Lin Zheyu

Biodata

Name	Lin Zheyu (林哲羽)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Flying Rainbow Gang; Bidan Tea House
Occupation/Role	Storyteller; martial artist; Flying Rainbow Gang street-order squad member
Status	Active 50
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Horse Stance mastery	5	Held the stance for one hour within a month, establishing the foundation required to learn martial arts and gaining Source Power through his physical breakthrough.
Bull Fist — Entry	9	Used Source Power to reach the entry level; the rushed upgrade severely depleted his blood and qi.
Bull Fist — Proficiency / Bone Forging	15	Advanced Bull Fist to Proficiency with Source Power and medicinal soup, entering the Bone Forging realm.
Golden Goose Technique — First Layer	27	Reached the entry level after training under Liang Song; gained agile, evasive footwork.
Turtle Breathing Technique — Second Layer	32	Improved the breathing method with two units of Source Power, gaining better concealment of strength and metabolic control.
Turtle Breathing Technique — Third Layer	33	Concealed his martial aura so thoroughly that he could pass for a frail scholar; reinforced his internal organs.
Golden Goose Technique — Second Layer / Bone Forging	34	Strengthened his legs, tendons, and bones through Blood-Nourishing Bone-Strengthening Soup and Source Power.
Golden Goose Technique — Third Layer / Great Success Bone Forging	39	Reached bone-forging “like iron”; his leg strikes could shatter a wooden practice post.
Golden Goose Technique — Fourth Layer / Blood Energy	42	Entered the Blood Energy realm, allowing him to generate blood energy and unleash a fivefold force burst.
Six Harmonies Saber Technique — Proficiency	45	Developed the saber art into a proficient combat technique, complementing his Golden Goose footwork.

Background

Lin Zheyu took over the body of a refugee shortly after arriving in Songyi City. His predecessor had fled Jiunan City after it was occupied by rebels, but Lin arrived starving, alone, and separated from his family. Ren Qingying’s porridge relief outside the city kept him alive during this period. 1 3

He supported himself as a storyteller at Bidan Tea House. Although his delivery was only average, his expressive performance and exceptional stories earned him wages, tips, and the goodwill of the tea house’s manager, Wu Yinghe. 1

Repeated robberies and harassment by local thugs convinced Lin that scholarship alone could not protect him in Songyi City. He sought martial instruction from Liang Song, a tea-house regular who enjoyed his stories, and accepted the difficulty of beginning martial arts as an adult with a weak physical foundation. 1 2 3

Appearance

Lin initially had a small, undernourished frame and poor stamina after surviving as a refugee. Intensive stance training, martial practice, meat-heavy meals, and medicinal decoctions rapidly made him sturdier and gave him defined musculature. 3 5 6

• Usually wears a clean scholar’s robe or green gown; changes into sturdy martial-training clothes when practicing. 3 8
• Has long hair, which he ties up for training. 3
• His body developed smooth muscle lines and visibly strengthened tendons and skin through martial practice. 6 15
• At full use of the Turtle Breathing Technique, he suppresses his aura and appears to be a weak, untrained scholar. 33

Personality

Lin is pragmatic, driven primarily by survival and independence. He learns martial arts because he refuses to remain vulnerable in a chaotic world, and he is willing to endure exhausting training, pain, and poverty to gain strength. 1 3 8

He is resourceful in both combat and business. He sets traps around his residence, carries chili powder for emergencies, exploits opponents’ weaknesses, negotiates story contracts, and invests most of his earnings into cultivation. 11 13 21 31

Despite his growing ruthlessness, Lin retains a conscience. After preemptively killing Wen Biao, Yan Ling, and Gao Yu, he struggles with the psychological weight of taking lives. 17 18 He also values loyalty: he rejects Jia Yanming’s more lucrative offer because Bidan Tea House gave him an opportunity when he needed one. 8

