"It is Young Master Xu Qinyi," the maidservant said softly, her voice melodious and carrying a touch of youthful tenderness.
"It's him!" Xie Jiang exclaimed.
"You know him?" Lin Zheyu looked at him.
"Of course I do."
"Young Master Xu Qinyi is Gang Leader Xu's youngest son."
"I heard he's the most talented among the younger generation of the Xu clan. Only fifteen years old, yet he's already reached the Viscera Tempering Realm. In the future, he might even have a shot at breaking through to the Marrow Tempering Realm," Xie Jiang explained, looking at Lin Zheyu with curiosity, wondering why Xu Qinyi would invite him over.
"Hurry, hurry! Since Young Master Xu has invited you, don't keep him waiting," Jia Yanyong urged, nudging Lin Zheyu forward.
Lin Zheyu stood up and followed the maidservant across to the other side of the second floor.
Stepping into Young Master Xu's private booth, he found three young men inside, none of whom he recognized.
The booth occupied a prime location, offering an up-close, unobstructed view of the dancing girls performing on the stage.
"Haha, Brother Lin is here! I have long heard of your name."
"Come, come, have a seat over here."
Of the three, the young master seated in the middle stood up and invited Lin Zheyu to sit.
"I am Lin Zheyu. Greetings, gentlemen."
Lin Zheyu cupped his hands in greeting.
Apart from Xu Qinyi, the other two appeared rather aloof, though Lin Zheyu did not mind in the least. He rarely interacted with wealthy scions to begin with and knew very few of them.
"My father mentioned you to me, saying that you are exceptionally gifted. If you train diligently, you will surely become another powerhouse of the Qi and Blood Realm in the future," Xu Qinyi said with a smile.
At the mention of a Qi and Blood Realm expert, the other two young men could not help glancing over.
"Come, let me introduce you, Brother Lin. This is Young Master Chen Xihong of the Chen clan, and this is Young Master Ren Qingfeng of the Ren clan."
"Their families are allied with our Xu clan; they are all our own people," Xu Qinyi introduced with a smile, gesturing to the two beside him.
Hearing the name Ren Qingfeng of the Ren clan, Lin Zheyu took a closer look.
Upon closer inspection, the young man's brow and eyes bore a subtle resemblance to Miss Ren Qingying. Most likely, they were brother and sister.
"I am Lin Zheyu. Greetings, Young Master Chen, Young Master Ren." Lin Zheyu cupped his hands toward them.
"What is Brother Lin's current level of strength?" Chen Xihong could not resist asking.
Having just heard Xu Qinyi claim this man possessed the potential for the Qi and Blood Realm, curiosity had naturally welled up within them.
Martial artists in the Qi and Blood Realm belonged to the pinnacle of power in Songyi City. In their clans, such individuals served as vital pillars of support.
"I have barely reached the mid-Bone Tempering Realm. Please excuse my modest ability," Lin Zheyu replied modestly.
He had used the Turtle Breathing Art to conceal his true Qi and Blood Realm cultivation, displaying only the strength of the Bone Tempering level.
"Not bad. Reaching the Bone Tempering Realm at such a young age means you have a promising future," Chen Xihong remarked. A hint of disdain surfaced on his face, his tone turning perfunctory.
What did the Bone Tempering Realm amount to?
In their prominent clans, any core direct-line descendant bathed in precious medicinal herbs from childhood to temper their sinews and bones could effortlessly enter the Bone Tempering Realm by the age of twelve.
Ren Qingfeng, who had been on the verge of chiming in, swallowed his words entirely after hearing this. He turned away to admire the dancers' movements on his own.
"Haha, the two of you don't know the whole story,"
"Brother Lin was previously a scholar, entirely devoted to passing the imperial examinations. He only took up martial arts after arriving in Songyi City."
"From the time he began training until now, it has been less than three months."
Seeing their expressions, Xu Qinyi knew exactly what they were thinking and stepped in to explain.
Hearing this, the two turned their gazes back onto Lin Zheyu.
Looks of astonishment crossed their faces.
If it was truly as Xu Qinyi had said, that was indeed extraordinary.
"Brother Lin, did you ever temper your sinews and bones with medicinal baths in your youth?" Ren Qingfeng could not help asking.
"No."
"From childhood, I read only the books of the sages, intent on achieving rank in the examinations. I never touched any martial arts, nor did I ever temper my sinews and bones," Lin Zheyu replied.
The two swallowed hard, their eyes fixed on Lin Zheyu in utter shock.
Without relying on precious medicinal herbs from youth to forge a foundation, he had still managed to reach the Bone Tempering Realm in just over two months!
Such aptitude and comprehension were truly frightening.
"Impressive!"
"With such talent, Brother Lin can indeed be called extraordinarily gifted!"
Ren Qingfeng cupped his hands toward Lin Zheyu in praise.
As members of prominent clans, they knew better than anyone the difference between someone who relied on medicinal herbs to temper their bones into the Bone Tempering Realm and someone who achieved it on their own.
Though they had reached the peak of the Bone Tempering Realm early on, it was entirely the result of piling on medicine. In the future, the peak of the Viscera Tempering Realm would likely be their limit.
Lin Zheyu was entirely different.
Without the aid of medicinal baths to lay his foundation, he had still reached the Bone Tempering Realm in less than three months.
One could only imagine the depth of his comprehension and talent.
Only someone with astounding comprehension who could grasp the essence of martial arts could achieve multiple times the results with half the effort, advancing all the way to the mid-Bone Tempering Realm in a mere few months.
"Young Master Ren flatters me," Lin Zheyu said modestly.
"Haha, why be modest?"
"Come, come, let me propose a toast to Brother Lin as an apology for my slight just now," Chen Xihong said with a laugh, raising his cup.
Lin Zheyu raised his cup, clinked it lightly against Chen's, and drained it in one gulp.
"I offer a toast to Brother Lin as well. Please!"
Ren Qingfeng raised his cup in a toast as well.
After a few cups of wine, the atmosphere in the private booth grew considerably warmer.
The men chatted about gossip among the prominent clans and the latest news regarding the rebel forces, which Lin Zheyu listened to with great interest.
"Our Ren clan was actually preparing to flee, but then we heard that the rebels had begun pitching camp, halting their advance."
"Grandfather gave up the idea of escaping and decided to wait and see for a while longer," Ren Qingfeng shared.
*No wonder I didn't see Ren Qingying distributing porridge outside the city earlier,* Lin Zheyu thought. *Back then, I assumed the Ren clan had already slipped away.*
"Winter is setting in, and with the bitter cold, the rebels will probably rest and recuperate for a time."
"With this buffer period, the Great Wei court will have time to catch its breath and dispatch a large army to suppress them. So it most likely won't affect Songyi City," Xu Qinyi said with a smile.
Chapter 47