Crisis and Opportunity

"All right!" Jia Yanyong and the others nodded in agreement. After finishing off the last drops of wine in the flagon, they went to assemble their gang members and gather information. Returning to his courtyard, Lin Zheyu began his training as usual. Over the past dozen or so days, his strength had seen another enormous leap, and he was not far from reaching the perfection of the Seventh Layer. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.* Saber light flickered across the courtyard. In Lin Zheyu's hand, the long saber moved as naturally as an extension of his own arm. After months of bitter practice, the Six Harmonies Saber was also close to reaching the perfection realm. However, whether the saber technique reached perfection or not did not significantly boost his combat strength. His primary style of fighting currently relied on lightness skills that far surpassed ordinary people, paired with saber techniques. Accompanied by the consummate Golden Goose Skill, even an ordinary saber technique could unleash terrifying might. Only when facing martial artists stronger than himself, or opponents whose speed rivaled his own, would he need to rely on the realm of his saber technique. After training continuously for more than four hours, Lin Zheyu stopped, panting lightly. [Heaven Rewards Diligence] Name: Lin Zheyu Origin Power: 0 Skills: Wild Bull Fist (Perfection) Six Harmonies Saber (Grand Mastery 10%) Golden Goose Skill (Seventh Layer 83%) Ten Thousand Armies Steps (Fourth Layer 97%) Poison King Body (First Layer 0%) Turtle Breathing Art (Third Layer 4%) *Soon. Another ten days, and I'll have gathered enough Origin Power to break through to the Qi and Blood Three Transformations and reach the level where my qi and blood is fierce as a tiger.* Lin Zheyu looked at the figures in his consciousness and murmured inwardly. After reaching the Second Blood Transformation, every three limit-breaks yielded two units of Origin Power on one of those occasions, making his rate of accumulation much faster. Correspondingly, however, the difficulty of advancing through the realms had also increased. Now, a single unit of Origin Power had to be paired with the medicinal herbs of eight doses of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Strengthening Decoction to raise his progress by about nine percent. Fortunately, he had recently earned a substantial sum of silver through manuals and Blood Pills; otherwise, he truly could not have sustained such consumption. Lin Zheyu had not expected Blood Pills to be so valuable, fetching four hundred taels of silver. In his eyes, using a Blood Pill to break through to the Qi and Blood Realm severed any path for further advancement, meaning its value was not particularly high. Selling one for around two hundred taels was already a handsome price. Yet Senior Brother Han had offered forty taels of gold right away, which was four hundred taels of silver. That was no small sum. Purchasing the manual and the Blood Pill had nearly emptied Senior Brother Han's savings, much of which came from his clan's funds. In the end, Lin Zheyu gave Senior Brother Han a generous share of his treasured poisons, exhausting every argument before finally persuading him to take them without charge. Otherwise, taking so much money from his senior brother would have made Lin Zheyu feel as though he had taken unfair advantage of him, leaving him wracked with guilt. *Senior Brother Han doesn't have it easy either, with so many mouths to feed,* Lin Zheyu thought with a sigh. A major reason he had always avoided starting a family was the fear that, if danger arose, he would lack the strength to protect them. If he remained alone, he had no such worries. *Once my strength reaches the Qi and Blood Three Transformations, I'll head into Lion Valley and snatch a few more Blood Pills back,* Lin Zheyu thought to himself. Once he reached the Qi and Blood Three Transformations, he would rank among the very top tier of experts in Songyi City. With his mastery of lightness skills, even if he ran into the black-and-red-robed cultists of the Nine Nether Cult, he could easily escape, and perhaps even slay a few. Swarm tactics no longer worked against a lightness master like Lin Zheyu. Anyone wishing to deal with him had to either surpass him with overwhelming force or possess superior lightness skills capable of keeping up with his speed. *Knock, knock, knock.* *Knock, knock.* As dusk settled, knocking sounded at the gate. Opening the door, Lin Zheyu found a servant of the Xu clan standing there. "Young Master Lin, Young Master Xu invites you over for a gathering," the servant said respectfully. "Very well, I'll be right there." Lin Zheyu changed his clothes and made his way to Funing Garden. Funing Garden was bustling today. Ren Qingfeng, Chen Xihong, Ren Qingying, and Xu Yuxiang were all present—all familiar young masters and young ladies. "Brother Lin is here. Please, take a seat," Xu Qinyi said with a smile, inviting Lin Zheyu to sit down. "Brother Lin, have you given it more thought? Are you truly not leaving with us?" After finalizing their evacuation plans, Xu Qinyi had invited Lin Zheyu to depart with their group. From his perspective, Songyi City was in utter chaos, and staying behind carried immense danger; an early departure made far more sense. As for the properties in Songyi City, others would look after them. "I plan to stay in Songyi City a while longer. I have some business left to attend to, and I