The group drank until after eight in the evening, but Lin Zheyu had to leave early because he had something to do.
Hic—
On his way to Master Liang's house, Lin Zheyu let out a drunken hiccup.
When he'd tried to leave early just now, Jia Yanyong and the others wouldn't let him go. They'd insisted he down several large bowls of strong liquor before finally letting him leave.
Knock, knock.
He gently rapped on Master Liang's door, and it soon opened.
He stepped inside.
Under the moonlight.
Several small dishes and a pot of wine sat on the stone table in the courtyard.
Liang Song had just been sitting alone in the courtyard, drinking.
"You reek of alcohol. Looks like you drank quite a bit."
"Drink this bowl to sober up," Liang Song said.
"Thank you, Master."
Lin Zheyu took the bowl and caught the strong scent of medicine.
"Sorry, Master. Something came up tonight, so I was delayed and arrived a little late."
Lin Zheyu looked apologetic.
"It doesn't matter."
"Joining the Flying Rainbow Gang and having its protection in Songyi City is a good thing," Liang Song said with a smile.
After drinking the sobering soup, Lin Zheyu felt much more alert.
He rested for a while, then went into the courtyard and began practicing the Golden Goose Technique.
After practicing for about an hour and a half, he was drenched in sweat, and the last traces of alcohol had completely left him.
"Take a break. We'll spar in a bit."
Seeing that Lin Zheyu had mostly sobered up, Liang Song told him to rest.
After a short break, the two went into the courtyard and began sparring.
With the experience from last night's sparring, Lin Zheyu held out a little longer today.
Thud, thud, thud.
The sounds of fists and palms clashing rang through the courtyard.
Liang Song kept his strength at Lin Zheyu's level, or even a little below it.
But even so, Liang Song easily crushed him.
The enormous gap in combat experience and awareness showed Lin Zheyu that martial cultivation didn't equate to fighting ability.
A true martial arts expert could easily challenge opponents of a higher level and defeat them, even when facing someone stronger.
After holding out for more than a dozen exchanges against Liang Song, Lin Zheyu was sent flying with a kick.
"Not bad. You've improved a lot since yesterday," Liang Song said with a smile.
Lin Zheyu rubbed his chest. The spot where Liang Song had kicked him was burning with pain.
Liang Song had reached the Blood Energy Realm, and his bones were hard as iron.
When his master's foot struck him, Lin Zheyu felt as though he'd been hit with an iron hammer.
"Again!"
With a resolute look in his eyes, Lin Zheyu pushed off hard and shot toward Liang Song.
Master Liang's main cultivation technique was the Golden Goose Technique, and Lin Zheyu had learned many combat techniques for it by watching him.
As the fight went on, Lin Zheyu's progress in the Golden Goose Technique accelerated. He began incorporating its footwork into the fight.
Facing the experienced Master Liang, Lin Zheyu changed tactics and used the Golden Goose Technique's agile footwork to circle around Liang Song.
"Heh!"
"I've already used that trick myself."
As Lin Zheyu rapidly changed position, Liang Song gave a chuckle and kicked backward with his right foot, fast as lightning.
Thump—
Caught off guard while moving at speed, Lin Zheyu took the kick to the shoulder and was sent flying once again.
Lin Zheyu: "..."
This was exhausting.
He really missed how it felt to fight Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang during the day.
The two sparred until late into the night, and every time, it ended with Lin Zheyu being kicked flying.
Under Master Liang's training, Lin Zheyu's combat awareness began to improve, and he could last longer and longer against Liang Song.
Eventually, he even managed to launch a few counterattacks.
Early morning.
After a night's rest, Lin Zheyu had mostly recovered.
The medicine Liang Song gave him worked very well. He'd applied it to the bruised areas, and by the next morning, they had almost healed.
He arrived at Liang Song's courtyard early.
With Liang Song's guidance, Lin Zheyu practiced for more than three hours. At last, he had mastered the Golden Goose Technique.
