Chapter 27: Joining (I)

Lin Zheyu, Xie Jiang, Jia Yanyong, and Ning Hui drank until past eight in the evening. Lin Zheyu was finally able to stumble out early due to other matters. On the way to Master Liang’s house, he let out a drunken hiccup. When he had tried to leave earlier, Jia Yanyong and the others wouldn’t allow it, instead forcing him to down several big bowls of strong liquor before letting him go.

Knock, knock.

He knocked lightly on Master Liang’s door, and it opened quickly. He entered the door and saw that under the moonlight, on the stone table in the courtyard, a few small dishes and a pot of wine remained. Liang Song had been sitting alone in the courtyard drinking.

"You reek of liquor. Seems you drank quite a bit, eh? Drink this bowl and sober up," said Liang Song.

"Thank you, Master," said Lin Zheyu. He took the bowl and caught a strong medicinal scent.

"Apologies, Master. I was delayed by some matters tonight and came a bit late," he said with a look of remorse.

"It’s no matter. Being able to join the Feihong Gang and having some protection in Songyi City is also a good thing," said Liang Song with a smile.

After drinking the sobering soup, Lin Zheyu felt much more refreshed. After resting a while, he went into the courtyard and began practicing the Golden Goose Technique. He practiced for about an hour and a half, working up a sweat, until the last traces of alcohol completely faded.

Seeing that Lin Zheyu had mostly sobered up, Liang Song said, "Rest a bit. Later, we’ll trade a few moves."

After a short rest, the two walked into the courtyard and began sparring. With the experience from last night’s sparring, Lin Zheyu lasted a bit longer today.

Bang, bang, bang.

The sound of fists and palms clashing echoed through the courtyard. Liang Song restrained his strength to match Lin Zheyu’s level, even holding back slightly more. Yet even so, Lin Zheyu was still effortlessly crushed by Liang Song.

The vast gap in combat experience and awareness made Lin Zheyu realize that martial cultivation strength truly did not equal combat ability. A true martial expert could easily challenge above their level and still emerge victorious. After barely holding on for over a dozen exchanges, Lin Zheyu was sent flying by a single kick from Liang Song.

"Haha, not bad. You’ve improved a lot compared to yesterday," said Liang Song with a smile.

Lin Zheyu rubbed his chest, the spot where Liang Song’s kick had landed, burning with pain. Liang Song’s strength had reached the Blood Qi Realm, so his bones were as hard as iron. Kicked by his master, Lin Zheyu felt as if he had been struck by an iron hammer.

"Again!" shouted Lin Zheyu.

With a resolute gaze, he pushed off with his feet and shot toward Liang Song. Master Liang’s primary cultivation technique was the Golden Goose Technique, and Lin Zheyu had learned many combat applications of the art from him.

As the battle went on, Lin Zheyu’s progress in the Golden Goose Technique advanced rapidly, and he began incorporating its movement techniques into combat. Facing the experienced Master Liang, Lin Zheyu shifted strategies, relying on the Golden Goose Technique’s agile movements to circle around Liang Song.

"Heh! I’ve already played that move to death," muttered Liang Song. Seeing Lin Zheyu shifting positions quickly, he chuckled and suddenly kicked backward at an angle, fast as lightning.

Bang!

Caught off guard while moving, Lin Zheyu was struck on the shoulder and sent flying once again. Lin Zheyu didn't know what to say. He was simply exhausted.

He sorely missed the feeling of sparring with Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang earlier in the day. Lin Zheyu and his master sparred until late into the night, each match ending with Lin Zheyu being kicked away. Under Master Liang’s tempering, Lin Zheyu’s combat awareness began to grow, and he lasted longer and longer against him. By the end, he was even able to launch a few counterattacks.

***

Morning.

After a full night’s rest, Lin Zheyu had mostly recovered. The medicine Liang Song had given worked wonders. He applied it to the bruised areas, and by the next morning, they had nearly healed.

