Three days passed, and the corpses had been gnawed by wild beasts beyond recognition.
After the matter was reported to the authorities, constables from the prefectural yamen went through the motions, took a cursory look, told them to await news, and never followed up.
Their families could only conduct simple funeral rites and bury them hastily.
The tension weighing on Lin Zheyu's chest completely eased.
His awareness of how cheaply human life was treated deepened even further.
"Master Liang still hasn't returned. What did he go off to do?"
Passing by Liang Song's front door, Lin Zheyu knocked for a while, but no one answered.
Liang Song had been gone since yesterday, and even today there was no sign of him.
...
Another four days went by.
Inside Bidan Teahouse.
Lin Zheyu and Manager Wu sat chatting in the teahouse's rear courtyard.
"I heard the rebel army took another city. A lot more refugees have appeared outside the walls," Manager Wu said, a tinge of worry in his expression.
Songyi City lay on the outer fringes of Great Wei. If the rebel forces advanced in this direction, they would soon reach here.
"Don't worry. Haven't you noticed the wealthy folks in Songyi City haven't fled yet?" Lin Zheyu comforted him.
Back before Jiunan City fell, the rich who got wind of the news had been the first wave to flee.
"How do you know they haven't?"
"From what I know, those prominent clans have already begun having their younger generation lead part of their kin toward Bafang City," Manager Wu said.
It was precisely knowing this that made him so anxious.
His roots were in Songyi City. Leaving Songyi City, it would not be easy to find another good job.
"Don't dwell on it too much. When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up," Lin Zheyu said. "Besides, Great Wei has a strong and well-equipped army. The rebels are only riding a temporary wave of momentum; keeping it up won't be easy."
In this era of scarce and slow information, he had no idea what was actually happening on the front lines and could only offer some self-comfort.
"All right, it's time for my storytelling. I'm going up."
Lin Zheyu stepped onto the stage and scanned the audience below.
*Oh, Master Liang is back!*
By the window, Lin Zheyu spotted a familiar figure.
Liang Song sat by the window, staring blankly outside in a daze.
After vanishing for six or seven days, he had reappeared.
...
When his storytelling ended, Lin Zheyu went over and sat across from Liang Song.
He naturally topped off his master's cup of wine, then poured one for himself.
"Master, let me toast you with this cup to welcome you back from your journey," Lin Zheyu said, raising his cup.
"How thoughtful of you."
Liang Song chuckled and clinked cups with Lin Zheyu, teasing, "Welcoming me back with my own wine—you certainly have some nerve."
"Same difference, same difference! Your apprentice spent all his silver on martial arts and is dead broke. It's the thought that counts," Lin Zheyu said with a grin. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of food, and continued, "Master, you were away for a while. How about I come over to your place over the next few days and tell you the parts of the story you missed?"
"No need. Just bring me the manuscripts from those days so I can look over them," Liang Song said.
The two chatted about idle matters.
Liang Song did not mention where he had gone these past few days, and Lin Zheyu did not ask; there was an unspoken understanding between them.
If his master wanted to tell him, he naturally would.
If he didn't want to say, Lin Zheyu wouldn't pry. Everyone had secrets they preferred not to tell others.
Lin Zheyu was no different.
"For the next few days, come to my place every morning. I'll focus on guiding you for a while," Liang Song said.
Since he began instructing Lin Zheyu in martial arts, his actual teaching time had amounted to less than two days, leaving Lin Zheyu to learn mostly on his own.
Yet even so, Lin Zheyu's progress in martial arts had exceeded his wildest imagination.
It was astonishingly fast.
Such comprehension and talent could truly be called one in ten thousand.
Liang Song intended to start teaching Lin Zheyu earnestly. Perhaps down the line, he could foster a powerful martial artist.
"Thank you, Master!"
Lin Zheyu's eyes lit up.
He happened to have many questions to ask Master Liang—some regarding bone tempering, some regarding viscera refining, and some regarding actual combat.
Originally, Lin Zheyu had planned to use Origin Power to boost his strength after returning home tonight. Several days had passed, and he had saved up a fair amount of silver.
Now he dismissed the thought, deciding to wait a while longer.
Advancing Wild Bull Fist to the Proficient level and reaching the Bone Tempering Realm in such a short time was already startling enough.
If he continued to level up and Master Liang discovered his true strength, Lin Zheyu wasn't sure what Master Liang would think. He might suspect Lin Zheyu possessed some extraordinary treasure.
Human nature could not withstand scrutiny.
...
Early morning.
As dawn broke, Lin Zheyu arrived at Liang Song's courtyard.
"Good morning, Master Liang."
Lin Zheyu bowed respectfully in greeting and handed over the prepared manuscripts.
These were the stories Lin Zheyu had told during the days Liang Song had been away.
Liang Song gestured for Lin Zheyu to close the door, then turned and sat down on the stone stool by the table in the corner of the yard.
"Run through Wild Bull Fist once. Let me see if you've slacked off lately," Liang Song said.
"Yes, Master," Lin Zheyu replied.
He shed his outer coat, revealing his lean, muscular physique.
The weather had turned cool lately, and early mornings were somewhat chilly.
Lin Zheyu took his stance.
His chest rose and fell in a specific rhythm, his breaths drawing out exceptionally long.
Through this period of grueling practice, he had finally grown accustomed to the unique breathing technique of Wild Bull Fist.
From feeling awkward at first, to weaving it into his daily life, to seamlessly coordinating it with Wild Bull Fist, it had taken only a dozen or so days in total.
Even Lin Zheyu found it astonishing.
*Turns out I really am a genius!*
Chapter 18