Earning Income and Experimenting

"City regulations are this strict, and fighting is forbidden. If those two brothers do this, won't the authorities intervene?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"As long as they don't make a move openly, don't kill anyone when they strike, and the victim's clan relatives and friends don't go to the authorities to make trouble, the authorities won't interfere."

Steward Wu gave a bitter smile. That was simply how cruel this world was.

"Then didn't the former steward's clan relatives go make trouble?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

In this world, clans and relatives supported one another. Whenever something happened to one of them, they would step forward together to help.

"They were dealt with."

"Jia Yanming came forward and offered some silver in compensation. With Jia Yanyong's martial intimidation and people from the Flying Rainbow Gang stepping in, all those clan relatives who made trouble were settled."

Steward Wu said.

This world was cruel. Beneath the veil of peace lay the brutal law of the jungle.

"I see..."

Wariness rose in Lin Zheyu's heart as he continued, "Do you know how strong Jia Yanyong is?"

He had only just begun formally practicing martial arts. Before this, he had only practiced stance work, so he was not very strong yet and worried that he would not be able to beat him.

"I don't know."

"I've seen that man. He's huge, nearly six foot three, and even more solidly built than I am. His face is exceedingly fierce, and he's covered in scars. He's probably killed people before."

Steward Wu said gravely.

Lin Zheyu frowned slightly.

Living in such a backward society was troublesome. Its imperfect social systems were far too unfriendly to people like him, wandering the world alone.

"Why don't you come stay at my place?"

"Our Wu Family has many able-bodied men, and Wu Family Village is extremely united. They wouldn't dare make a move in Wu Family Village."

"You're all alone in Songyi City, with no relatives to back you up. If they act against you, they'll be even more unrestrained," Steward Wu advised.

"No need."

"If there's truly no other way, I'll come stay at your house."

Lin Zheyu shook his head. He was not used to living in someone else's home.

If it came down to it, he could just join Yi Xiang Teahouse. Wasn't that Jia Yanming's goal?

Then he could write a few good stories, have Steward Wu hire storytellers to tell them, and collect copyright fees himself. He could earn income that way too.

Eh, this idea could work!

The more Lin Zheyu considered it, the better the idea seemed.

After two hours of storytelling, Lin Zheyu, as expected, drew thunderous applause from the entire hall.

Quite a few young masters had come today, and they were extremely lavish with their tips, leaving Lin Zheyu feeling thoroughly satisfied.

"Why is the protagonist of this story another scholar? I'm sick of hearing about them," Liang Song complained, peeling a peanut and tossing it into his mouth.

Ever since Lin Zheyu had begun telling stories at Bi Dan Teahouse, he had been telling tales from the Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio series.

The stories were almost all unspeakable romances between flower spirits, fox enchantresses, and scholars. Though they were all wonderful stories.

But Liang Song, as a martial artist, found them tiresome.

Why did such good stories have to be mixed with boring scholar romances?

It was truly irritating to listen to!

"Once I finish this story, I'll switch to one about the martial world and its warriors for you," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"Yes, that's exactly what I want."

"Listening to you talk every day about the love affairs between scholars and those flower spirits and fox enchantresses is tiresome," Liang Song said, his eyes lighting up.

Then why have you been enjoying them so much every day?

Lin Zheyu grumbled inwardly, not daring to say it aloud.

For now, Master was still his Top Supporter!

"Master, I'd like to ask you about something. Do you know the Flying Rainbow Gang?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"The Flying Rainbow Gang?"

"One of Songyi City's three major gangs. I've met their gang leader once. His strength was so-so."

"What, have people from the Flying Rainbow Gang set their sights on you?" Liang Song asked, shooting him a sidelong glance.

"Not exactly."

"It's just that the steward of Yi Xiang Teahouse wants to poach me to tell stories there, but I refused."

"I heard that steward is ruthless and vicious. He often sends his younger brother, Jia Yanyong, to do dirty work in secret. Jia Yanyong is a member of the Flying Rainbow Gang."

