Invitation

Time slowly passed.

Several days went by.

Xing Jinglong didn't come back to provoke him, and Lin Zheyu was glad to enjoy the peace and quiet.

If not for the tea house's dwindling business and the rising prices in the city, life would have been even more comfortable.

At the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

Lin Zheyu hadn't been there in a long time.

But he couldn't resist Jia Yanyong and the others' enthusiastic invitations.

Afterward.

On the second floor of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, they sat in the viewing area.

They listened to songs, watched the dancing, and chatted about all manner of things.

"Brother Lin, what did you think? Wasn't Miss Zhong especially soft and supple?"

Xie Jiang sidled over, grinning like a rascal.

He'd completely given up trying to change the way he addressed Lin Zheyu. Even Jia Yanyong and the others had started calling him Brother Lin, leaving Lin Zheyu utterly speechless.

You called me Brother Lin, and I called you Brother Xie or Brother Jia. We could each call the other whatever we liked.

"Come on, Brother Lin is a scholar. How could he discuss such things in public with you? Have you no shame?" Ning Hui joked.

Lin Zheyu smiled but said nothing.

The Hundred Flowers Pavilion... well, it really was a fine place.

On the stage downstairs, the songstresses sang, their voices lilting and seductive, tugging at the heartstrings.

The scantily clad dancers swayed their supple waists, their fair skin flashing in and out of sight—a feast for the eyes.

While they drank and admired the beauties' dancing, a maid approached.

"Which of you gentlemen is Young Master Lin Zheyu? Young Master Xu over there would like to see you," she asked.

"Young Master Xu? Which Young Master Xu?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

In Songyi City, aside from Gang Leader Xu, he didn't know any other young masters surnamed Xu.

"Young Master Xu Qinyi."

The maid spoke softly, her voice sweet and tender.

"It's him!" Xie Jiang cried out.

"You know him?" Lin Zheyu looked at him.

"Of course."

"Young Master Xu Qinyi is Gang Leader Xu's youngest son."

"I heard he's the most talented of the younger generation in the Xu Family. He's only fifteen, yet he's already reached Organ Refining. Maybe one day he'll even have a chance to break through to Marrow Refining."

Xie Jiang explained, looking curiously at Lin Zheyu. He couldn't figure out why Xu Qinyi had invited him over.

"Go on, go on. Since Young Master Xu invited you, don't keep him waiting," Jia Yanyong urged, pushing Lin Zheyu along.

Lin Zheyu stood and followed the maid toward the opposite side of the second floor.

When he entered Young Master Xu's private room, he found three young men inside, none of whom he knew.

The room was ideally situated, giving them a close-up view of the dancers onstage from the best angle.

"Haha, Brother Lin is here. I've heard a great deal about you."

"Come, come, take a seat over here."

The young man in the middle of the three stood and invited Lin Zheyu to sit.

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

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands and greeted them.

Apart from Xu Qinyi, the other two seemed rather aloof, but Lin Zheyu didn't mind.

He didn't have much to do with these young masters from wealthy families, and he didn't know many of them.

"My father has told me about you. He said you had an exceptional talent. If you train diligently, you could become another Blood Energy Realm expert one day," Xu Qinyi said with a smile.

At the mention of a Blood Energy Realm expert, the other two couldn't help turning to look at Lin Zheyu.

"Come, let me introduce Brother Lin. This is Young Master Chen Xihong of the Chen Family, and this is Young Master Ren Qingfeng of the Ren Family."

"Their families are allied with mine. We're all on the same side." Xu Qinyi gestured to the two beside him and introduced them with a smile.

Hearing the name Ren Qingfeng of the Ren Family, Lin Zheyu couldn't help taking a closer look.

Up close, the young man's features bore some resemblance to Miss Ren Qingying's. Perhaps they were siblings.

"I'm Lin Zheyu. A pleasure to meet you, Young Master Chen and Young Master Ren."

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands to the two.

"What's your cultivation level, Brother Lin?" Chen Xihong couldn't help asking.

