New and dark light years

Chapter 390 The Spirit Hunters of the Two Counties Are Very Different
Magistrate Zhu of Cenxi County sat in the courtroom, sighing repeatedly.

Below him were a dozen or so Spirit Hunters.

But nearly half of them had injuries.

The dozen or so Spirit Hunters also looked helpless.

After waiting a while, Magistrate Zhu asked, "Is there really no other way?"

“Magistrate, we have already lost six brothers.” One of them clasped his hands and said, “Moreover, both Inspector Zhang and Inspector Li have died in the line of duty.”

Magistrate Zhu's face was full of gloom.

Zhang Xunshou and Li Xunshou are the two strongest spirit hunters in the county. They are indeed a bit arrogant, but that doesn't mean they are unwilling to do dangerous things.

The remaining ones were all newly recruited Spirit Hunters in the last six months. They survived, presumably by taking advantage of the chaos and fleeing as soon as the two most powerful ones died.

Magistrate Zhu thought for a while with a sense of helplessness and said, "No matter what, we will leave the strange creature in the northern mountains of our county to you. A few days ago, it flew into our county and not only injured our county's True Lord, but also used evil magic to devour hundreds of people in the county under the clear blue sky, including many women and children... This matter cannot be delayed any longer. If that creature comes again in a few days, the people of our county will suffer again."

One of the Spirit Hunters said with a bitter face, "Sir, it's not that we're unwilling, but we really can't win."

Magistrate Zhu snorted coldly, raised his right hand high to the sky in a gesture of reverence for heaven: "Since you have chosen to eat the public grain and wear this coat, then when the people are in trouble, you must stand up for them, whether they are alive or dead."

"grown ups……"

A group of spirit hunters wailed.

At this moment, an arrogant spirit hunter angrily cursed, "You dog of an official, you talk a good game, but why don't you step up first when things get tough?"

“I will sit here and live or die with this county.” Magistrate Zhu slammed his gavel heavily on the table. “I will not leave the county until all the people have left. Is that alright? Similarly, you must go and deal with that monster.”

The arrogant spirit hunter's expression was ferocious, but he said nothing more.

"Could you report this and ask someone to..."

“I sent a messenger yesterday to report the situation here, but it will take at least ten days, if not half a month, for the Demon Extermination Bureau to send men down. For these ten days... you will hold out for the people.”

The hunters were filled with wails.

Several of the spirit hunters looked at Magistrate Zhu with a fierce gaze.

Just then, a yamen runner rushed in from outside, his face beaming with joy, shouting, "Your Excellency, Your Excellency, there's good news!"

Magistrate Zhu was initially annoyed when the man barged in, but upon hearing his words, he couldn't help but ask, "What good news do you have?"

"A group of several hundred people has arrived outside the city, carrying a large banner with the character 'Li' on it," the constable said excitedly. "The city garrison dared not let them in. The leader said he was the Grand Commander of Jin County and brought his official seal, saying he was here to help us repel the monsters."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Zhu stood up abruptly, his face beaming with joy: "Really?"

The yamen runner nodded vigorously.

"Gentlemen, I'll go take a look later."

Magistrate Zhu took the lead, rushing out of the county office and heading straight for the city gate.

The spirit hunters exchanged glances and quickly followed.

Before long, these people arrived at the city wall.

"Where are those people?" Magistrate Zhu asked breathlessly.

The city garrison commander clasped his hands in a salute, then immediately walked to the battlements and pointed in that direction.

Magistrate Zhu looked over and indeed found an army setting up a makeshift camp ahead.

At this moment, a man who looked like a captain walked over and shouted, "Is anyone from above willing to come down and verify the commander's seal?"

When Magistrate Zhu looked at the soldiers' attire, he saw that more than a hundred of them were wearing armor, and the others were also wearing lamellar armor, clearly indicating that they were elite troops.

This is not an army that ordinary people can afford to support, so he immediately believed most of it.

He called out, "Excuse me, are you Lord Li, the garrison commander of Jin County?"

Li Lin stepped out from the group of soldiers, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "I am indeed the magistrate of Cenxi County. Please come down and verify my official seal."

"No need, I trust you, sir."

Magistrate Zhu had excellent eyesight; he spotted Li Lin immediately, and as rumored, he was indeed exceptionally handsome.

He turned to the people around him and said, "Open the city gates immediately."

Upon receiving Magistrate Zhu's order, the city guard immediately sent people to turn the winch.

The door slowly opened.

Li Lin said to the captain, "You will remain stationed outside until I return, understand?"

The captain clasped his hands in a fist salute and immediately ordered his men to set up camp.

Li Lin, along with eleven Spirit Hunters, went directly into Cenxi County.

Magistrate Zhu and his men had already rushed down the city wall and were waiting for Li Lin at the gate.

Upon seeing Li Lin enter, he immediately clasped his hands in greeting and said, "This humble official greets Commander Li."

Li Lin took out the official seal and handed it over with both hands: "Let me verify it first."

Magistrate Zhu took it, examined it for a while, and then returned it: "Confirmed... Commander Li, why aren't your elite troops coming in?"

"An army does not enter a city unless there is a battle; this is an ironclad rule."

“But the strange creatures…” “These matters should naturally be handled by the Spirit Hunters. Ordinary people would just be throwing their lives away.” Li Lin pointed to the eleven Spirit Hunters behind him and said, “These are the elites of Yulin County, who came here specifically to aid Cenxi County.”

