Chapter 47: Invitation

Time passed slowly, and several days went by. Xing Jinglong did not come to provoke him again, leaving Lin Zheyu to enjoy some peace. If not for the declining business at the teahouse and the rising prices in the city, life would have been even more comfortable.

It had been a long time since Lin Zheyu last went to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, but he could not resist Jia Yanyong and the others' warm invitations. Later, on the second-floor viewing stage of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, the group sat together listening to songs, watching dances, and chatting idly.

"Brother Lin, how was it? Isn't Miss Zhong especially delightful?" asked Xie Jiang as he leaned over with a mischievous grin.

This form of address had completely stuck. Even Jia Yanyong and the others started calling him Brother Lin, leaving Lin Zheyu utterly speechless.

You call me Brother Lin, and I call you Brother Xie or Brother Jia. Each calls the other as he pleases; it's not a big deal.

"Enough, you buffoon. Brother Lin is a scholar. How could he discuss such matters with you in public? Have you no shame?" said Ning Hui with a laugh.

Lin Zheyu simply smiled faintly and said nothing.

The Hundred Flowers Pavilion... It's indeed a fine place,

thought Lin Zheyu.

On the stage below, the songstresses sang with soft, enchanting voices that tugged at the heart. The dancers wore revealing silks, and their slender waists swayed gracefully. Their fair skin glimmered in and out of sight, a sight pleasing to behold. As they drank and admired the beauty of the dancers' performance, a maidservant approached.

"Which gentleman is Young Master Lin Zheyu? Young Master Xu over there requests your presence," asked the maid.

"Young Master Xu? Which Young Master Xu?" asked Lin Zheyu curiously.

In Songyi City, aside from Leader Xu, he did not know any other Young Master Xu.

"It is Young Master Xu Qinyi," said the maid softly. Her voice was pleasant, carrying a hint of delicateness.

"It's him!" exclaimed Xie Jiang.

"You know him?" asked Lin Zheyu, looking at him.

"Of course I do. Young Master Xu Qinyi is Leader Xu's youngest son. I've heard that among the younger generation of the Xu Family, Young Master Xu is the most gifted. He has already reached the Organ Forging Realm at the age of fifteen. In the future, he may even have the chance to break into the Marrow Refining Realm."

Xie Jiang explained, then looked curiously at Lin Zheyu, wondering why Xu Qinyi had invited him.

"Hurry along, then. Since Young Master Xu has invited you, don't keep him waiting," Jia Yanyong urged, giving Lin Zheyu a push.

Lin Zheyu rose to his feet and followed the maid across to the opposite side of the second floor. When he entered Young Master Xu's private room, he saw three young men inside, and he knew none of them. The private room was well-situated, offering a close and perfect angle to admire the dancers on stage.

"

Haha

, Brother Lin has arrived. I've long heard of you," said one of them with a laugh.

"Come, have a seat here." The young master seated in the middle stood and invited Lin Zheyu to sit.

"I am Lin Zheyu. Greetings to you all," said Lin Zheyu as he clasped his fists and gave the group a polite bow.

Apart from Xu Qinyi, the other two appeared rather indifferent, but Lin Zheyu did not mind. He had little to do with these wealthy young masters and hardly knew any of them.

"My father has mentioned you, saying you possess extraordinary talent. With diligent training, you may one day become a formidable expert of the Blood Qi Realm," said Xu Qinyi with a smile.

At the mention of a Blood Qi Realm expert, the other two could not help but glance at him.

"Come, let me make introductions. This is Young Master Chen Xihong of the Chen Family, and this is Young Master Ren Qingfeng of the Ren Family. They are allied with my Xu Family. We are all on the same side," said Xu Qinyi with a smile, gesturing to the two beside him.

Hearing the name Ren Qingfeng of the Ren Family, Lin Zheyu could not help but take a closer look. Upon closer inspection, the young man's features bore a striking resemblance to Miss Ren Qingying. It was likely they were siblings.

"I am Lin Zheyu. I greet Young Master Chen and Young Master Ren," said Lin Zheyu, cupping his hands toward the two in greeting.