Heaven Rewards Diligence Name: Lin Zheyu Source Power: 6 Skills: Bull Fist (Proficient 3%) Golden Goose Technique (First Layer 2%)
"I've finally mastered it. My progress reached 2% in one morning. I should be able to enter the second layer in about a month," Lin Zheyu thought to himself.
With the foundation laid by the Bull Fist, his progress in the early stages of the Golden Goose Technique came much faster.
His muscles were now well-developed, and his fascia was tough and strong. The first layer of the Golden Goose Technique mainly trained the body's muscles, fascia, and skin. Once he strengthened those in his legs, he would be able to enter the second layer.
After reaching the Bone Forging Realm of the second layer, his progress would slow down.
After saying goodbye to his master, Lin Zheyu headed for the Flying Rainbow Pavilion at around nine.
28 Tongquan Street.
Lin Zheyu walked into the Flying Rainbow Pavilion. It was rather quiet inside.
"Mr. Lin is here. This way, please."
A man came out and led Lin Zheyu farther inside.
"The gang leader gave instructions. Once you arrived, I was to bring you to see him in the back courtyard. He'll personally assign you to your post," the man said.
The man led Lin Zheyu through a maze of covered walkways, past a scenic pond and pavilion, and into a courtyard.
There was a stage set up in the courtyard, and Gang Leader Xu was leisurely listening to an opera.
"So this is the simple, unadorned life of the rich."
Lin Zheyu sighed, a little envious.
He worked himself to the bone just to earn a few taels of silver, while the other man could make hundreds or even thousands of taels just by listening to music, watching operas, and visiting brothels.
"You're here. Sit down."
"This opera is quite good. Sit and listen for a while," Xu Jingwu said with a smile.
Lin Zheyu sat beside Xu Jingwu and sampled the delicious food on the table out of boredom.
Xu Jingwu knew how to enjoy himself. The refreshments for one opera performance probably cost several taels of silver.
Lin Zheyu ate the food, occasionally listening to the opera.
He couldn't really appreciate it. The wealth of entertainment in his previous life had left him uninterested in classical performances like opera.
But as he listened, Lin Zheyu gradually began to appreciate the pleasure of opera.
Only after the performance ended did Xu Jingwu begin discussing business.
"There isn't much to do in the gang. The main job is to maintain order within the Flying Rainbow Gang's territory."
"On the surface, order in the city is under the government's control. But because they're short-staffed, they delegate the work to the various gangs, big and small."
"If anything goes wrong in your territory and angers the people, the government will hold us responsible first," Xu Jingwu explained, telling Lin Zheyu about the Flying Rainbow Gang's main duties.
From Xu Jingwu, Lin Zheyu finally understood how Songyi City operated.
The government controlled the gangs, and the gangs managed order in the city.
There were three major gangs in Songyi City, and the Flying Rainbow Gang was the largest.
These gangs had all been established with funds pooled by powerful clans and wealthy merchants. The clans and merchants in the city were divided into three interest groups, each vying for power while keeping the others in check.
Xu Jingwu was from the Xu Family. He was the younger brother of the current head of the family.
The three major gangs in the city kept one another in check. This not only maintained order in the city, but also kept the gang members from running amok.
"From now on, you'll work with Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang as a three-man squad, led by Qiu Gaoxuan. For now, you'll be responsible for maintaining order in the streets around Baiwei Street."
"After a while, you may be sent to important places like the mines to stand guard for a period. But everyone takes turns," Xu Jingwu said.
"Understood."
Lin Zheyu nodded.
Order in the streets around Baiwei Street was quite good. He hardly ever saw anyone causing trouble, so it was an easy job.
"I have high hopes for you."
"Jia Yanyong told me you haven't been practicing martial arts for long, yet you've already reached your current level. You have a good talent and aptitude."
"Work hard and make a few more contributions. There'll be plenty of rewards for you," Xu Jingwu said with a smile, patting Lin Zheyu on the shoulder.
"Thank you for your confidence in me, Gang Leader Xu."
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