New and dark light years

Chapter 159 Preemptive Strike
The next morning, Li Lin set off with the local militia.

Zhang Guangqi stood at the city gate to see Li Lin off.

Only after the two hundred local militiamen disappeared down the official road did he return with his servants.

On the city wall, County Magistrate Jiang Jili waved his fan, looked at Zhang Guangqi, and smiled slightly.

Zhang Guangqi went to the county government office and handled the county's internal affairs as usual. When he got tired, he would get up and walk around, occasionally chatting with the registrar.

Then they continued processing their tasks.

At noon, he greeted the other people in the county government office with a smile, and even greeted the county magistrate Jiang Jili, before strolling slowly home.

His wife did not live in Yulin County, but stayed in Beijing.

This is southern Xinjiang, which is almost a border region. The weather is hot, and compared to the capital city in the Central Plains, it is a relatively poor place.

People with some power or influence are generally unwilling to come.

But such places also mean there are enough achievements to 'reap'.

Huang Yan has been here for over a decade... and obtained his ticket to advancement through honest and aboveboard means.

They don't need much support from the Huang family at all.

And now, Zhang Guangqi has also come here.

He felt he could replicate Huang Yan's success.

Zhang Guangqi went to his study and began to read.

Books contain beautiful women and golden houses.

He could barely see the golden house, but the beautiful woman... he really didn't have one.

Both of Huang Yan's daughters, though from the Huang family, are stunning beauties.

However, the wife he married was of average appearance.

He was also quite arrogant.

Forget about following your husband after marriage; it's already quite remarkable if you don't beat him.

This is also why his wife stayed in Beijing and did not come to Yulin County with him.

Zhang Guangqi loved reading; he felt that reading brought him peace of mind.

No matter how sad or exciting things are, as long as he picks up a book, his heart can calm down.

Time passed quickly, but evening was approaching and the sky was getting dark.

He sat in the main hall, slowly eating his dinner.

Not long after, a dozen men in black emerged from a nearby side room.

He took out a bottle of Imperial Powder and had it poured around the main hall.

After he finished, he said, "The altar is right behind you. Carry it carefully and make sure there are no bumps or knocks."

A dozen or so men in black clasped their hands in response.

At this moment, a transparent figure appeared beside Zhang Guangqi.

None of the dozen or so men in black could see him, but Zhang Guangqi could: "Kong Donglai, whether you succeed or not, whether I can gain momentum, all depends on this."

The great demon was named Kong Donglai. He laughed and said, "It's not a big problem. I've heard of this woman, Liu Zhe. Although she has a snake body, I heard that it was caused by a curse. Her own strength is very average, and all her magic power is in that peach tree image. As long as we cover ourselves with a lot of Yin Qi stones, it won't be difficult to hide from her detection."

Zhang Guangqi nodded and said, "That's good!"

Kong Donglai laughed and said, "However, it seems that the Huang family is also declining. It has only been a little over ten years, and the brothers are already fighting amongst themselves."

“It’s good that they’re fighting amongst themselves. If they don’t, how will I have a chance?” Zhang Guangqi sneered. “I’ve had enough of the Huang family. They’re giving me a chance, so I’ll take it.”

Kong Donglai shook his head and gently said with his fan, "Intrigues and schemes are ultimately minor matters. If you are knowledgeable enough, you can walk with dignity and don't need to go to such trouble."

"Upright and honorable?" Zhang Guangqi said disdainfully, "I believed that for the first ten years of my life, which is why I accomplished nothing. I served as a county magistrate for ten years, doing so much to earn a position. As for that kid Li Lin, he's just Huang Yan's son-in-law. He's been born for less than a year and he's already a county lieutenant. If he's given another two or three years, Huang Yan will definitely promote him to the prefectural city, either as a patrol inspector or a military supervisor."

Sun Donglai looked at the other person helplessly: "What about your original intention?"

“My original intention has never changed: to achieve a position of superiority.” Zhang Guangqi snorted. “Otherwise, given that woman’s temperament and looks, how could I possibly marry her? But the Huang family ultimately didn’t help me at all. They didn’t like me working for them so cautiously. That kid Li Lin, however, caught Huang Yan’s eye. Why?”

