Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

The marketplace outside Ruyang City was bustling with activity. There were even shops selling cultivation techniques. The Central Plains was indeed worthy of being called the prosperous heartland of martial cultivation. It was far beyond what the southern barbarian region of Bafang City could compare to.

Lin Zheyu wandered through several shops, but they all sold commonplace techniques. Their grades were not high either; most were only sufficient to allow their users to cultivate up to the first transformation of blood qi. Even in the Central Plains, where martial cultivation flourished, the authorities still imposed restrictions on the open distribution of techniques, preventing them from spreading unchecked.

If I want to find a good technique, it seems I’ll have to look in the black market.

The techniques sold openly were not only of poor quality but also extremely expensive, most priced at over 800 taels of silver.

***

Inside a teahouse, the loud and energetic voice of a storyteller could be heard.

”Ah, through the ages, gentlemen lose their virtue while villains revel in pleasure. Even great men struggle to pass the trial of beauty...”

Lin Zheyu sat below, listening to the tale with interest.

Teahouses and restaurants were the best places to gather information. Though most of what spread at such places was exaggerated or distorted, such rumors were precisely what people found most fascinating. When the storyteller finished his tale, the teahouse came alive with chatter. Some discussed how the story might continue, while others launched into bold debates and gossip.

”Have you heard? A powerful yao appeared in the Lieyang Mountains and wiped out several villages.”

”Is that true?”

”When did this happen? And you said several villages were destroyed?”

”About ten days ago, but the yao was slain in passing by a traveling expert.”

”Phew, that’s a relief.”

***

”Tomorrow is the day the Zhao Family’s fourth young lady holds her public husband selection. Are you going?”

”The Zhao Family from the largest estate in Ruyang City?”

”No, the one in Yongping District. I heard a Force Transformation Realm expert guards the family. They’re quite powerful.”

”They’ve set up three trials, testing character, literary talent, and martial skill. Whoever wins, regardless of origin, can marry the Zhao Family’s fourth young lady.”

”As a live-in son-in-law, I assume?”

”Tsk. Being a son-in-law isn’t so bad! It’s the Zhao Family after all. Marry in, and you’ll save yourself centuries of struggle.”

***

”They’re recruiting soldiers again. Anyone with a clean background can enlist.”

”I heard the Southern Barbarian Region is in chaos. It’s the perfect time to earn merit and make a name for yourself. Are you going?”

”Not me. I heard the rebel army is fierce and has already taken several cities. Going there is no different from marching to your death.”

”Wealth and power are only worth it if you live long enough to enjoy them.”

***

”You didn’t come to Eternal Joy Restaurant yesterday, so you missed quite the spectacle.”

”Hmm? What happened, eh?”

”A martial artist from out of town barged into Eternal Joy Restaurant looking for revenge, but during the fight, he accidentally brushed against a man at the next table. Guess what happened?”

”How would I know?”

”Heh. Before long, that fellow began scratching all over, his skin festering and rotting. It was terrifying.”

”Damn, a poison master? What level was the man who attacked?”

”How should I know? I’m just an Organ Forging Realm martial artist, you know. I couldn’t tell.”

***

Listening to the various bits of gossip, Lin Zheyu gained quite a bit of understanding about Ruyang City. The city’s internal control remained strict, so no martial artist dared to act recklessly within its walls. Outside the city, many factions maintained their own forces, but the management there was far looser. After all, the outskirts saw heavy movement of people; if something happened, finding the culprit would be no easy task.

In reality, few people acted recklessly unless they were confident they could gauge their opponent’s strength and secure victory, or if they bore an irreconcilable grudge. One could never be sure if they might run into an old schemer pretending to be weak. Many powerful martial artists could hide their aura so completely that others couldn’t see through them, or their true power far exceeded their realm. Some at the Blood Qi Realm even possessed the strength to rival those in the Marrow Refining Realm. Lin Zheyu himself was an example of this.

In such an environment, martial artists acted with great caution. Only after careful probing, ensuring there was no danger and that they wouldn’t capsize in the gutter, would they make a move. Those who acted recklessly had long been eliminated by the harsh realities of society, and Lai Chang was a perfect example.

As dusk fell and night descended, the marketplace grew even livelier. Lin Zheyu left the teahouse and made his way to the Welcoming Spring Pavilion. It was the only brothel in the market and quite famous, said to employ female martial artists at the Organ Forging Realm who knew all sorts of tricks. Lin Zheyu went purely out of curiosity to see just what kind of entertainment they offered.

***

Moonlight poured down in silvery brilliance. Outside the Welcoming Spring Pavilion stood a woman draped in a sheer veil, her figure half-concealed and alluring, calling to passersby in a sweet, coquettish voice. Lin Zheyu stepped out of the pavilion with a smile, his face glowing with satisfaction.

”Mmm, the variety was impressive, though the price was a bit steep. I probably can’t come often, haha,” Lin Zheyu said with a faint smile, feeling quite pleased.

After months of constant travel spent either on the road, training, or studying the Toxicology Codex, he was utterly worn out. It wasn’t physical or mental fatigue but exhaustion of the spirit. Walking through the lively streets today and reimmersing himself in the mundane world felt like a cleansing for his soul, leaving it clearer and lighter.

It’s a pity Jia Yanyong and the others aren’t here, or else it would’ve been far more fun.

Joy enjoyed alone was never as sweet as joy shared with others; happiness doubled when shared. He wondered how they were faring back in Bafang City. Was the rebel army still advancing unstoppably? And how were Senior Brother Han Mo and his master doing now?

”No point dwelling on unhappy things. Everyone has their fate, after all. I only wish to live without regrets,” Lin Zheyu murmured, shaking his head.

He had already repaid his master’s teachings and his senior brother’s guidance. When he left Songyi City, he had also helped the Feihong Gang once, settling that debt as well.

”I should find a place to settle down and make a few friends. Going to a pleasure house alone just isn’t the same,” Lin Zheyu muttered to himself.

Humans were social creatures. Everyone needed a few friends and a circle of their own. It didn’t have to be large, but it had to exist, or one could easily develop mental troubles.

***

By the time Lin Zheyu returned to the inn, it was already late at night. The inn had not yet closed, and there were still people downstairs enjoying a midnight snack. As he passed by Lai Mao’s room, he gently knocked on the door.

”Who is it?”

Lai Mao hadn’t fled. Careful and cautious by nature, and extremely fearful of death, he dared not take risks before receiving the antidote.

”It’s me. How’s the copying of the techniques going?” Lin Zheyu asked calmly.

Creak.

The door opened, and Lai Mao stepped out holding two freshly written technique manuals.

”These are the two I just finished. Take a look first, and I’ll go back to copying,” Lai Mao said.

He looked at Lin Zheyu nervously, hoping to read some hint from his expression. But to his disappointment, Lin Zheyu’s face remained expressionless as he took the manuals. ”Good. Keep it up. I’ll look through these first.”

With that, he turned and left.