The Talk of Demons and Monsters

The muscle-cramp sensation had faded, and Lin Zheyu planned to continue training.

He was close to breaking through his limits. If he pushed a little harder, another unit of Source Power would be his.

"What are you doing?"

"Your body is about to reach its limit. If you keep training, forget about doing anything else this afternoon."

Seeing Lin Zheyu step into the middle of the courtyard and assume his stance, Liang Song spoke up to warn him.

"It's fine. I'll speak to Steward Wu this afternoon and skip the storytelling. I can go again tomorrow."

Lin Zheyu said.

Reaching his limit was exactly what he wanted. How else was he supposed to obtain Source Power without reaching his limits?

"Nonsense!"

"How can you just decide not to go when storytelling is such an important matter?"

"If you don't go, what am I supposed to listen to?"

"Martial training requires a balance between tension and relaxation. Training ferociously all the time is useless. Go back and rest. Focus on preparing this afternoon's story."

Liang Song said.

What a joke. He was listening at the height of his enjoyment—how could he let Lin Zheyu miss storytelling because of martial training?

Huh?

Lin Zheyu did not know whether to laugh or cry. No wonder Master Liang had been so concerned about his health. It turned out he simply did not want Lin Zheyu to overtrain and delay the afternoon's storytelling!

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu answered helplessly.

It seemed he could only try breaking through his physical limit again after returning home tonight.

"You've learned Bull Fist well enough. From now on, you can practice it at home."

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask me when I go to Bidan Tea House. If you come here, I may not necessarily be home."

"Also, prepare your storytelling tales carefully every day. Only by telling your stories well can you earn more money."

"With enough silver to support you, you can practice martial arts properly."

Liang Song said sternly.

"Thank you for your teachings, Master."

After returning home, he washed up and changed into a scholar's outfit.

He had not felt particularly tired while training, but after more than an hour of recovery, Lin Zheyu felt sore and weak all over. Even raising his hand made it tremble.

While eating lunch, he picked up his bowl, but his hands shook and he set it back down.

The first burst of effort was powerful, the second diminished, and by the third, one was spent.

Lin Zheyu felt that it would probably be difficult to continue training tonight until he broke through his physical limits.

"Young sir, have you overtrained again?"

Wu Yinghe said with a wry smile as he watched Lin Zheyu stagger along.

This youth was working himself far too hard.

"I spent several hours learning martial arts from Master Liang this morning, so my body is a little fatigued. It's nothing serious."

"Thank you for the matter with Master Liang, Steward Wu. Once I've saved enough money, I'll treat you to a trip to Hundred Flowers Pavilion."

Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

After nearly a month of bitterly practicing the Horse Stance, he had passed Master Liang's test and finally learned martial arts.

If Steward Wu had not introduced him, not only would he have needed to put considerable thought into learning martial arts, he would also have had to spend quite a lot of silver.

"What are you saying? I should be the one treating you."

"If it weren't for you, young sir, how could Bidan Tea House's business have become so prosperous? It has probably already surpassed Yixiang Tea House by now."

Steward Wu said with a smile, the fat on his face squeezing together from his excessive delight.

Lin Zheyu felt that Steward Wu had gained quite a bit more weight lately. Perhaps a carefree heart truly did make for a plump body.

"Oh, right. People from Yixiang Tea House came looking for me last night. This time, they offered two hundred and fifty copper coins a day."

Lin Zheyu said.

He was not making empty claims. When he returned last night, someone from Yixiang Tea House had sought him out, hoping to poach him.

Bidan Tea House was becoming more and more popular, stealing many customers from Yixiang Tea House. Their Steward Jia had finally grown anxious and decided to poach him.

"Ah!"

"Young sir, please don't go to Yixiang Tea House. I can apply to the owner and get you three hundred copper coins a day."

Steward Wu panicked slightly and hurriedly said.

Over the past few days, he truly had often seen people from Yixiang Tea House lingering outside their establishment.

As Lin Zheyu's fame spread, many customers from other tea houses had come seeking his stories by name, multiplying Bidan Tea House's business severalfold.

If Lin Zheyu was poached away, their tea house's business would return to its former dullness.

"Don't worry, I won't go to Yixiang Tea House."

"If Steward Wu hadn't been willing to give me a chance to try back then, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"But Steward Wu, you have to keep your word too. It's settled, then—three hundred copper coins."

Lin Zheyu said with a smile, then turned and staggered toward the storytelling platform.

He believed in living with a clear conscience and repaying a drop of kindness with a gushing spring.

When Lin Zheyu had fallen on hard times, he had visited many tea houses, but because he was too young and filthy from head to toe, they had all thrown him out.

Only Steward Wu had patiently chatted with him for a few sentences, found Lin Zheyu's stories interesting, and allowed him to give it a try.

Lin Zheyu was grateful to Wu Yinghe.

The reason he had mentioned Yixiang Tea House trying to poach him was merely to ask for a raise.

Before long, another afternoon had passed.

The crowd's cheers were even more enthusiastic than usual.

Master Liang had also tipped him fifty copper coins, remaining his number one supporter.

"Master, why did you tip so much?"

Lin Zheyu asked as he carried a jug of wine over and sat opposite Liang Song.

"I tipped you because you told the story well. If you tell it poorly, I'll beat you."

"You did well this time. I'm very satisfied."

"Tell more stories about heroic figures like Yan Chixia and Thousand-Household Zuo. We martial artists should subdue demons and slay monsters, sweep away all injustice under heaven, and return a bright and clear world to mankind!"

Liang Song said with a smile, clearly very pleased with the story Lin Zheyu had told that day.

"Master, are there really demons and monsters in this world?"

"And if one cultivates martial arts to profound heights, can one truly slay demons and monsters?"

Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

In the memories of his former self, he had often heard strange tales and legends of demons, monsters, ghosts, and spirits.

But they had all been hearsay, stories like something that happened to the wife of his uncle's eldest aunt's friend's second brother-in-law. He had never experienced such things himself.

"Yes, demons and monsters exist in this world, though they aren't as outrageous as you made them sound."

"I saw how vividly you told it and thought you had truly seen them before."

Liang Song said with a smile, "This world is vast and filled with many unknown and unfathomable things. Once your status and strength improve, you will gradually come into contact with them."

"Ah!"

"They really exist!"

Lin Zheyu froze, a faint sense of danger rising in his heart.

"Don't worry. When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

"As long as Great Wei does not collapse, those demons and monsters will not dare cause trouble within the city."

"Still, people in this world are not much kinder than demons and monsters!" Liang Song sighed and said no more.

Lin Zheyu did not disrupt the mood either, merely drinking quietly with his master.

After a long while, seeing that his master seemed to have recovered his spirits, he continued asking, "Then, Master, when martial arts are cultivated to profound levels, can they deal with those demons and monsters?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't they?"

Liang Song said firmly, "Just like Thousand-Household Zuo in your story, once martial arts are trained to a formidable level, even demons and monsters need not be feared!"

But Thousand-Household Zuo still lost and died in the end!

Lin Zheyu muttered inwardly, but did not dare argue back.

One still had to show one's master some respect.

After accompanying Master Liang to enjoy the scenery for a while and discussing some martial arts knowledge, Lin Zheyu left.

He had originally wanted to stay a little longer, but Master Liang was getting somewhat annoyed.

Liang Song was a rather taciturn person. Usually, he liked sitting alone by the window, silently watching the scenery and the pedestrians passing by.