Chapter 82: The Duties of a Spirit Hunter

The essence of talismans and incantations is to depict various patterns on yellow paper using "dyes" such as cinnabar, black water, and animal blood; different patterns yield different effects, and then yin energy or primal energy is infused into the talismans and incantations to achieve special results.

And the Fallen Thunder Incantation... how can it be expressed through patterns?

The cold "spiritual light" just now gave Li Lin an idea.

He went to the county town again, spent a high price to buy several pieces of lightning-struck wood, and then found the paper-making bureau in the county town.

In the Great Qi, paper is state-run; ordinary people have no way to contact the paper-makers at the bureau directly.

But Spirit Hunters can.

After all, they are considered "officials."

"Master, you want all these lightning-struck wood pieces made into yellow paper?"

Li Lin nodded.

"How large should they be? What about the thickness?"

"About the same as ordinary yellow paper is fine."

"Alright then." The paper-maker understood: "But this will take some time."

"How long?"

"Depends on the weather; short, half a month; long, a full month!"

Li Lin took out a silver ingot and handed it over: "Trouble you."

"Thank you, Master, for the reward." The paper-maker happily took the silver ingot.

Afterwards, coming out of the paper-making bureau, Li Lin strolled on the street, but unexpectedly, he met Su Huafang, Bai Liwei, Bai Bufan, and Zhao Hao.

These four were covered in dust and travel-worn, and Bai Bufan's arm was wrapped in a circle of white cloth, seeming as if it were broken.

Li Lin greeted them and asked: "Have the four of you just returned from Jincheng?"

Seeing Li Lin, the four smiled kindly.

Li Lin looked at Bai Bufan: "How did you get hurt? It's perfect timing; I was just about to have lunch. This time I'll treat, and we can also chat about what happened to you in Jincheng."

All four smiled.

Zhao Hao laughed loudly: "We want the best dishes and the best wine."

"No problem."

Li Lin still had more than thirty gold ingots at home; treating them to a meal was no problem at all.

The four sat down at the "Jucai Restaurant" and chose the best private room.

While waiting for the dishes to be served, Su Huafang placed an object that looked like a completely pure, irregular crystal onto the table.

"This is the Yin Energy Stone left behind after Taowu Zhenjun dissipated."

Li Lin picked it up and felt that the thing was soft, not like the touch of crystal.

At the same time, he could sense that it contained powerful evil energy and very heavy resentment.

Then he put it back down.

It felt inferior to his Life-Breath Pill.

"Who defeated Taowu Zhenjun?"

"Bifang Zhenjun and Simiao Zhenjun." Bai Liwei looked utterly amazed: "Those two's strength was truly outrageous; we were just watching from a li away and felt an immense shock, as if we were no different from ants."

Li Lin looked at the boy beside him with the bandage: "What happened to Bufan's arm?"

Bai Bufan was extremely embarrassed: "I was blown away by the force generated during their fight and crashed into a big tree; my arm broke."

Bai Liwei cursed: "It's all because you were being foolish; we told you to lie on the ground, but you insisted on standing up."

"It was too shocking to watch; I lost my composure for a moment." Bai Bufan said helplessly.

Immediately, Bai Bufan began to tell the scene the four of them saw in the northern suburbs of Jincheng.

Three Zhenjun, each a hundred zhang tall, engaged in close-quarters combat and used techniques; wherever they passed, everything was in ruins.

Even while recalling it, the expressions of the four were extremely entranced.

But Li Lin said: "Since the Great Zhenjun are so strong, I wonder how they were subdued."

"I heard... after losing the supply of blood and qi, a Zhenjun's strength drops significantly." Su Huafang explained: "These Zhenjun can become so large actually due to the nourishment of human popularity."

Oh, Li Lin understood.

Why the Great Apparitions were willing to stay on the altars.

Su Huafang continued: "Moreover, a Zhenjun without an altar is essentially a mad Apparition, which is actually easier to deal with."

Afterwards, Su Huafang mentioned some common knowledge about the "Zhenjun," things Li Lin did not know.

This was unavoidable; no one taught him.

Before Su Huafang, he was only responsible for guiding the entry.

An hour of eating and drinking passed; after thanking Li Lin, Su Huafang and the others left.

Li Lin bought some daily necessities and returned to the village.

Since the talisman paper still required a long time, he continued to practice other martial arts.

He gave the time for the "Bai Hu Reversal Stance" to "Short Weapon Cultivation."

The secret manual sent by Wang Tianyou was called "Silver Snake in the Sleeve."

Just as the name implies, it is an assassination technique that hides a short sword in the sleeve cuff and strikes when approaching a person.

It emphasizes catching the enemy off guard.

Its techniques consist of only three moves.

Pierce the heart, stab the throat, poke the eye.

Although there are only three moves, they are all killing moves.

But to become a secret manual, there must be a reason.

The secret manual contained techniques such as how to conceal a short sword so it wouldn't fall while walking, and how to craft a short sword that blood wouldn't stick to.

These were the main points of the secret manual.

Li Lin got "stuck" at the second step.

Following the manual's instructions, after hiding the short sword in his sleeve, it would always fall out very easily as he walked.

Practicing just this technique took him seven days.

Another morning, Li Lin was running in the courtyard; he hadn't run a few steps before a short sword clattered out of his sleeve.

Li Lin put it away, and just as he was about to continue, he saw an old man approaching from not far away.

It was Elder Village Head Zhang.

The old man came leaning on a cane and stopped before the fence wall.

"Li Xunshou, may this old man say a few words?"

Li Lin wiped away his sweat and said, "Please, elder."

"I have a granddaughter who married into Pingzheng Village. A few days ago, I went there as a guest and learned that the village has recently encountered some troubles, suspected to be disturbed by apparitions."

Li Lin thought for a moment and said, "I recall that Pingzheng Village was previously guarded by the senior Sun Youyi. Unfortunately, he passed away some time ago, but there should still be a Taowu Zhenjun guarding it."

Elder Village Head Zhang shook his head: "I am not clear on that either; my granddaughter just said so. She also said that Pingzheng Village has gathered one hundred taels of silver to invite Li Xunshou to come and investigate. Whether merit is achieved or not, they will present the one hundred taels of silver."

Li Lin was even more puzzled: "Why me? Isn't there a more powerful Spirit Hunter in the county town?"

Elder Village Head Zhang explained, "Li Xunshou, you may not know, but you are now quite famous in the surrounding villages and towns."

Hmm?

Li Lin was even more confused.

Elder Village Head Zhang smiled: "The roaming apparitions outside Shangtikou Village have a history of several decades; everyone in the surrounding villages and towns knows of them. But Li Xunshou eradicated them, giving our Shangtikou Village a stable world, and this matter has already spread."

So that was it.

Li Lin began to ponder.

One hundred taels of silver was not a small sum.

But he believed Pingzheng Village could afford it.

Because this village was the largest and wealthiest in Yulin County.

Over eight hundred households, totaling more than four thousand people.

Furthermore, Pingzheng Village even had a wealthy family, the Zhao family.

The one hundred taels of silver were likely contributed by this Zhao family.

Moreover, this is also one of the duties of a Spirit Hunter.

After weighing the pros and cons, Li Lin said, "Then I will go take a look tomorrow."

Elder Village Head Zhang was overjoyed; being able to persuade Li Lin to go to Pingzheng Village to help, he felt very honored.

"Thank you, Li Xunshou. It is trouble for Li Xunshou."

Li Lin smiled; with money involved, it was no trouble at all.

(End of this chapter)