Chapter 13: Discussing Cooperation

Bang, bang, bang...

Rhythmic thuds echoed through the courtyard.

Over an hour had passed.

Lin Zheyu was panting heavily, his face beginning to pale; he had nearly reached his limit.

He gritted his teeth and pressed on.

Every time he broke through his physical limits, it was both a trial and a baptism for his mind and body.

Ten more minutes passed.

Finally...

Lin Zheyu collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, a look of satisfaction and relief on his face.

Refreshing!

This feeling was addictive.

【Heaven Rewards Diligence】

Name: Lin Zheyu

Source Power: 3

Skill: Savage Bull Fist (Entry 46%)

After resting for a while, Lin Zheyu climbed up and endured the sharp pain to stretch his muscles and bones.

Effective stretching after a workout could make the fascia stronger and more resilient, allowing for the eruption of greater power.

...

Late at night.

The moon was very round tonight, and the bright moonlight spilled down, illuminating the dark streets.

Three sneaky figures, aided by the bright moonlight, crept through the darkness to the outside of Lin Zheyu’s courtyard.

"Brother Yu, this is the place," the skinny monkey-like man whispered.

"To think he rented such a nice little courtyard; it seems he’s been making good money lately," Gao Yu chuckled, thinking he’d make a nice profit tonight.

"Monkey, you’re agile. Climb over the wall and open the gate from the inside," Gao Yu ordered.

"Alright, wait for me."

The skinny man said confidently.

Despite his scrawny, monkey-like appearance, he was extremely nimble, moving as flexibly as a monkey when climbing walls or trees.

Gao Yu and the other companion crouched down, cupping their hands together.

The skinny man stepped on them, and with their boost, he leaped lightly onto the wall.

"Heh!"

"They built the wall so high, do they really think it can stop me?"

The skinny man smirked, grabbing the edge of the wall with both hands.

"Huh?"

"Hiss—"

A piercing pain shot through his palms.

The skinny man gritted his teeth, suppressing a scream. He endured the agony as he fell from the wall, rolling on the ground in pain.

"Monkey, what’s wrong with you!"

Gao Yu and his companion whispered in alarm, not daring to make too much noise.

If they were discovered, it would be over; they would surely be dragged off to prison for hard labor.

"Damn it, this brat put a bunch of long, sharp needles on the wall!"

The skinny man cursed under his breath.

His gloved hands were soaked in blood.

As a veteran thief, the skinny man was highly experienced. To prevent people from burying sharp objects on their walls, he had even worn gloves.

But he hadn't expected Lin Zheyu’s wall to be covered not just with spikes, but with small blades and long needles.

Even worse, the needles were barbed!

"What do we do now?"

Gao Yu looked at the blood-soaked gloves and asked with a frown.

"It’s fine, I have another way."

"I learned a unique lock-picking technique from an old friend in prison. Let me catch my breath, and we’ll go in through the front door!"

The skinny man bared his teeth.

It was too painful; his hands felt like they were on fire, making him gasp for air.

"Are you alright? Should we come back another day?"

Seeing the skinny man’s pale face, Gao Yu asked with concern.

"No, I’m fine."

The skinny man gritted his teeth. His consciousness felt a bit hazy, which he attributed to the shock of falling earlier.

The men didn't know how many preparations Lin Zheyu had made in the courtyard to guard against Jia Yanyong, who might try to stab him in the back.

Those needles weren't just barbed; they were coated in poison Lin Zheyu had obtained through special channels.

He would regularly maintain them to ensure the poison’s potency didn't fade.

"Monkey, Monkey..."

"What's wrong with you?"

Seeing the skinny man’s voice grow weaker and his eyelids fluttering as if they were about to close, Gao Yu asked anxiously.

"I'm... I'm fine... I'll... I'll be..."

The skinny man stammered intermittently.

"Woof... woof, woof, woof..."

Before he could finish, the sound of a small puppy barking came from inside the courtyard.