He arrived early at Liang Song’s courtyard. Under Liang Song’s guidance, Lin Zheyu trained for more than three hours, finally reaching Initiation in the Golden Goose Technique.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 6]

[Skills: Barbaric Ox Fist (Competence: 3%), Golden Goose Technique (Initiation: 2%)]

Finally, Initiation. My progress reached 2% in just one morning. At this rate, I’ll probably reach the second stage in about a month,

thought Lin Zheyu.

With the foundation laid by the Barbaric Ox Fist, his progress in the Golden Goose Technique advanced much faster in the early stages.

His muscles were now full and firm, his tendons tough and resilient. The first stage of the Golden Goose Technique mainly trained the body’s muscles and tendons. Once he finished strengthening the leg muscles and tendons, he could advance to the second stage. Once he reached the second stage, his progress would inevitably slow down.

After bidding farewell to his master at around nine o’clock, Lin Zheyu headed to the Feihong Tower. At No. 28 Tongquan Street, Lin Zheyu stepped into the Feihong Tower, finding it rather quiet inside.

"Mister Lin, you’ve arrived. This way, please," said a man who stepped out and led Lin Zheyu inside. "The leader has instructed that once you arrive, I am to bring you to the back courtyard to meet him. He will personally assign your position."

Following the man through a maze of winding corridors and passing a scenic pond and pavilion, Lin Zheyu finally arrived at a courtyard. In the courtyard stood a small stage, where Leader Xu was leisurely watching an opera performance.

So this is the simple, unpretentious life of the wealthy.

Lin Zheyu sighed with a trace of envy in his heart.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He toiled endlessly just to earn a few taels of silver, while others could casually listen to music, watch plays, stroll through pleasure houses, and earn hundreds or even thousands of taels with ease.

"You’re here. Sit. This play is quite good, so you should sit and listen too," said Xu Jingwu with a smile.

Lin Zheyu sat down beside Xu Jingwu and idly sampled the delicacies on the table. Xu Jingwu knew how to enjoy life; just the refreshments for listening to opera probably cost several taels of silver.

Lin Zheyu ate while occasionally listening to the opera. He couldn’t quite appreciate opera; in his previous life, the abundance of entertainment had left him uninterested in such classical performances. Yet as he listened, he gradually began to sense the charm of opera.

After one play ended, Xu Jingwu finally spoke of business.

"There isn’t much work in the gang; we mainly just maintain order within the Feihong Gang’s territory. On the surface, order in the city is managed by the authorities. But due to a lack of manpower, they delegate it to the various gangs. If trouble breaks out in our territory and causes public outrage, the authorities will hold us accountable immediately," said Xu Jingwu, outlining the Feihong Gang’s main responsibilities to Lin Zheyu.

From Xu Jingwu’s words, Lin Zheyu finally understood how Songyi City operated. The authorities controlled the gangs, while the gangs maintained order within the city. There were three major gangs in Songyi City, with the Feihong Gang being the largest.

These gangs were jointly funded by the esteemed families and wealthy merchants, divided into three interest groups that balanced and contended with one another. Xu Jingwu came from the Xu Family, and he was the younger brother of its current head. The three gangs kept each other in check, maintaining order in the city while preventing unchecked abuse of power.

"From now on, you’ll be with Jia Yanyong and Xie Jiang, forming a three-man squad under Qiu Gaoxuan’s lead, and will temporarily be in charge of the streets around Baiwei Street. Later on, you’ll also be assigned to guard important places like the mines for a time, but it’ll be on rotation," said Xu Jingwu.

"Alright," replied Lin Zheyu with a nod.

The neighborhoods around Baiwei Street were well-ordered, with almost no disturbances. It was an easy task.

"I have high hopes for you. I heard from Jia Yanyong that you haven’t been training long, yet you’ve already attained this level of strength. Your natural talent and comprehension are impressive. Work hard, and once you make more contributions, the rewards will be plentiful," said Xu Jingwu with a smile, patting Lin Zheyu on the shoulder.

"Thank you, Leader Xu, for your confidence in me," replied Lin Zheyu.