Chapter 83: The Two Anomalies

A red-tassled spear, a small bundle containing paper figures, talismans, cinnabar, Shengxi Pills, and a few silver notes.

The distances between villages in Yulin County were not great; Li Lin reached Pingzheng Village in only half a day.

Compared to Shangtikou Village, Pingzheng Village was indeed much larger.

And its “infrastructure” was excellent.

The narrow paths in Shangtikou Village were all dirt roads.

But walking from the village entrance of Pingzheng Village, the ground was paved entirely with good-quality blue stone slabs.

Truly quite wealthy.

Li Lin’s arrival drew the attention of many villagers.

But he ignored them, instead following the density of spiritual corruption directly to the village altar.

There floated a pig, standing upright, with an elephant’s trunk.

Li Lin bowed and said: “Greetings, Zhenjun of Shendu.”

The anomaly drifted closer, its long snout sniffing twice before Li Lin’s face, then said: “You smell delicious.”

Li Lin instinctively stepped back two paces.

“If it weren’t for Liu Zhe’s sake, I’d eat you right now.”

Li Lin raised an eyebrow—apparently the Lady was even more formidable than he’d imagined.

Previously, the old anomaly of the Qin family, and now this long-nosed anomaly, both seemed terrified of her.

And this anomaly appeared far more talkative than the Tree Immortal Lady.

“May I ask, Zhenjun, what unusual events have occurred here recently?”

“Let me suck on you twice, and I’ll tell you.”

Li Lin decided against it—the scene when Su Huafang had been drained by the Zhenjun Lingti had been too gruesome to witness.

Seeing Li Lin had no intention of complying, the Zhenjun snorted and returned to the altar.

Li Lin turned around and saw a group approaching.

Leading them was a middle-aged man with a large belly, radiating the aura of a wealthy patriarch.

As he drew near, he immediately bowed and asked: “Are you the Li Patrol Inspector?”

“That’s me,” Li Lin returned the bow. “Are you by chance Squire Zhao?”

“Indeed it is I, indeed it is I,” Squire Zhao stepped forward, speaking with great respect.

He ushered Li Lin into his home—a five-hall mansion.

Such a residence was rare even in the county seat, let alone in a village.

Clearly, the Zhao family was immensely affluent.

After exchanging pleasantries in the main hall, Li Lin held his teacup and asked: “I hear there’s been an anomaly plaguing this village?”

Squire Zhao nodded.

Then he stood and said: “Please follow me.”

They arrived at the fourth hall, typically reserved for the women of the household.

Two maids opened the right-side side chamber.

“After you,” Squire Zhao gestured.

They entered the room—it was dark, all windows shut.

Only a single oil lamp glowed dimly.

Li Lin also caught a faint stench.

Not a physical odor, but the stench of malevolent energy.

So it truly was an anomaly?

“Here.”

Squire Zhao approached a bed and carefully lifted the embroidered canopy.

Li Lin’s gaze shifted to the figure lying on the bed—a woman’s form, yet on her face moved a man’s face, shifting about.

Nose, mouth, and eyes darted up and down, as if playing hide-and-seek.

Li Lin frowned—this was clearly possession by an anomaly.

Squire Zhao watched with eager anticipation: “What do you think? Is she afflicted by an anomaly?”

Ordinary people could not see the man’s face—only Spirit Hunters could.

Li Lin nodded: “It is indeed an anomaly, but this is strange.”

“How so?”

“Who is this woman to you?”

As a Spirit Hunter, he could see only the anomaly’s form, not the woman’s original appearance, nor her age.

“Concubine.”

“How old?”

Squire Zhao chuckled awkwardly: “Twenty-one!”

Li Lin nodded: “Logically, with a Zhenjun stationed here, anomalies shouldn’t be able to enter. When did this symptom first appear?”

“About ten days ago.”

“Has she been outside the village recently?”

“No.”

Li Lin pondered—he sensed no unusual events had occurred recently.

How had this anomaly slipped into a village guarded by a Zhenjun?

But he didn’t dwell on it; instead, he pulled a talisman from his bundle and pressed it onto the woman’s forehead.

Instantly, the writhing man’s face vanished.

In the past, Li Lin would have been powerless against such a thing—but now, things were different.

This was a “Calm Mind Talisman.”

Many believed the Calm Mind Talisman was meant for humans, to strengthen their will.

But they were wrong—it was originally designed for anomalies.

It was once called the “Calm Nature Talisman.”

Also known as the “Fix Nature Talisman.”

Later, as it was used more often on humans, it became known as the Calm Mind Talisman.

All anomalies are fundamentally “natures”—this talisman can temporarily suppress weaker anomalies.

“Is that it?” Squire Zhao whispered beside him.

Li Lin shook his head: “Not yet. We must pull out the possessing anomaly… Do you have large sheets of paper?”

“How large?”

“About the height of a person.”

Squire Zhao thought a moment: “Could grass-paper or bamboo-paper do?”

“That’s fine.”

Grass-paper and bamboo-paper… were low-grade paper; though usable for writing, in wealthy households they were used for wiping one’s backside.

Soon, a servant carried in a large sheet and laid it flat on the floor.

Li Lin then borrowed a pair of scissors.

He cut two paper figures and painted the image of the Tree Immortal Lady on them with cinnabar.

Li Lin infused them with yin energy.

The two paper figures came alive—one crouched down, gripping Li Lin’s ankle bones, the other moved behind him, massaging his back.

Like two gentle wives.

Squire Zhao and the servants watching this scene wore strange expressions.

Fearful, yet with a hint of envy.

Li Lin cleared his throat and directed the two spirit-guiding paper figures toward the bed.

Under his control, both paper figures extended their “hands” and pressed against the woman’s face.

Then, simultaneously, they pulled—out came a yellow, humanoid shape.

Normally, a possessing anomaly, once pulled free, would be terrified.

But this anomaly hovered midair, its eyes and nose darting randomly, emitting a shrill, eerie laugh: “Hee-hee-hee.”

Hearing that laugh, Li Lin felt something was wrong.

“Go!” Li Lin shouted to those nearby.

Squire Zhao and the others froze, then tried to flee—but it was too late.

The anomaly suddenly exploded into a cloud of yellow mist.

Darkness swallowed everything; Li Lin summoned the two paper figures back to his side.

Then he threw out over a dozen small paper figures.

These tiny figures were unaffected by the yellow mist, darting around the perimeter.

Soon, Li Lin had mapped the surroundings.

The yellow mist covered a wide area—Squire Zhao and several servants had collapsed.

Meanwhile, the woman on the bed sat up.

Laughing triumphantly in the yellow mist.

Using the small paper figure, Li Lin saw the other’s face.

That old ghost from the Qin family.

This is not one ghost, but two.

This was a trap set for himself.

Li Lin found it strange—hadn’t that old ghost been eaten by the Golden Light True Lord of Feirong County?

How is she still ‘alive’?

(End of Chapter)