Chapter 8: Unexpected Changes in Joy

"I don't know," Li Lin said sincerely.

"True, you're still a virgin; you've never been to a brothel."

At that moment, Su Huafang explained the matter. It was quite simple: the courtesans in brothels would give a "first-timer" fee to a young, handsome man who visited them and was still a virgin, jokingly called a "red envelope."

After speaking, Su Huafang smiled: "In other words, Ding Xunshou is quite interested in you."

Li Lin shook his head: "Let's forget it. Didn't you say earlier that I need yang energy to boost my vital blood? It wouldn't be good to lose my essence."

"Pure yang cannot grow; being a virgin isn't necessarily that good," Su Huafang smiled. "What I said earlier was to help you out of a tight spot. I know Ding Xunshou well; once she gets excited, she tends to get carried away and might ruin the scene, making everyone awkward. But in reality, I'm quite inclined for you to spend some time with her."

"Why? A dual cultivation method?"

Su Huafang shook his head: "The Ding family has a solid foundation, and Ding Xunshou is generous. After you spend some time with her, she will very likely give you some cultivation methods or pills. You're new to the Hunter profession; you need these things."

Li Lin understood his meaning but still shook his head.

"I was just saying that. How to proceed is up to you to decide."

Li Lin clasped his hands and smiled: "Thank you, Senior Su, for the advice."

He wasn't the type with strong male chauvinism. The reason he didn't want to follow Ding Yingchun was simple... Ding Yingchun wasn't beautiful.

Su Huafang waved his hand, indicating it didn't matter.

At that moment, someone approached and said: "Li Lin, I heard earlier that you lack killing techniques. I have a fist manual here; you can take a look."

This person was the fifth member of the squad, Zhan Shijun.

Li Lin asked curiously: "What fist manual?"

"White Tiger Reversal Stance!"

Li Lin showed a puzzled expression.

Su Huafang explained from the side: "It's a fist technique from a martial arts sect in the north, a minor fist style! But the fist intent is grand and open, and it's paired with a basic body movement technique. Combined, it's quite good, far superior to fist techniques like the Arhat Fist and Mountain-Splitting Fist."

Hearing this, Li Lin felt some interest. What he lacked most now was offensive means, so he asked: "What do I need to exchange for it?"

"Not expensive, just a handwritten copy. Thirty taels of silver will do."

"Sorry, I don't have that much money on me right now."

Zhan Shijun guessed as much. He had been a newcomer too and knew how 'poor' a Hunter without a background would be when first entering this profession!

"No problem. Next month, just give me thirty jin of your fifty jin of Blood Rice."

One tael of silver per jin of Blood Rice!

Fair enough.

Li Lin said: "Deal."

Then Zhan Shijun took a booklet from his chest and handed it to Li Lin: "Then this fist manual belongs to you, Li Lin."

"Thank you, Brother Zhan." Li Lin wasn't shy; he took the booklet and started flipping through it on the spot.

【Fist Technique +1】

【Fist Technique +1】

Just by flipping through this fist manual, Li Lin had already made 'progress'.

He flipped quickly; in no time, he finished reading the manual and felt he had a preliminary understanding of the fist technique.

After flipping through the last page, Ding Yingchun happened to return. She smiled: "Alright, next we can rest in the temple for a while. The protective barrier will last for ten double-hours, enough to hold until sunrise tomorrow."

All four stepped into this green circle, whose range had already enclosed the entire Tudimiao.

Wang Tianyou clasped his hands and smiled: "Trouble you, Ding Xunshou."

"Doing the job for money, Young Master Wang, no need to be too polite." Ding Yingchun waved her hand.

Then her gaze fell on Li Lin again, looking very enthusiastic.

Li Lin ignored her. After entering this green circle, he continued flipping through the fist manual again.

But the experience gained was obviously much less.

Wang Tianyou led the four to the entrance of the Tudimiao and pointed to a clay statue of a fairy inside: "That apparition is attached to the clay statue; it will appear at midnight."

The Tudimiao was quite clean, probably cleaned by someone regularly.

The group entered the Tudimiao and each found a place to sit.

Li Lin put away the fist manual and asked with some confusion: "Since the apparition is attached to the clay statue, can't we just dismantle this clay statue during the day?"

Everyone laughed at once, but it was good-natured laughter.

Because they had had similar questions when they first entered the Hunter profession.

