Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

”Get the hell down from there. Fuck, this is such a trash story. Why are you continuing when I told you to stop?” Xing Jinglong cursed loudly, slanting his eyes toward Lin Zheyu and the others, his gaze full of provocation.

Jia Yanyong could not hold back, slamming the table as he stood and shouted angrily, ”Fatty Xing, what the fuck are you doing? Do you seriously want to cause trouble on my Feihong Gang’s turf?”

”I paid to listen to this damned story. If I think it’s bad, can’t I curse a few times?” retorted Xing Jinglong.

”Young Master Xing, your behavior is a little excessive. If you find the story poor, just stop listening. Why make a scene?” said Lin Zheyu as he stood up.

”You dumb fuck; it’s obvious that I’m provoking you. So what are you going to do about it? Do you want to fight?” replied Xing Jinglong as he and his companions beside him stood up.

Lin Zheyu restrained the impulsive Jia Yanyong and said, ”We aren’t going to fight you. You are a young master of the Xing Family, aren’t you? Openly provoking a brawl is far too undignified.”

Xing Jinglong’s head was full of question marks.

To hell with dignity, you shit face. I’m only a branch son of the Xing Family anyway.

Lin Zheyu really had patience. Things had gone this far, yet he still refused to make a move.

”Oh, right. Lord Qiu Gaoxuan will be arriving soon, I hear. He quite enjoys this story. Why don’t you wait a bit longer, Young Master Xing? When Lord Qiu arrives, you can tell him yourself what part of the story you think is bad. And if you insist on provoking a fight, then let’s wait for Lord Qiu. You can tell him all about it,” said Lin Zheyu.

”Qiu Gaoxuan?” Xing Jinglong took a deep breath, feeling a bit stifled.

Qiu Gaoxuan was incredibly strong, having already reached the peak of the Organ Forging Realm. If he came, even the Organ Forging Realm fighters Xing Jinglong brought along would not be a match for him.

Damn it. I’m just trying to rub my fists into your face, you know? Why drag Qiu Gaoxuan into it? And why are these guys suddenly so fucking cowardly? he thought.

Seeing that he could not get his way, Xing Jinglong let out a cold snort. ”Hmph! You’re just a bunch of cowards. In that case, keep being turtles hiding in your shells!”

He stood up and gave the table a vicious kick, shattering it into pieces, before leaving with his men.

”That bastard is getting more and more arrogant,” Jia Yanyong cursed under his breath as he sat back down.

”There’s no helping it. The Xing Family has a military background. When the rebel army strikes, they can seize the chance to recruit and expand their strength. This great chaos is an excellent opportunity for the Xing Family.”

Xie Jiang’s gaze grew solemn, his expression darkening. After Xing Jinglong left, Manager Wu came forward to apologize, sending a dish of small appetizers to each table. The storyteller then returned to the stage.

”Drink, drink! Why dwell on such troubles? Our leader will handle these matters. We little people should just take care of our own small plots,” said Xie Jiang as he raised his cup to lighten the atmosphere.

***

The next day, early morning. At No. 28 Tongquan Street, inside Feihong Tower.

Lin Zheyu sat beside Xu Jingwu, accompanying him to watch a play.

”I’ve read the book. It’s written very well,” said Xu Jingwu.

When Lin Zheyu sold his books to the Lu siblings, he had written a few extra copies. One was given to Liang Song, one to Han Mo, and another to Xu Jingwu. Only after such a long time did Xu Jingwu finish reading it.

”As long as you enjoy it,” replied Lin Zheyu.

Only after advancing to the Blood Qi Realm did he realize how terrifying Leader Xu’s strength was. Beneath Xu Jingwu’s refined appearance, his body held a vast reservoir of blood qi, suppressed yet unfathomable. With such immense blood qi, the force of his strikes would surely be terrifying.

Lin Zheyu felt that the leader’s strength had very likely surpassed the first transformation of blood qi, though he did not know exactly how many transformations he had reached.

”As I said before, if the story were good, I would reward you heavily. I’m very satisfied with this one. Luo Tian, bring 100 taels of silver for Lin Zheyu,” Xu Jingwu instructed his subordinate.

”Many thanks for the reward!” said Lin Zheyu gratefully.

Leader Xu was exceedingly generous. Lin Zheyu had thought that fifty taels would have been very good already, but he had unexpectedly been given a full hundred.

”A few days ago, you were attacked outside the city by Xing Penghai?” asked Xu Jingwu suddenly.

”Yes. At that time, Senior Brother Han went out to suppress bandits, and I went outside the city to see him off. I didn’t expect Xing Jinglong and his men to target me. Xing Penghai produced a black pill and tried to make me take it; he wanted me to join the Xing Family. Naturally, I refused,” said Lin Zheyu, without concealment.

