Chapter 37: Departure (Part I)

Night.

The cold wind howled.

The weather was getting colder and colder.

In the blink of an eye, several more days had passed.

In the courtyard, Lin Zheyu and Han Mo were both shirtless, their bodies radiating steam.

They had just finished a combat session, and their blood was still boiling.

"In this freezing weather, there will be dozens more corpses outside the city by tomorrow morning," Han Mo said with a sigh. Every time he had to deal with corpses, he felt extremely uncomfortable.

"Things have been getting restless in the city lately. If this continues, the city will fall into chaos before the rebel armies even arrive."

"Prices are getting higher and higher. It feels like ordinary people won't be able to survive much longer," Lin Zheyu said.

He had heard that many people who could no longer make ends meet had begun to pick up weapons and head into the mountains to become bandits. Many hunters no longer dared to go into the mountains at will; it was more likely that the bandits in the mountains would be the ones hunting them.

"Winter has arrived. The rebel armies should quiet down for a while to recuperate, waiting until next spring to launch another offensive," Han Mo said.

Watching the two of them chatting idly, Liang Song smiled faintly and stared blankly at the moon. He was naturally a quiet person, capable of sitting alone in a daze for an entire day.

...

After resting for a while, the two returned to the center of the courtyard.

Han Mo held a blunt blade, his expression solemn.

Lin Zheyu moved like a shadow, shifting rapidly under the moonlight, waiting for an opportunity to strike. He did not use his full strength from the Viscera Refining Realm; instead, he concealed his true power to hone his combat skills with Senior Brother Han Mo.

Facing an opponent armed with a weapon, Lin Zheyu had already figured out the necessary techniques. His movements were incredibly agile; he moved swiftly, seized the moment, and shot out like lightning, swinging a whip kick toward Han Mo's back.

The whistling wind carried an astonishing force.

Han Mo turned quickly, slashing out with his right hand holding the blade. Lin Zheyu did not dare to meet the edge head-on; he abruptly retracted his momentum, his body flickering as he launched an attack from the other side.

As a technique primarily used to train the legs, once the Golden Goose Skill was mastered, the practitioner's movements became as agile and swift as the wind.

Han Mo's saber techniques were extremely formidable—concise, rapid, and backed by heavy, profound power. His blade moved in sync with his body, changing with ease to create an airtight defense around him. No matter how Lin Zheyu attacked, he was pushed back by Han Mo's fierce saber momentum.

However, Han Mo could not do anything to him either. Although Han Mo's strength had reached the peak of the Viscera Refining Realm, he lagged far behind Lin Zheyu in terms of leg techniques, lacking sufficient speed and agility.

The two engaged in offense and defense, exchanging over a dozen rounds in a short moment. The blunt blade grazed past Lin Zheyu's body with hair-breadth precision, but he always managed to evade it with extreme skill.

After more than an hour, Han Mo stopped, panting heavily.

"No more, no more," Han Mo said, waving his hand. Facing a speed-type martial artist like Lin Zheyu, he felt incredibly stifled.

"Let's call it a day. If you stay out too late, your sister-in-law will start nagging you again." Han Mo smiled and added, "It's about time you found a wife, too. Life is so dull being alone."

"How is it dull?"

"Are the girls at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion not enticing enough, or is martial arts just too hard to practice?"

"The world is colorful and diverse. Why bother getting a wife and trapping yourself with a few children?" Lin Zheyu said with a chuckle.

"You brat, once you get older, you'll understand what it feels like to have a light waiting for you no matter how late you come home," Han Mo said, laughing.

"That feeling?" Lin Zheyu muttered, thinking of the men in his previous life who would return home and hide in underground garages just to avoid going upstairs.

*Ugh, forget it. What's so good about marriage...*

...

"Master, is there anything in our fight just now that needs improvement?" Lin Zheyu asked as he approached Liang Song.

"No, you have already done very well."

"To be able to practice the Golden Goose Skill to this level in less than a month—you are much stronger than I was," Liang Song said with a smile.

Before leaving Songyi City, being able to take on a disciple with such astonishing talent brought him great satisfaction.

Liang Song looked around at the flowers and plants in the courtyard and said, "Zheyu~"

"Yes, Master? Is something wrong?" Lin Zheyu responded, sensing that something was off about Liang Song's tone.

"Han Mo has his own home in Songyi City. That courtyard of yours is rented, isn't it?"

"From now on, this courtyard belongs to you. Remember to take good care of these flowers and plants." As Liang Song looked at the greenery, an inexplicable emotion flickered in his eyes.

"Master, are you leaving?" Lin Zheyu was astonished, feeling a deep sense of reluctance. Liang Song had treated him exceptionally well, sharing everything he knew without reservation. To Lin Zheyu, Liang Song felt like family.

"Master, are you leaving so soon?" Han Mo also said reluctantly. "Won't you stay a bit longer?"

"It is time to leave."

"You have learned the Golden Goose Skill. I have shown you the way, but the rest depends on your own cultivation. You will have to rely on your own hard work from now on."

"And you—although the Six Harmonies Saber is only a third-rate technique, if you practice it to its peak, you can break through to the Blood Qi Realm."

"Once you reach the Blood Qi Realm and find you can no longer progress, start practicing the Golden Goose Skill. If you run into anything you don't understand, ask Lin Zheyu."

Liang Song took a sip of tea and continued, "In the blink of an eye, it has been over a decade since I arrived in Songyi City. It is time to go back. I wonder if those old friends are still around."

"How about I leave with you?" Lin Zheyu suggested. "There is nothing in Songyi City for me to be attached to; it's the same everywhere."

"Forget it."

"You should stay in the city, earn money by storytelling, and focus on your martial arts."

"Remember, before you reach the Blood Qi Realm, do not wander into desolate places like great mountains or forests," Liang Song cautioned.

"Eh?" Lin Zheyu asked in confusion, "Is it because of the bandits outside?"

Liang Song shook his head. "The world is not as peaceful as it appears on the surface."

"Whenever there is chaos, monsters inevitably appear."

"In the past, demons and monsters were hidden and left no trace. That was because the providence of the Great Wei Dynasty suppressed them, and they did not dare to emerge and cause havoc."

"Now, with rebel armies rising everywhere and the people suffering, the providence is waning. It can no longer hold them back."

"It is fine within the city walls, but once you leave the city, it becomes extremely dangerous," Liang Song said slowly, his expression becoming very grave.

"Master, what are demons like?" Lin Zheyu couldn't help but ask. Various legends of demons and ghosts circulated among the common folk, but most were exaggerated and lacked authenticity.

"I have only seen demons a few times myself."

"Just like the stories you know, some are transformed humans, and some are transformed mountain spirits or wild monsters. They are all incredibly eerie."

"Demons are very strong and possess vigorous vitality; they are not easily killed. If an ordinary martial artist encounters one, it is almost certainly a death sentence. Only after reaching the Blood Qi Realm can one have a fighting chance against them."

Liang Song continued slowly, "In the future, if you encounter anything strange, try your best to stay away immediately. Do not go looking for trouble."

"Understood, Master."

Lin Zheyu nodded, then asked curiously, "Master, you said humans can also turn into demons?"

"That's right. Since ancient times, countless emperors and powerful beings have pursued longevity and sought immortality. Some, while cultivating, end up turning into demons—neither human nor ghost."

"Master, are there truly immortals in this world?"

"Perhaps there are, perhaps there are not. I am merely a mortal, only at the Blood Qi Realm. I have not reached that level and cannot access such secret information." Liang Song shook his head, his expression calm.

"Oh..."

Lin Zheyu did not press further. He sat down by the stone table to enjoy tea with Master Liang.