Chapter 73: The Master of Things

It was already night when Li Lin returned to his “new home” and slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, after waking, he practiced several sets of “White Tiger Rolling Posture” in the practice hall, steam rising from his forehead.

[Martial Art +1]

Now, practicing the fist form no longer increased his proficiency in “White Tiger Rolling Posture” itself—this meant he had fully mastered it.

And the growth rate of his “Martial Art” proficiency had slowed considerably; previously, one set would trigger multiple prompts.

Now, he had to practice several sets before receiving a single proficiency prompt.

In other words, the White Tiger Rolling Posture no longer significantly aided his growth.

He needed to find a better fist technique to learn.

But… martial arts manuals were rare, with no fixed market price.

In contrast, the Yu Family Spear Technique still consistently granted many proficiency prompts, meaning its upper limit remained far beyond Li Lin’s current reach.

While waiting nearby, Xing’er handed him a clean towel; after wiping himself, Li Lin prepared to rest briefly before resuming spear cultivation when Zhang Afu entered through the second gate.

“Master, a noble young lady has arrived outside—she appears to be the County Magistrate’s daughter.”

Huang Qing was well-known in Yulin County; after all, she was the only “Hu Ji” here, a stunning beauty and the magistrate’s daughter—nearly everyone knew her.

“Show her in. Brew tea to receive our guest.”

Li Lin immediately returned to his room and changed into casual home attire.

When he emerged, he saw Huang Qing seated in the main hall, accompanied by a familiar young maid.

Both rose at once upon seeing Li Lin.

Huang Qing bowed slightly, then lowered her head and spoke softly: “Elder Brother, I’ve intruded unannounced—I apologize for the disturbance.”

Li Lin smiled: “Sit. No need for formalities. Treat this as your own home.”

At these words, Huang Qing’s face flushed crimson.

The young maid covered her mouth and giggled.

Li Lin knew this casual remark sounded normal to him, but to her, it carried hidden meaning.

After a long pause, Huang Qing whispered: “Elder Brother, please stop teasing me.”

A mix of annoyance and delight.

Li Lin stopped there; though she looked like a tall, statuesque woman, inwardly she was still a Han maiden untouched by marriage—this level of teasing was already the limit.

He smiled: “Sister, what brings you here specifically?”

Li Lin understood: a maiden of marriageable age visiting a man’s home alone carried clear implications.

But their relationship had not yet reached that point—he could only pretend ignorance for now.

"I heard Elder Brother has been traveling for nearly ten days, so I brewed some tonic soup to help restore your strength." She opened the delicate bamboo basket beside her and took out two lacquered food boxes: "I also made some thousand-layer cake—please taste it."

The maid beside her opened the two boxes; a rich aroma filled the air.

The medicinal soup smelled excellent.

Li Lin clasped his fists: “Thank you, Sister.”

The maid proudly added: “My mistress’s cooking is exceptional—not everyone gets to enjoy this.”

Then Huang Qing rose, blushing: “I’ve delivered the food—I’ll take my leave now. If Elder Brother has free time, please visit my home often—I’ll do my best to receive you.”

“Won’t you stay longer?”

Huang Qing shook her head: “It wouldn’t be proper to linger.”

Indeed—it was already quite unorthodox for her to come alone.

Yet wasn’t that also an act of courage?

Li Lin escorted them to the gate: “In a few days, I’ll visit your home to return the courtesy.”

Huang Qing softly murmured “Mm,” gazing at Li Lin with sparkling eyes: “I await your arrival, Elder Brother.”

With that, she departed.

The young maid turned back: “By the way, I’m Hongluan—if you have any message for my mistress, come find me first…”

Li Lin watched them leave, then returned to the inner courtyard hall and drank the medicinal broth.

Honestly, the taste was truly excellent.

The thousand-layer cake was also delicious.

It seemed Huang Qing had come to declare her feelings.

She meant: I like you, and I’m also an excellent cook.

Li Lin pondered: since she had made her feelings clear, he must now respond in kind.

That afternoon, he returned to Shangtikou Village.

Villagers greeted him warmly, and he responded to each in turn.

Then he went to the altar.

The Tree Immortal Lady appeared, wrapping her arms around Li Lin’s and licking him.

Li Lin occasionally let out a soft hiss.

After a long while, the Tree Immortal Lady covered her mouth and regarded Li Lin with a pair of gray eyes.

These eyes had once been dull and lifeless.

Now, Li Lin could detect faint vitality within them.

It was a feeling hard to describe.

But Li Lin felt—it was vitality.

“Lady, here is the Snow Marrow Cinnabar you requested.”

Li Lin handed her the box.

The Tree Immortal Lady took it, opened it, saw the rouge inside, and smiled.

“Thank you.”

Then her figure faded and vanished.

Li Lin felt disappointed—he had wanted to see how beautiful she’d look with rouge on her lips.

But she was gone.

Whatever.

Li Lin turned and went home. He checked the sky, then climbed the mountain to gather herbs and refine pills.

Back home, he continued refining Life-Sustaining Pills using his newly purchased alchemy furnace.

He had a feeling he’d soon break through in alchemy.

Indeed… after successfully refining a new batch of Life-Sustaining Pills, a new pill formula appeared in his mind.

Beauty-Preserving Pill!

This pill… was useful, yet somehow not terribly useful.

Then Li Lin suddenly slapped his palm—he remembered what he could use for his return gift.

The Beauty-Preserving Pill.

He didn’t believe any woman could refuse this.

He wanted to refine another batch immediately, but the sky was too dark to climb the mountain—he gave up.

Next came cooking rice, bathing, and going to bed to cultivate.

He practiced the Spring Revival Nourishing Method in the first half of the night, and the Yin-Nourishing Heart Method in the second half.

The next morning, he practiced several martial forms, then cut out a paper doll.

He suddenly had an idea: if small paper dolls could guide, could a full-sized Soul-Calling Paper Doll be used for labor?

Using Soul-Calling Paper Dolls solely for harm felt like wasting their potential.

He immediately crafted a new Soul-Calling Paper Doll—naturally modeled after the Tree Immortal Lady—and infused it with yin energy.

The Soul-Calling Paper Doll came to life.

Li Lin commanded it mentally to gather herbs on the mountain.

The doll immediately went inside, grabbed a sickle, slung a bamboo basket over its back, retracted its long paper serpent tail, then snapped it outward.

Its entire body floated upward, drifted to a tree, gripped a branch with one hand, swung its body, and launched itself to another tree.

Repeating this, it quickly reached the mountain.

Each time it swung through the air, Li Lin seemed to hear a woman’s voice whisper: “Wu-hu…”

A perfect female monkey.

Hss… his own creation felt strangely odd.

Then Li Lin felt a chill.

He turned—and saw the Tree Immortal Lady watching him coldly.

(End of Chapter)