will evacuate later with the members of the Feihong Gang," Lin Zheyu replied. He had promised Old Master Chen to kill Zhao Guanbin once he grew strong enough, and that promise remained unfulfilled. Then there was the Xing clan. Lin Zheyu would not feel at ease leaving without getting rid of that old man and Xing Penghai, who had previously threatened him. Finally, with Blood Pills fetching such a high price, he planned to raid Lion Valley for more once his strength increased. Otherwise, once he reached Bafang City, relying solely on his wage from the Feihong Gang and the money earned from storytelling would only buy one or two doses of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Strengthening Decoction a month, which would fall far short of his needs. In a peaceful and stable environment, hiding one's strength while making quick money was exceptionally difficult. Taking advantage of Songyi City's chaotic state to fish in troubled waters, he intended to earn whatever he could while the opportunity lasted. "What about you, Brother Xihong? Your Chen clan has many descendants serving in the City Guard as well. Evacuating won't be that simple, will it?" Lin Zheyu looked toward Chen Xihong and asked. The Chen clan had a considerable presence in the City Guard, though unlike the Xing clan, they had not built their foundation upon it. The current commander of the City Guard was a member of the Xing clan. "It isn't a major issue for us, so long as the branches enrolled in the City Guard don't leave entirely and leave some manpower behind," Chen Xihong said with a smile. "I hear your senior brother is also a member of the City Guard. If he wishes to have his family evacuated early, I can lend a hand. "Evacuating his entire clan is out of the question, but getting his parents, wife, and children out ahead of time is well within reach." Rules were set by the Great Wei authorities to bind ordinary people. For those of their station, the same rules were enforced far more leniently. "That would be wonderful. Many thanks, Brother Chen. I'll head back and ask for my senior brother's thoughts," Lin Zheyu said, delighted. "It's a trivial matter." "The deputy commander your senior brother serves under is on very good terms with our Chen clan—practically one of our own," Chen Xihong said. Not everyone in the City Guard came from the great families. The deputy commander was a commoner-born expert named Xie Qi'ang, an extraordinarily gifted martial artist. The City Guard was divided into three factions: the Xing clan faction, the commoner faction, and the other great families' faction, of which the Chen clan was a member. As a martial artist of commoner origins, Senior Brother Han had aligned himself with Xie Qi'ang, placing him in the commoner faction. "If Brother Lin doesn't evacuate with us, I'm afraid Little Sister Yuxiang will be sick with worry," Ren Qingfeng teased with a grin. Anyone with eyes could tell that Xu Yuxiang harbored feelings for Lin Zheyu, and the Xu clan had been trying to bring them together, though Lin Zheyu had never shown any inclination in that direction. "Young Master Ren, please don't talk nonsense. Young Master Lin and I are merely friends, and it is only natural for a friend to be concerned," Xu Yuxiang protested, her face flushing red. She stole a glance at Lin Zheyu, but seeing his expression remain entirely unchanged, a hint of dejection flitted through her eyes. "There will be chances to meet again. Once Brother Lin comes to Bafang City in the future, we can gather once more," Xu Qinyi said, his expression turning solemn. "However, you must be careful while staying in the city, Brother Lin. Once we withdraw, the number of experts guarding Songyi City will drop considerably. "The Nine Stars Gang is planning to evacuate as well, around the same time as us. By then, the Xing clan will hold absolute dominance in Songyi City. "The Xing clan's Fifth Elder had his eye on you before. He may very well seize this opportunity to make a move against you. You must remain vigilant." "Regarding the Xing clan, I've always been somewhat puzzled. Why have they singled me out?" Lin Zheyu voiced the doubt in his heart. "While my aptitude may indeed be somewhat above average, I am currently nothing more than a martial artist in the Bone Tempering Realm. It hardly warrants such persistent attention from a great family of their size, does it?" Xing Jinglong targeting him could be chalked up to their earlier conflict. Xing Jinglong's father and brother attempting to capture him was to uncover clues about Xing Jinglong's death and avenge him. Yet the Xing clan's Fifth Elder was a different matter; he had clearly come for Lin Zheyu himself. "I know about that," Chen Xihong chimed in, drawing curious glances from everyone present. "It is said that the Xing clan possesses a secret medicine capable of stimulating a martial artist's latent potential, allowing their strength to surge rapidly into the Qi and Blood Realm within a short span of time. "However, this secret medicine demands exceptionally high qualifications of the martial artist; they must be extraordinarily gifted and possess remarkable aptitude. Otherwise, it will not only prove ineffective, but will also squander their potential and lifespan in vain. "The Xing clan set their sights on Brother Lin likely intending to use this secret medicine to cultivate you into a Qi and Blood expert. "The cost of this secret medicine is immense, and the Qi and Blood experts it produces have