Chapter 90: Contentment Brings Joy as Li Lang Prepares to Marry

In the Huang family’s back courtyard, 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 sent by Li Lang,” Hong Luan replied, her smile tinged with envy.

At that moment, Huang Ling walked over, saw the golden ornaments on the table, glanced at Huang Qing’s silver dangling hairpin, and snorted: “You trade gold for silver, magpie for phoenix—how can you still be happy?”

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

“Is thoughtfulness about lowering your standards of food, clothing, and daily use?” Huang Ling sighed. “Sister, I won’t oppose you anymore, but as your younger sister, I still urge you—be more careful.”

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

“Foolish sister—you call hardship fortune. Rare indeed.”

“Li Xunshou hasn’t truly established himself yet. That he gave me silver ornaments shows his heart—why ask for more?”

Seeing her sister’s blissful expression, Huang Ling didn’t know what to say; finally, she let out a soft sigh and whispered, “I swear you’ll regret this.”

“What did you say?” Huang Qing looked at her.

“Nothing. You misheard.”

…………

When Li Lin returned to Shangtikou Village, he saw the Tree Immortal Lady waiting there.

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

Without her, he couldn’t have passed even 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, took the box, and opened 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 cultivate and rest in peace—far more peaceful than in the county seat.

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

He thought the man must be afraid too.

After all, in the Hui Character Illusion, he had seen clearly how terrified the Daoist and the Bear King had been.

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 apologize to you here.”

Li Lin waved his hand: “It’s fine. It’s all past.”

Old Village Chief Zhang hadn’t meant to harm him; with the power of the Qin family’s ancient ghost, controlling an ordinary person’s mind wasn’t hard.

Hearing this, Old Village Chief Zhang relaxed.

“I heard you were 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 never returned. A few days ago, I visited him there and heard my nephew mention you.”

Hmph… so this is the power of local connections?

“This is a hand-copied medical text I had my grandson prepare.” Old Village Chief Zhang handed over a square cloth bag. “Two books—consider them my apology.”

Li Lin took it and smiled: “Thank you, Old Chief.”

“No trouble at all.”

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

Li Lin carried the texts home.

He opened “The Classic of Herb Identification” first.

After quickly reading through it, he opened “The Classic of Meridians.”

[Medical Skill +1]

[Medical Skill +1]

Though merely basic medical texts, the skill boosts were clear.

Leaving other matters aside, medical skill could mutually enhance alchemy.

After reading both books, Li Lin gained new ideas about the formula for the Shengxi Pill.

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 skill.

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

The herbs were gathered.

He began alchemy.

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

This success rate was absurdly high.

He tried eating two pills, then sat cross-legged to cultivate.

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

In other words, his small goal of becoming No. 1 in Jincheng was within reach.

Since the Shengxi Pill had been improved, the Qiangti Pill and Yangyan Dan needed upgrading too.

For the following days, he studied medical texts by day and cultivated by night.

Seven days passed in a blink; it was time again to collect the public grain.

Now, whether he ate blood rice or not didn’t matter—but to conceal the “output” of the Shengxi Pills, he still had to collect it.

At the county government office, he unexpectedly saw a familiar face.

It was He Yumao, stepping out from the jail beside the office.

After the Changfeng Escort Agency’s assets were sold, he paid large sums to the families of the dead.

The matter was settled, and He Yumao was naturally released.

He was filthy, his vital energy and spirit at rock bottom—on the verge of sudden death.

Li Lin walked over and bowed: “He Biaotou, it’s been a while.”

“Biaotou…” He Yumao’s voice was like a ghost’s: “The Changfeng Escort Agency is gone—how can I still be a Biaotou?”

Li Lin sighed: “What are your plans now?”

“I want to be buried beside my wife and children.”

He clearly had no will to live.

Li Lin said: “Don’t you want to avenge your wife and children?”

He Yumao’s head snapped up: “Li Brother, do you know where the killer is?”

“He’s from Yuecheng and has direct ties to Prince Qin Tuo.”

He Yumao’s eyes blazed with hatred.

“But before you go to Yuecheng, you must clean yourself up and eat properly.”

He Yumao took a deep breath: “Thank you, Li Brother.”

“No need to thank me.”

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

An hour later, He Yumao had devoured his food: “Li Brother, thank you for your kindness—but I have one more request.”

“Speak. If I can help, I will.”

“Teach me the Yin Fa Xin Jing. My talent in the martial path is limited—I’ve hit its ceiling. To avenge them, I must become stronger. Learning the Yin Fa Xin Jing is the best way.”

Li Lin paused: “You want to become a Hunting Spiritman? But that requires talent…”

“I have it!” He Yumao said firmly. “When I was young, someone invited me to become a Hunting Spiritman—but I thought they were too sinister and refused!”

Li Lin studied him: “You might have been able to become one before, but now your body is saturated with Yang energy cultivation—you’re no longer suited.”

“I can break my cultivation and start over.”

He Yumao’s expression turned grim.

(End of Chapter)