The Feihong Gang’s influence was immense. Few events in Songyi City escaped their eyes and ears.

”The Xing Family holds a place in the City Guard. In the future, it’s best you don’t leave the city alone. If something happens outside, even I may find it difficult to handle,” said Xu Jingwu.

Lin Zheyu was merely an ordinary recruit of the Feihong Gang, not a member of the Xu Family. If something truly happened, the most likely outcome would be the Xing Family apologizing and offering some compensation. At most, the Feihong Gang might seize the chance to find an excuse and kill a few experts from the Wuding Gang, but that would be the extent of it.

”Mm, I’ll be careful,” said Lin Zheyu.

”Do you feel somewhat disappointed?” asked Xu Jingwu as he glanced at him.

”No,” replied Lin Zheyu, shaking his head.

That was simply how the world worked. Even though he had joined the Feihong Gang, that only held some deterrence against common folk. When facing the great families of Songyi City, it meant nothing at all.

No matter how great his natural talent seemed, before he grew stronger, it was only talent and nothing more. For now, he was still just a minor figure.

”The Xing Family is the largest family in Songyi City aside from the City Lord’s household, and their strength is immense. A third of the Songyi City Guard is under the Xing Family’s control. If they set their sights on you outside the city, even I would struggle to intervene on your behalf,” said Xu Jingwu.

He stood as the representative of the Xu Family and the Feihong Gang, a power founded by several great families, not just himself. It was impossible to completely fall out with the Xing Family over Lin Zheyu alone.

”But you don’t need to worry too much. As long as you’re within the city, they won’t dare to cause trouble, since the City Lord himself keeps watch here,” said Xu Jingwu, easing Lin Zheyu’s concerns about being in the city.

”The City Lord’s surname is Chen, right? Is he from the Chen Family?” asked Lin Zheyu curiously.

”No. The City Lord is a single individual sent from the Great Wei court to govern Songyi City. He has no family and no faction in Songyi City. With the City Lord’s strength, he, alone, is enough to suppress an entire city,” said Xu Jingwu calmly.

He, alone, can suppress an entire city! Lin Zheyu turned the words over in his mind, feeling they carried an overwhelming aura. How unfathomably powerful must one be to deserve such a description?

”I wonder what level of strength the City Lord possesses. Is he perhaps a Grandmaster?” Lin Zheyu could not help but ask.

”No one knows. Nobody has ever seen the City Lord’s true strength. They only know he is very, very strong. In this city, none of the esteemed families dares go against the City Lord’s will. Any who had have already vanished from Songyi City,” said Xu Jingwu with some emotion.

He had personally witnessed several great families vanish from Songyi City—in a single night, at that. It was terrifying beyond words. From then on, no family dared to stir up trouble within the city. At most, there were small quarrels. Any real schemes or conflicts were carried out beyond the city walls.

Seeing Xu Jingwu’s secretive demeanor, Lin Zheyu did not press further. The atmosphere cooled, the opera on stage continued, and Leader Xu occasionally hummed along to a few lines.

”You’re not yet married, are you?” asked Xu Jingwu suddenly.

”I am not.” Lin Zheyu’s heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising. He quickly added, ”I was separated from my parents and kin, so I haven’t been in the mood to think about marriage. Marriage should follow parental orders and a matchmaker’s words. It is a significant life event, and I’ll only consider it once I find my family again.”

”Haha! It’s fine, there’s no rush. I was only asking. There are many young women in my Xu Family, you see. I could introduce you when there’s time. If you were to marry a Xu Family girl, you’d become part of the Xu Family. The Xing Family wouldn’t dare touch you then. Naturally, there’s no need to aim for marriage immediately. Just get acquainted with them first. If you find someone suitable, then think about marriage,” said Xu Jingwu.

He regarded Lin Zheyu very highly. He thought that with such natural talent, if guided by a true master, he might one day become a Blood Qi Realm expert himself.

”Many thanks, Leader Xu,” said Lin Zheyu.

Since things had been said to this point, it would be hard to refuse. But it was only about meeting people. If he didn’t take a liking to anyone, surely he wouldn’t be forced into marriage, right?

***

Lin Zheyu accompanied Leader Xu for a few more opera performances before taking his leave. Leaving Feihong Tower, he went straight to the pharmacies in the city. After visiting several shops in succession, he finally gathered all the necessary herbs to make his next decoction.

With prices soaring, buying the herbs for eight sets of Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction cost him no less than 101 taels of silver. Carrying the herbs, he returned to his courtyard and continued his martial training.