Chapter 248: Rewards (II)

"This is unacceptable. It is far too valuable," replied Lin Zheyu, looking at the silver note and the talisman token in his hand. He had not expected the other party to offer such a generous reward.

Li Mengxi shook his head before saying, "Young Master Yu, you don't need to stand on ceremony. My elder sister's life is far more precious than this small amount of silver and a talisman token."

"Then, many thanks, Young Master Mengxi," said Lin Zheyu, cupping his hands in thanks. It seemed that doing more good deeds in the future could be quite rewarding if one saved the right person.

"By the way, Yu Zhe is presumably not your real name, is it?" Li Mengxi said with a smile. "I hope you do not take offense. Since this concerns my elder sister, we looked into your background a little."

Over these two days, they sent people to investigate Lin Zheyu's background and dug out his identity as Zhao Hao. At the same time, they ruled out the suspicion that he might be in league with that group of black clothed men.

"This is nothing that cannot see the light of day. Yu Zhe is indeed just my alias. Human hearts are treacherous, and my strength is merely average. Fearing that I might provoke enemies, I can only travel the Martial World under an assumed name," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"May I know your real name?" Li Mengxi asked curiously.

"You may simply call me Zhao Hao," Lin Zheyu replied.

Hearing this, Li Mengxi was somewhat speechless. One could tell at a glance that this name was also an alias. However, he immediately burst into laughter and said, "Then, I shall call you Brother Zhao."

"Brother Zhao, your strength is quite impressive. May I ask where you come from and how old you are?" Li Mengxi asked.

From Li Mengqi's account, he had gained a general understanding of Lin Zheyu's strength. He knew that this man's lightness technique and movement techniques were astonishingly formidable and that his overall defense was extremely powerful. Even Tang Weizhong of the Tang Family was unable to deal with him despite using secret techniques. A powerhouse of this level would be of great use if recruited. However, to recruit someone, one first had to understand their background. Otherwise, if a spy from an enemy faction were brought in, the consequences would be severe.

"I come from a small village outside Beirong City in the northern lands. Having encountered a bottleneck on the path of Martial cultivation, I have been traveling about in search of an opportunity to break through. As for my age, I am already well into my fifties. My current appearance is merely a disguise. The identity of Zhao Hao represents my true appearance," Lin Zheyu said with a smile. He deliberately stated an older age so as not to stand out too much.

"So that is how it is," Li Mengxi said with a smile.

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

He knew that Lin Zheyu was lying. He also believed that Lin Zheyu knew that he knew it was a lie. However, the two of them tacitly chose not to expose it. Since the other party did not wish to speak, there was no need to force the matter. In any case, Zhao Hao was his elder sister's lifesaving benefactor. As long as he did nothing detrimental to the Li Family, there was no need to probe further.

"Then, Brother Zhao, you should seize this opportunity at Heavenly Blade Peak well. If you can gain insights from the saber intent, it will be of considerable help to your advancement into the Force Transformation realm," Li Mengxi continued.

He regarded Lin Zheyu as a Marrow Refining realm martial artist. The strength and physique Lin Zheyu displayed both fit within the scope of the Marrow Refining realm. Coupled with his use of the Tortoise Breath Grand Method to conceal his aura, it would be difficult to discover that he was only at the Blood Qi realm without careful inspection.

"My purpose in coming to Wuling City this time was precisely for the saber intent on Heavenly Blade Peak. Unfortunately, because of the Ink Fox I was raising, I attracted a great deal of trouble and was forced to flee into the deep mountains to avoid disaster." Lin Zheyu sighed somewhat helplessly. He had only just arrived in the Central Plains and already offended the Pei Family of Ruyang City. Now there was also the Tang Family to contend with.

"The Ink Fox has extremely strong latent potential. Once it grows, its strength is comparable to a peak Marrow Refining realm martial artist. Most importantly, its intelligence rivals that of humans, and it can be tamed as a pet. Many esteemed families like to raise Ink Foxes. Once fully grown, they are excellent guardians of the household.

"However, this type of ferocious beast has great difficulty reproducing. Tamed Ink Foxes are almost unable to produce offspring, which makes them extremely rare. Every single one that appears can be sold for a very high price. If you need it, I can help you arrange an Ink Fox travel permit so that you can raise that Ink Fox within the city," Li Mengxi said.