Abilities & Skills

Heaven Rewards Diligence

A mysterious system that appeared in Lin’s consciousness after he arrived in Songyi City. By pushing past his physical limits, he earns Source Power, which can upgrade learned skills. 1

• Source Power can accelerate years of skill practice through a trance-like mental training state. 8 9 15
• Upgrades require sufficient nutrition and medicinal support for his physical body to endure the resulting growth. 8 15
• Using too much Source Power at once heavily strains his mind and can leave him exhausted or blood-qi depleted. 8 42
• Ordinary exercise such as Horse Stance training does not register as a skill; complete martial arts do. 5 6

Bull Fist

A widely circulated fist art taught by Liang Song. It contains eight basic forms and 128 variations, using power transmitted from the legs through the waist and into the arms. 6

• Its signature Bull Charge launches both fists with the force and posture of a charging bull. 25
• Reaching Proficiency advanced Lin into Bone Forging. 15
• Lin later began comprehending a savage, reckless fist momentum that can intimidate opponents with weaker resolve. 48
• His arms initially could not withstand the full explosive output of his Blood Energy, motivating him to further improve this art. 46

Internal Breathing Method of the Bull Fist

The specialized breathing method associated with Bull Fist, focused on abdominal breathing, dantian control, and a precise rhythm. 15

• Strengthens the internal organs needed to support Bull Fist’s exertion. 15
• Lin integrated it into his forms within less than twenty days, a pace that astonished Liang Song. 19

Golden Goose Technique

A second-rate leg technique taught by Liang Song that can lead to the peak of the Blood Energy realm. It emphasizes agile footwork, powerful legs, and mobile offense and defense. 22 23

• Lets Lin evade armed opponents, rapidly close distance, and reposition in combat. 30 40
• His Bone Forging progress through this technique hardened his legs to the point that a whip kick shattered a wooden post. 39
• At the Blood Energy realm, he can channel blood energy into a whip kick and release a fivefold burst of force. 42
• Its progression slowed significantly after he reached the Blood Energy realm, requiring long-term refinement of blood energy. 50

Turtle Breathing Technique

A biomimetic martial art based on a turtle’s breathing, essence-qi regulation, and Blood Energy circulation. Its main purpose is longevity; concealing strength is a secondary benefit. 32

• Slows Lin’s heartbeat, lowers body temperature, and reduces metabolism. 32
• Suppresses his martial aura and smooths away the visible signs of training. 33
• The third layer requires Blood Energy realm cultivation to fully understand and practice. 38 42
• Can purify blood energy, improving its quality and aiding later cultivation. 42

Six Harmonies Saber Technique

A simple, swift, and practical saber technique taught to Lin by Han Mo. 40 45

• Emphasizes concise, powerful strikes and unity between the wielder’s body and blade. 30
• Lin combines it with Golden Goose footwork to move rapidly while attacking. 46
• Blood Energy greatly increases its power, but his arms initially risk injury when channeling too much force through them. 46

Storytelling and Writing

Lin’s first livelihood in Songyi City and a continuing source of money, connections, and influence.

• Captivates audiences at Bidan Tea House with stories including Legend of the Condor Heroes. 11 18
• Writes scripts for other storytellers and pays them per installment to expand his storytelling business. 11
• Negotiated profitable story commissions with the Lu siblings, earning fifteen taels of gold for two completed stories. 31

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Brass knuckles — used to kill Wen Biao, Yan Ling, and Gao Yu during a preemptive ambush. 17
• Chili powder — carried for self-defense; used to blind Jia Yanyong. 11 21
• Saber — used while practicing the Six Harmonies Saber Technique and sparring with Han Mo. 40
• Training posts and home traps — maintains wooden posts for practice and prepared traps around his courtyard against intruders. 8 13
• Medicinal decoctions — relies on qi-replenishing, blood-nourishing, and bone-strengthening formulas to recover from training and support Source Power upgrades. 4 15 33

