Making Trouble

Early morning.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

Lin Zheyu got up early, sat cross-legged on his bed, and practiced the Turtle Breathing Technique.

After reaching the Qi and Blood Realm, he could continue cultivating his Turtle Breathing Technique.

After practicing for some time, he discovered that cultivating the Turtle Breathing Technique right after waking in the morning was far more efficient.

This was related to how a night's sleep changed the body's metabolism upon waking.

During deep sleep, the body's metabolism and Qi and blood circulation both fell to their lowest point, somewhat resembling the Turtle Breathing Technique.

Comprehending the body's natural changes allowed him to better grasp the mysteries of the Turtle Breathing Technique.

He cultivated for two hours.

Lin Zheyu went out for a stroll.

On the streets of Songyi City.

The roads were much quieter.

If not for the occasional groups of refugees passing through and entering Songyi City, bringing a trace of vitality to the city, Songyi City would have become steeped in Death Qi.

Afternoon.

Inside Bi Dan Teahouse.

Lin Zheyu and the others gathered here every day.

"Have you heard? Zhou Jiang is dead," Xie Jiang said.

"What? He was so strong. How could he have died?"

Jia Yanyong cried out in surprise, his eyes filled with astonishment. "Could it be that powerful martial artists have appeared among the bandits?"

Zhou Jiang had been a member of the Flying Rainbow Gang. His strength had reached the peak of the Bone Forging Realm, making him even stronger than Jia Yanyong and the others.

He was a battle maniac, exceptionally fierce whenever he fought.

"A group of bandits forcibly attacked the White Stone Mountain Mining Area, and a conflict broke out. Three people died. Two of them were fellows who only knew some Wild Punches."

"Zhou Jiang was very strong, but he got carried away in the fight and charged into the bandits' encirclement. The others couldn't come to his aid in time. With two fists unable to beat four hands, he was beaten to death alive."

Xie Jiang spoke as he stared fixedly at Jia Yanyong.

Hearing this, Lin Zheyu and Ning Hui also turned their heads in unspoken agreement to look at Jia Yanyong.

In Zhou Jiang, they saw Jia Yanyong's future fate.

"Hey, hey, why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm not that madman. I don't fight like my life means nothing."

Jia Yanyong's skin crawled under their gazes, and he muttered unhappily.

"No, you are."

They spoke in unison.

Jia Yanyong: "..."

"Do you think Gang Leader Xu will send people over to support them?" Ning Hui asked.

"It hasn't reached that point yet."

"But bandits are springing up everywhere outside the city now, and other places have also been attacked. We might be sent elsewhere for support."

Xie Jiang said.

Whenever he had nothing to do, this fellow loved to gossip everywhere, and his information was exceptionally well-informed.

Lin Zheyu focused single-mindedly on martial arts, Jia Yanyong cared nothing for such matters, and Ning Hui was immersed in wine and women, leaving him poorly informed.

That was why they gathered every day to hear the news Xie Jiang had picked up through gossip.

"Brother Lin, if we really get transferred to provide support, we'll probably be on the same team. When that happens, my little life will depend on you."

Xie Jiang looked at Lin Zheyu as he spoke.

"Brother Xie, you're being too polite. Just call me by my name. Why call me Brother Lin?"

Lin Zheyu was somewhat speechless.

Being called Brother Lin by someone older than himself felt strange.

"Don't you scholars say that the accomplished are teachers?"

"You're much stronger than us. What's wrong with calling you Brother Lin? If I weren't too embarrassed to lower my old face, I'd even want to call you Brother Yu."

Xie Jiang chuckled.

Lin Zheyu rolled his eyes at him.

After getting to know the others better, he discovered Xie Jiang's true personality.

Unlike Jia Yanyong, who was reckless and disliked using his brain, this fellow often had little ideas, though he could also be rather shameless.

As they chatted idly, the storytelling began.

The storyteller was an old gentleman with deep foundations, and his skill was streets ahead of Lin Zheyu's.

The customers listened with great relish.

"Fatty Xing has changed his nature. He actually came to listen to a story."

Ning Hui curled his lip and gestured toward a table not far away.

They looked over and saw that familiar fellow.

"That fatty must be here to make trouble again."

"He failed to make trouble last time. Now he's brought quite a few people with him," Jia Yanyong said.

There was no need to think about what Fatty Xing had come for.

This young master was no material for listening to stories. All day long, he only liked fighting, gambling, and playing with women.

