Early the next morning, Lin Ling packed her things and set off from the Fox Immortal Temple, intending to head to the Blessing Inspection Division to get a clear explanation from Xiu Jiming.
The little fox held a fried dough stick in one hand and goat milk in the other as she walked sluggishly toward the Blessing Inspection Division.
Just as she reached the entrance, she saw a slipper flying toward her.
The little fox quickly dodged to the side and immediately heard a loud commotion coming from inside.
Lin Ling looked up and saw Gong Xuance running out with a pile of cash in his arms. Her eyes widened in shock.
Gong Xuance looked up and saw Ling Ling at the door.
Before he could say anything, Xiu Jiming appeared behind him and slammed a foot down, firmly stomping Gong Xuance into the recently repaired stone tiles at the entrance.
Even though his head had cracked the tiles on the ground, Gong Xuance was still mostly fine.
He poked his head out from under Xiu Jiming’s foot with an embarrassed expression and looked up at him.
“Junior Brother, I was wrong. It’s just my nature, and I was only stealing for fun. Look, I didn’t run away. I’ll return it to the Dragon girl right now.”
Xiu Jiming said nothing and stepped directly on Gong Xuance’s face.
He looked up, smiled at Lin Ling, and said, “Ling’er, you’re here. You’re quite early today.”
Watching this scene, Lin Ling slowly placed her breakfast on the ground, pulled a page of paper from her pocket, and wrote on it: “Is this practice?”
Gong Xuance tried to speak, but Xiu Jiming kicked him, instantly making him shut his mouth.
“No, just catching a thief,” Xiu Jiming told her. He grabbed Gong Xuance by the collar, preparing to drag him back for another beating.
At that moment, Gong Xuance frantically waved at Lin Ling.
“Little Ling’er, save me! Your husband is going to skin me alive!”
Hearing that form of address, Lin Ling’s face darkened, and a blush of angry embarrassment flushed her cheeks.
She quickly stepped forward and grabbed Xiu Jiming.
Xiu Jiming looked back at the little fox in confusion.
She walked over to Gong Xuance’s side and, under his hopeful gaze, raised her foot and delivered a powerful kick straight to his groin.
Satisfied, Lin Ling clapped her hands and wrote on the paper: “Is there a place to bury him?”
Xiu Jiming looked at Lin Ling with amusement and shook his head while listening to Gong Xuance’s wails.
Lin Ling thought for a moment and pointed nearby.
“The Earth God Temple at the edge of the village looks good to me.”
Xiu Jiming’s eyes lit up, and he nodded in agreement.
“Good idea, Ling’er.”
Subsequently, Xiu Jiming placed a series of seals on Gong Xuance.
At this moment, he looked no different from the stone statues placed in the Earth God Temple.
Xiu Jiming carried him over and dumped him at the entrance of the temple, tossing some weeds onto him.
It looked as if the temple had gained an extra door god.
Lin Ling entered the Blessing Inspection Division and saw Bai Yunyun helping to collect the money scattered all over the floor.
She was confused.
‘Wasn’t this Classmate Xiao Ming’s money?’
Xiu Jiming returned carrying the money stolen by Gong Xuance. Seeming to read the confusion in her eyes, he smiled and said, “This isn’t my money. Little Fish is going home, and this is her travel fund.”
Hearing this, Lin Ling grew even angrier.
She snatched up a nearby poker, ready to help Gong Xuance with some intestinal clearing.
Just as she was about to go give him a piece of her mind, Zhao Yuyu called out to her.
“Lingling, I have something to tell you all.”
Lin Ling looked at her in confusion.
Zhao Yuyu looked a bit embarrassed as she glanced at Bai Yunyun and Gu Xiao, then at Xiu Jiming.
Finally, she took a deep breath and said to Lin Ling, “I’m sorry, everyone. I might have to step away for a while.”
“Are you leaving the Blessing Inspection Division?” Gu Xiao asked, startled.
Zhao Yuyu sighed.
“I’ve been away from home for so many years, staying here. I’ve long since treated this place as home.”
She scanned the newly renovated office and continued, “I am twenty-one years old this year. I cannot continue like this. There are no cultivation techniques in the Blessing Inspection Division that suit me. So, I have to go back to the Dragon Tribe for a visit.”
“Don’t worry, though. I’ll be back soon. When I do, don’t be surprised when you see how much I’ve improved.”
Zhao Yuyu smiled, but a tear subconsciously rolled down her cheek.
Lin Ling stepped forward, stood on her tiptoes, and patted Zhao Yuyu on the shoulder.
Bai Yunyun stepped forward as well, patting her other shoulder and saying earnestly, “Fishy! Don’t worry. This will always be your home. As long as you want to come back, we’ll be here.”
Xiu Jiming crossed his arms and looked at Zhao Yuyu with a smile.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you more. I don’t have any Dragon Tribe techniques here. Over the past few years, I’ve been trapped by my inner demons and couldn’t even escape their haze myself. I’ve held you back.”
Zhao Yuyu laughed and said, “No need to say so much, everyone. I’m just going back for a visit. It’s not like I’m never coming back.”
Bai Yunyun stepped forward to hug Zhao Yuyu.
“Fishy, if you don’t come back, I’m going to eat all the snacks you left behind.”
Zhao Yuyu glanced at her with feigned disgust, though she was moved.
She hugged Bai Yunyun back.
Only then did Lin Ling notice she had already prepared her luggage.
“Well then… everyone, goodbye.”
Zhao Yuyu bowed slightly to the four of them and turned to leave.
Lin Ling watched her walk away in silence, feeling a surge of sadness.
Over the past month, she had played and joked with the three girls, long since considering them close friends.
Knowing she wouldn’t see her for a long time made her feel quite down.
Then she thought of Gong Xuance stealing Zhao Yuyu’s money and smiled with satisfaction.
‘Talk about perfect timing.’
She was looking for a way to vent her feelings, and this jerk had delivered himself on a silver platter.
Seeing Lin Ling rush out aggressively with a club, Xiu Jiming didn’t say anything.
Instead, he secretly cast a spell on the wooden stick in her hand so it wouldn’t break so easily.
Soon after, waves of heart-wrenching screams echoed from the Earth God Temple at the edge of the village.
After giving Gong Xuance a thorough thrashing, Lin Ling returned to the Blessing Inspection Division to ask Xiu Jiming about talismans.
Xiu Jiming fell into thought, looking a bit troubled.
“I am a sword cultivator,” he said.
“In truth, I don’t know much about talisman cultivation. Most of the formations I set up are also related to swords.”
Lin Ling’s eyes dimmed.
“However, if you want to pursue the path of a talisman cultivator, I can take you to the headquarters of the Yunzhou Blessing Inspection Division first.”
Lin Ling’s eyes lit up, and she asked excitedly, “Can we really go?”
Xiu Jiming smiled.
“It just so happens that I heard the Shadow Mountain Rain-Listening Pavilion’s influence in Yunzhou has been severely struck. I’m afraid they cannot complete the task of escorting Gong Xuance back to the capital. We’ll make the trip ourselves. We can go to the Yunzhou Blessing Inspection Division and hand Gong Xuance over to them to be escorted to the capital.”
“Moreover,” Xiu Jiming paused before continuing, “we might be able to find information related to the Yuzhou Case there.”
Hearing this, Lin Ling’s gaze gradually grew cold and focused.
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