"Bad news, this guy has a dog."

"Let's go, we'll head back for now. If we make too much noise and get caught, we'll be in for a world of hurt."

Gao Yu decided decisively.

The Inner City was not like the Baishan district; the regulations were much stricter, and there were patrols at night.

He hoisted the now semi-conscious skinny man onto his back, called his other companion, and dashed into a small alley, disappearing from sight.

Inside the courtyard.

In the kitchen.

Lin Zheyu jolted awake.

He had been lying on a mattress in a hidden space tucked away within a pile of firewood.

"Someone came?"

Lin Zheyu immediately became alert.

To guard against Jia Yanyong, who might try to harm him, he had made many preparations.

He had placed a dummy in his bedroom and slept in this hidden space in the kitchen every night to prevent anyone from sneaking in and finishing him off while he slept.

He had watched plenty of dramas in his past life, and many villains liked to sneak in under the cover of darkness; he felt this was safer.

Carefully rising, Lin Zheyu gripped his firewood axe and pressed his ear against the door.

Outside was silent, save for the barking of the puppy he had bought not long ago.

He waited patiently for over half an hour, but there was still no movement outside.

He let out a slight sigh of relief, pushed the door open a crack to observe, and only fully relaxed after confirming everything was fine.

"A false alarm."

"None of the traps in the courtyard were triggered. It seems someone or an animal must have passed by outside and startled Xiao Huang."

Lin Zheyu mused.

He patted Xiao Huang’s head to soothe him.

Xiao Huang was a local dog, just over three months old, with two eyebrows that slanted downwards, giving him a melancholic expression that was both funny and interesting.

"I'll go talk to Jia Yanming about a partnership tomorrow. Living in constant fear like this is no way to go on."

Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

There are no eternal enemies or eternal friends in this world, only eternal interests.

...

Early morning.

Lin Zheyu stretched comfortably, his muscles aching from the movement.

After washing up, he devoured five large bowls of rice with braised meat.

His appetite was growing, and his digestion and absorption were improving as well.

Early in the morning, the Yixiang Teahouse didn't have many customers, though it was still better than the Bidan Teahouse.

The Yixiang Teahouse was more upscale, and some wealthy people liked to come by early to enjoy tea.

He walked into the teahouse and chose a seat by the window.

Influenced by Master Liang Song, Lin Zheyu had grown to like sitting by the window, where he could watch the passersby and enjoy the scenery outside.

"Waiter, bring a pot of Immortal Mist Phoenix Tea, a sesame seed cake, some snacks, and a cup of soy milk... one of each."

Lin Zheyu said to the waiter, and after ordering, he added: "Inform Jia Yanming that someone named Lin Zheyu is here to see him."

"Coming right up!"

The waiter replied.

He turned and hurried off to place the order.

"Lin Zheyu, Lin Zheyu, I feel like I've heard that name before?"

The waiter muttered, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "Isn't Lin Zheyu the storyteller from the Bidan Teahouse?"

"Why would he come to see Manager Jia? Could it be he wants to tell stories at the Yixiang Teahouse?"

"If that's the case, that would be great. The teahouse's business would definitely reach a new level."

The waiter was excited and hurried off to inform the manager.

The better the teahouse's business, the more wealthy young masters it attracted, and the more tips they, as waiters, would receive.

While waiting for his food, Lin Zheyu looked around the Yixiang Teahouse with interest.

Unlike the high-end Yixiang Teahouse, the Bidan Teahouse wasn't considered upscale; those who came to listen to stories and drink tea were mostly from the middle and lower classes.

However, as Lin Zheyu’s reputation spread, his stories became increasingly popular through word of mouth.

In the past few days, more and more young masters had come to the Bidan Teahouse to hear his stories, stealing many customers away from the Yixiang Teahouse.

"Mr. Lin, greetings."

Jia Yanming walked over quickly, a faint smile on his face.

...

(End of chapter)