A Transaction

After a round of pleasantries, Lu Qihui got down to business.

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

Lu Qihui smiled as he asked, though his tone made it clear he already knew the answer.

"Yes. I'm from Jiunan City."

"I imagine you've heard that Jiunan City fell to the rebel army. I escaped from the city at the time and wandered all the way to Songyi City."

Lin Zheyu didn't hide the truth.

A lot of people already knew his story. It wasn't a secret.

"Since you fled here from Jiunan City, you're all alone in Songyi City. Would you be interested in traveling with the Lu Family to Bafang City?"

"We'd like to have you tell stories along the way. That would make the journey less dull."

Lu Qihui spoke earnestly. Lu Zhenfang, seated beside him, looked at Lin Zheyu with hopeful eyes.

When Lin Zheyu didn't reply, Lu Zhenfang added, "We can offer you twice what you earn in Songyi City."

"How about twenty taels of silver a month?"

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not planning to leave Songyi City just yet." Lin Zheyu shook his head and declined.

"This..."

"Could you tell me why, Mr. Lin?"

"Is the silver not enough? We can offer more. How about thirty taels?"

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

Thirty taels for a storyteller was practically an astronomical sum. If people found out, they'd probably say he'd lost his mind.

Even an Organ Refining martial artist didn't receive that much in monthly offerings.

"It's not about the silver."

Lin Zheyu shook his head.

Lu Qihui's offer of thirty taels was certainly tempting. At the moment, all his various income sources added up to about thirty taels a month.

But things were chaotic outside, with bandits everywhere. One wrong step could cost him his life.

His predecessor had come from a wealthy merchant family and had fled ahead of time, yet still encountered bandits.

If he hadn't been lucky, he never would've made it to Songyi City.

Lin Zheyu planned to lie low in Songyi City for a while. Only after reaching the Blood Energy Realm and securing a measure of safety would he consider leaving.

"Then why?"

"Songyi City isn't far from Baohe City, and the situation is dire. If the rebel army takes Baohe City, Songyi City will be next."

"Since you'll have to leave sooner or later, why not travel with the Lu Family? At least you'd have people to look out for you." Lu Qihui tried to persuade him, unwilling to give up.

"You must have run into plenty of bandits on the way from Baohe City to Songyi City, haven't you, Young Master Lu?"

"The situation is turbulent, and bandits are rampant. Traveling rashly is extremely dangerous."

"My Lin Family were wealthy merchants in Jiunan City, with many skilled fighters in our employ, but we still ran into powerful bandits while escaping."

"Going out now is far too dangerous."

"I choose to trust Great Wei's strength. I believe the court will react soon and send troops to put down the rebels." Lin Zheyu found an excuse to refuse.

"Indeed, it's a mess outside the city. Bandits are everywhere."

Lu Qihui sighed. They had run into plenty of bandits on the way.

If not for his uncle's formidable strength and the large number of guards and servants in their party, they might have met with disaster too.

When chaos engulfed the land, the people suffered. Those who couldn't make ends meet had no choice but to become bandits. But they weren't the real threat. The truly frightening ones were the powerful people who slipped in among the bandits to wreak havoc.

"What a shame."

Lu Qihui sighed. The journey ahead would probably be terribly dull.

"Mr. Lin, you should make plans soon. Songyi City isn't safe. Great Wei can barely look after itself right now, let alone spare the forces to suppress the rebel army."

"I'll tell you something I heard in confidence. Don't spread it around."

Lu Qihui lowered his voice. "I heard this rebel army has powerful backers. Many major forces are stirring things up behind the scenes, and Great Wei may have a hard time dealing with them."

"So if you travel with us, you'll be much safer than waiting until the rebels attack and then trying to flee."

"My uncle is a Blood Energy Realm expert, and the Lu Family's guards are formidable. We can surely keep everyone safe," Lu Qihui said confidently.

"Who exactly are these rebels?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

"I'm not sure."

Lu Qihui shook his head. He'd only heard rumors and didn't know the details.

After all, they were the powers pulling the strings from behind the scenes. If even he knew who they were, they wouldn't be much of a secret.

"You'll have to forgive me, but I have no plans to leave Songyi City for now."

"You invited me to travel with you because you wanted to hear my stories, didn't you?"

"I have a suggestion that could help pass the time on your journey," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"Let's hear it." Lu Qihui perked up.

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

"But the complete story will cost eighty taels of silver. I wonder if you'd be willing to pay that, Young Master Lu." Lin Zheyu explained.

If they agreed, he'd have another sum of silver coming in.

"That works!"

Lu Zhenfang was delighted. She turned to Lu Qihui. "Brother, let's go to Yixiang Tea House later and find that storyteller. We can buy that story too!"

"You mean the Liaozhai stories?"

"Mm-hmm. That story is wonderful too, and it's a completely different style from the one you're telling now." Lu Zhenfang nodded.

"I was the one who gave that story to Yixiang Tea House. They found another storyteller to tell it," Lin Zheyu said with a faint smile.

Lu Qihui and Lu Zhenfang both looked stunned.

"Impressive!"

Lu Qihui gave him a thumbs-up. "I'm in awe of your talent, Mr. Lin!"

"If you want both stories, I can give you a discount. One hundred and fifty taels for the pair," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

That was a huge sum of silver to him.

Many ordinary families probably wouldn't earn that much in a lifetime.

Once he'd written the stories down, he could also give a copy to Gang Leader Xu. He was sure to get something out of it.

"Fine, it's a deal."

"We're leaving Songyi City in four days. Will you have enough time to finish the rest of the stories?" Lu Zhenfang asked anxiously.

"No problem."

"I've already written most of the story, and I have the rest outlined in my head. It'll be quick to finish," Lin Zheyu said.

"Good. It's a deal."

After making arrangements with the Lu siblings, Lin Zheyu went with Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang to meet the gang's brothers.

The person in charge of Lin Zheyu and the others was Qiu Gaoxuan, a man around forty-five years old. He was said to be an Organ Refining expert at the peak of the realm, and looked extremely aloof, his face expressionless.

After meeting the Flying Rainbow Gang's brothers and getting acquainted, Lin Zheyu didn't leave until sometime after nine.

Those martial artists could drink like animals. They had a remarkable capacity for liquor.

"Hic—"

Belching again, Lin Zheyu arrived at Master Liang's residence.

Master Liang didn't reproach him.

He'd been around the block and knew that drinking was one of the most common and effective ways to fit into a group.

After downing a bowl of hangover soup, Lin Zheyu felt much clearer.

"Let's keep training tonight."

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

Liang Song looked to the side.

Under the night sky, a young man stood there.

He looked to be around thirty, with a sturdy build, closely cropped hair, and a square face. He gave off an honest, upright impression.

"Who is this?"

Lin Zheyu looked at the man, only now noticing that someone else was in the courtyard.

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

"So you're Senior Brother Han. I'm Lin Zheyu."

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands to Han Mo.

Steward Wu had mentioned that Master Liang had taught martial arts to other people. Han Mo must have been one of them.