Trial and Error

"Considering how strict the city is, prohibiting fights and brawls, why doesn't the government intervene when those two brothers do such things?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"As long as they don't fight openly and don't cause fatalities when they do, and if the other party's relatives and friends don't make trouble for the authorities, the government won't interfere."

Wu, the steward, said with a bitter smile; that's just how cruel the world is.

"Then why didn't the relatives of the former manager make trouble?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

In this world, families and clans always support each other. Whenever someone encounters trouble, they will step forward to help.

"They've settled it."

"Jia Yanming compensated them with some silver, and with Jia Yanyong's intimidating force and the intervention of the Flying Rainbow Gang, they managed to appease the relatives who caused trouble."

Wu, the steward, said.

This world is very cruel. Hidden beneath the veneer of peace is the law of the jungle.

"I see..."

Lin Zheyu felt wary and continued, "Do you know Jia Yanyong's strength?"

He had just started practicing martial arts; before that, he had only been doing stance training, so his strength wasn't very strong. He was worried he might not be able to beat him.

"I'm not sure about that."

"I've seen that man. He's very tall, standing at least one meter ninety, even bigger and stronger than me. He has a very fierce look, with numerous scars on his body. He's probably killed someone."

Wu, the steward, said solemnly.

Lin Zheyu frowned.

Living in this backward society is troublesome. The imperfect social system is unfriendly to people like him who are wandering alone.

"Why don't you come and stay at my place?"

"Our Wu family has many strong men, and Wu Village is very united. They wouldn't dare to do anything to you in Wu Village."

"You're alone in Songyi City without any relatives to back you up. If they start something, they'll be even more reckless." Wu, the steward, suggested.

"No need."

"If there's no other way, I'll go to your place and stay." Lin Zheyu shook his head; he wasn't used to staying at other people's homes.

If it really comes down to it, he could join Overflowing Fragrance Teahouse. Isn't that Jia Yanming's purpose? By then, he could write a few good stories himself, have Wu, the steward, hire someone to tell them, and collect royalties, which would also generate income.

"Oh, this idea seems feasible!"

The more Lin Zheyu thought about it, the more he felt it was a good idea.

...

After two hours of storytelling, Lin Zheyu, without exception, received thunderous applause.

Many young masters came today, and their generous tips made Lin Zheyu feel relieved.

"Why is the protagonist of this story still a scholar? It's getting boring to listen to." Liang Song tossed a peanut into his mouth and complained.

Since Lin Zheyu started telling stories at the Jade Teahouse, he had been telling stories from the Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio series. The stories usually revolved around the forbidden love between scholars and fox spirits, which, although fascinating, sounded tiresome to Liang Song, a martial artist.

"Why don't I finish this story, and I'll tell you another story about warriors and the martial world?" Lin Zheyu smiled and said.

"Yes, that's what we want."

"We're tired of hearing about scholars and their love stories with fox spirits all day." Liang Song's eyes lit up.

"But you seem to be enjoying it every day!"

Lin Zheyu silently complained to himself, not daring to voice his thoughts.

So far, his master was still his elder brother!

"Master, can I ask you something? Do you know about the Flying Rainbow Gang?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"The Flying Rainbow Gang?"

"The Flying Rainbow Gang, one of the three major gangs in Songyi City. I've seen their leader once, and their strength is just average," Lin Zheyu said.

"Why, did you attract the attention of the Flying Rainbow Gang?" Liang Song glanced at him.

"Not really," Lin Zheyu replied. "It's just that the steward of Overflowing Fragrance Teahouse wanted to recruit me to tell stories, but I didn't agree."

"I heard that this steward is ruthless and often sends his younger brother, Jia Yanyong, to do dirty work. Jia Yanyong is a member of the Flying Rainbow Gang," Lin Zheyu explained.

"No worries, they won't mess around in the city. At most, they'll just beat you up, but it won't be fatal. If something really happens, I'll help you report to the authorities," Liang Song said with a smile.

Lin Zheyu: "..."

If reporting to the authorities worked, what was the point of martial arts training?

"Yeah, I'm not worried. I just wanted to know," Lin Zheyu said. "If it really comes down to it, I'll just agree to Jia Yanming's offer. It's just that by then, I'll have to trouble Master to find another place to listen to stories."

With that, Lin Zheyu raised his glass to his master.

The two of them chatted for a while, and the topic shifted to the Bull's Fist technique.

Lin Zheyu had now mastered the Bull's Fist technique, but he encountered many problems in his practice that he wanted to consult Liang Song about.

As they exchanged questions and answers, Liang Song's eyes brightened as he looked at Lin Zheyu.

This disciple he casually taught had such a high comprehension.

Yesterday he had just learned the Bull's Fist technique, and today he had already comprehended it to such a profound level.

"This kid's comprehension is like mine!"

Liang Song couldn't help but admire.

He looked Lin Zheyu up and down, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Judging from your complexion, your qi and blood deficiency is severe. You've been over-exercising; you need to pay attention to balancing work and rest."

"Exercising harder doesn't necessarily mean progress in strength."

"If you want your body to get stronger quickly, blindly practicing hard won't work. You need to give your body enough time to recover."

"Otherwise, you'll easily leave hidden injuries in your body."

"These hidden injuries may be suppressed when you're young, but when you get older, they'll erupt."

"Many martial artists from poor backgrounds only know to train hard, and while their strength improves, they also end up with a body full of injuries."

"When they're young, it's fine, but once they're in their thirties, they start to decline, and by their forties, they lose their lives due to the inability to suppress the hidden injuries."

Liang Song warned.

"I'll pay attention," Lin Zheyu nodded.

He borrowed five taels of silver from Steward Wu, and after drinking several doses of medicinal soup, his body would soon recover.

By then, his strength would also take a big step forward.

Although the source power transformation caused a deficiency in qi and blood, it also laid the foundation for his body.

As long as he kept up with nutrition and drank more medicinal soups, he would soon make up for it.

...

On the way back, Lin Zheyu used all five taels of silver to buy herbs for nourishing qi and blood.

Passing by the market, he also bought two catties of pork before returning home contentedly.

"My current physical condition is not good. If I exercise, I'll easily reach the limit of my body. Will I be able to gain Source Points in this state?"

Lin Zheyu pondered.

Thinking about it, he decided to try.

After eating his fill, he rested for a while before starting to exercise in the courtyard.

Half an hour later...

"It hurts so much!"

"I knew it wouldn't work."

Lin Zheyu lay on the ground, not wanting to move at all.

This time, after exercising to the limit of his body as usual and persevering for a few more minutes, he didn't gain any Source Points.

"It seems that I can only exercise to the limit when my body is in peak condition."

"If I rest for a few hours in between, it should be fine. That's how it was last time."

With multiple attempts, Lin Zheyu became more and more familiar with his cheat.

He speculated that Source Points should be related to the extremely concentrated energy of the spirit.

When his body broke through its limits, Lin Zheyu's spirit would momentarily sublimate, reaching a miraculous state.

In this state, he felt that his spirit was highly condensed, twisted into a single entity, giving birth to a strange energy.

Source power might be related to the extremely concentrated energy of the spirit.

He had just exercised to the limit in a weakened state, but he didn't gain any Source Points.

Lin Zheyu speculated that it was because his body was too weak, and the condensed energy of his spirit was insufficient.