"Brother Lin, what level is your strength now?" Chen Xihong could not resist asking.

Having just heard Xu Qinyi say this man had the potential for the Blood Qi Realm, they could not help but grow curious. A warrior of the Blood Qi Realm ranked among the strongest in all of Songyi City. Within their families, those at the Blood Qi Realm were considered pillars of strength.

"I’m barely at the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm, nothing impressive enough for you gentlemen," said Lin Zheyu modestly.

He used the Tortoise Breath Grand Method to conceal his Blood Qi Realm strength, revealing only the strength of the Bone Forging Realm.

Hearing this, Chen Xihong's face showed faint disdain, his words perfunctory as he said, "Not bad at all. Brother Lin has already reached the Bone Forging Realm at such a young age; his future is promising."

What was the Bone Forging Realm worth? In their esteemed families, any direct heir was refined with precious medicines from childhood. By the age of twelve, they could all reach the Bone Forging Realm. Ren Qingfeng had been about to speak, but after hearing this, he swallowed his words and busied himself with admiring the dancers instead.

Seeing the looks on their faces, Xu Qinyi immediately explained further, knowing what they must be thinking. "

Haha,

you two are unaware. Brother Lin was previously a scholar, focused solely on the civil exams. He only began training in martial arts after arriving in Songyi City. He has been training for less than three months."

The two turned their gazes back to Lin Zheyu upon hearing these words. A look of surprise appeared on their faces. If it was truly as Xu Qinyi claimed, then it was indeed extraordinary.

"Brother Lin, did you ever temper your body with medicinal baths in your youth?" asked Ren Qingfeng.

"No. Since childhood, I have only studied the classics to pursue the civil exams. I had never practiced martial techniques nor tempered my body with medicinal baths," replied Lin Zheyu.

The two swallowed involuntarily, their gazes toward Lin Zheyu filled with astonishment.

Without having tempered his body with precious medicines since childhood, without a prepared foundation, he still managed to reach the Bone Forging Realm in just over two months! Such aptitude and comprehension are truly terrifying.

"Admirable! Brother Lin's aptitude can only be called extraordinary!" exclaimed Ren Qingfeng as he cupped his hands toward Lin Zheyu in admiration.

As members of esteemed families, they knew well the difference between reaching the Bone Forging Realm through the tempering of precious medicines and achieving it through one's own effort.

Though they themselves had reached the peak of the Bone Forging Realm at an early age, it was only through relying on medicines. At best, they could reach the peak of the Organ Forging Realm in the future, and that would be their limit.

But Lin Zheyu was different. Without ever undergoing medicinal baths to temper his body and lay a foundation, he had still managed to reach the Bone Forging Realm within two months. This showed just how formidable his comprehension and aptitude were.

Only with astonishing comprehension, grasping the essence of martial cultivation, could one achieve twice the results with half the effort and reach the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm in just a few months.

"Young Master Ren overpraises me," replied Lin Zheyu in a humble tone.

"

Haha

, no need for modesty. Come, let me toast Brother Lin to apologize for my earlier slight," said Chen Xihong with a smile, raising his cup.

Lin Zheyu raised his cup, tapped it lightly, and drained it in one go.

"I, too, shall toast Brother Lin. Please," said Ren Qingfeng. He likewise lifted his cup to toast Lin Zheyu.

After a few cups of wine, the atmosphere in the private room improved considerably. They chatted about gossip among the esteemed families and the latest news regarding the rebel army, which Lin Zheyu listened to with great interest.

"Our Ren Family had been preparing to flee, but later we heard that the rebel army had begun building camps and had halted their advance. My grandfather then gave up the idea of running and decided to wait and see for a while longer," said Ren Qingfeng.

No wonder he had not seen Ren Qingying distributing porridge outside the city earlier. At the time, Lin Zheyu had thought the Ren Family had already slipped away.

"Now that winter has set in, with the bitter cold, the rebel army will likely rest and recuperate for a while. With this buffer of time, the Great Wei court will be able to gather its strength and send an army to suppress them, so most likely it will not affect Songyi City," said Xu Qinyi with a smile.