Chapter 77: One-Chi Threshold

The one who leapt up was Zhao Hao, his large hand blocking the path of the arrow.

Hss!

The arrow struck his palm but was stopped.

Li Lin and Zhao Hao both landed on the ground, and the others rushed over.

At that moment, Li Lin and Zhao Hao both gazed toward the enemy camp, where a man stood atop a watchtower, slowly lowering his longbow.

The man stared directly at them, as if he could see what was happening here.

Bai Liwei pulled out a short knife, pressed against Zhao Hao’s hand, swiftly severed the arrow’s tail, pulled it out, then applied wound-healing ointment.

Su Huafang looked at the several white jade tablets growing increasingly “red” and said, “Let’s go—we’ve been exposed.”

The group quickly retreated.

After they had run far away, the cat-shaped True Lord frozen in midair turned, its gray-and-white eyes fixed on the Southern Barbarian camp.

The enemy camp began frantically ringing the retreat bell.

On the city wall, Tang Su clenched his fist tightly: “Success!”

They saw two crimson-and-green flashes appear, then watched the enemy forces withdraw en masse—they knew the crisis at Bo Bai Garrison had been lifted.

Too bad neither of them was a Spirit Hunter; they couldn’t see the cat-shaped True Lord slaughtering through the enemy ranks, or they’d have been even happier.

Tang Su did not pursue the enemy, for he knew chasing them at night was dangerous—if soldiers clustered together, it was fine, but if they scattered, they’d attract the Wild Wraiths, and the sheer volume of blood and corpses at night would trigger a Wraith uprising.

Watching the retreating enemy, Tang Su sighed regretfully: “It’s a pity the imperial court refuses to assign Spirit Hunters to our border troops—otherwise, how could barbarians ever dare to breach our gates?”

In his mind, Spirit Hunters could coordinate with armies to execute countless tactical maneuvers.

Huang Qi smiled slightly—the court would never allow border troops to possess Spirit Hunters, or… should even a hint of disloyalty arise among them, combined with the strange powers of Spirit Hunters, it would be extremely, extremely troublesome.

Soon, Li Lin and the others returned.

Because a large mass of red light was swiftly “floating” out of the forest.

Tang Su laughed: “Let’s go down and welcome our greatest hero.”

Soon, Li Lin and the others returned to the gate of Bo Bai Garrison, where the soldiers regarded all the Spirit Hunters with admiration.

To ordinary people, Spirit Hunters had always seemed mysterious and formidable.

Now that they had led a great victory, their reverence grew even deeper.

Tang Su stepped forward, bowed to Li Lin: “Thank you, Lord Li, for braving danger to destroy the altar and create the opportunity for our great victory—you are a true hero. Would you consider visiting the Tang household? Then…”

Huang Qi pushed forward, interrupting Tang Su.

He clapped Li Lin on the shoulder and grinned: “Go rest tonight—we’re returning to the county seat tomorrow.”

Li Lin nodded slightly.

Tang Su, pushed aside, fell into thought.

Several Spirit Hunters returned together to the barracks.

Li Lin bowed to Zhao Hao: “Young Master Zhao, thank you for saving my life. When we return to Yulin County, I’ll repay you properly.”

That arrow, Li Lin could not possibly have dodged.

If struck, he would have died—or been gravely wounded.

Zhao Hao laughed: “No need to thank me—I told you before, as long as I’m alive, I’ll protect you.”

Everyone laughed. Zhao Xiaohu did not go out with them; he stayed in the barracks.

In this situation, a thirteen-year-old boy like him would be useless.

He saw everyone laughing and joined in.

The next day, Huang Qi led several hundred militia away from Bo Bai Garrison.

Because as County Commandant of Yulin, he could not cross borders.

Further ahead lay the territory of other prefectures and provinces.

If he truly pursued them, someone with ill intent might file a complaint—not against him, but against his father.

At this moment, Tang Su had already led several hundred border troops in pursuit, setting out at dawn.

And Bo Bai Garrison, as always, retained only a hundred or so men to garrison it.

Before leaving, Li Lin went to see the new altar at Bo Bai Garrison.

The new True Lord here was a lizard-man, short, barely half a zhang tall, lying lazily on the altar, basking in the sun.

He looked like he had a gentle disposition.

On the way back, Huang Qi began urging Li Lin again to join the service of that “noble gentleman.”

Li Lin raised his hand to stop him: “Not long ago, I went to Jincheng and met Prince Lu.”

Huang Qi paused, then beamed: “So, what do you think of him?”

“He is indeed a prince with great tolerance,” Li Lin smiled. “But I have no intention of entering politics.”

“You don’t need to involve yourself in politics—serving Prince Lu means saving countless people from suffering…”

Li Lin sighed and cut him off: “Zijing, isn’t guarding a village in Yulin also the right path? Or is serving under Prince Lu the only right path, the only way to serve the nation and the people?”

Huang Qi fell silent, thought for a moment, then smiled bitterly: “You’re right—I’ve been too obsessed.”

Though Li Lin had refused Huang Qi’s offer, Huang Qi bore him no resentment; if anything, he admired him even more.

Six days later, the militia returned to Yulin County, and everyone parted ways, each returning home.

When Huang Qi arrived home, he saw his father, beaming with pride, and his mother, wiping her eyes.

The Huang household prepared a lavish feast to welcome him home.

“Qi’er, you did well this time,” Huang Yan praised.

Only Huang Qi’s eldest sister still wept.

There was nothing to be done—loving one’s children was every mother’s instinct.

Huang Qi smiled, then exclaimed in surprise: “Big sister, your complexion… how radiant!”

Huang Qing paused, unconsciously touching her face, feeling it had become much smoother.

Though she was beautiful, her skin had always been inferior to her younger sister’s.

Most Hu Ji women had rough skin, and she had inherited this trait from her mother.

“Really?”

The eldest sister’s gaze turned to her, then nodded: “Qing’er’s complexion really has improved—what face cream have you been using? It’s astonishing.”

“I rarely use face cream…” Then Huang Qing suddenly remembered: “Lately, I’ve been taking the pills Li Shixiong gave me—he called them Nourishing Beauty Pills.”

Beside her, Huang Ling snorted, seeming dismissive.

But Huang Yan’s brow twitched: “The pills sent by Lord Li are surely excellent—use them without worry.”

He was a beneficiary himself; after taking the Strong Body Pills, he had regained the vigor of his youth.

Now his wife obeyed him utterly, and he had reclaimed full authority in the household.

The eldest sister gazed enviously at Huang Qing’s face—how pink and delicate it had become in just a few days.

Huang Qing turned to Hong Luan beside her: “Go to my room and bring me the unopened bottle of Nourishing Beauty Pills.”

Hong Luan immediately turned and left.

Soon after, Huang Qing received the porcelain bottle from Hong Luan and offered it with both hands to her mother: “Mother, this bottle is still sealed—I haven’t used it. Take it.”

“These are the pills Lord Li gave you—how could I possibly accept them…”

Even as she spoke, she unconsciously took the bottle, cradling it reverently.

Huang Yan turned to his son: “I’ll test you—sixty years ago, there was a family renowned for alchemy. Do you know which one?”

“The Three Wangs and Five Surnames—the Juncheng Li Clan!”

Huang Yan laughed: “So you see—every family, no matter how humble, once had a foot across the one-chi threshold.”

Huang Ling felt this was a jab at her and huffed in annoyance.

(End of Chapter)