Lin Jin didn’t stay with the Qiaos for a meal as he had more pressing issues to tend to.
He didn’t take the number plate either. The Qiao family could have more time to consider handing it over while Lin Jin, had more time to investigate the mystery behind the Visitation Hall in greater detail.
For the time being, the wooden plate wasn’t that important.
Furthermore, the Demonic Appraisal Association was somehow involved in this matter as well.
They knew about the Qiao family’s treasure, and how valuable it allegedly was. Lin Jin couldn’t make light of the situation now as it concerned the Visitation Hall, so he needed more certain answers.
He planned to travel to the royal capital’s headquarters on eagleback as they would surely have more information on the Demonic Appraisal Association.
Lin Jin had a one-track mind. Once he decided on something, he would commit to the activity until the very end.
While it seemed like the Qiao family’s crisis was resolved, the danger persisted nevertheless. No one knew when the Demonic Appraisal Association would return and since Lin Jin had already guaranteed their safety, he would surely see it through.
Thus, before departing, Lin Jin instructed White Ape to remain with them.
White Ape had gained lots of valuable lessons from following Lin Jin around, from his travels to the royal capital, as well as the most recent trip here to Reed City. After his hyoid bone was refined, so too did his intelligence. This meant that his mastery of Demonic Transformation was now second only to Shang’er. Although he was only a Rank 3 monster, he didn’t pale in comparison to a Rank 4 pet beast. With him around, the Qiao family should be safe for now.
As Lin Jin was sure that the Demonic Appraisal Association would return, the Qiao family needed more attention from him. Even with White Ape temporarily stationed here, Lin Jin considered sending Shang’er and Little Five here later on as well. Only with this arrangement could he rest easy.
It would have taken Lin Jin quite the effort to travel to the royal capital in the past. But now that he had an eagle, traveling was such a breeze that he could travel to and fro on the same day.
However, by the time he departed, it was already dark outside. Still, traveling by eagle at such an hour was a novel experience too.
***
Most parts of Maple City were dead quiet by nightfall as folks here lived normal and honest lives. Only rich scions would opt to visit money-squandering establishments such as Grace Pavilion.
Shang’er was currently reading in the study. Since Lin Jin wasn’t home, she would always be found in his study and while she had read most of the books here, some were still able to increase her knowledge, bit by bit.
Just then, her defined eyebrows twitched and she glanced out the window.
“Who’s there? How dare you infiltrate our Lin Manor!” Shang’er warned softly before exhaling a breath of demonic energy through her rosy lips.
As the demonic energy came into contact with the burning candle on the table, it turned into a fire snake and slithered out of the window. Simultaneously, Shang’er put down her book and stepped outside.
Perched atop the walls on the inner yard was a man’s silhouette.
Shang’er’s fire snake had slithered over to him by now but the man showed no signs of retreating. Upon seeing Shang’er, he bowed. “Please don’t be startled, young lady. I am Old Coffin, and I am here to meet Appraiser Lin. I haven’t seen him for an entire day now so it is unfortunate that I have to barge in like this…”
The fire snake stopped about less than an inch from the man.
Indeed, the man didn’t seem like he was going to back off soon. With a gentle push of her feet, Shang’er swiftly appeared before the man. Her speed made Coffin Man’s hair stand on its end.
Despite having seen so many experts, no one was as agile as this young lady. If she wanted to kill him, he would have been dead by now.
“You’re looking for Master Lin?” Shang’er mumbled to herself. Then, as if she had recalled something, she asked, “You’re not here to pick up Zombie Ctuhlhu, are you?”
“Indeed, I am here for that!” Coffin Man answered quickly.
Shang’er remembered that before Lin Jin left, he reminded her that someone by the name of Coffin Man or Old Coffin would come to retrieve Zombie Cthulhu. If he couldn’t return in time, Shang’er was supposed to hand the creature over to its owner.
She was too immersed in reading earlier that she has almost forgotten about it.
Shang’er invited Coffin Man in and instructed Little Five to prepare some tea. Coffin Man trod carefully. Although a villainous expert such as himself struck terror in others by his presence alone, at Lin Jin’s manor, even if the owner wasn’t at home, Coffin Man dared not behave presumptuously.
“Master Lin has already informed me that if you came, we are to let you take Zombie Cthulhu away.” Shang’er flashed a faint smile at him while Little Five studied his face with a curious expression.
Not a lot of people dared to look Coffin Man in the eyes due to his harrowing appearance. However, the tables were now turned. He was the one feeling uncomfortable in their presence instead.
It was mainly because Coffin Man could tell that both these girls weren’t human.
If they weren’t human, they must be monsters. And monsters who could take on human forms were nothing but scary.
Coffin Man wasn’t exactly young. He was as famous as Madam Ghost Child fifty years ago. It was the time when they were widely recognized as the Five Lingnan Deities. The things he had seen and heard of were something no average person could compare to.
He had seen many monsters too. Some were pals, with whom he shared drinks and fought life-threatening battles. He had slain a few before too, so Coffin Man knew quite a bit about monsters.
And yet, these two girls were different. While one was less intimidating, Coffin Man was sure that if the girl were to attack him with her fire snake, he wouldn’t be able to parry more than a few of her attacks.
Coffin Man couldn’t help but feel surprised by how many hidden talents Appraiser Lin had in his home.
Just then, there was movement outside and Coffin Man felt a connection. Turning to look outside, he saw Zombie Cthulhu waving a tentacle at him. The creature was out in the yard, carrying its signature coffin on his back.
Coffin Man’s fingers shuddered and he hurried outside.
Zombie Cthulhu seemed equally excited to see its master as well. Without having to confirm it, Coffin Man knew that Zombie Cthulhu’s chronic illness was now gone. This problem that had been troubling Coffin Man for decades was finally resolved.
‘Curator is a mysterious entity, but Appraiser Lin is real and exists among us. With this, perhaps we can get Appraiser Lin to help Old Turtle out,’ Coffin Man thought.
He wasn’t alone on this trip.
Or rather, after parting at the royal capital and handing Zombie Cthulhu to Lin Jin, Coffin Man decided to pay one of his Lingnan Deity peers, Old Turtle, a visit.
Old Turtle’s condition was comparably worse than him or Madam Ghost Child. In fact, he was constantly on the brink of death for the past few decades. If he hadn’t used the taboo art of prolonging one’s life, the man would have probably died long ago.
However, his life was still coming to an end.
Coffin Man had brought Old Turtle along and over the last few days, they had been wandering about outside Maple City. So when he got Madam Ghost Child’s message, he came over immediately. However, as he wasn’t aware that Lin Jin was out, they just waited outside the mansion from morning until dusk fell. It wasn’t until Old Turtle was about to give out when Coffin Man decided to enter Lin Jin’s property.
He abstained from announcing his arrival at the front door because Coffin Man was afraid of being exposed since he was a fairly infamous villainous expert. That was why he chose to sneak in.
Seeing Zombie Cthulhu in good health, Coffin Man saluted the two girls and said, “Young Misses, I actually have another important matter on which I require a consultation with Appraiser Lin…”
When Coffin Man helped Old Turtle who could barely even walk steadily into the mansion, Shang’er and Little Five’s expressions were grave.
Old Turtle was obviously terminally ill. His ghastly pale face showed no signs of life, and he was closer to a walking corpse than anything else. Shang’er and Little Five weren’t exaggerating but this man’s aura of death was much heavier than his aura of life.
