I Turned Out to Be a Genius

Smack!

In Bi Dan Teahouse, the storyteller's block rang out.

Lin Zheyu said slowly, "To learn what happens next, tune in next time."

"Wonderful~"

"Tell us a little more, Mister Lin!"

"Yeah, yeah, we haven't heard enough."

Cheers and pleas for him to stay rose from the audience below.

Facing the audience's requests, Lin Zheyu smiled, cupped his hands, and stepped down from the stage.

After finishing his storytelling and changing environments, his emotions had faded considerably.

He had done nothing wrong. The one at fault was this world!

"Steward Wu, shall we have a drink?" Lin Zheyu asked.

In Songyi City, he knew only two people well: Wu Yinghe and Liang Song, Master Liang.

Lin Zheyu really wanted to discuss the experience of killing someone with Master Liang, but unfortunately, his master was not around.

When he had gone to his house that morning, he had knocked for a long time without getting an answer. Master Liang had not appeared during the afternoon storytelling session either.

By then, Lin Zheyu knew that Liang Song had gone off somewhere again.

Every so often, Master Liang would disappear for several days. This time, Lin Zheyu did not know how long he would be gone.

Fortunately, Liang Song had taught him the Bone Forging Realm cultivation method, as well as the Wild Bull Fist's Internal Breathing Exercise. It was enough for Lin Zheyu to practice for quite some time.

"Sure, but you're treating this time!"

"I've seen that you've been getting quite a few tips lately. You're much richer than me now," Steward Wu said with a smile.

"Come on, come on. After we finish drinking, we'll head to Hundred Flowers Pavilion and have some fun."

Lin Zheyu smiled. He needed an outlet. Once he vented all the tangled emotions in his heart, he would feel better.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Lin Zheyu secretly went to Bai Shan District. Gao Yu and the others' disappearance had finally drawn the attention of their relatives.

Though they had often vanished for stretches of time before, this time they had been gone a little too long.

After searching for a while, their families found several corpses in a remote patch of wasteland.

After three days, the bodies had been gnawed beyond recognition by wild beasts.

After reporting it to the authorities, the constables from the government office went through the motions, took one look, told them to wait for news, and then there was no further word.

Their families could only hold simple funerals and bury them in haste.

The weight in Lin Zheyu's heart finally lifted completely.

He understood even more deeply what it meant for human lives to be as worthless as grass.

"Master Liang still hasn't returned. What exactly did he go off to do?"

Passing Liang Song's home, Lin Zheyu knocked for a while, but no one answered from inside.

Liang Song had already been gone yesterday, and Lin Zheyu had not seen a trace of him up to today.

Another four days passed.

Inside Bi Dan Teahouse.

Lin Zheyu and Steward Wu sat in the teahouse's rear courtyard, chatting idly.

"I heard the Rebel Army captured another city. There are so many more Refugees outside the city now."

Steward Wu spoke with a trace of worry on his face.

Songyi City was a relatively remote city of Great Wei. If the Rebel Army advanced in their direction, they would soon reach this place.

"Don't worry. Haven't you noticed that the rich people in Songyi City haven't fled yet?" Lin Zheyu reassured him.

Before Jiu Nan City had fallen, the wealthy people who received the news had been the first wave to run.

"How do you know they haven't fled?"

"As far as I know, those families have already started sending their younger members, along with some of their clansmen, to Eight Directions City," Steward Wu said.

It was precisely because he knew this that he was so worried.

His roots were in Songyi City. If he left it, finding another good job would not be easy.

"Don't think so much about it. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

"Besides, Great Wei's soldiers are strong and its horses sturdy. The Rebel Army is only flaunting its might for a moment. It won't be easy for them to maintain their current Momentum."

Lin Zheyu spoke. News was blocked in this era, and he had no idea what the situation was truly like on the front lines. He could only comfort himself.

"Alright, it's time for storytelling. I'm going onstage."

Lin Zheyu rose and walked onto the Storytelling Platform, sweeping his gaze over the listeners below.

"Huh, Master Liang is back!"

By the window, Lin Zheyu spotted a familiar figure.

Liang Song sat beside the window, staring blankly out at the scenery beyond, lost in thought.

After disappearing for six or seven days, he had appeared again.

After finishing the story.

Lin Zheyu sat down across from Liang Song.

Naturally, he refilled his master's cup with wine, then filled his own as well.

"Master, this cup is for you. Consider it a welcome-back drink," Lin Zheyu said, raising his cup.

"That's thoughtful of you."

Liang Song smiled and clinked cups with Lin Zheyu, then teased, "Using my wine to welcome me back—you've really got some nerve."

"It's all the same, all the same. This kid spent all his silver on martial arts training. I'm poor as dirt. As long as the sentiment is there, that's enough."

Lin Zheyu said with a grin. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and continued, "Master, you were gone for a time before. Shall I come over in the next few days and tell you what I covered?"

"No need. Just give me the drafts from those days to read," Liang Song said.

The two chatted about this and that.

Liang Song did not mention where he had gone over the past few days, and Lin Zheyu did not ask. They shared an unspoken understanding.

If his master wanted to say something, he would naturally say it.

If he did not want to say it, Lin Zheyu would not ask. Everyone had secrets they did not wish to tell others.

Lin Zheyu was no exception.

"For the next few days, come to my place every morning. I'll focus on guiding you for a while," Liang Song said.

Since he had begun teaching Lin Zheyu martial arts, his actual instruction time had totaled less than two days. Lin Zheyu had relied almost entirely on self-study.

Yet even so, Lin Zheyu's progress in martial arts had still surpassed Liang Song's imagination.

It was so fast as to be unbelievable.

Such comprehension and talent were one in ten thousand.

Liang Song intended to begin teaching Lin Zheyu properly. Perhaps in the future, he might cultivate a powerful martial artist.

"Thank you, Master!"

Lin Zheyu's eyes lit up.

He happened to have many questions he wanted to seek Master Liang's guidance on.

Some concerned Bone Forging, some Viscera Refining, and some actual combat.

Lin Zheyu had originally planned to use Source Power to increase his strength after returning tonight. Several more days had passed, and he had saved up quite a bit of silver.

Now, he dismissed that idea. He would wait a while longer.

In such a short time, mastering the Wild Bull Fist and reaching the Bone Forging Realm was already shocking enough.

If he continued improving and Master Liang discovered his true strength, Lin Zheyu did not know what Master Liang would think. He might well assume that Lin Zheyu possessed some great treasure.

Human nature could not withstand testing.

Early morning.

Before dawn had fully broken, Lin Zheyu arrived at Liang Song's courtyard.

"Good morning, Master Liang."

Lin Zheyu gave a respectful greeting and handed over the drafts he had prepared.

These drafts contained the stories Lin Zheyu had told during the days Liang Song had been away.

Liang Song gestured for Lin Zheyu to close the door, then turned and sat back down at the stone table and chairs in the corner of the courtyard.

"Perform the Wild Bull Fist once for me. Let's see whether you've grown slack lately," Liang Song said.

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu answered.

He removed his long outer robe, revealing his sturdy, toned body.

The weather had turned cooler recently, and the early morning was somewhat chilly.

Lin Zheyu assumed his stance.

His chest rose and fell in a particular rhythm, his breaths exceptionally long and steady.

After this period of hard practice, he had finally grown accustomed to the Wild Bull Fist's unique breathing method.

From being unaccustomed to it at first, to integrating it into daily life, to being able to coordinate it perfectly with the Wild Bull Fist, it had taken him only a dozen-odd days.

Even Lin Zheyu found it astonishing.

So I really am a genius!