Upon reaching the third level, the cultivation difficulty spiked exponentially, far exceeding what someone in the Bone Tempering Realm could manage.
The subsequent levels involved the domain of qi and blood.
With the aid of Origin Power, Lin Zheyu had pushed the Turtle Breathing Art to the peak of the second level, which was already his limit. If he wanted to advance any further, he had no choice but to elevate his cultivation to the Qi and Blood Realm first.
...
The following day.
The evening sun dipped toward the west.
Outside Songyi City.
Lin Zheyu and Han Mo stood in silence, watching Master Liang depart into the distance.
"I wonder if we'll ever have the chance to see Master Liang again."
Gazing at the empty horizon where the figure had vanished, Lin Zheyu wore a lonely expression, weighed down by the sorrow of parting.
"We will," Han Mo replied, patting Lin Zheyu's shoulder. "Master is so powerful; nothing bad will happen to him. If you run into any trouble in the future, Junior Brother Lin, come find me. Whatever I can do, I'll help you with all my strength."
Having spent time together recently, Lin Zheyu had also come to understand Senior Brother Han's character. They said appearance reflected the mind, and just as he looked, Han Mo was an upright, decent man, well worth befriending.
"Do you have to go on patrol later, Senior Brother?"
"No, I took the afternoon off," Han Mo said.
"Since you're free, let's head to the courtyard later and exchange a few moves."
Lin Zheyu was feeling down and wanted an outlet to vent his gloom.
"Sure. I've got nothing else to do anyway," Han Mo replied with a smile.
The two stood quietly for a little longer, gazing toward the direction in which Liang Song had departed, before turning back toward the city.
Because of the war, there were even more refugees outside the walls now. The starving dead littered the fields, a heartbreaking and gruesome sight.
Several prominent clans and wealthy merchants had set up porridge distribution stalls outside the city, but with the swelling masses of displaced people, it was nowhere near enough to feed them.
As they passed by, Lin Zheyu caught sight of a familiar figure.
It was Ren Qingying of the Ren family, a very pretty young woman.
"Why are you staring at the girl like that? Taken a fancy to her?"
Han Mo chuckled. "Want your senior brother to propose a match on your behalf?"
"Quit teasing." Lin Zheyu pointed toward the lovely woman at the porridge stall. "That's Miss Ren Qingying of the Ren Manor, isn't it? I was once a refugee myself. When I fled to Songyi City, it was thanks to Miss Ren's porridge that I survived. Otherwise, you wouldn't be seeing me today, Senior Brother."
"Then you truly owe Miss Ren your gratitude," Han Mo remarked.
Looking at the refugees everywhere, Han Mo felt a twinge of pity, yet he was powerless to help. Every day, the City Guard made their rounds and burned the corpses of those who had perished—a truly sickening task.
"I heard the rebel army might march on Songyi City. Senior Brother, since you're in the City Guard, do you have any inside information?" Lin Zheyu asked.
"Not really. Those lords reassure the soldiers every day, telling us not to worry and that Great Wei will send troops to suppress the rebellion soon."
"No one knows what's actually happening on the front lines."
Han Mo shrugged helplessly. He was desperate to know the real situation at the front as well; if things took a turn for the worse, he wanted to send his wife, children, and elderly parents away first.
"Don't worry too much. Look, the eldest young mistress of the Ren Manor is still here, so things probably haven't gotten that bad yet."
"The Ren family made their fortune through merchant trading, so they're well-informed. Plenty of people are keeping an eye on them. If the Ren Manor shows any unusual movement, then eighty percent chance something has gone wrong."
Han Mo pointed toward Ren Qingying as he spoke.
By now, Ren Qingying had finished handing out porridge. Brushing back a strand of hair, she gazed at the refugees with a hint of sorrow in her eyes. Flanked and shielded by the Ren Manor guards, she pulled away from the crowd of refugees and headed back into the city.
"What a fine girl. I wonder whose bride she'll end up becoming," Han Mo remarked wistfully.
"What, you have ideas, Senior Brother?"
"Get out of here! If your sister-in-law heard that, she wouldn't speak to me for days," Han Mo laughed.
*Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.*
A squad of soldiers marched over with brisk, orderly steps.
Leading them was a burly man clad in armor, mounted on horseback.
The rapid clatter of hooves rang out as the horse charged swiftly toward Lin Zheyu and Han Mo.
"Get out of the way!"
Han Mo yanked Lin Zheyu aside, dodging the charging steed.
"Whoa—"
The man reined in his horse, coming to a halt right in front of Lin Zheyu and Han Mo.
"Xing Penghai, what do you think you're doing?!"
Frowning deeply, Han Mo glared furiously at the mounted soldier.
"Oh? Well, if it isn't Centurion Han! Didn't look closely just now—my apologies."
"Though, I heard Centurion Han took today off. What brings you here?"
"What, does Centurion Han want to follow the rich folk and set up a porridge stall outside the city too?" Xing Penghai took off his helmet, a mocking grin on his face.
He was an ordinary-looking man, bearing a distinct scar near the corner of his eye.
"You jest, Centurion Xing. I don't possess that kind of silver," Han Mo replied flatly.
Standing to the side, Lin Zheyu could tell the atmosphere between them was off; there seemed to be bad blood between the two.
"The little brother next to you is quite handsome, Centurion Han. Aren't you going to introduce him?" Xing Penghai shifted his gaze to Lin Zheyu, his eyes narrowing into a smile.
"None of your damn business!" Han Mo shot back bluntly.
"I think it is my business."
"I suspect he might be a spy sent by the rebels, posing a threat to Songyi City's safety." Xing Penghai gave a hollow smile, speaking in a strange, mocking tone as he looked at Han Mo.
"Hmph. Don't push me, Xing Penghai," Han Mo snapped in anger.
"Haha, just a joke!"
"Centurion Han can never take a joke, as usual," Xing Penghai said with a laugh.
"I'm warning you, Xing Penghai: if you dare try anything reckless, I, Han Mo, am no pushover either."
With a cold look on his face, Han Mo turned to Lin Zheyu. "Let's go. Ignore him."
"Okay."
Lin Zheyu silently walked alongside Han Mo, heading into Songyi City.
Behind them, Xing Penghai's unbridled laughter drifted over.
"Senior Brother, do you have a grudge with that man?" Lin Zheyu asked.
"Yeah, a bit of one."
"Don't worry. The guy doesn't dare cross the line—he just looks for chances to annoy me every now and then," Han Mo assured him, telling Lin Zheyu not to fret.
Lin Zheyu nodded and didn't pry further.
...
Chapter 38