Su Huafang explained: "The reason an apparition is an apparition is because it defies common sense. Even if you dismantle this clay statue many times during the day, at night, it will restore itself. To destroy an apparition, you must completely disperse its resentment."

Li Lin nodded, indicating he understood.

Afterwards, everyone started chatting. When it was almost midnight, everyone subconsciously stopped talking.

Because of the protective barrier formation, the apparitions that only appear at night cannot see here, so naturally, no one will experience illusions.

But at this moment, the resentment in the Tudimiao gradually grew thick. The eyes of the fairy clay statue, which were originally closed, were now slightly open.

Everyone knew that apparition was about to appear.

Wang Tianyou said: "Brother Li, please step out of the Tudimiao. Your yang energy is too strong; if she senses it, she probably won't dare to come out."

"Okay."

Li Lin followed the instruction and retreated outside the Tudimiao.

Sure enough, as soon as he left the Tudimiao, the eyes of that fairy clay statue opened even wider.

"Everyone, prepare."

Wang Tianyou said softly.

Everyone took out their 'weapons'.

Wang Tianyou drew a soft sword from his belt; Zhan Shijun and Ding Yingchun each held a long sword; Zhou Yutong held a pitch-black short blade; and Su Huafang held a short spear.

Only Li Lin... had no weapon.

Soon, the clay statues' eyes all opened, and the clay statues rapidly transformed into soft bodies.

Her gaze was very lively; upon seeing the five standing before her, she clearly showed an expression of shock.

"Attack!" Wang Tianyou shouted loudly.

In an instant, five spells of different colors struck the female apparition, but a layer of black qi on her body blocked almost all the spells that were thrown.

Li Lin looked at the appearance of these spells with considerable envy.

Although the female apparition possessed a strange defensive spell that blocked the attacks, her entire body was still knocked backward, crashing into the wall.

By all rights, apparitions should be able to pass through walls and could not possibly collide with solid objects, yet she had indeed collided with the wall surface and even let out a scream.

Wang Tianyou shouted again: "Brother Li, come in quickly!"

Li Lin did as told and ran into the Tudimiao.

As he approached, that female apparition suddenly became afraid; the layer of black qi on her body dissipated rapidly.

"Indeed, it is very effective."

Wang Tianyou shouted, his hands quickly forming seals, and cried out: "Seal!"

Several rays of golden light shot out from his fingers, directly wrapping around that female apparition.

Afterwards, the female apparition fell to the ground, struggling constantly, yet unable to move.

It's done!

Wang Tianyou looked at this female apparition and laughed heartily.

"Is it really that simple?" Li Lin felt it was somewhat incredible.

He just had to run in, and the matter was settled.

Wang Tianyou smiled and said: "This female apparition is not powerful; it is merely that the yin qi on her body is troublesome, capable of blocking most spells. As long as she loses her yin qi, she will be no different from ordinary demons and spirits."

So that was how it was.

Li Lin examined this female apparition with great interest.

Since this was the second apparition he could observe at close range after the Tree Immortal Lady, he naturally felt some curiosity.

After watching for a while, he discovered that this female apparition was actually very beautiful; although her body was heavy with yin qi, she was... indeed a great beauty.

Zhan Shijun suddenly asked: "Young Master Wang, must you kill this apparition?"

"Yes, I must capture it and take it home to await the elders' judgment."

Zhan Shijun felt somewhat disappointed; looking at this female apparition, he wanted to subdue her.

After all... a good-looking and practical female apparition is quite rare.

Everyone knew his thoughts, but no one exposed him.

Wang Tianyou smiled and said: "This matter has troubled everyone. Rest here until dawn; once we return to the county town, I will certainly present my reward."

The other five all laughed.

Just going out for a round and receiving a good reward; anyone would be very satisfied.

But at this very moment, the tiled roof of the Tudimiao was suddenly pierced, and countless broken tiles shot down.

Li Lin instinctively rolled, hiding behind a roof support pillar.

His reaction was already very fast, yet he was still struck on the head by a tile.

He touched the top of his head; his hand was covered in blood.

Fortunately, only the scalp was broken; the brain was not injured!

Then he poked his head out and sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

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

Moreover, a short spear had pierced her chest, and fresh blood was gushing out from the wound.

Although she had not truly died yet, there was no difference between her and the dead.

(End of this chapter)