“My patriarch is better than you in every way, whether it’s looks or talent.”

The voice appeared suddenly, carrying a strong seductive quality.

"who!"

A dozen men in black looked toward the source of the sound and then spotted a woman standing next to the blue stone altar.

This woman was none other than Li Yanjing.

She covered her mouth with green water sleeves, revealing only a pair of peach blossom eyes, which looked extremely charming.

Zhang Guangqi instinctively stepped back: "How did you get in?" "Guess!" Li Yanjing laughed.

Kong Donglai stood before Zhang Guangqi, his expression grave: "Possessed by a demon..."

"Is she the possessed ghost from Yulin County? Wasn't she supposed to have disappeared some time ago?" Kong Donglai floated over slowly and asked.

"You just said that your patriarch is better than the county magistrate in every way... So your patriarch is Li Lin?" Zhang Guangqi's eyes widened.

Li Yanjing placed her right hand on the altar and laughed, "That's right. This friend who looks like a scholar, don't come any closer. If I use a little force, this altar will be destroyed."

Kong Donglai dared not move.

Zhang Guangqi took two steps forward and said angrily, "Li Lin has a lot of nerve, daring to send a traitor to kill someone!"

"You dared to send someone to assassinate me, why wouldn't I dare!"

The sound suddenly rang out.

Zhang Guangqi felt a sharp object pressed against his back, and his whole body stiffened.

"Li Lin, didn't you leave for Tianjin?"

"Then why can't I come back?"

Kong Dong looked at Li Lin, then at Li Yanjing not far away, sighed, and said, "Guangqi, I've told you before, you must act with integrity. Look, this is retribution."

"I refuse to accept this!" Zhang Guangqi roared. "Why do you get everything done so smoothly? I just had a few wicked thoughts, and I'm caught red-handed!"

"Is it just a little wicked thought?"

With a little force, Li Lin plunged the Soul-Slaying Bone-Slaying Cauldron into the opponent's heart.

Zhang Guangqi trembled all over, trying to struggle, but he had no strength and his body slowly slid to the ground.

Kong Donglai remained motionless, only waving his feather fan and sighing softly.

Li Yanjing asked, "Aren't you going to resist?"

"No need," Kong Donglai said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "The victor is king, the loser is villain; it has always been this way." He added, "Please be swift, young lady, and don't let those mortals suffer too much."

"That's hard to say, I'm not the one who's going to make the move!" Li Yanjing laughed.

Then she slammed her right hand heavily on the bluestone altar.

Kong Donglai sighed, and his eyes began to roll back.

His face also became ferocious.

Just as he was about to lose his mind, Li Yanjing appeared in front of Kong Donglai and 'slapped' him away with a wave of her hand.

Like scattering a clump of dust.

At this moment, the dozen or so men in black finally realized what was happening and tried to escape.

But as peach petals fell from the sky, obscuring the view ahead, these petals only landed in this garden.

A moment later, the peach petals disappeared, leaving only Li Yanjing in the garden.

And a broken bluestone altar.

She looked around, then laughed, turned transparent, and disappeared into the night.

At this moment, Li Lin suddenly appeared on the official road several miles away from the county town.

There were also more than a dozen men in black nearby.

Faintly visible, translucent peach blossoms dissipated around them.

Li Lin reacted extremely quickly, leaping backward and landing on the grass beside the official road, entering stealth mode.

The men in black were somewhat stunned by the sudden change in environment.

But then they screamed in agony.

Before long, his body withered and died, and within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he was reduced to bones.

The bizarre has arrived.

Li Lin stealthily moved forward, and two hours later, he saw a campsite.

He then sneaked in without alerting anyone, found his tent, and lay down to sleep fully clothed.

About two more hours passed, and the sky gradually brightened.

Li Lin crawled out of the tent, stretched, and muttered to himself, "This ground is really uneven; it's very uncomfortable to sleep here."

Su Bei walked over and said, "County Commandant, it's my fault for not doing things properly and causing you to suffer."

"It's alright, we can just level the ground tonight." Li Lin waved his hand dismissively.

(End of this chapter)