Joining (Part 2)

"No need to be so polite."

"Put away that scholar's manner. We martial artists don't stand on so much ceremony."

"Oh, look at my memory. You brat care most about silver—I nearly forgot to mention it."

Xu Jingwu said with a smile.

Back when he had Jia Yanyong invite Lin Zheyu over to tell stories, the kid had refused because Xu Jingwu had not offered to pay him.

"Ha, ha..."

Lin Zheyu laughed awkwardly.

Because of his preconceived notions, he had thought that everyone in gangs was no good.

And when Jia Yanyong said there would be no pay, Lin Zheyu's impression had worsened. He had refused on the spot.

How could anyone invite someone to tell stories without paying them?

But after getting to know him, Lin Zheyu discovered that Xu Jingwu was not the vicious, utterly depraved figure he had imagined.

Xu Jingwu gave off an elegant, easygoing air, and he was exceptionally generous when he made a move.

Just now, in a moment of delight, Lin Zheyu had watched him reward the opera singers with a tael of silver.

If Lin Zheyu had agreed back then and pleased Xu Jingwu with his storytelling, he likely would have received quite a generous reward as well.

"Your strength is a little greater than Jia Yanyong's and the others', but since you haven't made any contributions, your silver will be the same as theirs: five taels a month. What do you think?"

Xu Jingwu said.

An ordinary gang member generally earned only thirteen hundred copper coins a month.

Those with greater strength, like Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang, could earn five taels of silver a month.

"Mm, I'm already very satisfied with five taels of silver."

Lin Zheyu said with a smile, then teased, "But if Gang Leader wants to hear a story next time, you'll still have to pay extra."

"Hahaha!"

"Of course I'll pay."

"And as agreed, I'll reward you handsomely!"

Xu Jingwu laughed heartily.

Lin Zheyu accompanied Gang Leader Xu through another opera performance before leaving.

Gang Leader Xu was a busy man. He had arranged to stroll through the gardens with Miss Wang and Miss Chen that afternoon, and had plans at Hundred Flowers Pavilion that evening.

Every day, he lived a busy, fulfilling, yet simple and unadorned life.

Hundred Tastes Street.

Red Lai Restaurant.

Jia Yanyong, Xie Jiang, and Lin Zheyu sat at the same table.

"Come, I'll raise a bowl to Brother Lin. Welcome to the Flying Rainbow Gang." Xie Jiang raised his wine bowl as he spoke.

Lin Zheyu picked up his bowl, clinked it against Xie Jiang's, and drained it in one gulp.

He refilled his bowl and said to Jia Yanyong, "I'll raise a bowl to Brother Yong. From now on, we're brothers, and all our past grievances are wiped clean."

"Haha, I was the one in the wrong before. This bowl should be from me to you!" Jia Yanyong laughed generously. When it came to being brothers, there was nothing to fault in him.

The two clinked bowls and downed their drinks in one go.

After several bowls of wine, the atmosphere livened up.

"After we finish eating, I'll take you to meet the other brothers," Jia Yanyong said.

"I still have storytelling to do later. Tonight, then."

Lin Zheyu said.

He could earn six or seven taels of silver a month from storytelling, which was no small sum. For the time being, he had no plans to give it up.

"That works out well. Quite a few brothers also enjoy hearing your stories. We can gather at Bi Dan Teahouse then," Xie Jiang said with a smile.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Jia Yanyong paid for the meal.

From Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang, Lin Zheyu gained a deeper understanding of the Flying Rainbow Gang.

There were many skilled fighters in the Flying Rainbow Gang. There were more than thirty Bone Forging Realm martial artists like Lin Zheyu, and over twenty at the Bone Forging Peak Realm.

There were eight Viscera Refining Realm martial artists, two of whom had reached Peak Viscera Refining.

Once one reached the Viscera Refining Realm, one was considered a first-rate expert in Songyi City and could receive at least fifteen taels of silver each month.

Above the Viscera Refining Realm was a Qi and Blood Realm expert: Gang Leader Xu.

It was exceedingly difficult for ordinary people to practice martial arts. Outstanding martial aptitude alone was not enough.

Not only did one need to spend a great deal of time training every day, but one also needed enough silver to support it. The expenses involved were staggering.

Thus, those who achieved something in cultivation mostly came from well-off families.

And people from well-off families rarely joined gangs.

