More than an hour later, two dark figures vaulted over the wall and into the courtyard with a soft whoosh.
*They really came!*
Lin Zheyu smiled coldly. With a slight flick of his wrist, he quietly dispersed a cloud of knockout powder. A gentle breeze caught it, carrying the powdery mist across the entire courtyard.
After entering the yard, Xing Jing'an and Xing Zhiyuan, father and son, saw no sign of Yue Jiang.
They exchanged a look, confusion and caution clear in their eyes.
Before slipping in, they had carefully surveyed their surroundings. There were no ambushes, and everything was dead quiet.
Even inside the courtyard, there were no traces of a fight.
*Did something happen to Yue Jiang on the way? Did he never make it here?* Xing Zhiyuan's heart sank.
Xing Jing'an said in a low voice, "Let's head back first. Something feels off about this."
Xing Zhiyuan nodded. Just as he was about to move, he felt a sudden weakness sap his limbs.
*Not good!*
Xing Zhiyuan's heart skipped a beat. Immediately after, an overwhelming force struck the back of his neck, and his consciousness went dark.
*Thump! Thump!*
Two muffled thuds sounded as the dark figures collapsed to the ground.
Lin Zheyu crouched down and pulled off the black cloths covering their faces. One was middle-aged, the other a young man. He didn't know either of them, but their facial features looked somewhat familiar.
*Could these two be Xing Jinglong's father and brother?* Lin Zheyu mused to himself.
He inspected them closely, feeling it was more and more likely.
*Should I kill them right now?*
Lin Zheyu looked at the two and pondered for a moment.
Both men were quite formidable, having reached the peak of the Viscera Tempering Realm.
The young man in particular was definitely a genius worth grooming within the Xing clan. If he died here, the Xing clan would probably move heaven and earth to investigate.
Lin Zheyu did not rush to deliver the killing blow. Moving swiftly, he leaped out of the courtyard and thoroughly scouted the surrounding area. After confirming no one else was lurking around, he returned to the yard.
*Crack! Crack!*
Two sharp snapping sounds rang out, and the father and son of the Xing clan ceased breathing entirely.
*Since even this father and son showed up, no one else should be coming, right?* Lin Zheyu thought.
Leaving their corpses in the courtyard would be troublesome if discovered.
Without delaying any further, Lin Zheyu grabbed a shovel, hoisted the middle-aged man's corpse, and pushed off lightly with his toes, vanishing into the night.
A few minutes later, he returned, took one person in each hand, and vanished into the night once more.
Upon returning, Lin Zheyu did not go inside to sleep. Instead, he perched on the roof beams for the entire night, but no other intruders crept in.
Only when the sky began to pale with dawn did Lin Zheyu return to his room to catch up on sleep.
He slept until the sun hung high in the sky before getting up.
***
In the afternoon.
Inside Feihong Tower.
"From now on, he is your supervisor. Address him as Lord Lin!" Xu Jingwu announced to the men of the Feihong Gang.
"Understood! Greetings, Lord Lin!" the Feihong Gang subordinates chorused loudly.
"Don't think of harboring any resentment, either. Lin Zheyu might only be at the Bone Tempering Realm, but his combat prowess already rivals that of seasoned Viscera Tempering experts."
"If any of you aren't convinced, you can step forward. I'll give you a chance to challenge him. As long as you win, I'll grant you the treatment of a Viscera Tempering expert as well," Xu Jingwu said indifferently.
He had only promised to grant a winner the perks of a Viscera Tempering expert; he had never said he would strip Lin Zheyu of the supervisor post.
Hearing this, the Bone Tempering fighters looked excited, eager to give it a try. However, no one immediately stepped forward.
None of them dared to be the first bird to stick its neck out.
Though Gang Leader Xu usually wore a genial smile and carried a refined, scholarly air, he was utterly terrifying whenever his temper flared.
"I'll do it!"
Soon, a burly man on the left stood up and spoke.
He stood nearly two meters tall, with an exceptionally rugged, broad frame.
"Good!" Lin Zheyu nodded. He took off his outer coat, revealing the solid, sculpted muscles beneath.
"Make your move!" Lin Zheyu beckoned to the man and spoke calmly.
"Heh, Lord Lin, fists and feet have no eyes. Forgive me if I offend!" The burly man chuckled and loosened his limbs, his body producing the distinct resonating chime of sinews and bones unique to the peak of the Bone Tempering Realm.
"Hah!" With a booming shout, he lunged forward, raising his right leg high in a vicious side kick.
This man also practiced leg techniques. He moved with astonishing speed, flashing right in front of Lin Zheyu in an instant.
*Thud!*
A dull impact sounded.
Lin Zheyu sank slightly into a crouch and thrust out his right fist. The force behind it was not overwhelming, strictly at the peak of the Bone Tempering Realm.
However, his strike was exceptionally sharp. At a single glance, he had seen through the man's opening, planting his fist directly into the fulcrum of the kick's force and cutting off his opponent's momentum entirely.
*Stumble, stumble, stumble...*
The burly man was forced back several paces by the punch. He dared not put his full weight on his right leg, limping awkwardly.
