Departure (Part 1)

Night.

The cold wind howled.

The weather was getting colder by the day.

In the blink of an eye, several more days had passed.

In the courtyard, Lin Zheyu and Han Mo were shirtless, steam rising from their bodies.

They had just finished a sparring session, their blood still boiling.

"In such cold weather, there will be dozens more corpses outside the city by tomorrow morning."

Han Mo sighed as he spoke; he always felt deeply uncomfortable whenever he had to dispose of bodies.

"Things haven't been peaceful in the city lately either. If this continues, the city will fall into chaos long before the rebel army even arrives."

"Prices are getting higher and higher. It feels like ordinary people are barely able to survive anymore," Lin Zheyu said.

He had heard that many people who could no longer make ends meet had started picking up weapons and heading into the mountains to become bandits.

Many hunters no longer dared to go into the mountains to hunt; it was more likely that the bandits in the mountains would hunt them instead.

"Winter is here. The rebel army should quiet down for a while to recuperate and wait until spring to launch their next offensive," Han Mo said.

Liang Song watched the two of them chatting idly, smiling faintly as he stared blankly at the moon.

He was a naturally taciturn man who could sit alone and stare into space for an entire day.

After resting for a while, the two returned to the center of the courtyard.

Han Mo held a blunt blade, his expression serious.

Lin Zheyu moved like a shadow, darting quickly under the moonlight, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

He did not use his full Organ Refining strength, choosing instead to hide his true power to hone his combat techniques with his senior brother, Han Mo.

Facing an opponent armed with a weapon, Lin Zheyu had already figured out the necessary countermeasures.

His movements were incredibly agile. He moved rapidly, spotted an opening, and shot forward like lightning, whipping a leg toward Han Mo's back.

The wind whistled with impressive force.

Han Mo turned quickly, slashing out with his blade. Lin Zheyu dared not meet the edge head-on; he abruptly retracted his attack, shifted his body, and launched an assault from the other side.

As a technique primarily focused on training the legs, the Golden Goose Technique granted the practitioner great agility and speed like the wind once mastered.

Han Mo's blade technique was formidable—concise, swift, and powerful. His blade moved in sync with his body, changing fluidly and keeping his defenses airtight.

No matter how Lin Zheyu attacked, he was forced back by Han Mo's fierce blade momentum.

However, Han Mo could do nothing to him either.

Although Han Mo's strength had reached the peak of Organ Refining, his legwork was far inferior to Lin Zheyu's, lacking both speed and agility.

The two traded blows, one attacking and one defending, exchanging over a dozen moves in a short span.

The edge of the blunt blade grazed past Lin Zheyu time and again, yet he always managed to dodge with extreme finesse.

After more than an hour, Han Mo stopped, panting heavily.

"No more, I'm done."

Han Mo waved his hand.

Facing a speed-type martial artist like Lin Zheyu was incredibly frustrating for him.

"Let's call it a day. If I go back too late, your sister-in-law will start nagging me again."

Han Mo laughed and said, "It's about time you found yourself a wife, too. Living alone is so dull."

"How is it dull?"

"Are the girls at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion not fragrant enough, or is martial arts not fun to practice?"

"The world is so colorful and diverse; why get a wife and have children just to trap yourself?" Lin Zheyu said with a chuckle.

"You kid, when you're a bit older, you'll understand what it feels like to have a lamp waiting for you at home no matter how late you return," Han Mo said with a smile.

"A feeling?"

Lin Zheyu muttered to himself, thinking of the men from his past life who would sit in their underground garages, unwilling to go upstairs after returning home.

Hmm, I think I'll pass.

What's so good about getting married anyway...

"Master, was there anything I needed to improve on during that fight?"

Lin Zheyu walked over to Liang Song and asked.

"No, you've already done very well."

"To be able to cultivate the Golden Goose Technique to this level in less than a month, you are far better than your master," Master Liang said with a smile.