exceedingly short lifespans, rarely exceeding five years. In times of peace, it is hardly worth the price. "Now that war is looming, however, the Xing clan has felt the impending crisis, prompting them to use this secret medicine to produce a host of Qi and Blood deathsworn. "According to intelligence gathered by our scouts, the Xing clan has dispatched numerous agents not just within Songyi City, but into other cities as well, scouring the lands for gifted martial artists who lack background and backing." Chen Xihong's tone was grim. Hearing this, the group looked at one another in shock, surprised that the Xing clan possessed such methods. "I have also seen records regarding this in our clan's archives," Xu Qinyi spoke up. "It is said that hundreds of years ago, when Songyi City was founded, the Xing clan's ancestor relied on a private army formed of dozens of Qi and Blood martial artists to cement their reputation as the foremost great family of Songyi City. That private force was likely forged through these very means." "So that's how it is. No wonder the Xing clan has refused to let me go!" Lin Zheyu said in realization. Had he not kept his true strength concealed and progressed at a speed far beyond the Xing clan's wildest imagination, they likely would have seized him in secret long ago. "Brother Lin, I feel it would be far safer for you to leave with us," Ren Qingfeng said solemnly after listening. "Rest assured, I have my own plans. Nothing will happen to me," Lin Zheyu replied, feigning a conflicted expression before settling on a tone that sounded somewhat helpless yet resolute. "Since you have made up your mind, we will not press you further. Be exceedingly careful, and we shall meet again in Bafang City!" Xu Qinyi said. They could tell Lin Zheyu had private matters to resolve, and since he chose not to elaborate, it was improper to pry. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'll see if I can assist," Ren Qingfeng offered with a smile. "No need, I can manage on my own," Lin Zheyu said, shaking his head. He had to admit that these three young masters were genuinely loyal and reliable friends. *** Three days later, the majority of the family members from the great families behind the Feihong Gang evacuated. Two days after that, the families behind the Nine Stars Gang began their withdrawal as well. Both factions contracted rapidly, retaining only their most core assets, leaving the Xing clan holding uncontested sway over Songyi City. Senior Brother Han agreed to send his parents, wife, and children away ahead of time. With Chen Xihong's assistance, they would leave alongside the second batch of Feihong Gang evacuees. In other words, the moment the rebel army launched their assault on Guanning City, they would depart Songyi City with the Feihong Gang's members to seek refuge in Bafang City. Having secured a way out for his family, Han Mo breathed a long sigh of relief. Inside the Xing clan residence. Following the retreat of the Feihong and Nine Stars gangs, the Xing clan and the Wuding Gang under their banner mobilized to swallow the properties abandoned by the two factions. "Father, that Lin Zheyu actually didn't evacuate with the Xu clan. I thought we were going to let him slip away this time," Xing Penghai remarked with a broad smile. They had previously brought Lin Zheyu to the Fifth Elder's attention, but the elder had subsequently been delayed by affairs in Lion Valley and never took action. They assumed that, with such outstanding talent, Lin Zheyu would have evacuated with the Xu clan's first convoy. They had never anticipated he would stay behind. It was truly an unexpected delight. "Do you truly think the Fifth Elder forgot about the matter?" Xing Zhicheng said pointedly. "What do you mean, Father?" Xing Penghai asked, somewhat bewildered. "When the Feihong Gang's first convoy evacuated, it was ambushed mid-journey by bandits. The casualties were light, but they lost a great deal of silver and goods," Xing Zhicheng sneered coldly, his face full of calculated meaning. "I see! No wonder the Fifth Elder held off on making a move and showed no concern that Lin Zheyu might slip away early," Xing Penghai said in sudden realization. "Father, since Lin Zheyu didn't leave with the Xu clan, and the City Lord is no longer present in Songyi City, there is no need for us to act so cautiously. "How about I lead men straight to his door tonight and drag him back?" Xing Penghai suggested. Uncovering the cause of Xing Zhiyuan and his son's deaths was secondary. The primary objective was capturing Lin Zheyu; securing a martial artist of exceptional talent for the Xing clan would yield a substantial amount of contribution points. "Mm." "Be careful. His attainment in poison is likely formidable; otherwise, Zhiyuan and Jing'an wouldn't have vanished so silently," Xing Zhicheng cautioned. "Understood. I will have Uncle Fugui come with me," Xing Penghai replied. Undercurrents surged through Songyi City. Lin Zheyu was not idle either. Outside of his daily training, he donned disguises and used the Turtle Breathing Art to conceal his presence, covertly scoping out the movements of key figures within the Xing clan. From a secluded corner outside the Xing residence, Lin Zheyu watched the main gates in silence, a chilly glint in his eyes. To the Xing clan, the looming war presented both crisis and opportunity—and the same held true for Lin Zheyu. Unlike the Xing clan, however, for Lin Zheyu, the opportunity far outweighed the crisis.