On Demons

The cramping sensation in his muscles vanished, and Lin Zheyu planned to continue practicing Martial Arts.

He was close to breaking through his limits. If he pushed a little harder, another unit of Source Power would be his.

"What are you doing?"

"Your body is about to reach its limit. If you keep training, forget about doing anything else this afternoon."

Seeing Lin Zheyu step into the center of the courtyard and assume his stance, Liang Song spoke up to remind him.

"It's fine. I'll talk to Steward Wu this afternoon and skip the storytelling. I can go tomorrow instead."

Lin Zheyu said.

Reaching his limit was exactly what he wanted. How else could he obtain Source Power without reaching his limits?

"Nonsense!"

"How can you simply decide not to go when storytelling is something so important?"

"If you don't go, what am I supposed to listen to?"

"Martial Arts training requires a proper balance of tension and relaxation. Training like a madman all the time is useless. Go back and rest. Focus on preparing this afternoon's story."

Liang Song said.

What a joke. He was enjoying himself immensely—how could he let Lin Zheyu skip storytelling just because of Martial Arts training?

Huh?

Lin Zheyu could neither laugh nor cry. No wonder Master Liang cared so much about his health. So it was because he did not want Lin Zheyu to overtrain and delay the afternoon's storytelling!

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu answered helplessly.

It seemed he could only try to break through his body's limits again after returning home that night.

"You've learned the Wild Bull Fist more or less. From now on, practice it at home."

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask me when I go to Bi Dan Teahouse. If you come here, I might not be home."

"Also, prepare your storytelling tales carefully every day. Only by telling good stories can you earn more money."

"Only with enough silver to support you can you practice Martial Arts well."

Liang Song said sternly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

After returning home, he washed up and changed into a scholar's outfit.

He had not felt especially tired while training, but after more than an hour of recovery, Lin Zheyu felt sore and weak all over. Even raising his hand made it tremble uncontrollably.

At lunch, he picked up his bowl, but his hands trembled, and he set it back down.

The first burst of effort was fierce, the second waned, and by the third, it was spent.

Lin Zheyu felt that continuing his training that night until he broke through his body's limits would probably be difficult.

"Young sir, have you overtrained again?"

Wu Yinghe looked at Lin Zheyu's unsteady steps and said with a bitter smile.

This Youth was far too driven.

"I spent several hours studying Martial Arts with Master Liang this morning, so my body's a little tired. It's nothing serious."

"Thank you for introducing me to Master Liang, Steward Wu. Once I've saved enough money, I'll treat you to a visit to Hundred Flowers Pavilion."

Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

After nearly a month of grueling Horse Stance practice, he had passed Master Liang's test and finally learned Martial Arts.

If Steward Wu had not introduced him, he would have needed to spend no small amount of effort—and a great deal of silver—to learn Martial Arts.

"What are you saying? I should be the one treating you."

"If it weren't for you, young sir, how could Bi Dan Teahouse's business be this booming? By now, it's probably already surpassed Yi Xiang Teahouse."

Steward Wu said with a smile, the fat on his face bunching into a lump from how happy he was.

Lin Zheyu felt that Steward Wu had gained quite a bit more weight recently. Perhaps a contented heart made for a plump body.

"Oh, right. People from Yi Xiang Teahouse came to see me last night. This time, they offered two hundred and fifty copper coins a day."

Lin Zheyu said.

He was not making empty claims. On his way back last night, people from Yi Xiang Teahouse had approached him, intending to poach him.

Bi Dan Teahouse was becoming more and more popular, stealing many of Yi Xiang Teahouse's customers. Their Steward Jia had finally grown anxious and decided to poach him.

"Ah!"

"Young sir, please don't go to Yi Xiang Teahouse. I can apply to the owner to give you three hundred copper coins a day."

Steward Wu panicked a little and hurriedly said.

Over the past few days, he had indeed often seen people from Yi Xiang Teahouse lingering outside their establishment.

As Lin Zheyu's fame spread, many Tea House patrons came specifically for him, multiplying Bi Dan Teahouse's business several times over.

If Lin Zheyu were poached away, their Tea House's business would return to its former quiet state.

"Don't worry, I won't go to Yi Xiang Teahouse."

"If Steward Wu hadn't been willing to give me a chance to try back then, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"But Steward Wu, you have to keep your word. It's settled then—three hundred copper coins."

Lin Zheyu said with a smile, then turned and limped toward the Storytelling Platform.

He lived by a clear conscience, repaying a drop of kindness with a gushing spring.

When Lin Zheyu had been down and out, he had visited many Tea Houses. Yet because he was too young and filthy from head to toe, they had all thrown him out.

Only Steward Wu had patiently chatted with him for a few moments, found Lin Zheyu's stories interesting, and allowed him to give it a try.

Lin Zheyu was grateful to Wu Yinghe.

The reason he had mentioned Yi Xiang Teahouse trying to poach him was simply to ask for a raise.

Soon, another afternoon passed.

The crowd's cheers were even more fervent than usual.

Master Liang also tipped him fifty copper coins, remaining his Top Supporter.

"Master, why did you tip me so much?"

Lin Zheyu sat down opposite Liang Song with a pot of wine in hand.

"I tipped you because you told the story well. If you tell it badly, I'll beat you."

"You did well this time. I'm very satisfied."

"Tell more stories about heroic figures like Yan Chixia and Zuo Qianhu. We Martial Artists should vanquish Demons, sweep away all injustice beneath heaven, and return a bright and clear world to mankind!"

Liang Song said with a smile, clearly fond of Lin Zheyu's storytelling that day.

"Master, are there Demons in this world?"

"And can Martial Arts, when cultivated to profound heights, truly slay Demons?"

Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

In the memories of his former self, he had often heard strange tales and legends of Demons and ghosts.

But they had all been hearsay, the sort of stories about something happening to the wife of the second brother-in-law of a friend of his uncle's eldest aunt. He had never experienced anything himself.

"Yes, Demons do exist in this world, though they're not as outrageous as in your stories."

"I saw how convincingly you told them and thought you had actually seen such things before."

Liang Song said with a smile, "This world is vast and filled with many unknown, unfathomable things. Once your status and strength rise, you'll gradually come into contact with them."

"Ah!"

"They really exist!"

Lin Zheyu froze, a faint sense of danger rising in his heart.

"Don't worry. When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up."

"So long as Great Wei does not collapse, those Demons will not dare cause trouble in the cities."

"But in this world, people are not much kinder than Demons!" Liang Song sighed and said no more.

Lin Zheyu did not spoil the mood either, merely drinking quietly with his Master.

After a long while, when his Master seemed to have recovered his spirits, he continued, "Then, Master, can Martial Arts cultivated to a profound level deal with those Demons?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't it?"

Liang Song said firmly, "Just like Zuo Qianhu in your story—when Martial Arts are practiced to formidable heights, even Demons need not be feared!"

But Zuo Qianhu still lost and died in the end!

Lin Zheyu muttered inwardly, but did not dare argue.

One still had to show one's Master some respect.

After enjoying the scenery with Master Liang for a while and exchanging some Martial Arts knowledge, Lin Zheyu left.

He had originally wanted to stay a little longer, but Master Liang was becoming somewhat annoyed.

Liang Song was a rather quiet man. He usually liked sitting alone by the window, silently watching the scenery and the passing pedestrians.