New and dark light years

Chapter 486 Another Deal with the Ding Family
Seeing the other person's appearance, Li Lin became interested and sat down again: "Tell me about it."

He wasn't particularly interested in the private disputes within the Tang family, but if they concerned him or were beneficial to him, then listening wouldn't hurt.

"How many Gu people have you killed, Military Governor?"

"If you include the battlefield, then there are many."

In the war against the Southern Barbarians, Li Lin burned tens of thousands of Gu people with just two fires.

"What do you think of this intelligence if I told you that at least half of our Tang family members are Gu people?"

Li Lin subconsciously raised an eyebrow.

He then asked, "Is your father, Commander Tang, also a Gu practitioner?"

"I don't know." Tang Chun shook his head: "But I do know that Tang Huai, Tang Bai and the other two, Tang Song, are already Gu people. There is a faint stench on them that cannot be covered up by incense."

If the stench of insects is noticeable even to ordinary people, it indicates that the degree of Gu manipulation has reached a very high level.

If Li Lin were to encounter it, it would probably smell so bad that it would make him feel nauseous.

Li Lin shook his head: "This is not a reason for you to come here, and this information is not very valuable."

Even the Crown Prince has become a Gu poison master, so what's so strange about the Tang family army becoming Gu poison masters?

As for why there are fewer Gu people in Jin County, it is probably largely due to the Liu sisters.

Liu Shen, in particular, has a very strong sense of territory and always patrols a large area.

That area happened to be bordering Yue County.

She'll definitely kill any bugs she sees.

“Of course it’s not just this much information.” Tang Chun took a deep breath and said, “I suspect that my father is also cultivating immortality.”

Li Lin raised his eyebrows.

How can you be so sure?

“I was in charge of the scheduling and storage of the White Elephant God's meat,” Tang Chun said. “A batch of White Elephant God's meat was sent into my father’s backyard and never came out again. That was not a quantity that an ordinary person could eat.”

"how many."

"At least three thousand catties."

Even Li Lin was surprised by such an exaggerated number.

It took the Tang family army only two years to obtain the flesh of the White Elephant God.

Even if Tang Qi ate the flesh of the White Elephant God every day, he would still have to eat at least five catties a day.

At first glance, this doesn't seem like an exaggerated number.

The problem is that it's the flesh of a white elephant god, an extremely nourishing substance.

An average person can eat three or four ounces at a time and be able to go without meat for several days.

If you eat any more, you'll explode and die.

This stuff is even an extremely high-grade medicinal ingredient for alchemy.

In other words, eating five catties of white elephant meat a day would be too much for even a martial arts master, let alone a normal person.

Therefore, Tang Qi may also be practicing cultivation.

Otherwise, there would be no way to digest the flesh of these white elephant gods.

Or... like Li Lin, it was used for alchemy.

But this is unlikely, since alchemy is not a common technique.

Li Lin narrowed his eyes and then said, "This intelligence has some value, but it's still not enough."

"I have another little piece of information that I hope you will listen to, sir."

"Go ahead."

“I have secretly hidden two thousand catties of white elephant meat, which I am willing to offer to you, sir.”

Li Lin paused for a moment, looked at the other person, and smiled somewhat strangely.

Two thousand catties is indeed a large quantity, but the other party is so corrupt that they even secretly hid some of their own belongings.

If we actually accept him as an official, it wouldn't be a good thing.

"Your Excellency must think I'm a traitor, an unfilial son!" Tang Chun seemed to have guessed what Li Lin was thinking, and he said with a wry smile, "I also have my reasons."

"What's the reason?"

“That was the money I had saved for my mother. I originally planned to sell it secretly to give her money so that she could have a better life in the future.” Tang Chun’s eyes were filled with barely concealed anger. “But three months ago, my mother suddenly fell ill and passed away in less than two days. At the time, I was out procuring supplies. By the time I got home, my mother had already been buried, and her body had even been taken to the mountain, where it was devoured by monsters, leaving only bones.”

Li Lin listened quietly.

Just as Li Lin had predicted, Tang Chun was indeed going to betray the Tang family because of family discord.

Tang Chun continued, "On the surface, I pretended not to know anything and just observed the mourning period as usual, but secretly I sent my confidants to investigate. Although I am a son of a concubine, I still have a few subordinates. The investigation revealed that my mother was suspected of being insulted and killed by a legitimate son."

A dramatic family drama.

Li Lin wanted to laugh, but he held it in, because it would be too impolite to actually laugh.

He wasn't mocking Tang Chun, but rather laughing at how tasteless and disgusting such a thing was.

Then, somewhat puzzled, he asked, "How old are you?"

At this moment, Tang Chun looked like a middle-aged man in his thirties.

His mother must be at least forty-five years old, or even fifty.

Generally speaking, at this age, an average woman is already past her prime.

