...
The cramping sensation in his muscles disappeared, and Lin Zheyu planned to continue his martial arts practice.
He was close to pushing his limits; with a bit more effort, he would gain another unit of Source Power.
"What are you doing?"
"Your body is nearing its limit. If you keep training, don't expect to do anything else this afternoon."
Liang Song noticed Lin Zheyu moving to the center of the courtyard and assumed a posture, so he spoke up to remind him.
"It's fine, I'll tell Mr. Wo this afternoon that I won't be storytelling. I'll go over tomorrow."
Lin Zheyu said.
Reaching the limit is beneficial; this is what he wanted. Without reaching the limit, how could he gain Source Power?
"Nonsense!"
"Storytelling is such an important thing; how can you decide not to go?"
"If you don't go, what will I listen to?"
"You need balance in martial arts practice; excessive training is useless. Go back, rest a bit, and focus on preparing for the afternoon storytelling."
Liang Song said.
Kidding, he's enjoying the story immensely, how could he let Lin Zheyu skip storytelling for martial arts practice?
Oh, huh?
Lin Zheyu couldn't help but laugh; no wonder Mr. Liang was so concerned about his health, he just didn't want him to overtrain and delay the afternoon storytelling!
"Yes, Master."
Lin Zheyu replied helplessly.
Looks like he'll have to try breaking through his physical limits in the evening.
"You've learned the Wild Bull Fist well enough; you can practice at home from now on."
"If you have any questions, ask me next time I go to the Bidan Tea House. I might not be home if you come here."
"Also, prepare your storytelling carefully every day. Only by telling a good story can you earn more money."
"With enough silver taels to support you, you can better hone your martial arts skills."
Liang Song said seriously.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master."
...
Returning home, he washed up and changed into a scholar's attire.
He didn't feel particularly tired during the training, but after over an hour of buffering, Lin Zheyu felt sore and powerless, barely able to lift his hands without trembling.
During lunch, when he picked up the bowl, his hands trembled again, and he set it down.
Driven to work hard at first, then declining, finally exhausted.
Lin Zheyu thought it might be difficult to continue training to his physical limit tonight.
"Young master, have you overtrained again?"
Wo Yinghe looked at the stumbling Lin Zheyu and said with a wry smile.
This young man really pushed himself hard.
"I trained for a few hours with Master Liang this morning. My body is a bit tired, but it's okay."
"I really appreciate that, Mr. Wo. Once I've saved enough money, I'll treat you to a trip to Baihua Tower."
Lin Zheyu said with a smile.
After almost a month of hard work on posture training, he passed Master Liang's test and finally learned martial arts.
If not for Mr. Wo's introduction, learning martial arts would have required much more effort and many silver taels.
"You're too kind; I should be the one treating you."
"If not for the young master, how could Bidan Tea House's business be so booming? It's probably surpassed Yixiang Tea House by now."
Mr. Wo said with a laugh, his chubby face crinkling with joy.
Lin Zheyu noticed that Mr. Wo seemed to have gained quite a bit of weight lately, perhaps due to his broad-mindedness and cheerfulness.
"By the way, someone from Yixiang Tea House looked for me last night and offered two hundred and fifty coins a day."
Lin Zheyu said.
He wasn't just speaking offhandedly. Last night, upon returning home, someone from Yixiang Tea House sought him out, hoping to poach him.
Bidan Tea House was getting busier, taking away many customers from Yixiang Tea House. Their Mr. Jia was finally anxious enough to try and poach him.
"Ah!"
"Young master, please don't go to Yixiang Tea House. I can apply to the owner to give you three hundred coins a day."
Mr. Wo said urgently, a bit panicked.
He had indeed noticed Yixiang Tea House's people frequently lingering outside their establishment these days.
As Lin Zheyu's fame spread, many tea house customers came for him, causing Bidan Tea House's business to multiply several times over.
If Lin Zheyu got poached, their tea house's business would return to its previous quiet state.
"Don't worry, I won't go to Yixiang Tea House."
"If it weren't for you giving me a chance, I wouldn't be here today."
"But Mr. Wo, keep your word—it's settled at three hundred coins."
Lin Zheyu laughed and hobbled over to the storytelling platform.
He believed in acting with a clear conscience and returning kindness tenfold.
Back when he was down and out, many tea houses turned him away because of his youth and dirty appearance.
Only Mr. Wo patiently chatted with him and thought his stories were good, giving him a chance to try.
Lin Zheyu was grateful to Wo Yinghe.
The reason he mentioned Yixiang Tea House's poaching was just to negotiate a raise for himself.
...
Soon, another afternoon passed.
The audience's cheers were louder than usual.
Master Liang also rewarded him with fifty coins, still his number one supporter.
"Master, why did you reward so much?"
Lin Zheyu sat across from Liang Song with a jug of wine.
"I rewarded you because you told the story well. If you hadn't, I'd have scolded you."
"This time you did a good job; I'm very satisfied."
"Tell more stories about heroes like Yan Chixia and Mr. Zuo. We martial artists should fight demons and injustices and bring peace to the world!"
Liang Song said with a smile, enjoying Lin Zheyu's storytelling.
"Master, are there really monsters in this world?"
"And if you cultivate marital arts to a high level, can you really defeat demons?"
Lin Zheyu asked curiously.
In his past memories, he'd often heard about strange tales and legends of ghosts and monsters.
But they were always hearsay, like something that happened to a friend's aunt's neighbor's cousin's mother-in-law. He had never experienced it firsthand.
"Yes, there are monsters in this world, but not as exaggerated as your stories."
"Hearing you speak so vividly, I thought you'd really seen them."
Liang Song laughed: "This world is vast, full of unknowns. As your status and strength rise, you'll gradually encounter them."
"Ah!"
"So there really are!"
Lin Zheyu was taken aback, feeling a subtle sense of crisis.
"Don't worry, if the sky falls, there'll be taller people to hold it up."
"As long as Great Wei stands, those monsters won't dare cause trouble in the city."
"Although, in this world, people aren't necessarily kinder than monsters!" Liang Song sighed and fell silent.
Lin Zheyu didn't disturb the atmosphere and quietly drank with his master.
After a long while, seeing that his master seemed to have calmed down, he continued to ask: "Then, Master, if one cultivates martial arts deeply, can it really handle those demons?"
"Yes, why not?"
Liang Song replied firmly: "Just like Mr. Zuo in your story, if you cultivate martial arts well enough, you'll fear no monsters!"
'But Mr. Zuo was eventually defeated,' Lin Zheyu thought, but he didn't dare speak out.
He respected his master greatly.
After enjoying the scenery and exchanging martial art knowledge with Master Liang, Lin Zheyu left.
Initially, he wanted to stay longer, but Master Liang seemed a bit annoyed.
Liang Song was somewhat of a recluse, who normally liked sitting by the window alone, watching the scenery and observing the passersby.
...