Chapter 66: What Is a Great Fortune

The so-called "running a convoy" is a term used internally by the Spirit Hunters.

The distance between cities is quite far; walking for over ten days is normal, and even one or two months for farther places is not strange. Common people, for safety when traveling to other places, would gather in groups to set out, usually assembling one or two hundred people before hiring some "experts" for escort.

Those hired included martial artists, and naturally, Spirit Hunters as well.

This situation is what is called "running a convoy."

Previously, this task did not fall to Li Lin, but recently, Su Huafang and others have witnessed Li Lin's progress and growth.

Setting aside other matters, just that Fallen Thunder Incantation alone was enough to be stunning.

"How much is the convoy fee?" Li Lin asked curiously.

"Not too much, roughly enough to share thirty taels of silver with you. The round trip takes about ten days."

Thirty taels of silver sounds like not much, but in fact, its purchasing power is very strong.

Li Lin had indeed recently come into some windfall wealth, but that was water without roots; it would be exhausted by sitting and eating.

Su Huafang's wealth was certainly greater than Li Lin's, yet he still had to run a convoy; would Li Lin complain about having too much money?

Li Lin nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Senior Su, for your care."

"Then it's settled. Gather at the north gate of the county town before dusk tomorrow."

"Good, I will definitely arrive early."

Su Huafang stood up, then asked curiously: "I saw many small paper people running back and forth outside, yet the villagers didn't find it strange. Could it be you..."

Li Lin smiled: "It was me."

"Impressive!" Su Huafang said admiringly: "It seems you truly have the potential of a genius in the path of arts and spells. Perhaps one day Yulin County will produce a First-Rank Spirit Hunter."

"You flatter me."

Afterwards, Su Huafang left with envy.

Li Lin rested well for the night, went up the mountain at dawn the next day to gather some herbs, and brewed a pot of Life-Returning Pills.

He routinely took along over a dozen Life-Returning Pills, a Ghost-Shielding Robe, dry rations, and a red-tasseled spear, then arrived before the altar.

Just as he was about to speak, Li Lin saw that the withered tree beside the altar had actually sprouted green new buds; although there were only a few, the tree had indeed come back to life.

The figure of the Lady Tree Immortal appeared, her tone cold as she asked: "Is there something?"

"I need to go out for a trip, lasting about ten days round trip."

The Lady Tree Immortal frowned.

"To earn money, running a convoy," Li Lin smiled: "Going to Jincheng, and also to broaden my horizons. So I wanted to ask you, do you want any souvenirs?"

The Lady Tree Immortal's expression seemed slightly softer; she pondered for a moment and said: "Lip rouge... Xue Sui Zhu."

Li Lin nodded and said: "Good, I will buy it back for you."

Then he turned and left.

The Lady Tree Immortal kept staring at his back until it was no longer visible, only then fading back into the altar to rest.

Arriving at Yulin County town, seeing there was still time, Li Lin went to the market to slurp a bowl of noodles to fill his stomach, then walked toward the northern part of the city.

Arriving at the north city gate, he found a large crowd already gathered outside; Li Lin counted and saw at least two hundred people or more.

The vast majority were common folk, bringing their families, with big and small bundles.

Inside there were also many human-pulled wooden wheelbarrows, presumably used to transport goods, luggage, and supply materials.

Outside the crowd, over a dozen martial artists dressed in uniform black clothes stood, with Su Huafang currently talking to one of them.

Afterwards, he spotted Li Lin and immediately waved.

Li Lin walked over.

"Come, let me introduce you," Su Huafang said, pointing to the martial artist opposite: "He Yumao, the convoy leader of Changfeng Escort Agency, nicknamed 'Life-Taking Sword' by the martial world."

"This is Li Lin, Li Xunshou."

"Long heard of you, long heard of you."

"My apologies, my apologies."

Li Lin and He Yumao bowed to each other with clasped fists.

Afterwards, Li Lin asked: "Senior Su, are there only the two of us Spirit Hunters?"

"There are two more Bai Xunshou... there, they are arriving now."

Li Lin turned around and found that indeed Bai Liwei and Bai Bufan were walking out from the city gate.

After these two also arrived, Su Huafang said: "Convoy Leader He, shall we proceed according to our usual rules from now on?"

"Good," Convoy Leader He smiled: "Then from now on, I will issue the orders. If there are any improper points, please speak freely; do not hold it against me."

"No problem," Su Huafang clasped his fists.

Afterwards, He Yumao went to the front of the crowd and shouted loudly: "Stop talking, listen to me. In another incense stick's time, we will set out. We will walk for two hours, then rest and spend the night at the Taowu Zhenjun Temple in the north. Now, check whether you have brought all your things, whether the children are by your side. Do not say after departure that things or people are lost; at that time, we will not turn back, nor will we help search again. Understand?"

No one spoke, but He Yumao was an old hand; he knew that silence meant no objections.

Li Lin exchanged greetings with Bai Liwei and Bai Bufan, then asked curiously: "Why set out at night? We can't walk for very long before needing rest. If we walked during the day, wouldn't we be able to move faster, and wouldn't it be safer since we wouldn't have to spend an extra night in the wild?"

Su Huafang smiled: "Spending the first night at the Taowu Zhenjun Temple allows ordinary people to feel more at ease; afterwards, they will become more accustomed to sleeping outdoors. If we walked during the day... then the first night would have to be spent resting in the wilderness. Many people leaving the county town for the first time would be afraid, have trouble sleeping, and then be tired and exhausted the next day, which would actually slow down the marching speed."

Oh, Li Lin understood.

After an incense stick's time, He Yumao organized the two hundred-plus people to set off.

The escort guards held torches, walking on the outermost edge, protecting the crowd.

Bai Liwei and Bai Bufan were at the front of the formation, clearing the way together with He Yumao and other martial artists.

Li Lin and Su Huafang walked at the very rear of the formation.

Night fell quickly; according to logic, the Wild Ghosts should have emerged by now, but the white jade pendant at Li Lin's waist only emitted a very faint red light.

That meant the Wild Ghosts were quite far from them.

This is the benefit of having many people; with abundant vital energy, the Wild Ghosts would not dare approach in the short term.

The journey was peaceful; following the main road for about two hours, they saw a temple ahead by the moonlight.

"Alright, we've arrived," He Yumao shouted. "Everyone go inside and rest. Remember, no matter what happens, do not leave the temple. If you have an urgent need, use the dry latrine behind the temple. It stinks, but that's better than going outside and having your flesh and blood sucked dry by the wild horrors..."

He Yumao kept speaking loudly, guiding those two hundred ordinary people to act reasonably.

Li Lin also entered the temple.

Soon after, he discovered an altar inside, where a dog-headed, human-bodied 'Taowu Zhenjun' floated, yawning in boredom.

Su Huafang walked over, clasped his fist, and said, "Taowu Zhenjun Lingti, we disturb you. Please accept this!"

Having spoken, he extended his arm.

Taowu Zhenjun Lingti leaned his head over, took a deep sniff at Su Huafang's arm.

Su Huafang shivered all over, as if struck by a chill, a flush appearing on his face.

Li Lin suddenly thought of something, felt his scalp tingle, and couldn't help but scratch it.

At this moment, Bai Liwei saw Li Lin's expression, walked over, and smiled, "Now you know why Lady Shuxian is the encounter most Soul Hunters wish to choose."

Li Lin nodded repeatedly, feeling he had truly struck great fortune.

(End of this chapter)