Chapter 84: Paper Figure? Real Person?

Li Lin’s first thought was that Master Zhao had conspired with the apparition to trap him.

But he soon abandoned this idea.

Because there was no need for such directness—it would be too easy to detect.

Stronger apparitions could manipulate ordinary people’s behavior through mental suggestion, making their actions far more covert.

Li Lin glanced around the room and immediately ran outside.

The yellow mist followed him out, continuing to shroud him, blocking his view of the surroundings.

Then, one by one, the small paper figures vanished.

The Qin family’s female apparition had realized that Li Lin relied on the small paper figures to perceive his surroundings.

When she sliced the last small paper figure into shreds, Li Lin lost his “perception” of the area.

“Li Lin, Li Patrol Commander… I’ve been thinking of you all along,” the female apparition drifted slowly to a spot not far from Li Lin; she spoke, yet her voice came from all directions at once: “You must repay the debt owed to my Qin family.”

As she uttered the last two words, her face twisted, her voice thick with malice.

Li Lin swung his spear around him; the blood-tinged spear tip did tear through the yellow mist, creating a momentary clarity.

But the yellow mist immediately filled the space again.

The female apparition moved behind Li Lin, her eyes gleaming with delight; her right hand transformed into a massive black claw, ready to press down on his skull.

Yet at that exact moment, Li Lin suddenly spun and thrust his spear backward, aiming for her head.

The strike was swift; the female apparition dared not continue her attack and instead raised the giant black claw before her.

Ding!

A sharp clang rang out; the female apparition stepped back several paces, and where the spear tip had touched her claw, faint smoke rose.

“A virgin!” the apparition hissed bitterly: “That bitch Liu Zhe never drained your primordial yang. Snakes are inherently lustful—why did she endure it so long? What was her purpose?”

Li Lin snorted at the sound.

He truly couldn’t see—but that didn’t mean he lacked “perception.”

The profession of Spirit Hunter was born specifically to combat apparitions; all cultivation methods that harness yin energy naturally sense the density and proximity of yin energy.

With a thought, two Soul-Calling Paper Figures chased after the female apparition.

Though these Soul-Calling Paper Figures had no combat power, they could “capture” spirit bodies.

Whether apparition or human soul.

Then he pulled out another stack of paper figures and scattered them on the ground.

As soon as they appeared, the paper figures darted and hopped about, lively and energetic.

Li Lin immediately regained his “vision”—actually, the small paper figures were providing sensory input.

Meanwhile, the female apparition frowned at the two approaching paper figures and sneered: “Liu Zhe’s paper figures? All show, no substance.”

She swept her massive black claw forward—logically, those two paper figures should have been instantly destroyed.

But at that precise moment, the left Soul-Calling Paper Figure lifted its hand and blocked the claw effortlessly.

The female apparition froze, then realized with shock that the eye of the blocking paper figure was a vivid crimson, as if shifting lights danced within it, and its lips seemed to curl in a sneer.

The other paper figure’s eyes were ordinary vermilion red.

“Liu…” Her voice broke off halfway; her body was seized by the other paper figure.

At that instant, Li Lin’s spear arrived.

With the help of the small paper figures, Li Lin saw clearly.

The spear technique, wreathed in crimson blood energy, pierced her skull, shattering her head outright.

Seeing her head begin to reform, Li Lin stabbed with his spear at maximum speed.

In an instant, he struck eight times.

The female apparition’s yin energy body could no longer hold together and dissolved into a cloud of black mist hovering in the air.

Until her death, the female apparition uttered not another word.

The black mist continuously condensed until it formed a transparent black bead, which fell to the ground.

At that moment, the red-eyed Soul-Calling Paper Figure turned, reached out, and grasped a wisp of mist in her hand.

The mist screamed within her palm, thrashing wildly as if trying to escape, yet unable to move.

Then the paper figure clenched her fist tightly, crushing the thick yellow mist into nothing.

The surrounding yellow mist gradually faded away.

Li Lin stared at the paper figure before him, disbelief in his eyes, and whispered: “Lady?”

The Soul-Calling Paper Figure ignored him, walked out of the mansion, and headed straight outward.

Li Lin immediately followed.

Seeing a moving paper figure burst from the Zhao household terrified many onlookers.

Then the Paper Figure Lady stood before the altar.

The Spirit of Shendu appeared.

Ba!

A sharp crack rang out as the Spirit of Shendu’s face was slapped sideways.

Yet he dared not resist, only grinned obsequiously.

Then the Paper Figure Lady turned to look at Li Lin—seemingly snorting—and the paper figure slowly collapsed.

No yin energy remained.

Li Lin walked over, picked up the paper figure, carefully folded it, and tucked it into his clothing.

This paper figure would now be enshrined at home.

As a family heirloom.

The Spirit of Shendu dared not look at Li Lin and hid himself within the altar.

Li Lin returned to Master Zhao’s mansion.

First, he picked up the black bead and put it in his pocket.

At this point, Master Zhao and the others had awakened, merely dizzy from the ordeal.

“It’s over—the apparition is gone,” Li Lin said with a smile.

Master Zhao looked around, clutching his head and asked confusedly: “Strange… why am I sleeping here? Wait—you’re Patrol Commander Li. Where’s my concubine?”

“Your concubine?” Li Lin chuckled. “You slept with an apparition, didn’t you?”

Master Zhao froze, then his body began to tremble.

Memories of the apparition’s interference returned to his mind—vivid and clear.

Especially the image of him engaging in carnal acts with the apparition—most distinct of all.

He felt no allure, only nausea—he wanted to vomit, for the apparition’s face was truly hideous.

“Give me your hand,” Li Lin said.

Master Zhao obediently extended his left hand.

Li Lin felt his pulse, then shook his head: “Yin energy has entered your body—you won’t live two years.”

He wasn’t lying; anyone who slept with an apparition, unless they were a Spirit Hunter, would never escape unscathed.

Master Zhao collapsed to his knees: “Please, Patrol Commander Li, save my life!”

Li Lin thought for a moment, then pulled a Life-Restoring Pill from his pack and handed it over: “One hundred taels. Take it, or don’t.”

Master Zhao didn’t hesitate—he snatched the pill and swallowed it immediately.

Soon, a cool sensation rose in his belly, spreading through his body; wherever it flowed, comfort followed, old ailments seemed to vanish, and even his mind grew clearer.

So effective?

“Patrol Commander Li, can you sell me a few more?”

Li Lin gave him a withering look: “If you weren’t about to die, I wouldn’t sell you one.”

“I’ll raise the price!”

Li Lin ignored him.

“Four hundred taels per pill! Please, Patrol Commander Li, sell me five more!”

Li Lin turned slowly, looking at him with gentle eyes: “Really?”

“Your humble servant would never dare deceive my lord.”

Li Lin pulled five pills from his pack and handed them over: “These are called Yin-Expelling Pills. You can take them if yin energy ever enters your body again. Store them in a clean porcelain bottle, in a dry place.”

Li Lin had no intention of revealing the pills’ true purpose.

After all, they were extremely precious—revealing their nature could bring death upon Master Zhao’s family.

“Thank you, my lord!”

An hour later, Li Lin left Pingzheng Village with two gold ingots.

He planned not to return home first, but to go to the county town to buy gold ornaments for the Tree Immortal Lady.

Li Lin now felt the Tree Immortal Lady’s head lacked some beautiful, glittering adornments.

(End of Chapter)