Chapter 47: Invitation

...

Time flowed slowly.

A few days passed.

Xing Jinglong did not come to provoke him again, allowing Lin Zheyu to enjoy a period of leisure.

If it weren't for the fact that business at the teahouse was getting worse and prices in the city were getting more expensive, life would have been even more comfortable.

Inside the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

Lin Zheyu had not visited for a long time.

However, he could not resist the enthusiastic invitations from Jia Yanyong and the others.

Afterward.

On the viewing stage of the second floor of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

The group sat together listening to songs, admiring dances, and engaging in idle banter.

"How does Brother Lin feel? Isn't Miss Zhong particularly luscious?"

Xie Jiang leaned in, smiling mischievously.

He had completely failed to change his way of addressing Lin Zheyu; even Jia Yanyong and the others had followed suit, calling him "Brother Lin," which left Lin Zheyu utterly speechless.

*You call me Brother Lin, and I call you Brother Xie or Brother Jia—we are not on such terms.*

"Go away. Brother Lin is a scholar; how could he discuss such things in public? How shameless," Ning Hui laughed.

Lin Zheyu gave a faint smile but said nothing.

The Hundred Flowers Pavilion was, well, indeed a fine place...

On the stage of the first floor, songstresses sang songs with melodious and enchanting voices that tugged at the heartstrings.

Dancers, dressed in mere scraps of silk, danced gracefully with supple waists, their fair skin appearing and disappearing, a sight most pleasing to the eye.

Just as they were drinking wine and admiring the beauties' dancing, a maidservant approached.

"Which gentleman is Young Master Lin Zheyu? Young Master Xu over there requests your presence," the maid asked.

"Young Master Xu? Which Young Master Xu?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

In Songyi City, aside from Sect Leader Xu, he did not know any other Young Master Xu.

"It is Young Master Xu Qinyi," the maid said softly, her voice pleasant and tinged with a youthful sweetness.

"It's him!" Xie Jiang exclaimed.

"You know him?" Lin Zheyu looked at him.

"Of course I know him."

"Young Master Xu Qinyi is Sect Leader Xu's youngest son."

"I heard that Young Master Xu is the most talented of the Xu family's younger generation. At only fifteen years old, his strength has already reached the Viscera Refining Realm. Perhaps in the future, he will have the chance to break through to the Marrow Refining Realm," Xie Jiang said, looking at Lin Zheyu curiously, wondering why Xu Qinyi would invite him.

"Go quickly, go quickly. Since Young Master Xu has invited you, do not keep him waiting," Jia Yanyong said, nudging Lin Zheyu.

Lin Zheyu stood up and followed the maid toward the opposite side of the second floor.

Entering Young Master Xu's private room, he saw three young men inside, none of whom he recognized.

The position of this room was excellent, offering a close-up and optimal angle to appreciate the dancers on stage.

"Haha, Brother Lin has arrived. I, Xu, have heard much about you."

"Come, come, sit here."

The young gentleman in the middle of the three stood up and invited Lin Zheyu to sit.

"I am Lin Zheyu. Greetings to you all."

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

Aside from Xu Qinyi, the other two appeared somewhat indifferent, but Lin Zheyu did not mind.

He did not usually associate with these wealthy young masters and did not know many of them.

"My father has mentioned you to me, saying you possess extraordinary talent. If you practice diligently, you may become a powerhouse of the Qi and Blood Realm in the future," Xu Qinyi said with a smile.

Upon hearing "Qi and Blood Realm powerhouse," the other two could not help but turn their gazes toward him.

"Come, let me introduce Brother Lin. This is Young Master Chen Xihong of the Chen family, and this is Young Master Ren Qingfeng of the Ren family."

"They are allies of my Xu family; we are all on the same side," Xu Qinyi introduced the two beside him with a smile.

Hearing the name Ren Qingfeng of the Ren family, Lin Zheyu couldn't help but take a closer look.

Upon closer inspection, the boy's features bore a resemblance to Miss Ren Qingying; they might well be biological siblings.

"I am Lin Zheyu. Greetings, Young Master Chen and Young Master Ren."

Lin Zheyu bowed to the two.

"What is Brother Lin's current strength?" Chen Xihong could not help but ask.

