Joining (Part Two)

"There's no need to be so polite."

"Drop that bookish way of speaking. We martial artists don't fuss over so many formalities."

"Oh, right. Look at me, forgetting the most important thing. You care about silver more than anything, lad. I nearly forgot to mention it."

Xu Jingwu laughed.

Back then, when he'd asked Jia Yanyong to invite Lin Zheyu over to tell stories, the lad had refused simply because Xu Jingwu hadn't offered him any money.

"Ha, ha..."

Lin Zheyu gave an awkward laugh.

At the time, he'd let his first impression get the better of him and assumed that everyone in a gang was a bad person.

Then Jia Yanyong had said there'd be no pay, making Lin Zheyu think even worse of him. He'd refused on the spot.

Who ever hired a storyteller without paying him?

But after spending some time with Xu Jingwu, Lin Zheyu had realized the man wasn't the fearsome, wicked brute he'd imagined.

Xu Jingwu had a refined, easygoing air about him, and he was remarkably generous.

Just now, Lin Zheyu had seen him tip the opera performers a tael of silver when he was in a good mood.

If Lin Zheyu had agreed back then and pleased Xu Jingwu with his storytelling, he'd probably have received a generous tip, too.

"Your skills are a little better than Jia Yanyong and the others', but you haven't contributed anything yet, so you'll get the same pay they do: five taels of silver a month. How does that sound?"

Xu Jingwu said.

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

Someone a little stronger, like Jia Yanyong or Xie Jiang, could earn five taels of silver a month.

"Five taels is already more than enough for me."

Lin Zheyu replied with a smile, then teased, "But next time you want to hear a story, Gang Leader, you'll have to pay me separately."

"Hahaha!"

"Of course! I'll pay."

"And I'll give you a generous tip, too!"

Xu Jingwu roared with laughter.

Lin Zheyu watched another opera with Gang Leader Xu before leaving.

Gang Leader Xu was a busy man. In the afternoon, he had a garden outing planned with Miss Wang and Miss Chen, and in the evening, he had arranged to visit the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

His days were packed, yet simple and unpretentious.

Baiwei Street.

Honglai Restaurant.

Jia Yanyong, Xie Jiang, and Lin Zheyu sat around a table.

"Come on, let me toast Lin. Welcome to the Flying Rainbow Gang." Xie Jiang raised his bowl of wine.

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

He filled it again and turned to Jia Yanyong. "I'll drink to you, Brother Yong. We're brothers now, so let's put the past behind us."

"Haha, I was the one in the wrong before. I should be the one to toast you!" Jia Yanyong laughed heartily. When it came to being a brother, nobody could fault him.

The two bowls clinked, and they downed their wine in one go.

After a few bowls, the mood grew livelier.

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

"I still have a storytelling session later. How about tonight?"

Lin Zheyu replied.

Storytelling earned him six or seven taels of silver a month, which was no small sum. He wasn't planning to give it up just yet.

"Perfect. A lot of the brothers like listening to your stories, too. We can meet up at Bidan Tea House," Xie Jiang said with a smile.

They ate and drank their fill, and Jia Yanyong paid for the meal.

From Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang, Lin Zheyu learned more about the Flying Rainbow Gang.

The gang had many skilled fighters. There were more than thirty Bone Forging Realm martial artists like Lin Zheyu, and about twenty whose Bone Forging had reached its peak.

Eight had reached Organ Refining, two of them at the peak.

Anyone who reached Organ Refining was a first-rate fighter in Songyi City, earning at least fifteen taels of silver a month.

Above Organ Refining was a Blood Energy Realm expert: Gang Leader Xu.

It was exceedingly difficult for ordinary people to practice martial arts. Outstanding talent alone wasn't enough.

They had to spend enormous amounts of time training every day, and they also needed enough silver to support them. The costs were staggering.

As a result, most people who achieved real skill came from wealthy families.

And people from wealthy families rarely joined gangs.