When he'd heard Xu Qinyi say that this fellow had the potential to reach the Blood Energy Realm, his curiosity had been piqued.

Blood Energy Realm martial artists were among the strongest in Songyi City.

In their families, those who reached the Blood Energy Realm were pillars of the clan.

"I've only just reached the middle stage of Bone Forging, more or less. I hope you won't laugh at me," Lin Zheyu said modestly.

He used the Turtle Breathing Technique to conceal his Blood Energy Realm strength, making himself appear to be only at the Bone Forging level.

"Not bad. Brother Lin is still young, yet he's already reached Bone Forging. You have a bright future ahead of you."

Chen Xihong's expression showed a trace of disdain, and his words sounded perfunctory.

What was Bone Forging worth?

In their aristocratic families, any direct-line heir who had been stewing in medicinal treasures to temper their bones and tendons since childhood could reach Bone Forging by the age of twelve.

Ren Qingfeng had just been about to chime in, but after hearing that, he swallowed his words and turned to watch the dancers.

"Haha, you two don't know the whole story."

"Brother Lin used to be a scholar, wholly devoted to passing the imperial examinations. He only started practicing martial arts after coming to Songyi City."

"He's been training for less than three months."

From their expressions, Xu Qinyi could tell what they were thinking, so he spoke up to fill them in.

The two looked at Lin Zheyu again.

Their faces filled with astonishment.

If Xu Qinyi was telling the truth, then Lin Zheyu really was quite extraordinary.

"Brother Lin, did you ever temper your bones and tendons with medicinal baths when you were young?" Ren Qingfeng couldn't help asking.

"No."

"I studied the ancient sages' teachings from childhood, devoting myself to passing the imperial examinations. I'd never practiced martial arts or tempered my bones and tendons."

Lin Zheyu replied.

The two swallowed hard, astonishment showing in their eyes as they looked at Lin Zheyu.

He hadn't been steeped in precious medicines from childhood to lay a solid foundation, yet he'd reached Bone Forging in just over two months!

Such talent and comprehension were truly terrifying.

"Impressive!"

"Brother Lin, your talent is truly exceptional!"

Ren Qingfeng cupped his hands toward Lin Zheyu and praised him.

As members of aristocratic families, they knew the difference between those who reached Bone Forging after having their bones and tendons tempered with precious medicines and those who advanced to Bone Forging through their own efforts.

Although they'd reached the peak of Bone Forging at an early age, they'd gotten there by piling on medicines. They'd hit their limit at the peak of Organ Refining.

Lin Zheyu was different.

He'd never had his bones and tendons tempered in medicinal baths or laid a foundation that way, yet he'd still reached Bone Forging within three months.

It showed just how exceptional his comprehension and talent were.

Only someone with astonishing comprehension, who could grasp the heart of martial arts, could achieve several times the results with half the effort and reach the middle stage of Bone Forging in a matter of months.

"You flatter me, Young Master Ren," Lin Zheyu said modestly.

"Haha, no need to be modest."

"Come, let me offer you a drink, Brother Lin, to apologize for looking down on you just now." Chen Xihong raised his cup with a smile.

Lin Zheyu raised his own, clinked it lightly against Chen Xihong's, and drained it.

"I'd like to offer you a drink too, Brother Lin. Please."

Ren Qingfeng likewise raised his cup to Lin Zheyu.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere in the private room warmed considerably.

They chatted about gossip among the aristocratic families and the latest news about the rebel army. Lin Zheyu listened with great interest.

"Our Ren Family was already preparing to flee, but then we heard the rebel army had begun building a fortified camp and stopped advancing."

"So Grandfather gave up on escaping and decided to wait and see for a while longer," Ren Qingfeng said.

No wonder he hadn't seen Ren Qingying handing out porridge outside the city. At the time, Lin Zheyu had thought the Ren Family had already slipped away.

"Winter's here, and the weather's bitterly cold. The rebel army will probably rest and regroup for a while."

"With this breathing room, the Great Wei court will have time to recover and send an army to suppress them. So there's a good chance the fighting won't reach Songyi City," Xu Qinyi said with a smile.