Unless his mother is exceptionally gifted and ageless.

Tang Chun said awkwardly, "I am twenty-one years old."

Li Lin sighed helplessly.

Another Zhao Xiaohu. Some people are clearly young, but they have already entered old age.

According to the modern tradition that women generally marry at the age of fifteen, his mother was actually under forty.

That is very likely because she still retains her charm.

Moreover, as Tang Qi's concubine, she should be quite beautiful.

Thinking about it this way, it makes perfect sense.

"Then why don't you ask...Marshal Tang for help and ask him to uphold justice?"

"Just a concubine," Tang Chun sneered. "Do you know how many concubines General Tang has?"

"How many!"

“At least thirty, and that’s just the ones I know by name.” Tang Chun’s eyes blazed with anger. “It’s said that he also gave quite a few concubines to his subordinates as a sign of favor. How could he punish his own son for the sake of a concubine?”

Li Lin shook his head helplessly.

"Okay, I understand," Li Lin said. "Where do we get the White Elephant God's flesh?"

"I secretly stored it in a border town not far from here," Tang Chun said. "Sir, you only need to send a dozen or so men with me to secretly go there and retrieve it."

"How can you guarantee that this isn't a scheme devised to escape?"

"Since you are skilled in alchemy, you must know how to concoct poisons. Give me poison, the kind that takes effect on time."

"Alright, you rest first. I'll have someone come find you tomorrow, and bring you poison as well."

Tang Chun breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "I will certainly not disappoint you, sir."

Li Lin smiled, didn't reply, and then left.

He didn't really believe Tang Chun's words, but it didn't matter. He would just give the other party a 'poison pill' and send twenty or thirty people to follow him.

If I could really get two or three thousand catties of white elephant meat, I'd be guaranteed to make a profit.

If it's fake, those people will find a way to kill him.

After giving his instructions to the head of his personal guards, Li Lin then left the matter alone.

He changed into casual clothes, took more than twenty personal guards, and rode his horse to the outside of the Ding residence in Gui County.

Li Lin remembered that Zhao Xiaohu should still be in Guicheng, so he came to check.

The gatekeeper of the Ding residence was visibly startled when he saw Li Lin, then immediately came over, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble servant greets the Military Governor." "You still remember me?" Li Lin asked with a smile.

"Of course I wouldn't forget," the gatekeeper said sincerely. "The governor's appearance is extraordinary, and his demeanor is unparalleled. I have never seen anyone more distinguished than you, so naturally I cannot forget you."

"Thank you for the compliment." Li Lin waved his hand. "I've come to visit Patriarch Ding and also to see my friend Zhao Xiaohu. Are you both at home?"

"Yes, yes, yes, everything is here," the gatekeeper said hurriedly. "Please come in and rest, sir. I will go and inform the two masters immediately."

Li Lin led his personal guards into the front courtyard. The gatekeeper sent someone to inform the head of the household while urging the maids to serve tea to Li Lin.

The Ding family, being local strongmen in Guicheng and a family of cultivators, served quite good tea.

Not long after, Zhao Xiaohu appeared first. He ran over, with a big beard. As soon as he saw Li Lin, he rushed over, grabbed Li Lin's leg, and started crying.

"Brother Lin, you finally came to see me. Ahhhhh, I missed you so much."

He was burly and had a full beard, looking every bit the middle-aged man, but Zhao Xiaohu was only a little over seventeen years old at the time.

Li Lin patted Zhao Xiaohu's head helplessly: "Stop howling, you're a grown man, why are you still crying?"

“I missed you, and I missed Ada and Amu.” Zhao Xiaohu stood up with red eyes. “I heard you came to Guicheng a while ago. I wanted to go to the government office to find you, but Sister Qiu said you were very busy and told me not to bother you.”

Li Lin smiled inwardly.

Ding Yingqiu was clearly overthinking things; she was afraid that Li Lin would become successful and therefore looked down on Xiao Hu.

If Xiaohu were to rush over rashly, he might be ridiculed or disliked.

"Has your baby been born yet? Judging by the time, it should be close."

"It will be soon, probably within the next two weeks."

These words came from the side. Li Lin looked over and saw Ding Yingqiu walking over with a big pregnant belly.

She subconsciously supported her waist, afraid that her slender waist would break from the weight of her big belly.

Zhao Xiaohu quickly ran over to help her.

The two approached Li Lin at the same time. Ding Yingqiu bowed slightly and said, "Your Excellency, I am pregnant and cannot bow to you. Please forgive me."

"Why be so polite, Inspector Ding?" Li Lin said helplessly. "Xiao Hu is my brother, and you are my colleague. Let's just keep things as usual."

Upon hearing Li Lin's words, Ding Yingqiu's eyes lit up with joy: "Then my husband and I are honored to be married to him."

She was very happy inside.

