Chapter 8: Joy Turns to Change

“I don’t know,” Li Lin said sincerely.

“That’s right, you’re still a virgin—you’ve never been to a brothel.”

Su Huafang then explained the matter: it was simple—prostitutes in brothels would give a “Newbie Fee” to young men who visited them and were still virgins, jokingly called a “red envelope.”

After speaking, Su Huafang smiled: “In other words, Ding Xun is quite interested in you.”

Li Lin shook his head: “No thanks. Didn’t you say I need yang energy to boost my blood and qi? Losing my essence wouldn’t be wise.”

“Solitary yang doesn’t grow; being a virgin isn’t necessarily better,” Su Huafang chuckled. “I said that earlier just to get you out of a tight spot. I know Ding Xun—once she gets excited, she gets carried away and ruins the mood, leaving everyone awkward. But honestly, I’d prefer you spend some time with her.”

“Why? For dual-cultivation techniques?”

Su Huafang shook his head: “The Ding family has deep resources, and Ding Xun is generous. After spending time with her, she’ll likely give you some techniques or elixirs. You’re new to the Hunter’s path—you need these things.”

Li Lin understood his meaning, but still shook his head.

“I’m just suggesting—it’s still your decision how to proceed.”

Li Lin bowed and smiled: “Thank you, Senior Su, for your advice.”

He wasn’t some arrogant man—his reason for refusing to follow Ding Xun was simple: Ding Xun wasn’t beautiful.

Su Huafang waved his hand, unconcerned.

At that moment, someone approached and said: “Brother Li, I heard you lack combat techniques. I have a fist manual you might want to see.”

The man was the fifth member of the squad, Zhan Shijun.

Li Lin asked curiously: “What kind of fist manual?”

“White Tiger Rolling Frame!”

Li Lin looked puzzled.

Su Huafang explained beside him: “It’s a fist style from a northern martial sect—a minor style! But its fist intent is broad and open, paired with a basic body movement technique. Together, it’s quite decent—far superior to Arhat Fist or Mountain Splitting Fist.”

Li Lin grew interested—he most needed offensive techniques—and asked: “What do I need to trade?”

“Not expensive—it’s just a handwritten copy. Thirty taels of silver.”

“Sorry, I don’t have that much cash on me.”

Zhan Shijun anticipated this—he’d been a newcomer himself and knew how “poor” a Hunter with no background could be when starting out.

“No problem. Next month, give me thirty jin of blood rice from your fifty-jin quota.”

One tael of silver per jin of blood rice!

Fair enough.

Li Lin said: “Deal.”

Zhan Shijun then pulled a booklet from his chest and handed it to Li Lin: “Then this fist manual is yours, Brother Li.”

“Thank you, Brother Zhan,” Li Lin said without hesitation, taking the booklet and flipping through it on the spot.

【Fist Art +1】

【Fist Art +1】

Merely flipping through the manual, Li Lin had already gained “progress.”

He turned pages quickly and soon finished the entire manual, his mind gaining a preliminary understanding of the fist style.

As he turned the final page, Ding Xun returned. She smiled: “Alright, we can rest inside the temple for now. The protective array will last ten hours—plenty to hold until tomorrow’s sunrise.”

All four stepped into the green circle, which now enclosed the entire Tudimiao.

Wang Tianyou bowed and smiled: “Thank you, Lady Ding.”

“Paid to do a job—no need to be so formal, Young Master Wang,” Ding Xun waved dismissively.

Then her gaze fell on Li Lin, her expression lively with interest.

Li Lin ignored her. Once inside the green circle, he resumed flipping through the fist manual.

But the experience gained was clearly much less.

Wang Tianyou led the four to the temple entrance and pointed to a clay statue of a goddess: “The wraith is possessing that statue—it’ll appear at midnight.”

The Tudimiao was clean, likely regularly swept.

The group entered and found places to sit.

Li Lin put away the manual and asked curiously: “If the wraith is possessing the statue, why not just dismantle it during the day?”