Therefore, Jia Yanyong, Xie Jiang, Lin Zheyu, and the others could also be considered skilled fighters within the Flying Rainbow Gang.

Upon arriving at Bi Dan Teahouse.

Lin Zheyu stepped onto the Storytelling Platform and swept his gaze around the audience, spotting many familiar faces.

That new Top Supporter was there too.

This wealthy young master passing through Songyi City was extremely generous.

Unfortunately, ever since he had rewarded a tael of silver last time and asked Lin Zheyu to tell an extra segment, he had never rewarded such a large sum again.

Each time, he only gave a little over a hundred copper coins.

Still, that was not bad.

"Last time, we spoke of how Huang Rong used fine food to tempt Hong Qigong, finally persuading Hong Qigong to agree to guide Guo Jing..."

Lin Zheyu spoke without pause on the stage, while the audience below listened, utterly engrossed.

As the plot unfolded, the story grew more and more exciting.

"That was so good!"

"Brother, stay a few more days before we leave."

Listening to the story, Lu Zhenfang was somewhat reluctant to leave.

Songyi City was not as lively as Baohe City.

But the stories told in Songyi City were exceptionally wonderful!

In Songyi City, Lu Zhenfang had become captivated by the scholar-and-fox-spirit tales at Yi Xiang Teahouse, as well as the hot-blooded martial world tales of warriors at Bi Dan Teahouse.

Where in Baohe City could she hear so many wonderful, fresh stories? They were all old and stale there.

"Uncle's business is nearly finished. We'll leave in four days at most. If we delay any longer, Uncle will scold us."

Lu Qihui said helplessly.

He did not want to set off so soon either. He wanted to play in Songyi City for a few more days.

Once they set off, the journey would be long, and they would have to travel for another month or so.

Living exposed to the wind and sleeping beneath the dew out on the road was an utterly miserable experience.

"I'll invite Mister Lin later and ask him to travel with us. That way, the journey won't be so dull."

"Will he really agree?"

Lu Zhenfang was worried. In this era, few people were willing to leave their homes behind.

Their departure from Baohe City was also out of necessity. The Rebel Army was not far from Baohe City.

Once it took two more cities, it would march straight into Baohe City.

To be safe, the Lu Family had already sent most of its clansmen ahead to scout the way. They were the second group.

"He will."

"I heard Mister Lin is not originally from Songyi City. He fled here from Jiu Nan City."

"He has no family or friends here. As long as we offer enough money, what difference does it make where he tells stories?"

Lu Qihui was brimming with confidence.

He was not worried at all that Lin Zheyu would refuse to travel with them.

How much could one earn from storytelling in Songyi City each month?

With daily wages and rewards, at the absolute most it was only five hundred copper coins a day—just ten taels of silver a month.

He did not believe that, if offered twenty taels of silver, the other man would be reluctant to leave Songyi City.

After finishing his storytelling.

The moment Lin Zheyu stepped down from the stage, Steward Wu came over.

"Mister Lin, a guest says he would like to meet you."

"No."

Lin Zheyu refused immediately.

More and more people had wanted to meet him recently, and he was getting annoyed.

"The other party is very sincere. They offered a tael of silver."

Steward Wu took out a piece of silver and handed it over. "I thought that, for silver's sake, you would probably be willing to meet them, so I agreed on your behalf."

"This fellow sure knows how to do things."

"Then let's meet him."

Lin Zheyu took the silver and broke into a grin.

He liked people who knew how to handle things—proper and considerate.

When it came to dealing with people, Jia Yanyong fell far short.

If Jia Yanyong had spoken more politely back then, been more sincere in his attitude, and made it clear that although there was no pay, a good story would earn greater rewards from Gang Leader Xu—

then so many things would never have happened afterward.

Led by Steward Wu, he met the other party. It was the Generous Young Master who had rewarded him with a tael of silver before.

"I am Lin Zheyu. Greetings to you all."

Lin Zheyu clasped his hands toward them and spoke with a beaming smile.

Anyone who paid was the boss.

So long as they were willing to spend money, Lin Zheyu was still very warm and easy to talk to.

"I am Lu Qihui, and this is my younger sister, Lu Zhenfang."

"Mister Lin, you are truly a great talent to have written such a thrilling and passionate work as The Legend of the Condor Heroes!" Lu Qihui praised.

"You flatter me, Young Master."