Chapter 51: All Is Said Without Words

Soon, only Huang Yan and Li Lin remained in the county office.

Huang Yan turned to a shelf behind him, took down a scroll, and spread it out on the table.

“Come here.”

Li Lin went over as instructed.

On the table lay a map of the region; Li Lin studied it for a while, then looked up at the other with a questioning gaze.

Why are you showing me this?

“This marks the military garrisons of each commandery in Da Qi. What do you make of it?”

Li Lin stared again, then said: “Circles within circles?”

Huang Yan stroked his beard and laughed: “Hah, yes indeed—just one big circle inside another. Because of what happened sixty years ago, the court grew afraid.”

Li Lin gave him a questioning look—he truly didn’t know what had happened sixty years ago.

After all, he was still very unfamiliar with this world.

“Didn’t your elders tell you about this?” Huang Yan paused, then nodded in understanding: “Then again, it wouldn’t mean much to you youngsters. Sixty years ago, a figure emerged from the northern barbarians—wearing armor adorned with flowers—leading ten thousand soldiers, smashing through everything in his path. In less than a month, he marched from the grasslands all the way to the gates of the capital.”

Impressive!

At this, Huang Yan’s expression turned mocking: “Back then, the entire capital sealed its gates. The barbarians taunted and spat insults beneath the walls, yet no one dared sally forth to fight. Reinforcements from the commanderies arrived too late. Just as the barbarians were about to breach the city and slaughter its people, the Empress stepped onto the ramparts—and before all eyes, she stripped off her phoenix robe. The barbarians withdrew.”

Li Lin’s eyebrows shot up: “A wraith?”

“Exactly!” Huang Yan laughed. “No one expected the Empress to be a wraith—indeed, a great wraith. Afterward, she vanished without trace. The Demon Extermination Bureau targeted every official and aristocratic family connected to her. In just half a year, thousands were beheaded, mostly officials. Since then, the aristocratic families were shattered—some went into hiding among the common folk, others fled into the mountains.”

Li Lin listened in silence.

Huang Yan continued: “To prevent the northern barbarians from ever breaching the passes again, the court established military garrisons at key locations. That was a good idea—but now, these garrisons have become a burden. They consume too much grain and silver; the court can no longer afford them. The south is better off, but I’ve heard that in the north, many garrisons haven’t received pay or rations for months. Li Xunshou—if you were in charge, would you disband some garrisons to ease the court’s expenses?”

Li Lin shook his head: “Difficult… it touches too many officials’ interests.”

Huang Yan nodded approvingly: “You and Qi’er both see the stakes clearly. I asked my two daughters the same question. Do you know what they answered?”

Li Lin shook his head.

“My eldest said, ‘Let the court ministers decide. I’m just a girl—I don’t understand state affairs.’” Huang Yan gave a light snort, then added: “My second daughter was far more arrogant. She claimed that with an imperial edict, she could forcefully push through the policy of reducing troops and disbanding garrisons—and succeed.”

Li Lin smiled at this.

It wasn’t mockery of Huang Ling—it was simply that the idea was absurdly naive.

“If His Majesty ordered you to resolve this, how would you handle it?”

Li Lin bowed slightly: “I am of low rank—I dare not presume to comment on state affairs.”

Huang Yan gave him a strange look, then said: “Fine, don’t say it. I kept you here mainly to warn you: the court today is not what it once was—it’s teetering on collapse. I heard you turned down Qi’er’s invitation. Whether that’s good or bad, I won’t judge. But I know one thing: in times of chaos, power matters. You walk alone in this world—you need a big tree to lean on. Only then can you act without too many restraints and gain more support.”

Li Lin looked up sharply at him.

Huang Yan smiled faintly. Both now understood each other’s meaning.

After a few seconds, Li Lin gave a slight bow: “Thank you, County Magistrate, for your guidance.”

Huang Yan’s expression grew even warmer: “No need for such formality. Come visit my home more often.”

“Alright!”

…………

When Li Lin stepped out of the county office, dawn had just broken.

He saw Zhao Xiaohu dozing by the office gate and walked over to tap his shoulder.

“Lin Ge,” Zhao Xiaohu woke with a start, then exclaimed happily.

“Let’s have breakfast, then head back to the village.”

Zhao Xiaohu asked warily: “I’ve been assigned to Shadong Village. Does that mean I’ll have to stay there permanently now?”

“No rush. Go home first, talk to your father, make your preparations—then go over later.”

Zhao Xiaohu sighed in relief: “I’ll follow Lin Ge’s advice.”

The two returned to their “new home,” ate a light breakfast, took a nap, and didn’t set out until noon, gnawing on coarse corn cakes as they walked.

When they reached Shangtikou Village, Zhao Xiaohu rushed home, excitedly clutching the blood rice.

Li Lin went to the altar, where the Tree Immortal Lady floated there.

Li Lin extended his hand; her long tail curled around him, coiling his body, then she clasped his arm and slowly licked his palm.

A warm, numbing sensation rose in his chest, and Li Lin suddenly said: “In another half year or so, I’ll probably have to get married.”

The Tree Immortal Lady paused for a moment, then resumed licking his palm, her expression unchanged, showing no sign of disturbance.

After a while, she released him, smiled at him, and then vanished.

Was she angry?

Li Lin wasn’t sure.

But it didn’t matter. He set down his pack, swallowed a Life-Sustaining Pill, and began to rest.

The day was still early—resting now was to conserve his strength.

He planned to travel to Feirong County. Two matters needed attending.

The next day, after a full night of cultivation, Li Lin felt light and refreshed.

He took his red tassel spear, the Wraith-Blocking Robe, Life-Sustaining Pills, and some banknotes, and arrived at the altar.

“Lady, I’m going to Feirong County. I’ll be gone two or three days. I’m leaving the village’s safety in your hands.”

The Tree Immortal Lady appeared before him. Having absorbed a great deal of essence the day before, her vitality was superb—she was dazzlingly beautiful.

“Be careful.”

Her tone remained cold, but Li Lin heard the concern beneath it.

Feirong County wasn’t far. Li Lin had been practicing the Light Body Art, and his speed had greatly increased—he reached the city walls by evening, having walked only from morning.

He did not display his Bai Yu token—he was here to stir up trouble. Displaying it would be announcing his identity.

He paid two copper coins in head tax and entered the city.

Feirong County was once called Yourong County. More than thirty years ago, the world’s most beautiful woman emerged from there, entered the palace, and became Imperial Consort—known as the Blushing Flower Imperial Consort.

Since then, Yourong County was renamed Feirong County.

Li Lin sat on the third floor of a tavern, watching through the window across the street: a large mansion, towering and clearly a four-courtyard compound.

Above its gate hung a plaque bearing two large characters: “Qin Mansion.”

The Qin family of Feirong—the steward of the Blushing Flower Imperial Consort before she entered the palace… after she became consort, this Qin steward rose to great fortune.

Thus, the Qin family of Feirong County came to be.

At that moment, the vermilion gates of the Qin Mansion opened, and out stepped a fat man waving a paper fan.

Li Lin recognized him.

He lowered his gaze. Many Spirit Hunters were highly sensitive to being watched.

He didn’t want the Qin family to notice him.

The fat man glanced suspiciously around, then walked away, still fanning himself.

After waiting a while, Li Lin turned his head again, observing from above the Qin Mansion’s layout and terrain.

(End of Chapter)