At the sight of Xing Jinglong, Lin Zheyu could not help frowning.

He felt that Xing Jinglong had come specifically for him.

Just let me find an opportunity, and I'll kill you.

Lin Zheyu looked at Xing Jinglong in the distance and thought darkly.

Anyone harboring ill intentions toward him, he wanted to kill.

Being watched by others was not a pleasant feeling. He had to remain cautious at all times to guard against being schemed against.

After returning from outside the city last time, Lin Zheyu had set up another concealed bed in the kitchen and began sleeping there every night.

The Storyteller spoke eloquently onstage while the audience below listened with great relish.

Bang!

Suddenly, Xing Jinglong slapped the table with his large hand, the sound thunderously loud.

The entire teahouse instantly fell silent.

"What kind of trash are you talking about?"

"You dare tell a story like this? Get down."

He looked at the Storyteller with contempt, his face fierce and menacing enough to make cold sweat break out on the Storyteller's forehead.

"Damn it, I'll go deal with him!"

Jia Yanyong slammed the table and rose in anger.

He had always been someone who loved fighting and hated thinking, and his hot blood was easily roused.

Provoked by Fatty Xing's words, he was about to make a move.

"Don't mind him."

"He deliberately came here to cause trouble. He wants to lure you into fighting."

"Look at the people sitting beside him. One of them is a Viscera Refining expert. If we fight, we'll be the ones at a disadvantage."

Lin Zheyu pressed a hand onto Jia Yanyong's shoulder, unwilling to expose his strength through a fight.

His senses were exceptionally sharp, far surpassing those of ordinary Qi and Blood Realm Experts.

Unless a Qi and Blood Realm Expert actively tested someone, it was difficult to tell whether a martial artist was at Viscera Refining or Bone Forging.

Viscera Refining and Bone Forging tempered the body's internal tissues, and did not significantly enhance one's Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

Some people had reached the Viscera Refining Realm, yet their Essence, Qi, and Spirit looked inferior even to those Bone Forging Realm martial artists with burly, powerful builds.

But after Lin Zheyu cultivated the Turtle Breathing Technique to the third level, his control over his body had reached a terrifying degree.

Through certain minute details of the body, he could identify the other party's level of strength.

"Even a Viscera Refining expert came. Is that fellow trying to start a war between the two gangs?"

Xie Jiang exclaimed in shock.

Their gangs might have their conflicts, but they all knew when to stop within the city. No battles at the Viscera Refining Realm had ever occurred.

Viscera Refining martial artists were considered first-rate experts even in Songyi City. If one made a move, it would mean the two gangs had completely torn off all pretenses.

"How do you know there's a Viscera Refining expert hiding among them?"

Hearing that, Jia Yanyong quickly sat down and asked doubtfully.

"I saw that man when I was with Senior Brother Han. He's very strong, nearly at the Peak Viscera Refining level."

Lin Zheyu made up an excuse and subtly pointed at the Middle-aged Man beside Xing Jinglong.

The man was around forty, with a small mustache and ordinary features. He looked rather unremarkable.

"Despicable bastards."

"I'll have someone call Lord Qiu over. Let's see if they still dare act so wildly!" Xie Jiang said angrily, summoning a subordinate and telling him to fetch someone.

Xing Jinglong glanced toward Jia Yanyong and the others from the corner of his eye. Seeing Jia Yanyong rise, a triumphant smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

But his expression soon turned ugly.

Lin Zheyu pulled Jia Yanyong back down.

That brat is quite the coward. He can endure even after being provoked this much?

Xing Jinglong cursed inwardly.

Lin Zheyu had escaped him last time, leaving him extremely displeased.

He could not openly make a move within the city, or it would easily provoke a conflict between the two families.

But after finding an excuse to provoke them, beating the other party up was still acceptable.

In a fight, wasn't it perfectly normal to accidentally break a few arms or legs? So long as no one died in the city, it would not be much of a problem.

"Since you don't plan to stand up for him, then I'll keep causing trouble until this place goes out of business."

Xing Jinglong sneered coldly.

Wasn't Lin Zheyu said to repay kindness? He wanted to see whether Lin Zheyu could still endure this.

He picked up a dish from the table and hurled it toward the Storytelling Platform.

With a sharp crack.

The dish struck the wall behind the Storytelling Platform and shattered into pieces.

At the sight, the old Storyteller's face turned pale, and he quickly stepped down from the stage.