Trade

After a round of polite pleasantries, Lu Qihui got to the point.

"Mister Lin, you're not from around here, are you?"

Lu Qihui asked with a smile, though there was no real question in his tone.

"Yes, I'm from Jiu Nan City."

"I presume Young Master Lu has also heard that Jiu Nan City was overrun by the Rebel Army. I fled Jiu Nan City at that time and wandered all the way to Songyi City."

Lin Zheyu did not conceal it.

Many people already knew his story. It was no secret.

"Since Mister Lin fled from Jiu Nan City and is alone in Songyi City, would you be interested in traveling with the Lu Family to Eight Directions City?"

"We would like to invite you to tell stories along the way, so the journey will not be quite so dull."

Lu Qihui spoke earnestly, while Lu Zhenfang, seated beside him, looked at Lin Zheyu expectantly.

Seeing that Lin Zheyu remained silent, Lu Zhenfang added, "We can offer twice what you earn in Songyi City."

"Twenty taels of silver a month. What do you think?"

"My apologies."

"I have no plans to leave Songyi City for the time being." Lin Zheyu shook his head in refusal.

"This..."

"Mister Lin, could you tell us why?"

"Do you think the silver is insufficient? We can add more if it is. How about thirty taels of silver?"

Lu Qihui asked anxiously, raising the offer to thirty taels.

Thirty taels to hire a Storyteller was practically a sky-high price. If word got out, people would likely say he had been bewitched out of his wits.

Even a Viscera Refining Realm martial artist did not receive that much monthly support.

"It isn't a matter of silver."

Lin Zheyu shook his head.

Lu Qihui's offer of thirty taels was indeed tempting. All told, Lin Zheyu currently earned only around thirty taels a month.

But things outside were chaotic now. Bandits ran rampant, and one careless step could lead to disaster.

His previous self had come from a wealthy merchant family and had likewise fled in advance, yet still encountered bandits.

Had he not been blessed with a tough life, he would never have had the chance to escape to Songyi City.

Lin Zheyu planned to lie low in Songyi City for a while. Only after raising his strength to the Qi and Blood Realm, when he had some measure of security, would he consider leaving Songyi City.

"Then why?"

"Songyi City is not far from Baohe City, and the current situation is extremely grim. If Baohe City is taken by the Rebel Army, Songyi City will be next before long."

"Since you will have to leave sooner or later, why not travel with our Lu Family? We can look after one another." Lu Qihui urged unwillingly.

"Young Master Lu came from Baohe City to Songyi City. You must have encountered quite a few bandits along the way, right?"

"The situation is unstable now, and bandits are everywhere. Venturing out rashly is far too risky."

"My Lin Family was also a wealthy merchant family in Jiu Nan City, with many skilled fighters under our command. Yet while fleeing Jiu Nan City, we still encountered powerful bandits."

"It is far too dangerous to travel now."

"I choose to believe in Great Wei's strength. I believe Great Wei will soon react and dispatch troops to suppress the Rebel Army." Lin Zheyu found an excuse to refuse.

"Indeed, things outside the city are a complete mess. Bandits are everywhere."

Lu Qihui sighed with feeling. They had encountered no small number of bandits on their journey here.

Had it not been for his uncle's formidable strength and their many guards and servants, they too might have met with disaster.

Once chaotic times arose, the people could no longer live in peace. Those who could not survive had no choice but to become bandits. Yet such people were not frightening; what was frightening were the powerful individuals who mixed in among the bandits to commit evil.

"What a pity."

Lu Qihui sighed. The road ahead would likely be terribly dull.

"Mister Lin, you should also make plans early. Songyi City is not safe. Great Wei is too busy looking after itself now to spare a hand to suppress the Rebel Army."

"I'll tell you a secret. Don't spread it around."

Lowering his voice, Lu Qihui said, "I heard this Rebel Army has quite an extraordinary background. Many great powers are Fueling the Flames behind them, so it likely will not be easy for Great Wei to resolve this."

