Chapter 85: No Idle Contact with Filthy Qi

Li Lin left Pingzheng Village, took a turn, and headed to the county seat.

He stayed in his new residence for one night, then went to the pharmacy the next morning to buy some finished medicinal herbs and made several batches of Body-Strengthening Pills.

He first delivered three bottles to the Huang Manor, then found Su Huafang.

Su Huafang's home was quite large too—a three-courtyard mansion—and it was located near the market, making shopping very convenient.

Li Lin sipped his tea, observing the other man's complexion: "You look a bit weak."

Su Huafang smiled awkwardly: "You're mistaken."

Just then, a young lady walked in from outside, carrying a tray of candied fruits: "Young Master, please partake."

Having spoken, she glided away with delicate steps.

Seeing the other man's truly frail appearance now, Li Lin felt certain: "You are truly depleted. No wonder you were once known as the Fragrance-Stealing Gallant..."

"Just say what you need directly. You didn't come to mock me, did you?"

Li Lin placed a bottle of Body-Strengthening Pills on the table: "I refined this medicine myself. It enhances physical strength. Even the County Magistrate praised it after taking it. Here, it's for you."

Su Huafang paused, then said: "I count as half a practitioner of the Herbal Arts; I know quite a few formulas for boosting yang. I don't need this."

"No side effects, and the effect is excellent." Li Lin thought for a moment, then added: "It's a family heirloom formula."

Li Lin knew that people of this era held an inexplicable trust in family heirloom arts.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Su Huafang immediately picked up the bottle, uncorked it, and gently sniffed the medicinal scent inside.

Then he froze: "Licorice, gentian, thunder-fused stone... wait, these herbs are all quite ordinary. How can the effect be so extraordinary?"

Being an expert, he knew the moment he smelled it; the potency of this thing was outrageous.

"Thanks." Su Huafang clasped his fists in gratitude.

He felt he truly needed this; ordinary formulas for boosting yang were no longer keeping up.

After all, having recently taken a new concubine would bring such consequences.

"Why be so polite?" Li Lin said with a smile. "Have you been running escort caravans recently?"

Su Huafang looked at Li Lin in surprise: "Are you short on money? Did you finish the thirty 【taels】 from last time?"

"Not exactly." Li Lin shook his head: "My real reason is that I want to go to Jincheng. After all... it's safer with someone else along, and I can also earn a little extra money on the side."

"Go to Changfeng Escort Agency and find He Yumao. He'll be happy to have you join."

Li Lin nodded, stood up, and said: "I take my leave. I won't disturb the Fragrance-Stealing Gallant's leisurely time."

"Get lost." Su Huafang said with a gruff, joking scowl.

Li Lin arrived at Changfeng Escort Agency and met He Yumao.

Although He Yumao was only an Escort Captain, he had absolute authority within Changfeng Escort Agency. The reason was simple: the Chief Escort was his wife, and he was a matrilocal son-in-law.

He Yumao sat in the main seat and said: "We will indeed organize over seventy people to go to Jincheng tomorrow."

"That seems a bit few," Li Lin frowned.

Generally, the average blood qi of ordinary people is slightly low; many must gather together to exert sufficient intimidation against the Wild Abominations.

The number should be at least a hundred to be relatively safe.

"But our agency has enough martial warriors," He Yumao said with a smile.

Martial warriors have abundant blood qi; one is worth several ordinary people in terms of blood qi radiance.

Li Lin thought for a moment and said: "How about we find a few more Spirit Hunters to accompany us?"

"The money wouldn't be enough to split then."

That was indeed the case.

Fewer people meant less money turned over; Changfeng Escort Agency would have to take a cut, and Spirit Hunters commanded high prices. Recruiting a few more would indeed leave insufficient funds to distribute.

"Then forget it. We'll talk about it next time." Li Lin stood up, clasped his fists, and smiled.

"No problem. The mountains are high and the waters long; there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future."

After leaving Changfeng Escort Agency, Li Lin went to the 'Yulin Silver Workshop'.

To craft gold ornaments, one must go to the commandery city; the state-run Artisan Bureau operates on a hierarchy of ranks.

Commandery cities have Gold and Silver Workshops, while county seats can only have Silver Workshops.

The Silver Workshop was right next to the Artisan Bureau... Li Lin entered, explained his purpose, and a craftsman soon came out with a catalog.

"Li Xunshou, please look. These are all the silverware styles our workshop can craft."

One had to admit that although this was a county-level Silver Workshop, the available styles were indeed numerous and quite beautiful.

Li Lin selected two new styles of dangling hairpins, two silver hairpins, and one silver bracelet.

"We'll have them ready within three days." The craftsman smiled very happily; it was another big business deal.

Li Lin paid the deposit, then returned to his new residence to rest.

Three days was nothing; he could wait.

During these three days, he primarily practiced the Short Sword Technique, while also cultivating talisman art and paper-stitching art.

The little paper men running wildly all over the floor looked quite frightening at first, but once accustomed, one would find them actually quite cute.

Now, the four little girl maids in the house would even catch these little paper men to play with them for a while before letting them go.

The three days of cultivation yielded rich rewards.

On the fourth day, he prepared to go to the Silver Workshop to collect the silverware. Just as he opened the door, he saw a government office Runner standing panting at the entrance.

"Li Xunshou, the County Magistrate requests your presence at the county government office for urgent official business."

Li Lin nodded: "Understood. I'll go back to grab my eating utensils and rush over immediately."

The government office Runner clasped his fists to him, then hurried off to notify others.

Li Lin took his red-tasseled spear, Life-Breathing Pills, and other small items, then rushed to the county government office's main hall.

A woman was kneeling there, weeping, and surrounding her were not only Spirit Hunters but also the Stone Captain of the Rural Army.

It was obvious that something terrible had happened.

Huang Yan sat in the main seat of the courtroom and nodded slightly upon seeing Li Lin.

The courtroom was silent; apart from the woman's weeping, there was no other sound.

Important figures of the county government office arrived one by one, even the rarely seen Assistant Prefect came.

Once everyone had gathered, Huang Yan said solemnly, "Guo Shi of the Changfeng Escort Agency, repeat your case once more."

"My husband, on the evening before last, led over eighty men to Jincheng. My family has conducted this business for over thirty years, and there has never been a single mishap." The woman spoke while weeping: "But yesterday, someone fled back overnight, saying something had gone wrong. My husband and those seventy-odd customers all died in the wild; not a shred of flesh remained!"

Hearing this, Li Lin was stunned.

Shortly after, he felt a sense of melancholy in his heart.

Ding Junhui was the same; in the blink of an eye, he was killed by an Apparition.

Now He Yumao was the same; just a few days ago the two of them had been chatting, and now he was gone too.

When encountering an Apparition, one careless mistake can truly lead to sudden death.

"Guo Shi, do you believe this is a murder, rather than a mishap at the Changfeng Escort Agency?"

Guo Shi wept, "My escort agency has conducted this business for decades without ever making a mistake. My husband was also a steady man... someone must have harmed them from the outside."

"Then do you have any leads?"

"Yes."

The woman suddenly looked at Li Lin.

Hatred burned in her eyes: "This Li Xunshou came to my home several days ago and discussed the business trip to Jincheng with my husband. It seemed the deal was not struck, so he left. Shortly after, my husband's side met with disaster. I suspect this matter is, to some extent, connected to him."

Everyone's gaze fell upon Li Lin.

Huang Yan looked at Guo Shi, a flash of anger passing through his eyes, then turned to Li Lin and asked, "Li Xunshou, what do you have to say?"

(End of this chapter)