Chapter 90: Contentment Brings Joy as the Groom Awaits

In the back courtyard of the Huang mansion, Huang Qing opened the wooden box.

On a piece of silk cloth lay two silver ornaments.

One was a silver dangling hairpin with a magpie pendant, the other a bracelet.

Both designs were quite delicate.

Huang Qing looked delighted; she took off her golden dangling hairpin and replaced it with the silver one.

She then removed her golden bracelet and put on the silver one she had just taken out.

Afterward, she shook her head and asked, "Hong Luan, does it look good?"

"Of course it looks good—it was given by Li Lang," Hong Luan replied, her smile tinged with envy.

At that moment, Huang Ling walked over from the side; she saw the golden ornaments on the table, then glanced at Huang Qing's silver dangling hairpin, and snorted: "You trade gold for silver, magpie for phoenix—and still think you're happy?"

Huang Qing's lips curved upward: "Why shouldn't I be happy? This is Li Shixiong's thoughtfulness."

"Is this thoughtfulness—reducing your clothing and daily comforts by one rank?" Huang Ling sighed. "Sister, I won't oppose you anymore, but as your younger sister, I still urge you: be more cautious."

Huang Qing's eyes were half-lidded with joy: "That's enough. Even if he gave me only a wooden hairpin, I'd still be glad."

"Silly sister—you call it suffering a loss is a blessing, truly rare."

"Li Xunshou hasn't yet truly established himself; the fact he gave me silver ornaments already shows his heart. Why ask for more?"

Watching her sister's blissful expression, Huang Ling didn't know what to say; finally, she let out a soft sigh and murmured, "I guarantee you'll regret this."

"What did you say?" Huang Qing looked at her.

"Nothing. You misheard."

…………

Li Lin returned to Shangtikou Village and saw the Tree Immortal Lady waiting there.

He walked over and first bowed: "Thank you, Tree Immortal Lady, for your help last night."

Without the Tree Immortal Lady, he wouldn't have even passed the first invisible Li Huo Array.

The Tree Immortal Lady floated around him once, then her expression softened slightly.

Li Lin handed her the gift box: "I made some ornaments a few days ago—please accept them."

The Tree Immortal Lady blinked, then extended her hand and took the box, opening it.

Holding the three silver ornaments inside, she said nothing, closed the box, and floated away.

Li Lin was used to her coldness and paid it no mind; he turned and went home.

Here, he could practice and rest in peace—far more peaceful than in the county seat.

After resting at home for two days with a balance of work and leisure, he found no sign of that Daoist coming to trouble him, and sighed in relief.

He thought the man must be afraid now.

After all, in the Hui-character Illusion, he had seen clearly the terror on the Daoist's and Bear King's faces.

Moreover… the Flying Head Demon has limits; if that Daoist doesn't find a new body to 'revive' in soon, he'll truly become a dead head.

After two days of rest, Old Village Chief Zhang came to his door; upon seeing Li Lin, he bowed deeply.

"Li Xunshou, the matter in Pingzheng Village was my fault—I offer my deepest apologies."

Li Lin waved his hand: "It's fine. It's all past."

Old Village Chief Zhang never meant to harm him; with the power of the Qin family's ancient ghost, controlling a commoner's mind wasn't hard.

Hearing this, Old Village Chief Zhang relaxed.

"I heard earlier that Li Xunshou was looking for a few medical texts…"

Li Lin was surprised: "Who told you that?"

"The herbalist's apprentice at the pharmacy where you bought the texts is my elder brother's grandson. My brother settled in the county seat over ten years ago and hasn't returned. A few days ago, I visited my relatives there and heard about you from my nephew's son."

Hmph… this is the power of local connections?

"This is a hand-copied collection of medical texts I arranged through my grandson," Old Village Chief Zhang said, handing over a square cloth bag. "Two books—consider them an apology."

Li Lin took it and smiled: "Thank you, Old Village Chief."