"Well done!" Jia Yanyong shouted, leading the applause.
"Brother Lin—no, Lord Lin is mighty!" Xie Jiang and Ning Hui cheered in unison.
"Well fought!" Lin Zheyu cupped his hands toward the burly man.
"Phew..." The burly man exhaled a long breath. Though unwilling to accept the loss in his heart, his right leg trembled involuntarily.
That punch just now had been extraordinarily brutal, landing right on a sensitive acupoint. It had numbed his entire right leg, and he still hadn't recovered sensation.
Such vision, combat reflexes, and power far exceeded his own.
"I concede!" the man said in a deep voice, limping back to his spot.
"Anyone else want to try?" Lin Zheyu swept his gaze across the room and asked calmly.
"I'll go!"
A resonant voice called out from the crowd, and a man of similar build to Lin Zheyu stepped forward.
"I am Wu Chao, skilled in saber techniques. Would Lord Lin like to take up a weapon before we fight?" Wu Chao offered.
"No need. Make your move!" Lin Zheyu replied placidly.
"Then forgive my lack of manners!"
Wu Chao gave a low laugh and charged forward, wielding his saber.
The previous burly man was indeed powerful; without a weapon, Wu Chao couldn't have beaten him either.
However, his primary art was a saber style. Relying on the advantage of a weapon, he thought he might stand a chance against Lin Zheyu.
*Whoosh!*
Wu Chao's saber style was sweeping and bold. The blade whistled through the air, cleaving straight down toward Lin Zheyu's head.
Lin Zheyu shifted his body sideways. Wu Chao instantly shifted from a chop to a slash, sweeping toward Lin Zheyu's chest.
Lin Zheyu bent backward sharply, evading the edge. With a twist of his waist, he planted his right hand on the ground and lashed out with both legs toward Wu Chao's chest.
*Bang, bang, bang—*
His kicks landed in rapid succession against Wu Chao's chest, driving him back repeatedly.
*Boom!*
Catching Wu Chao off balance, Lin Zheyu delivered a fierce snap kick, sending him flying backward through the air.
"Brilliant!" Cheers erupted all around.
"Lord Lin is mighty!" Jia Yanyong and the others yelled loudly.
"Does anyone else wish to come up?" Lin Zheyu looked calmly at the crowd.
"I'd like to try!"
...
Half an hour later, after Lin Zheyu had defeated more than a dozen Bone Tempering experts in succession, no one stepped forward again.
"Is there anyone left who isn't convinced?" Xu Jingwu asked calmly.
"None!" the crowd chorused as one.
"Very well. From today onward, Lin Zheyu is your supervisor."
"Zhenbin, you will serve as Lin Zheyu's deputy, handling the daily administrative duties," Xu Jingwu said, turning to the first burly man who had stepped forward.
"Understood! Thank you, Gang Leader!" Zhenbin said respectfully.
"All right, the rest of you may leave and tend to your tasks. Lin Zheyu, stay behind," Xu Jingwu waved his hand.
Once everyone had departed, Xu Jingwu walked to the side and sat down.
"Sit," he said, looking at Lin Zheyu.
"Yes, Gang Leader." Lin Zheyu nodded, pulled on his outer coat, and took a seat beside him.
"Has your strength reached the peak of Bone Tempering?" Xu Jingwu asked.
He had wanted to ask earlier, but with the brothers of the Feihong Gang present, it hadn't been appropriate.
"Yes, I just broke through yesterday," Lin Zheyu replied.
He intended to reveal a bit more of his strength.
He had already been in the middle stage of Bone Tempering over a month ago, so advancing to the peak now should be considered normal... right?
"Reaching peak Bone Tempering in just half a year?!" Xu Jingwu was somewhat shocked.
"Can you demonstrate it?"
Xu Jingwu continued, "Use your 'momentum' as well. Let me see where your strength stands now."
"All right!"
Lin Zheyu nodded. He walked to an open space in the distance and assumed the stance of the Wild Bull Fist. A powerful aura abruptly surged from him.
*Thwack!*
*Crack!*
His right foot slammed into the ground as both fists struck out. Fierce winds whistled, his sleeves snapping like whips.
Immediately after, a burst of crisp cracking chimes echoed from the bones and sinews within his arms—the resonance of sinews and bones after tempering them to iron!
"Good!"
Sensing the formidable momentum radiating from Lin Zheyu, Gang Leader Xu's eyes lit up.
To develop such powerful momentum after only practicing martial arts for half a year—with a dozen more years of refinement, he might truly have a hope of comprehending 'intent.'
As long as one forged their own intent, the chances of advancing to a Transforming Jin martial artist increased significantly.
"A monster! Your talent is truly monstrous!" Xu Jingwu praised. "If you had started practicing martial arts since childhood, you might already be in the Qi and Blood Realm by now."
"Gang Leader Xu flatters me," Lin Zheyu said modestly as he stopped and returned to his seat.
"No, with your aptitude, if you receive proper nurturing, you will definitely become a Marrow Tempering Realm expert in the future, and perhaps even have a shot at reaching Transforming Jin!"
"Are you interested in joining the Xu clan? There's no need for you to marry into the family as a matrilocal son-in-law."