Lin Zheyu explained.

"It's nothing. They won't dare act recklessly in the city. At most, they'll give you a beating; no one will die."

"If something really does happen by accident, I'll help you report it to the authorities." Liang Song narrowed his eyes and smiled.

Lin Zheyu: "..."

If reporting it to the authorities worked, why would anyone need to practice martial arts?

"Mm, I'm not worried. I was just asking around."

"If it truly comes to it, I'll just agree to Jia Yanming's offer. It'll just mean troubling Master to find somewhere else to listen to stories."

Lin Zheyu said, raising a cup of wine to his master.

The two sat and chatted for a while, and the topic turned back to Wild Bull Fist.

Now that Lin Zheyu had gotten started with Wild Bull Fist, many new questions had arisen in his training that he wanted to ask about.

As the two traded questions and answers, Liang Song's gaze at Lin Zheyu grew brighter and brighter.

This disciple he had taught so casually possessed such high comprehension.

He had only learned Wild Bull Fist yesterday, yet today he had grasped the technique to such a profound degree.

This kid's comprehension is just like mine!

Liang Song could not help but praise him inwardly.

He looked Lin Zheyu up and down, his brows faintly furrowing.

"Judging by your complexion, your Qi and blood are severely depleted. You've been training too hard. You need to balance work and rest."

"It's not true that the harder you train, the faster your strength will improve."

"If you want your body to grow stronger quickly, blindly grinding away is useless. You must leave your body enough time to recover."

"Otherwise, it's easy to leave hidden injuries behind."

"When you're young, you can still suppress these hidden injuries. But once you grow older, they'll erupt."

"Many martial artists from poor backgrounds only know how to train desperately and fiercely. Their strength rises, but they also leave themselves covered in injuries and illness."

"They're fine when they're young, but they begin to decline in their thirties. By their forties, they lose their lives because they can no longer suppress the hidden injuries in their bodies."

Liang Song warned him.

"I'll keep that in mind." Lin Zheyu nodded.

He had borrowed five taels of silver from Steward Wu. After drinking a few doses of medicinal soup, his body would recover quickly.

At that point, his strength would advance by another great step.

Although Source Power's transformation of his body had depleted his Qi and blood, it had also laid down a solid foundation for his body.

As long as he kept up his nutrition and drank medicinal soup a few more times, he would quickly make up for it.

On the way back, Lin Zheyu spent all five taels of silver on medicinal ingredients for Replenishing Qi and Nourishing Blood.

Passing through the market, he bought another two pounds of pork before heading home in satisfaction.

"My body isn't in good condition right now. If I train, I'll reach my body's limit easily. Can I still obtain Source Power this way?"

Lin Zheyu pondered.

No sooner thought than done.

After eating his fill and resting for a while, he began grunting and training in the courtyard.

Half an hour later...

"It hurts like hell!"

"I knew it wouldn't work."

Lin Zheyu lay on the ground, not wanting to move at all.

This time, after training to his body's limit, he gritted his teeth and persisted for several more minutes as usual, but he did not gain any Source Power points.

"It seems I can only do it by training to my limit while my body is at its peak."

"It also works if I rest for a few hours in between before continuing. That was what happened last time."

After repeated attempts, Lin Zheyu understood his Golden Finger better and better.

He guessed that Source Power was Strange Energy born when one's Essence, Qi, and Spirit twisted into a single rope and sublimated upon breaking through one's limits.

Whenever his body broke through its limit, Lin Zheyu's Essence, Qi, and Spirit would sublimate in an instant, reaching a wondrous state.

In that state, he felt his Essence, Qi, and Spirit condense to an extreme, twisting into a single rope and giving birth to Strange Energy.

Source Power might be related to the energy of Essence, Qi, and Spirit condensed to an extreme degree.

Just now, he had trained to his body's limit while in a weakened state, yet he had not gained any Source Power points.

Lin Zheyu guessed that his body had been too weak, causing the Essence, Qi, and Spirit energy he condensed to be insufficient.