He made an inviting gesture and led Lin Zheyu to the bonfire. There, the maids had already prepared a lavish spread of food and wine.

"No need. Having already offended the Tang Family and the Pei Family of Ruyang City, keeping that Ink Fox by my side would be far too conspicuous and would only bring more trouble," Lin Zheyu shook his head and said. "Many thanks for your kindness."

"Come, I will toast you." Li Mengxi raised his cup toward Lin Zheyu and proposed with a smile. "Brother Zhao, you're so strong. Have you considered joining a certain faction? If you do not mind, the Li Family can serve as your backing. At that time, the Tang Family and the Pei Family would not dare act recklessly."

"For now, I have no such plans. I am accustomed to a leisurely life and enjoy wandering about, living freely and without restraints. Thank you, Young Master Mengxi. I will return the toast," Lin Zheyu declined Li Mengxi's recruitment and raised his cup with a smile.

An esteemed family like the Li Family could not possibly recruit a martial artist of unknown origins, even if he were Li Mengqi's lifesaving benefactor. The Li Family had not fallen so low as to accept martial artists of unclear background. Joining the Li Family, just like joining any other sect, required a thorough verification of identity to ensure there was no disguise involved.

As soon as Lin Zheyu underwent an identity check, he would be exposed. Not only would the Zhao Hao alias be revealed, but even his original identity would be laid bare. He had lived in Wuling City under his original identity for some time and even became friends with Wang Jing. Through Wang Jing's invitation letter, he obtained a fragment of the Primordial Origin Technique at the Li Family auction. Although his appearance and name matched his original ones, he had fabricated his background, making it so that he came from a destroyed village in the northern lands.

This place was extremely far from Bafang City, so under normal circumstances, his identity would not be exposed. But if his original appearance were revealed here, he would be completely exposed. Once the Zhao Hao identity was linked with his original identity, and people were sent to investigate Bafang City, everything would be laid bare. A martial artist who had trained for less than three years, was eighteen years old, and yet was comparable to the Marrow Refining realm, would likely be seized by the Li Family and locked up for study.

"Everyone has their own aspirations. Roaming freely and living without restraints is the pursuit of many people. Come, I will toast Brother Zhao once more," said Li Mengxi as he laughed heartily and did not continue trying to recruit Lin Zheyu.

Since recruitment was not possible, becoming friends was also good. Having a friend with astonishing lightness and movement techniques would be very convenient when dealing with future troubles. After several rounds of wine, the two became much more familiar. Unlike his sister, Li Mengxi was very talkative, chatting about various interesting anecdotes from esteemed families.

"I wonder if you have any troubles that cannot be resolved. Within my capabilities, that talisman token can be exchanged for one opportunity for me to step in and resolve it for you," Li Mengxi suddenly said with a smile.

"Anything at all?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

"It must be within my capabilities," Li Mengxi replied.

He was also worried that Lin Zheyu might make an excessive request, so he deliberately added the condition of appropriateness and feasibility. As for what counted as appropriate and what lay within his capabilities, that was up to him to decide.

"Would it be possible to exchange it for a true technique?" Lin Zheyu asked.

Only techniques that contained true intent diagrams and could be cultivated to the Grandmaster realm were worthy of being called true techniques. The techniques Lin Zheyu had learned could at most be cultivated to the Blood Qi realm, and he was not very familiar with the cultivation beyond that stage. If he could obtain a true technique, he would not need to rush into joining any sect.

"

Oh?

Well, I suppose that a true technique would not be impossible." Li Mengxi was slightly taken aback, but still pondered this request carefully.

True techniques also varied in strength. Some powerful true techniques were priceless and could not be bought, no matter how much silver one offered. Others of lesser quality could be purchased for only tens of thousands of taels. The reason he deliberated for so long was that he was considering what kind of true technique to give Lin Zheyu. The Li Family ran auctions and possessed many true techniques of varying value. If he gave something inferior whose value did not even reach 100,000 taels, it would be an insult to the condition he had agreed to. In Li Mengxi's view, the condition he promised was far more valuable than the additional 100,000 taels of silver.

"I wonder what techniques you specialize in and what kind of force you have comprehended," Li Mengxi asked after a moment of contemplation.