like a grown man, yet only thirteen—truly an eye-opener.”

Li Zubo murmured in amazement.

Zhao Xiaohu scratched his head and grinned, clearly proud.

“Now, will he seek fortune at the Zhenjun Temple, or shall we assign him a posting?”

Li Lin said: “Assign him. He’s just starting out—too early to offer blood qi offerings.”

“Alright.” Li Zubo glanced at the records and smiled: “Since he’s new and from Shangtikou Village, assign him to Shadong Village—it’s close by, just half a day’s walk.”

“Thank you, Li Zubo, for your kindness,” Li Lin bowed, seeing clearly this favor was granted out of respect for him.

Otherwise, many villages had no Spirit Hunters at all, and were far from the county seat—placing thirteen-year-old Xiao Hu there would mean hardship.

Li Zubo chuckled lightly: “Li Xunshou, you’re too polite—we may even have shared an ancestor five hundred years ago.”

“Hah, quite possible.”

Li Zubo was pleased that Li Lin acknowledged his favor.

He knew Li Lin was highly regarded by the County Magistrate, so offering him convenience was no trouble at all.

Li Zubo turned, took a dull gray jade token from a black wooden cabinet, and placed it on the table: “Spirit Hunter Zhao, this is your Spirit Hunter Token, number one hundred thirty-seven. Keep it safe.”

Zhao Xiaohu eagerly cradled the gray jade token, then asked curiously: “Why is my token gray? I’ve seen yours, Brother Lin, and they’re white.”

“Warm it with your blood qi—it’ll turn white in two or three nights, or at most half a month.”

Oh!

Zhao Xiaohu nodded.

Li Lin turned to Li Zubo and bowed: “Please look after Xiao Hu from here—I need to meet a friend.”

“You’re too courteous—it’s my duty.” Li Zubo looked at Zhao Xiaohu: “Spirit Hunter Zhao, come with me. We’ll issue your blood rice, Spirit-Repelling Garment, and other essentials, and explain the rules of being a Spirit Hunter.”

Zhao Xiaohu agreed—he’d been craving blood rice for a while, always borrowing from Li Lin; now he had his own, he could finally eat his fill.

Li Lin turned and left the government office, walking to the Huang residence and knocking at the gate.

An old man opened it; seeing Li Lin, he smiled: “Ah, Spirit Hunter Li—you’ve finally come! Young Master has been waiting for you, and specifically told me: whenever you arrive, no need to announce—go straight to the back courtyard.”

“Thank you.”

Li Lin pulled a long rectangular brocade box from his robe and handed it over: “Inside are three vials of elixirs I brewed—Qiangti Pills… warming, strengthen yang, and harm no body.”

Recently, Li Lin had brewed another batch of Shengxi Pills; as his Alchemy skill improved, he’d inexplicably learned this Qiangti Pill formula.

It promotes blood circulation, clears impurities, warms and nourishes the body, gathers yin and restores yang.

For Li Lin, it offered little benefit, but for ordinary people, it was highly useful.

So before his appointment, he brewed a batch and filled three vials.

Hearing “strengthen yang,” the old gatekeeper’s eyes sharpened instantly; he whispered: “Spirit Hunter Li, rest assured—I’ll deliver this personally to Master.”

After bidding farewell to the gatekeeper, Li Lin entered the back courtyard.

There he saw Huang Qi seated, a tea table with several cups already set.

Huang Qing stood beside him.

Both spotted Li Lin at once.

Huang Qi pointed his fan to the seat opposite: “We’re old friends—no need for formalities. Sit wherever you like.”

Li Lin, who disliked ceremony, walked over and sat down.

Huang Qing poured him a cup of clear tea.

“Thank you, Big Sister.”

“Young Master is too kind,” Huang Qing blushed, stepped back two paces, smiling happily.

“I leave tomorrow—won’t Kun Ge come with me to Jincheng?”

“I have no plans to leave Yulin County for now.”

Hearing this, Huang Qing’s smile widened.

“It’s good to meet that noble soul first, then return,” Huang Qi chuckled.

Li Lin sighed slightly: “You keep speaking of this noble soul, yet I don’t even know his name or identity. Is it something you can’t tell me?”

“It’s not that I can’t tell you.” Huang Qi paused, then said: “That noble soul is surnamed Zhu, from Jingcheng.”

“The imperial surname?”

“Yes.”

“Which Imperial Prince?”

“The third.”

Oh—Li Lin understood.

Zhu the Third.

He’d heard rumors about him—a man of strong principles, blunt and straightforward.

Most famously, two years ago, he publicly criticized the Emperor for pursuing alchemy and immortality while neglecting state affairs—unworthy of a true ruler.

He even declared outright: “If you do not govern diligently or care for the people, you should abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince—wouldn’t that be better?”

And then… Zhu the Third was exiled from the capital to become a regional prince.

Li Lin couldn’t recall whether it was Lushan or Gan Prefecture—certainly not Jinsan.

“The Third Prince comes to Jincheng? A regional prince leaving his territory…” Li Lin smiled: “Won’t the censors in court impeach him?”

“That’s why he came secretly.”

Li Lin thought for a moment: “No, I’ll pass. Spirit Hunters should stick to their duties. The world’s chaos is for the world to resolve—I won’t get involved.”

Huang Qi urged: “If Kun Ge joins, the Third Prince will surely recognize you—you could achieve great things.”

Hearing this, Huang Qing unconsciously clenched her hands.

Li Lin still shook his head: “I can guess what you’re planning—I truly dislike such affairs. But I wish you, Zi Jing, a smooth journey and fulfillment of your ambitions!”

Huang Qing relaxed.

“If Kun Ge changes his mind later, come find me,” Huang Qi said, disappointed but not pressing. “By the way, since you won’t come with me, the position of County Warden—you must…”

Li Lin raised his hand to stop him: “I dare not accept the position of County Warden!”

Huang Qi frowned: “Why not?”

“What right do I have to be County Warden?”

No power, no influence, no strong cultivation—he’d never command respect.

“It’s my father’s decision.”

The County Magistrate’s decision?

Li Lin found this sudden—he’d heard Huang Qi mention it before, but never took it seriously. After all, superiors had dangled such promises before him many times—he’d just listened.

He hadn’t expected them to be serious.

But why him?

Then he glanced at Huang Qing beside him—and instantly understood.

(End of Chapter)