Chapter 153: Bafang City (II)

Lin Zheyu had expected the Xing or Zhao Families to send assassins after them, but surprisingly, none appeared. Their journey continued without incident. Every four days, during his night watch shifts, Lin Zheyu would train, pushing his body past its limits to gain Origin Force.

In total, the journey took fifty-seven days. During their stop at Wangshan City, Lin Zheyu used the Origin Force he had accumulated to raise his Tortoise Breath Grand Method to Perfection of the third stage. He still had 9 units of Origin Force stored up, which he planned to use for further advancement once they reached Bafang City.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Creak, creak...

Hooves struck the ground with rhythmic clopping as the wagon wheels rolled along the official road, their wooden rims creaking with every turn. After more than a month of travel through wind and rain, the wagons were badly worn. Fortunately, there had been no casualties, and they finally arrived safely at Bafang City.

"At last, we've arrived! Bafang City truly deserves its reputation as the most prosperous city in the region. It's magnificent!" Jia Yanyong couldn't help but exclaim as he gazed at the towering city walls.

It was his first time here; he had only ever heard tales of Bafang City's splendor but never had the chance to see it with his own eyes.

"How about we head to the pleasure house tomorrow night and listen to some songs? I've heard the women of Bafang City are far more charming than those in Songyi City. They're also more skilled, I hear. Once you've tried Bafang's courtesans, you'll lose all interest in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion back in Songyi City." Xie Jiang chuckled mischievously as he spoke.

"Good idea. I've been wanting to see for myself but never had the chance," said Ning Hui with a grin.

"Lord Lin, will you join us?" asked Jia Yanyong as he turned to Lin Zheyu with a teasing smile.

Back in Songyi City, whenever they visited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, they often invited Lin Zheyu along.

"Sure." Lin Zheyu smiled and said with a nod. "But it'll have to wait a bit. Let's go the day after tomorrow. I need to settle my sister-in-law, uncle, and aunt first."

"Fair enough. We'll need to get our families settled, too," replied Jia Yanyong.

Laughing and chatting, they passed through the city gates into Bafang City. It was a tense period, and Bafang City had tightened its inspections for entry, but the Feihong Gang had made all preparations in advance. With complete documentation, the group smoothly passed the gates and entered the city.

The Feihong Gang had long prepared accommodations for its members. Members could purchase housing at below-market prices or take the gang's subsidy to find their own places.

"Uncle, will you be finding your own place, or would you prefer to buy one of the houses provided by the Feihong Gang? I can let you have my internal allotment," said Lin Zheyu with a smile. He did not plan to stay long in Bafang City and thus chose to rent a small courtyard instead of buying a house.

"We'll find a place to live on our own. For now, we'll just find somewhere temporary to settle. Once Tianshu joins the City Guard, we'll make further plans," replied Han Mo's family.

"Alright, I'll come along then. I'm also planning to rent a place for the time being," replied Lin Zheyu.

With his bundle slung over his shoulder, Lin Zheyu joined them as they headed to the housing rental and sales district. With the rebel armies advancing, waves of refugees had flooded into Bafang City, causing the housing market to skyrocket. Prices fluctuated daily, having tripled in just over a year.

Lin Zheyu and Senior Brother Han Mo's family each rented a small courtyard, costing a staggering 980 wen per month. It was an outrageous sum and was more than what an ordinary person could earn in a month. But to Lin Zheyu, it wasn't much of a burden.

"From now on, you two will be the backbone of the Han Family. If you encounter anything you can't handle, come find me. Don't worry about troubling me or trying to solve everything on your own. I won't be staying in Bafang City for long, so make sure to get familiar with the city and settle down while I'm still here," said Lin Zheyu earnestly to the two brothers, Han Tianshu and Han Tianmin.

One was sixteen, the other fifteen, both nearly adults. Thanks to Senior Brother Han Mo's strict upbringing, both were sensible and dependable.

"Yes, Uncle Lin. Thank you for your guidance and care throughout the journey," said the two brothers sincerely.