"Once you marry a daughter of our Xu clan, you can establish your own branch and become an allied family of the Xu clan, founding your own clan in Songyi City."
"Didn't you want to switch to a higher-grade cultivation manual?"
"With the Xu clan's backing, you won't need to worry about martial arts resources or manuals; the Xu clan can provide them directly," Xu Jingwu said earnestly, looking at Lin Zheyu.
"I appreciate Gang Leader Xu's kind intentions,"
Lin Zheyu cupped his fists and said, "It's just that I don't plan on marrying and having children so early. The Xu clan has shown me great kindness, and should you ever have need of me in the future, I, Lin Zheyu, will not shirk my duty!"
"Haha, I was too hasty."
"If there comes a day when you tire of being on your own, feel your strength is sufficient, and decide to start a family, you can come find me. The Xu clan has deep roots and countless outstanding women; there will surely be someone to your liking."
Hearing his refusal, Gang Leader Xu was not angry in the least, instead letting out a hearty laugh.
"My thanks for your goodwill, Gang Leader," Lin Zheyu thanked him once more.
"All right, you may head back for now and focus on your cultivation," Xu Jingwu waved a hand.
"Understood!"
Watching Lin Zheyu's departing figure, Xu Jingwu wore a look of envy and wistful admiration.
*What enviable talent!*
*With such potential, so long as this boy doesn't fall prematurely, he is destined to become a mighty martial artist.*
Xu Jingwu sighed inwardly. It had been a long time since he had seen such an exceptional young man.
*When I get back, I need to speak with Yuxiang and have her take the initiative to win over Lin Zheyu's heart.*
*If Yuxiang doesn't work, I'll have Yuhua spend time with him. Although Yuhua is only twelve, she's already a budding beauty; she'll definitely grow up to be even prettier than Yuxiang.*
*She's a bit young, but that's no big issue. In another two or three years, she'll blossom into a stunning young lady,* Xu Jingwu mused to himself.
***
Bidan Teahouse.
After meeting his subordinates, Lin Zheyu headed to the teahouse with Jia Yanyong, Xie Jiang, and the others.
Zhenbin was also among them.
"Brother Zhenbin, I drink this cup to you. I'm not familiar with the gang's daily affairs, so I'll be relying on you from now on," Lin Zheyu said to the burly man.
This was a deputy Xu Jingwu had specially chosen for him so that Lin Zheyu wouldn't be burdened by gang business and could devote more time to martial arts—a truly thoughtful arrangement.
"Lord Lin is too polite. Just call me Zhenbin," Zhenbin said with a smile.
"Brother Lin—no, I should call you Lord Lin now!"
"Who would've thought that just a few months after getting to know you, you'd turn into our direct superior? Please look out for us in the future, Lord Lin!" Xie Jiang teased.
Having grown familiar with Lin Zheyu, the three of them weren't overly restrained around him.
"Haha, come, drink, drink! Tonight at the Hundred Pavilions, it's my treat!" Lin Zheyu raised his wine bowl, laughing.
***
Dusk fell.
At Xing Zhiyuan's residence.
Xing Zhicheng and his son Xing Penghai were both present. Xing Zhiyuan's wife and concubine stood to the side, tear tracks staining their faces, having clearly just been weeping.
"Still no news?" Xing Zhicheng asked the man who had just arrived, his voice heavy.
"None. We couldn't find the master or Young Master Jing'an anywhere," the man reported.
"Did they mention what they were going to do yesterday?" Xing Zhicheng turned to Xing Zhiyuan's wife.
"No."
"The master went to bed very late last night. He was in the main hall discussing matters with Yue Jiang and Jing'an."
"Not long after Yue Jiang left, the master and Jing'an waited in the hall, and I went to sleep first. When I woke up the next morning, the master was gone, and he didn't leave any word behind."
"*Sob, sob...* Could something terrible have happened to the master and Jing'an? *Sob...*" The woman couldn't hold back her tears as she spoke.
"Father, didn't Uncle Zhiyuan say he was going to capture Lin Zheyu personally and interrogate him to see if he could find clues about Jinglong's death?"
"Could they have walked into an ambush set by the Xu clan last night when they went after Lin Zheyu? I heard the Xu clan seems to value that kid quite highly," Xing Penghai said after a moment of thought.
"To make Zhiyuan, Jing'an, and Yue Jiang vanish without a sound would require at least Qi and Blood Realm strength."
"Does the Xu clan value that boy so much that they assigned an expert of that caliber to guard him personally?"
Xing Zhicheng frowned, then shook his head. "The Xu clan doesn't have so many Qi and Blood Realm experts that they can throw them around like that."
"Report this matter to the clan patriarch. Jing'an is one of the most outstanding descendants of our Xing clan. With even him running into misfortune, I refuse to believe the patriarch can still sit by idly!" Xing Zhicheng said coldly.
"Father, do you think Lin Zheyu could have done it himself?"
"If he's proficient in poison, Jing'an and the others might have fallen prey to his tricks if they were caught off guard," Xing Penghai speculated.
"That is a possibility..."
Chapter 78