"So if you travel with me, it will be far safer than waiting until the Rebel Army attacks and fleeing then."

"My uncle is a Qi and Blood Realm expert, and the Lu Family's guards are powerful. We will certainly be able to protect everyone's safety." Lu Qihui said confidently.

"What exactly is the Rebel Army's background?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

"I don't know that."

Lu Qihui shook his head. He had merely heard about it and did not know the particulars.

After all, they were the forces behind the scenes. If even he could know about them, how could they still be called forces behind the scenes?

"I'm afraid I must disappoint you. I currently have no plans to leave Songyi City."

"You invited me to travel with you because you want to hear me tell stories, correct?"

"I have a suggestion that can help you pass the time on the road." Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"Let's hear it." Lu Qihui became interested.

"I can write out the rest of the story for you. You can read it yourselves on the road, or hire another Storyteller."

"However, the complete story is rather expensive. It will cost eighty taels of silver. I wonder whether Young Master Lu can accept that." Lin Zheyu said.

If they accepted, he would gain another sum of silver.

"That works too!"

Lu Zhenfang was overjoyed at once. She looked at Lu Qihui. "Brother, when we go to Yi Xiang Teahouse later, let's buy that story as well!"

"You mean the Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio series?"

"Mhm, mhm. That story is also wonderful. It has a completely different style from the one you are currently telling." Lu Zhenfang nodded.

"I was also the one who provided that story to Yi Xiang Teahouse. They hired other Storytellers to tell it." Lin Zheyu said with a faint smile.

Lu Qihui and Lu Zhenfang both revealed astonished expressions.

"Impressive!"

Lu Qihui gave him a thumbs-up. "Mister Lin, Lu truly admires your literary talent!"

"If you want both, I can give you a discount. One hundred and fifty taels of silver altogether." Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

To him, that was a huge sum of silver.

Many ordinary families would likely never earn that much silver in their entire lives.

Once the stories were written, he could also give Gang Leader Xu a copy. There would surely be benefits in it for him then.

"Good, it's settled."

"We'll be leaving Songyi City in four days. Is four days enough for you to write out the remaining stories?" Lu Zhenfang asked worriedly.

"No problem."

"More than half the stories have already been written, and I have drafts in my head for the rest. They will be quick to write." Lin Zheyu said.

"Good, it's settled."

After reaching an agreement with the Lu siblings, Lin Zheyu followed Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang to meet the brothers in the gang.

The person in charge of Lin Zheyu's group was named Qiu Gaoxuan. He was around forty-five years old and was said to be a Peak Viscera Refining expert. He appeared exceedingly cold and expressionless.

After meeting the Flying Rainbow Gang brothers and becoming familiar with one another, Lin Zheyu drank until after nine before leaving.

Martial artists drank like beasts, every last one of them able to put away an astonishing amount.

"Burp—"

Still burping from the drink, he returned to Master Liang's residence.

Master Liang did not reprimand him.

He had been through it himself and knew that to blend into a group, drinking was one of the most common and effective methods.

After a bowl of hangover soup went down his throat, Lin Zheyu sobered up considerably.

"Keep training tonight."

"Han Mo, trade a few moves with Lin Zheyu. Let me see how strong you are now."

Liang Song looked to one side.

Under the night sky stood a Young Man.

The Man looked to be around thirty, broad and powerfully built, with short-cropped hair and a square face. He gave off an upright, unyielding impression.

"This is?"

Lin Zheyu looked toward the Man. Only then did he realize there was someone else in the courtyard.

"His name is Han Mo. I taught him some martial arts a few years ago." Liang Song said.

"So you are Senior Brother Han. I am Lin Zheyu."

Lin Zheyu clasped his fists toward Han Mo.

Steward Wu had mentioned that Master Liang had taught martial arts to others before. This man should have been one of them.