Having just heard Xu Qinyi say this fellow had the potential for the Qi and Blood Realm, curiosity had naturally risen in their hearts.

Qi and Blood Realm martial artists were among the top tier of powerhouses in Songyi City.

Within their own families, those in the Qi and Blood Realm were considered the pillars of the clan.

"I am merely at the middle stage of the Bone Forging Realm. I hope you will forgive my mediocrity," Lin Zheyu said modestly.

He had used the Turtle Breath Technique to conceal his true strength in the Qi and Blood Realm, presenting only the level of Bone Forging.

"Not bad. To reach the Bone Forging Realm at such a young age, your future is promising."

Hearing this, a hint of disdain surfaced on Chen Xihong's face, his words somewhat perfunctory.

What was the Bone Forging Realm?

In their aristocratic families, as long as one was a core direct descendant, they were tempered from childhood with various precious medicines. By the age of twelve, they could all enter the Bone Forging Realm.

Ren Qingfeng was about to speak, but after hearing this, he swallowed his words and went back to admiring the dancers.

"Haha, the two of you are unaware."

"Brother Lin was a scholar before, focusing solely on passing his imperial examinations. He only began practicing martial arts after arriving in Songyi City."

"He has been practicing for less than three months."

Seeing the expressions of the two, Xu Qinyi understood what they were thinking and added, "He has been practicing for less than three months."

Upon hearing this, the two turned their gazes back to Lin Zheyu once more.

Expressions of shock appeared on their faces.

If it were truly as Xu Qinyi said, it was indeed quite extraordinary.

"Did Brother Lin use medicinal baths to temper his bones when he was a child?" Ren Qingfeng could not help but ask.

"No."

"I began reading the classics from a young age, focusing entirely on my studies to earn official titles. I had no contact with any martial arts and never tempered my bones with medicine," Lin Zheyu said.

The two could not help but swallow hard, their eyes filled with astonishment as they looked at Lin Zheyu.

To reach the Bone Forging Realm in just over two months without having established a foundation through medicinal tempering from childhood!

Such talent and comprehension were truly terrifying.

"I am impressed!"

"Brother Lin's aptitude can only be described as extraordinary!"

Ren Qingfeng cupped his hands toward Lin Zheyu in praise.

As members of aristocratic families, they knew clearly the gap between someone who reached the Bone Forging Realm after being tempered with precious medicines and someone who reached it through their own efforts.

Although they had reached the peak of the Bone Forging Realm early, it was all achieved by piling up medicines; they would hit a ceiling once they reached the peak of the Viscera Refining Realm.

But Lin Zheyu was different.

Without the medicinal baths to establish his foundation, he could still reach the Bone Forging Realm within three months.

This showed just how powerful his comprehension and talent were.

Only with startling comprehension could one grasp the essence of martial arts to achieve many times the results with half the effort, reaching the middle stage of the Bone Forging Realm in just a few short months.

"Young Master Ren overpraises me," Lin Zheyu said modestly.

"Haha, why be so modest?"

"Come, let me toast Brother Lin. I apologize for my earlier slight," Chen Xihong said with a laugh, raising his wine cup.

Lin Zheyu raised his cup, lightly clinked it, and drank it in one gulp.

"I also toast Brother Lin. Please."

Ren Qingfeng similarly raised his cup to toast Lin Zheyu.

After a few cups of wine, the atmosphere in the room improved significantly.

The group chatted about gossip among the aristocratic families and the latest news regarding the rebel army, which Lin Zheyu listened to with great interest.

"Our Ren family is preparing to flee. Later, I heard the rebel army began setting up fortified camps and halted their advance."

"My grandfather has given up on the idea of fleeing and intends to observe for a while longer," Ren Qingfeng said.

No wonder Ren Qingying had not been seen distributing porridge outside the city; Lin Zheyu had thought the Ren family had already slipped away.

"Winter is approaching, and the weather is freezing. The rebel army should rest and recuperate for a period of time."

"With this buffer period, the Great Wei Imperial Court will have time to regroup and dispatch a large army to suppress them. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the conflict will spill over into Songyi City," Xu Qinyi said with a smile.

(End of Chapter)