Relationships

• Liang Song — Martial arts master and mentor. Liang teaches Lin Horse Stance, Bull Fist, the Internal Breathing Method, Golden Goose Technique, and Turtle Breathing Technique. 3 15 22 32
• Wu Yinghe — Manager of Bidan Tea House, employer, and early supporter. He introduced Lin to Liang Song, lent him money during a period of blood-qi depletion, and remains concerned for his well-being. 2 3 9
• Han Mo — Senior brother and City Guard squad leader. He spars with Lin, teaches him combat against armed opponents, and passes on the Six Harmonies Saber Technique. 29 30 40
• Xu Jingwu — Leader of the Flying Rainbow Gang. After observing Lin defeat Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang, Xu recruits him into the gang. 24 26 27
• Jia Yanyong — Initially an enemy who attacks Lin and is blinded with chili powder; later accepts defeat after their rematch and becomes a drinking companion and fellow gang member. 21 26
• Xie Jiang — Flying Rainbow Gang member and sparring partner. He becomes one of Lin’s associates after Lin joins the gang. 26 27
• Qiu Gaoxuan — Leader of Lin’s three-man Flying Rainbow Gang squad, assigned to maintain order around Baiwei Street. 27
• Ren Qingying — Member of the Ren Family whose refugee porridge relief saved Lin’s life after his arrival in Songyi City. 1 38
• Ren Qingfeng — Ren Qingying’s brother and a young master Lin meets through Xu Qinyi. 47 48
• Xu Qinyi — Xu Jingwu’s youngest son, who seeks to befriend Lin on his father’s behalf and introduces him to Songyi City’s young nobles. 47 48
• Jia Yanming — Manager of Yixiang Tea House. He unsuccessfully attempts to recruit Lin away from Bidan Tea House before Lin later considers a business partnership with him. 8 13
• Xing Jinglong and Xing Penghai — Xing Family members who attempt to recruit and control Lin. Xing Penghai tries to force him to swallow a suspected control poison; the brothers later have the Wuding Gang monitor him. 40 41 50
• Lu Zhenfang and Lu Qihui — Merchant siblings who commission Lin’s stories and offer him future work in Bafang City. 31

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Refugee storyteller — Survives his arrival in Songyi City, finds work at Bidan Tea House, and discovers Heaven Rewards Diligence. 1
• Martial arts foundation — Trains Horse Stance under Liang Song before learning Bull Fist and rapidly reaching Bone Forging. 4 6 15
• Self-defense and first killings — Uncovers a plot by Wen Biao, Yan Ling, and Gao Yu, kills them first, and confronts the emotional consequences. 16 17 18
• Flying Rainbow Gang recruitment — Defeats Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang, then joins Xu Jingwu’s gang for income, protection, and opportunity. 25 26 27
• Advanced cultivation — Learns Golden Goose Technique, Turtle Breathing Technique, and saber combat while preparing for Liang Song’s departure. 22 31 33 40
• Xing Family conflict — Refuses the Xing brothers’ attempt to control him, escapes Xing Penghai, and becomes the target of Wuding Gang surveillance. 40 41 50
• Blood Energy breakthrough — Raises Golden Goose Technique to its fourth layer and enters the Blood Energy realm, greatly increasing his speed and destructive power. 42
• Growing threat awareness — Recognizes that Songyi City contains powers far beyond his current level and prepares to deal decisively with the Xing brothers outside the city. 46 50

Notable Quotes

“Great chaos is imminent. If I cannot even protect myself, how can I study for a career with peace of mind?” 3

“If I cannot even endure this bit of hardship, how could I achieve great things?” 8

“Possessing a sharp weapon, the desire to kill arises on its own.” 16

Trivia

• Lin’s first Source Power interface listed him with no skills and one unit of Source Power. 1
• He estimates that one unit of Source Power can save more than a year of grueling practice. 9
• He began martial arts as an adult and reached Bone Forging in less than three months without childhood medicinal-bath conditioning. 47
• He avoids marriage discussions and privately prefers the freedom of his current life. 48