"Alright, go handle your matters. Tianmin, make sure to study the Toxicology Codex whenever you have time. If you come across anything you don't understand, write it down and I'll answer your questions every two days." Lin Zheyu turned to Han Tianmin as he spoke.

"Yes! Thank you, Uncle Lin," replied Han Tianmin with a nod.

"Alright, you two can head back now. I need to tidy up my place as well," said Lin Zheyu.

After the two left, Lin Zheyu stepped into his rented courtyard. The courtyard was newly built, and everything inside was fresh and clean. A few flowers and shrubs grew in the yard, their white blossoms giving off a faint, refreshing fragrance.

After putting away his clean clothes inside the house, Lin Zheyu took some silver and headed out. He had run out of the herbs used for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction and needed to replenish his supply.

Before leaving, he circulated the Tortoise Breath Grand Method, controlling the muscles on his face to make subtle adjustments. In just a short moment, the handsome young man's face gained a few faint wrinkles, gradually transforming into that of a man in his forties. His facial structure shifted slightly, becoming broader and more defined.

A faint but imposing aura emanated from him, completely altering his presence, so much so that even those closest to him would fail to recognize him. He looked like an entirely different person.

This ability was something he gained after cultivating the Tortoise Breath Grand Method to the Perfection of the third stage. It wasn't as miraculous as those tales that spoke of complete transformations, as he could only make minor facial alterations. Still, it was more than enough.

With precise adjustments and a change in demeanor, even the most familiar faces would only think they resembled each other, never suspecting they were the same person.

Lin Zheyu looked into a bronze mirror and saw the reflection of a man in his forties staring back. There was a hint of domineering wildness between the man's brows; it was a stark contrast to the calm and refined aura Lin Zheyu usually displayed.

"With this face, even if I appeared right before Jia Yanyong and the others, they wouldn't recognize me," murmured Lin Zheyu to himself as he studied his reflection.

After confirming there were no flaws, Lin Zheyu leapt lightly, vaulting over the wall from the back courtyard. He emerged from a narrow alley onto a wide street.

Bafang City was unlike Songyi City; it was much larger and far grander in scale. Its layout was also distinct, with main roads wide enough for trading caravans to pass through with ease. Markets and shops of every kind lined the streets, and commerce thrived everywhere.

As he walked along the bustling street, there was no sign of the looming war or foreign invasion that threatened the land. Such troubles still felt distant to the common folk here. Vendors continued calling out cheerfully to sell their goods, while children played in circles, pretending to be warriors, generals, and kings. Ladies and young girls lingered in perfume shops, fabric stores, and jewelry boutiques, laughing softly as they browsed through the displays.

"There are far more martial halls here than I expected," Lin Zheyu remarked in surprise.

As he walked along the streets, he saw martial halls everywhere. It was a sight rare in Songyi City. In Songyi City, most people learned martial techniques passed down through their families or by taking a master to study under. Others gained access to martial techniques by joining certain factions and pledging their service.

During his time in Songyi City, Lin Zheyu had hardly seen any reputable martial halls. Most of them only taught basic martial forms, and their business was poor. That was largely due to Songyi City's weak economy.

Most of its common folk were poor yet stable. Without the means or opportunity to suddenly grow wealthy, they simply couldn't afford to train in martial arts. Those who could afford martial training already possessed inherited family techniques.

But in Bafang City, where merchants constantly came and went, some ordinary people struck fortune overnight, giving rise to a wave of martial aspirations, and countless halls sprang up to teach them.

The martial culture here is strong. I wonder if I can find a technique that cultivates blood qi to the Dragon Transformation,

thought Lin Zheyu to himself.

If he couldn't find one that helped its user reach the Dragon Transformation, then even a technique capable of helping its user advance to the sixth transformation would suffice. If he found such a technique, he wouldn't mind staying longer in Bafang City to strengthen himself before heading to the Central Plains. Instead of searching for techniques immediately, he strolled around the city, planning to buy herbs first and enhance his strength before anything else.