Chapter 18: I Am Actually a Genius

*Clack!*

In the Bidan Teahouse, the sound of the storyteller's gavel rang out.

Lin Zheyu spoke slowly, "As for what happens next, please listen to the next chapter to find out."

"Bravo!"

"Tell us a bit more, Mr. Lin!"

"Yeah, yeah, we haven't heard enough!"

Cheers and pleas to stay rose from the audience below.

Facing the crowd's requests, Lin Zheyu smiled, cupped his hands in a respectful salute, and stepped off the stage.

Having finished his storytelling and changed environments, his emotions had dissipated significantly.

He hadn't done anything wrong; it was this world that was wrong!

"Manager Wu, a drink?" Lin Zheyu asked.

In Songyi City, he only knew two people: Wu Yinghe and Master Liang Song.

Lin Zheyu really wanted to discuss his insights after killing someone with Master Liang, but unfortunately, the Master was not around.

When he had gone to his house in the morning, he had knocked for a long time without an answer, and the Master had not appeared during the afternoon storytelling session either.

At that moment, Lin Zheyu knew that Liang Song had disappeared again.

Every so often, Master Liang would vanish for a few days; he didn't know how long he would be gone this time.

Fortunately, Liang Song had taught him the cultivation methods for the Bone Forging Realm and the internal breathing technique for the Mad Bull Fist, which was enough to keep Lin Zheyu occupied for a while.

"Sure, but this time it's your treat!"

"I've seen you giving out quite a few tips lately; you're much richer than I am now," Manager Wu said with a laugh.

"Come on, let's go have a drink and then head to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to have some fun."

Lin Zheyu said with a smile. He needed to vent; once he released the complex emotions in his heart, he would feel better.

...

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Lin Zheyu had quietly visited the Baishan District, and Gao Yu and the others' disappearance had finally caught the attention of their relatives.

Although they used to disappear for periods of time frequently, this time the absence had been too long.

After a search, their bodies were found in a remote, desolate wasteland.

Three days had passed, and the corpses were unrecognizable, having been gnawed upon by wild beasts.

After reporting it to the authorities, the constables from the yamen went through the motions, told them to wait for news, and then there was nothing more.

Their families could only hold simple funerals and bury them hastily.

The weight in Lin Zheyu's heart finally lifted.

However, his sense of how life was as cheap as grass grew a little stronger.

"Master Liang still hasn't returned. What on earth is he doing?"

Lin Zheyu passed by Liang Song's house and knocked for a while, but there was no response from within.

Liang Song had been gone since yesterday, and as of today, there was still no sign of him.

...

Another four days passed.

In the Bidan Teahouse.

Lin Zheyu and Manager Wu were sitting in the backyard of the teahouse, chatting idly.

"I heard the rebel army captured another city. There are many more refugees outside the walls now," Manager Wu said, a hint of worry in his expression.

Songyi City was a relatively peripheral city of the Great Wei. If the rebel army advanced in their direction, they would soon reach here.

"Don't worry. Haven't you noticed that the wealthy people in Songyi City haven't fled yet?" Lin Zheyu reassured him.

Back when Jiu Nan City was about to fall, the wealthy people who received the news were the first wave to flee.

"How do you know they haven't fled?"

"From what I know, those clans have already started sending their disciples to lead part of the clans toward Bafang City," Manager Wu said.

It was precisely because he knew this that he was so worried.

His roots were in Songyi City; if he left, it wouldn't be easy to find a good job again.

"Don't think too much. If the sky falls, the tall people will hold it up."

"Besides, the Great Wei is strong and well-equipped. The rebels are only showing temporary might; it won't be easy for them to maintain this momentum," Lin Zheyu said.

Information was scarce in this era. He didn't know the actual situation at the front lines, so he could only comfort himself.

"Alright, it's time for storytelling. I'm heading up," Lin Zheyu said.

He walked onto the storytelling platform and scanned the audience below.

"Eh? Master Liang is back!"

By the window, Lin Zheyu saw a familiar figure.

Liang Song was sitting by the window, staring blankly out at the view.

After being gone for six or seven days, he had reappeared.

...

After finishing his story.

Lin Zheyu sat down opposite Liang Song.

He naturally refilled his master's cup and then filled his own.

"Master, this cup is for you, to welcome you back," Lin Zheyu said, raising his cup.

"You are thoughtful."

Liang Song smiled, clinked his cup against Lin Zheyu's, and teased, "Using my own wine to welcome me back—you really are something."

"Same here, same here. This kid spent all his silver on martial arts and is quite poor. As long as the sentiment is there, it's enough," Lin Zheyu said with a grin. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and continued, "Master, since you were away for a while, I'll go to your place in the next few days to tell you what I've been saying."

"No need. Just show me the scripts from those days," Liang Song said.

The two chatted about trivial matters.

Liang Song did not mention where he had been, and Lin Zheyu did not ask; they shared a silent understanding.

If the Master wanted to speak, he naturally would.

If he didn't want to speak, Lin Zheyu wouldn't ask. Everyone has secrets they don't wish to tell others.

Lin Zheyu was no different.

"For the next few days, come to my place every morning. I will focus on guiding you for a while," Liang Song said.

Since he began teaching Lin Zheyu martial arts, his actual teaching time had been less than two days; the rest had relied on Lin Zheyu's self-study.

But even so, Lin Zheyu's progress in martial arts still exceeded his imagination.

It was incredibly fast.

Such comprehension and talent could be described as one in ten thousand.

Liang Song intended to start teaching Lin Zheyu seriously; perhaps he could cultivate a powerful martial artist in the future.

"Thank you, Master!"

Lin Zheyu's eyes lit up.

He happened to have many questions to seek guidance on from Master Liang.

Some regarding Bone Forging, some regarding Organ Refining, and some regarding actual combat.

Originally, Lin Zheyu had planned to use Source Power to increase his strength after returning home tonight, but several days had passed, and he had accumulated quite a bit of silver.

Now, he abandoned that thought; he would wait a while longer.

In a short period, having mastered the Mad Bull Fist and reached the Bone Forging Realm was already terrifying enough.

If he continued to increase his strength and Master Liang discovered his true capabilities, Lin Zheyu didn't know what the Master would think—he might suspect that he possessed a great treasure.

Human nature is not immune to temptation.

...

Early morning.

As the sky was just beginning to brighten, Lin Zheyu arrived at Liang Song's courtyard.

"Good morning, Master Liang."

Lin Zheyu gave a humble greeting and handed over the prepared scripts.

These scripts contained the content of Lin Zheyu's storytelling during the days Liang Song was away.

Liang Song motioned for Lin Zheyu to close the door, then turned to sit back down at the stone table and chairs in the corner of the courtyard.

"Perform the Mad Bull Fist for me. Let me see if you've become slack lately," Liang Song said.

"Yes, Master," Lin Zheyu replied.

He took off his long outer coat, revealing a lean and strong physique.

The weather had turned cold recently, and the early morning was somewhat chilly.

Lin Zheyu took his stance.

His chest rose and fell with a specific rhythm, his breathing extremely long and steady.

After this period of hard training, he had finally become accustomed to the unique breathing technique of the Mad Bull Fist.

From the initial discomfort to integrating it into his daily life, and finally being able to use it perfectly in conjunction with the Mad Bull Fist, it had taken a total of over ten days.

Even Lin Zheyu felt a sense of wonder.

*It turns out I really am a genius!*

(End of Chapter)