After all, Li Lin hadn't forgotten the past and still remembered Zhao Xiaohu, his 'brother,' which was of great benefit to the Ding family.

The benefits are greater for the husband.

Zhao Xiaohu was completely bewildered at this moment.

In his view, Brother Lin was still the same as before, very affectionate towards him.

As for Li Lin's identity, he didn't care at all.

Zhao Xiaohu helped his wife sit down, then went to Li Lin's side and said, "Brother Lin, would you like me to show you around Guicheng? There are many fun places here, much better than our village."

Li Lin smiled and said, "I came here today because I have some things to take care of. I'll come back in a few days to ask you to go out for a stroll."

"well."

Ding Yingqiu looked at her husband with joy in her eyes.

My husband... he may be a bit foolish, but he's blessed.

At that moment, another middle-aged man walked in.

Before he even sat down, he clasped his hands in greeting as he walked, saying, "Distinguished guest, we were unprepared for your visit. I apologize for any inconvenience, Lord Li."

“Patriarch Ding, there’s no need to be so polite.” Li Lin stood up and returned the greeting with clasped hands: “Xiao Hu and I are brothers, and I am also familiar with Patrolman Ding. Patriarch Ding, please treat me as a friend or relative who has come to visit.”

"You flatter us, sir," Ding Feng said, bowing repeatedly.

Then sat down.

Zhao Xiaohu looked around and found a seat to sit down.

Li Lin said, "I was busy with official business before, so I couldn't come to visit in time. Now that I've finished my business, I came to see you."

"I've heard about it, I've heard about it."

How could I not hear about it?

Li Lin's takeover of Guicheng was such a big commotion, everyone knows about it.

The main reason I came here this time is to bring two secret manuals for Xiaohu.

Li Lin took out two booklets from his pocket.

"These are paper-making techniques and breathing exercises, a gift for Little Tiger."

Upon hearing this, both Ding Feng and Ding Yingqiu's expressions changed.

Their eyes were filled with surprise.

Although the Ding family had lived in Guicheng for a long time, they were very well-informed.

They had heard what Li Lin had done in the capital.

They had also heard about how the art of paper-making had changed in the martial arts world.

Actually, their family also knew the art of paper crafting, but... even the most talented disciple in the clan could only manage to summon three soul-summoning paper figures at the same time, which was already quite remarkable.

It's simply impossible for someone like Li Lin to control two or three thousand paper figures at once, forming a massive army that is invincible.

Therefore, the value of the annotated version of the paper-making technique by Paper Prince is unimaginable.

With the two booklets placed on the table, the Ding father and daughter's breathing became heavy.

Zhao Xiaohu remained the same as before, only asking with great interest, "Are these two skills very powerful? How do they compare to the White Tiger somersault stance you taught?"

Before Li Lin could answer, Ding Yingqiu said, "Little Tiger, why don't you thank Lord Li?"

"Oh, thank you, Brother Lin," Zhao Xiaohu said, scratching his head sheepishly.

Li Lin waved his hand: "It's alright. As I said before, I will try my best to teach you magic. These two are just enough to get you started. If you don't understand them, I'll have Ding Xun Shou teach you."

“Okay, Sister Qiu is very smart, she will definitely be able to learn it and then teach me,” Zhao Xiaohu said innocently.

Ding Yingqiu's breathing became heavier.

She understood what Li Lin meant.

You members of the Ding family can learn it too, it doesn't matter.

It really doesn't matter. He gave the Immortal Cultivation Breathing Technique to the five members of the Immortal Seeking Society. There shouldn't be any problem in passing on this basic technique.

In cultivation, besides techniques, the 'elixir' is also very important.

Breathing techniques alone are only the beginning. Without the aid of elixirs, the small spiritual vein in Li Lin's family, and the complementary nature of dual cultivation methods, one cannot progress.

Even if they manage to get started, they'll only ever be considered beginners for the rest of their lives.

Ding Feng took a deep breath, stood up, and said, "Since you are so generous, I cannot remain indifferent. Please follow me."

Li Lin was somewhat surprised, but still got up and followed Ding Feng.

Zhao Xiaohu wanted to follow, but Ding Yingqiu stopped him: "The adults are on business, don't follow them."

"I'm an adult too..."

"Be good, listen to me. I'll give you milk tonight."

Ding Yingqiu's appearance was quite ordinary, but when she spoke these words, she exuded a bewitching charm.

"Okay." Zhao Xiaohu nodded expectantly.

On the other side, Ding Feng led Li Lin through the twists and turns of the house, finally arriving at the storeroom, and then entering a basement.

Before me are various different objects.

There are approximately over a hundred items.

They were arranged very systematically on the shelf.

The vast majority of the artifacts exuded a faint aura of divine power.

"My lord, please feel free to choose two items you like to play with."

(End of this chapter)