"Think nothing of it."

Seeing Li Lin accept the medical texts, Old Village Chief Zhang smiled and left.

Li Lin carried the texts home.

He first opened the "Classic of Herb Identification."

After quickly reading through it, he opened the "Classic of Human Meridians."

【Medical Skill +1】

【Medical Skill +1】

Though merely basic medical texts, the boost to his abilities was clear.

Leaving other matters aside, medical skill could directly complement alchemy.

After finishing these two books, Li Lin had a new idea for the Shengxi Pill formula.

He immediately made two Soul-Guiding Paper Figures and sent them up the mountain to gather herbs, while he continued reading medical texts to improve his abilities.

By evening, the two Soul-Guiding Paper Figures returned.

The herbs were gathered in sufficient quantity.

He began alchemy.

By midnight, the new Shengxi Pills were complete: over two hundred small green translucent pills, with only one being a dud.

This success rate was absurdly high.

He tried swallowing two pills, then sat cross-legged to circulate Qi.

The new Shengxi Pills improved effects by nearly thirty percent, saving him considerable time.

In other words, that small goal of being number one in Jinmen is just within reach.

Since the Breath-Gathering Pill has already been improved, the Body-Strengthening Pill and Beauty-Preserving Pill also need to be improved.

For the following period, during the day he studied medical arts, and at night he sat in meditation to refine his cultivation method.

Time flashed past seven days, and once again it was time to go collect the public grain ration.

Now it didn't matter whether he ate the blood rice or not, but in order to conceal the 'output' of the Breath-Gathering Pill, he still had to go collect it.

Arriving at the county office, he unexpectedly saw an 'acquaintance.'

It was He Yumao, who was just coming out of the jail beside the county office.

After the Changfeng Escort Agency's assets were sold off, a great deal of money was paid out as compensation to the relatives of the deceased.

With the matter settled just like that, He Yumao was naturally released as well.

The man was covered in filth, his vitality and spirit nearly at rock bottom, the kind where one looked about to drop dead on the spot.

Li Lin walked over, cupped his fist, and said: "Escort Head He, it's been some time."

"Escort Head..." He Yumao's voice was ghastly to hear: "The Changfeng Escort Agency is already gone, how can I still be an escort head?"

Li Lin sighed and said: "What are your plans from here on?"

"I want to bury myself beside my wife and children."

The man clearly already had the will to die.

Li Lin said: "Don't you want to avenge your wife and children?"

He Yumao's drooping head suddenly jerked up: "Brother Li, do you know where that murderer is?"

"He's a man of Yuecheng, and has a direct connection to the King of Yue, Qin Tuo."

A gleam of hatred lit up in He Yumao's eyes.

"But before going to Yuecheng, you need to clean yourself up, and you ought to eat something as well."

He Yumao drew in a deep breath: "Sorry to trouble you, Brother Li."

"Don't mention it."

Li Lin led him to a nearby inn, booked him a room, had him wash up, and treated him to a meal.

Two hours later, He Yumao had wolfed down his fill: "Brother Li, thank you for your hospitality, but I'd like to ask one more favor of you."

"Go ahead, if it's something I can help with, I'll do what I can."

"Teach me the Yin Method Heart Scripture. My talent on the martial path is limited, I've already reached my ceiling. To find that man and take revenge, I need to become far stronger, and learning the Yin Method Heart Scripture is a very good way."

Li Lin was taken aback: "You want to become a Spirit Hunter? But that requires talent..."

"I have it!" He Yumao said firmly: "When I was young, someone invited me to become a Spirit Hunter, but I thought Spirit Hunters were too gloomy and refused!"

Li Lin sized the man up and said: "In the past you might have been able to become a Spirit Hunter, but now your whole body is cultivated in yang-attribute cultivation methods, you're no longer suited for it."

"I can break cultivation and start training anew."

He Yumao's expression was grim.

(End of chapter)