That made Jia Yanyong, Xie Jiang, Lin Zheyu, and the others some of the Flying Rainbow Gang's best fighters.

At Bidan Tea House.

Lin Zheyu stepped onto the storytelling platform and surveyed the audience, spotting many familiar faces.

The new top tipper was there, too.

The wealthy young master passing through Songyi City was very generous.

Unfortunately, ever since he'd tipped Lin Zheyu a tael of silver to tell one more part of the story, he hadn't given him another tip that large.

These days, he only tipped a hundred or so copper coins each time.

Still, that was pretty good.

"Last time, Huang Rong used delicious food to tempt Hong Qigong, and finally got him to agree to instruct Guo Jing..."

Lin Zheyu held forth onstage, while the audience listened, enthralled.

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

"That was wonderful!"

"Brother, stay a little longer before we leave."

As Lu Zhenfang listened to the story, she felt reluctant to go.

Songyi City wasn't as lively as Baohe City.

But the stories told in Songyi City were far more exciting!

Lu Zhenfang had become hooked on the scholar-and-fox-spirit tale at Yixiang Tea House and the thrilling world of martial artists at Bidan Tea House.

In Baohe City, how could she hear so many fresh, exciting stories? All they had were stale old tales.

"Uncle's business is nearly finished. We'll have to leave in four days at most. If we put it off any longer, he'll scold me," Lu Qihui said helplessly.

He didn't want to set out so soon, either. He wanted to spend a few more days enjoying Songyi City.

Once they left, the journey would be long, and they'd be on the road for a month or so.

Living out in the open and sleeping rough was miserable.

"I'll send Mr. Lin an invitation later and ask him to travel with us. That way, the road won't be quite so dull."

"Do you really think he'll agree?"

Lu Zhenfang was worried. Few people in this age were willing to leave their home behind.

They were leaving Baohe City out of necessity; the rebel army wasn't far away.

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 people out to scout the route. They were the second group.

"He will."

"I heard Mr. Lin isn't from Songyi City. He fled here from Jiunan City."

"He has no family or friends here. If we offer him enough money, why would it matter where he tells stories?"

Lu Qihui was brimming with confidence.

He wasn't worried at all that Lin Zheyu would refuse to travel with them.

How much could Lin Zheyu earn telling stories in Songyi City?

His daily pay and tips would amount to five hundred copper coins at most, or ten taels of silver a month.

He couldn't believe Lin Zheyu would refuse to leave Songyi City if they offered him twenty taels.

After finishing his story, Lin Zheyu had just stepped down from the platform when Steward Wu came over.

"Mr. Lin, a guest would like to meet you."

"I'm not interested."

Lin Zheyu refused at once.

More and more people wanted to meet him lately, and he was getting tired of it.

"They're very sincere. They gave me a tael of silver."

Steward Wu pulled out a silver coin and handed it over. "I thought you'd be willing to meet them for the money, so I accepted on your behalf."

"This guy knows how to get things done!"

"In that case, I'll meet them."

Lin Zheyu took the silver and grinned.

He liked people who knew how to handle things. They knew what was what.

When it came to social graces, Jia Yanyong had a lot to learn.

If Jia Yanyong had spoken more politely and shown some sincerity back then—if he'd explained that there'd be no upfront pay, but that Gang Leader Xu would tip him generously if he liked the story—things might not have gone so badly.

Following Steward Wu's directions, Lin Zheyu met the guests. They were the generous young master who'd tipped him a tael of silver before.

"I'm Lin Zheyu. A pleasure to meet you all."

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands toward them, smiling warmly.

Anyone who paid was a VIP.

As long as they were willing to spend, Lin Zheyu was always friendly and easy to deal with.

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

"Mr. Lin, you're truly gifted to have written such an exciting and stirring story as Legend of the Condor Heroes!" Lu Qihui praised.

"You flatter me, sir. You're too kind."