Everyone burst into laughter—good-naturedly.

They’d all asked the same question when they first became Hunters.

Su Huafang explained: “Wraiths are wraiths precisely because they defy logic. Even if you dismantle the statue a hundred times during the day, it’ll restore itself at night. To destroy a wraith, you must scatter all its resentment.”

Li Lin nodded, understanding.

The group fell into casual chatter until nearly midnight, when everyone unconsciously fell silent.

Because of the protective array, the wraiths that only appeared at night couldn’t see inside, so no illusions formed.

But the temple’s resentment was growing thicker—the goddess statue’s eyes, once closed, now slowly opened.

All knew the wraith was about to appear.

Wang Tianyou said: “Brother Li, please step outside the temple. Your yang energy is too strong—if she senses it, she won’t dare emerge.”

“Alright.”

Li Lin stepped out as instructed.

Sure enough, the moment he left, the statue’s eyes opened faster.

“Everyone, prepare.”

Wang Tianyou whispered.

All drew their “weapons.”

Wang Tianyou pulled a flexible sword from his belt; Zhan Shijun and Ding Xun each drew long swords; Zhou Yutong held a black short blade; Su Huafang carried a short spear.

Only Li Lin… had no weapon.

Soon, the statue’s eyes fully opened, and its clay form rapidly softened into a supple body.

Her gaze was vivid—when she saw the five standing before her, she clearly looked startled.

“Attack!” Wang Tianyou shouted.

Instantly, five colored spells struck the female wraith—but a layer of black qi around her blocked nearly all of them.

Li Lin watched the spells with envy.

Though the wraith’s defensive qi blocked the attacks, her entire body was flung backward, crashing into the wall.

Normally, wraiths pass through walls—they shouldn’t be able to strike solid surfaces—but she clearly hit the wall and screamed.

Wang Tianyou shouted again: “Brother Li, come in!”

Li Lin obeyed, running into the temple.

As he approached, the female wraith suddenly grew terrified—her black qi rapidly dissipated.

“It works!”

Wang Tianyou shouted, rapidly forming hand seals: “Seal!”

Several golden rays shot from his fingers, wrapping tightly around the wraith.

The wraith collapsed to the ground, writhing helplessly.

Success!

Wang Tianyou laughed heartily at the wraith.

“Was it really that simple?” Li Lin found it unbelievable.

He just walked in—and it was over.

Wang Tianyou smiled: “This wraith isn’t powerful—her yin qi is just annoying, blocking most spells. Once that’s gone, she’s no different from ordinary ghosts.”

So that’s how it worked.

Li Lin studied the female wraith with interest.

This was the second wraith he’d observed up close since the Tree Immortal Lady—and naturally, he was curious.

After watching awhile, he realized the wraith was strikingly beautiful. Though heavy with yin qi, she was undeniably a great beauty.

Zhan Shijun suddenly asked: “Young Master Wang, must you kill this wraith?”

“Yes. I must take her home for my elders to decide her fate.”

Zhan Shijun looked disappointed—he wanted to subdue her.

After all… a beautiful, useful female wraith was rare.

Everyone understood his thoughts, but no one called him out.

Wang Tianyou smiled: “Thank you all for your help. Rest here until dawn. When we return to the county, I’ll reward you properly.”

The other five all laughed.

Just a simple outing—and a good reward awaited. Who wouldn’t be satisfied?

But at that moment, the temple roof suddenly shattered—shards of tile rained down.

Li Lin instinctively rolled aside, hiding behind a central pillar.

He reacted quickly—but still, tiles struck his head.

He touched his scalp—his hand came away bloody.

Fortunately, it was only a scalp wound—no brain damage!

He cautiously peeked out—and sucked in a sharp breath.

Ding Xun lay on the ground, her eyes wide open, filled with disbelief.

And through her chest pierced a short spear—blood gushed from the wound.

Although she had not yet truly died, she was no different from the dead.

(End of Chapter)