Before leaving Songyi City, being able to take on a disciple with such astonishing talent as Lin Zheyu made him feel very gratified.

Master Liang looked around at the flowers and plants in the courtyard and said, "Zheyu~"

"Yes, Master, is there something you need?"

Lin Zheyu replied, sensing that Master Liang's tone was a bit off.

"Han Mo has his own home in Songyi City, but the courtyard you are staying in is rented, right?"

"From now on, this courtyard is yours. Remember to take good care of these flowers and plants." Master Liang looked at the greenery in the yard, his eyes revealing an inexplicable emotion.

"Master, are you leaving?"

Lin Zheyu was surprised, feeling extremely reluctant to see him go.

Master Liang had treated him exceptionally well, holding nothing back and teaching him everything he knew to the best of his ability.

Lin Zheyu felt as though Master Liang was like family to him.

"Master, are you leaving so soon?" Han Mo said, equally reluctant. "Can't you stay for a while longer?"

"It is time to leave."

"You have already learned the Golden Goose Technique. A master leads you to the door, but the cultivation depends on the individual. In the future, you must rely on your own diligent practice."

"And you, although the Six Harmonies Saber Technique is a third-rate art, if you cultivate it to its peak, you can also break through to the Blood Energy Realm."

"Once you reach the Blood Energy Realm and can no longer progress, start practicing the Golden Goose Technique. If there is anything you don't understand, ask Lin Zheyu for guidance."

Master Liang took a sip of tea and continued, "In the blink of an eye, I have been in Songyi City for over a decade. It is time to go back; I wonder if those old friends are still around."

"How about I leave with you?"

"There is nothing in Songyi City worth lingering over for me; it is the same everywhere," Lin Zheyu suggested.

"You should forget about that."

"You had better stay honestly in the city, focus on storytelling to earn money, and concentrate on your martial arts."

"Remember, until you reach the level of the Blood Energy Realm, do not go to desolate places like deep mountains or forests," Master Liang cautioned.

"Eh?"

Lin Zheyu asked in confusion, "Is it because of the rampant bandits outside?"

Master Liang shook his head, "This world is not as peaceful as it appears on the surface."

"Whenever there is chaos in the world, monsters are bound to appear."

"In the past, demons and monsters were hidden and left no traces. That was because the Great Wei dynasty's national fortune suppressed them, and they dared not come out to cause trouble."

"Now, rebel armies are rising everywhere, the people are living in misery, and the national fortune is waning; it can no longer suppress them."

"It is fine within the city walls, but once you leave the city, it becomes extremely dangerous," Master Liang said slowly, his expression extremely serious.

"Master, what are demons and monsters like?" Lin Zheyu could not help but ask.

There were all sorts of legends about demons and ghosts circulating among the common people, but most were exaggerated and lacked any real credibility.

"I have only encountered them a few times myself."

"Just like the stories you tell, some are transformed from humans, while others are transformed from mountain spirits and wild beasts; all are incredibly bizarre."

"The strength of these monsters is great, their vitality is vigorous, and they are not easy to kill."

"For ordinary martial artists, encountering them is almost a death sentence. Only after reaching the Blood Energy Realm does one have the strength to fight them."

Master Liang said slowly, "If you encounter anything strange in the future, try to stay away as soon as possible. Do not go over to join in the excitement."

"Understood, Master."

Lin Zheyu nodded and asked curiously, "Master, you said that humans can also turn into monsters?"

"That is correct."

"Since ancient times, countless emperors and powerful figures have been pursuing immortality and seeking to become immortals."

"Some, as they cultivated, ended up turning into demons—neither human nor ghost," Master Liang explained.

"Master, are there really immortals in this world?"

"Perhaps there are, perhaps not."

"I am just a mortal, with strength only at the Blood Energy Realm. I haven't reached that level yet and cannot access such secretive information."

Master Liang shook his head, his expression indifferent.

"Oh..."

Lin Zheyu did not continue to press the matter. He sat down by the stone table to accompany Master Liang in drinking tea.