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Zhu's eyes welled up with tears. He bowed sincerely to Li Lin and the others, saying, "Thank you for your support, Commander-in-Chief. On behalf of the people of Cenxi County, I express my deepest gratitude for your kindness."

Li Lin laughed and said, "It's only right. If you're paid by the government, you have to serve the people and help them through their difficulties."

Li Lin had already sized up the enemy's Spirit Hunters and, seeing that many of them were injured, nodded inwardly.

At least I didn't back down; I fought a battle.

At this moment, Magistrate Zhu turned around and glanced at the spirit hunters, even letting out a soft hum.

This attitude puzzled Li Lin.

Then Li Lin said, "How about we go to the county government office to talk first?"

"As Lord Li wishes."

The two groups then went to the county government hall.

Li Lin took the seat of honor.

Although his civil post was county lieutenant, his military post was chief military commander.

Moreover, the identity he is now using is that of the Chief Supervisor, which is naturally his superior.

“The former Japanese official heard from True Lord Lanlin that a strange creature was coming from the east and was very powerful. He knew that Cenxi could not withstand it alone, so he brought the spirit hunters from Yulin County to come and help.” Li Lin’s gaze swept over the dozen or so spirit hunters from Cenxi County below the hall, and he continued, “It seems that you have already fought against that evil creature. Do you have any experience or insights? Tell us so that we can be prepared.”

The attention of the spirit hunters in Cenxi County was drawn to the little dragon-like figure floating to Li Lin's right.

This was the first time they had seen a True Lord who could move around freely.

Upon hearing this, they all snapped back to reality.

One of the spirit hunters, a bearded man, stepped forward and said, “Reporting to the superior, that evil creature is extremely large. On the surface, it looks like a cooked red prawn, but it has many strange beetle limbs on its body.”

Liu Shen nodded repeatedly beside him.

She meant to say that's how it is.

Li Lin thought for a moment and said, "After you discovered it, do you have any weaknesses?"

A group of spirit hunters shook their heads repeatedly, their faces showing fear.

These people never actually faced the giant monster head-on. Upon seeing the two spirit hunters they were with killed in battle, they immediately ran back.

Upon seeing this, Li Lin frowned slightly.

At this moment, Magistrate Zhu clasped his hands and said, "Commander Li, this matter... is a bit difficult to talk about. Our Cenxi County has already lost two very powerful Spirit Hunters. As for them, they were both registered in the first half of the year and were not very good at fighting."

Upon seeing that Magistrate Zhu had spoken up for them, these people nodded slightly.

Someone said, "Sir, it's not that we're unwilling to fight, but we're truly incapable. In the next battle, could we be allowed to provide support from the rear?"

“Even if you’re not good at fighting, you have to step up.” Li Lin said calmly, “Once you’ve taken the government’s provisions, you can’t retreat. You can try to escape, but the five hundred elite soldiers I’ve placed outside the city are there to guard against you.”

Upon hearing this, all the hunters in Cenxi County were as if they had lost their parents.

Li Lin then nodded to Bai Liwei.

At this moment, Bai Liwei stepped forward and said, "In another hour, it will be noon. You all know that the monsters are weakest at noon. You have one hour to prepare, and then you can set off with us."

"Sir, are we really going?" the bearded spirit hunter whispered. "Many of us haven't even reached the rank of immortality. If we go, we'll just be a hindrance."

Li Lin looked at him and asked, "What's your name?"

“The villain Fu Dong.”

"Inspector Fu... I'll reiterate once again, if you're eating public food, you have to be responsible for it. If you have any more doubts, I will immediately exercise my power of execution and sentence you for desertion in the face of battle."

The man retreated dejectedly.

"Go and prepare." Li Lin then looked at Magistrate Zhu beside him: "Send yamen runners to keep an eye on them. We will meet in the north of the city in an hour. If anyone is missing, you will be held responsible."

"I obey your orders."

Li Lin's expression softened, and he asked, "Which restaurants in this county have good food?"

“The Rulin Restaurant in the north of the city.” Magistrate Zhu was taken aback for a moment, then understood what Li Lin meant: “The restaurant is closed. Yesterday, a strange creature came to the city and caused a great disturbance, consuming more than a hundred people. Now the whole county is in a state of panic, and no one dares to go out to do business.”

Li Lin also noticed that Cenxi City was very empty, with hardly anyone on the streets.

“It’s alright. Restaurants usually have food prepared. I’ll use military orders to recruit him to cook for us.”

After saying that, Li Lin got up and left with the Spirit Hunters without any hesitation.

As Magistrate Zhu watched Li Lin leave, he couldn't help but sigh, "Decisive and efficient, he truly deserves to be a renowned general whose fame has risen rapidly. His demeanor and bearing are extraordinary."

He then looked at the eleven Spirit Hunters in the hall and said calmly, "Go home and prepare."

The spirit hunters from Cenxi wanted to say something more, but in the end they all dispersed.

Magistrate Zhu snorted coldly, then sighed.

The two most responsible spirit hunters in Cenxi have been killed, and the rest are all cowards. It seems that the strange creatures in Cenxi County will be difficult to control in the future.

Thinking about this gave him a headache.

(End of this chapter)