Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

Time passed.

After the new year, Songyi City bustled with life, regaining a trace of its former prosperity. The poor visited relatives and friends to scrape through the year, while the wealthy indulged in food, drink, shopping, and entertainment.

Lin Zheyu spent most of his time in the courtyard, practicing martial arts, reading, and studying the Toxicology Codex. Occasionally, when Jia Yanyong and the others came to invite him out for fun, he would join them.

In the past few days, his progress in studying the Toxicology Codex had been slow. He had spent over 20 taels of silver to purchase many of the herbs listed in the Toxicology Codex for his research. During his previous trip to the black market, he earned over 200 taels of silver, raising his savings to 364 taels of silver. That much would likely be enough to last for a while.

Three days quickly slipped by. At dawn, Lin Zheyu rose early, practiced the Tortoise Breath Grand Method, and, as usual, sat in the courtyard to study the Toxicology Codex. Various poisons and poison powders were arranged neatly on the table.

After more than two hours, knocking echoed through the courtyard.

Knock, knock, knock.

Who would come looking for me so early? wondered Lin Zheyu.

He stored the Toxicology Codex in a hidden compartment inside the house, tidied away the poisons and poison powders on the table, circulated the Tortoise Breath Grand Method to conceal his aura, and then went to open the door.

Outside stood a man dressed in a servant’s attire. The man respectfully handed him an invitation. ”Young Master Lin, this is your invitation. Young Master Xu invites you to gather at Funing Garden this afternoon.”

”Alright.” Lin Zheyu accepted the invitation. The invitation had been sent by Xu Qinyi, who mentioned that he had gathered a few friends for a meeting at Funing Garden.

Could it be that they want to pair me with Xu Yuxiang again? thought Lin Zheyu to himself. He had no feelings for Xu Yuxiang and planned to refuse if it came to that. He put away the invitation and resumed studying the Toxicology Codex.

***

Afternoon.

At Funing Garden, within Xinghua Garden. Xu Yuxiang and Ren Qingying sat together by an artificial rock formation.

”Yuxiang, Young Master Lin is handsome, and his martial cultivation talent is exceptional. Why don’t you like him?” asked Ren Qingying curiously. She and Xu Yuxiang were close sisters in spirit, sharing an excellent relationship in daily life.

”What’s so good about him? His looks don’t compare to Young Master Chen Xiqiang; his strength is only at the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm, and he has no family background. Of what use is high talent? Can it be eaten as food?

”The rebel army may attack in just a few months. Do you think he can reach the Organ Forging Realm in such a short time?” Xu Yuxiang snorted and said, ”If he truly manages to cultivate to the Organ Forging Realm within such a short time, I might consider marrying him.”

After the last incident, she had been severely scolded by her father and her second uncle. Being summoned again for this gathering left her annoyed, but she had no way to refuse.

”You’re dreaming. How could such a thing ever happen? Even setting months aside, if he reaches the Organ Forging Realm within a year, such talent would be beyond imagination. With such natural talent, he could have any woman he wants. Why would it ever fall to you?” said Ren Qingying with a smile.

She had a good impression of Lin Zheyu, who always spoke with courtesy and carried himself with humility. Though he lacked a family background, that did not matter to her. As a direct descendant of the Ren Family, such things were never in short supply for her.

”Sister Qingying, why do you keep speaking up for him? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to him?” said Xu Yuxiang, blinking and looking at Ren Qingying.

”No, I just think he’s a decent person. That doesn’t count as liking him,” replied Ren Qingying with a shake of her head.

”Sister Qingying, isn’t there a sparring session this afternoon? Cousin Qinyi and the others plan to test Young Master Lin’s martial progress. I’ve arranged for someone to give him a little surprise, hehe,” said Xu Yuxiang with a giggle, her face brimming with smug delight.

She wanted to embarrass him. Wasn’t he supposed to be extraordinarily talented? If he lost too quickly and too easily, it would surely damage his pride.

”Nonsense. If your father and Leader Xu learn of this, you’ll be punished again,” said Ren Qingying.

”This isn’t nonsense. It’s just a normal sparring match. How could that be considered making trouble?” replied Xu Yuxiang carelessly.

The two strolled through Xinghua Garden, admiring the flowers and gossiping. Among the young masters of esteemed families, small gatherings like this were often held. Some would invite opera troupes to perform for entertainment, while others played small games with friends, drinking and feasting together.

When Lin Zheyu arrived at Funing Garden, he noticed that the gathering was small. It was just Xu Qinyi and a few others, with Xu Yuxiang and Ren Qingying also present.

After three rounds of wine. Xu Qinyi suggested, ”Brother Lin, we’ve known each other for so long, yet I’ve never witnessed your strength. How about a spar?”

”Alright!” Lin Zheyu nodded. He knew this was a test of his strength, a way to gauge his progress and to see if he was truly as gifted as they believed.

”It’s finally starting!”

At the side, Xu Yuxiang was brimming with excitement. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Before Xu Qinyi and the others could continue, she said, ”Everyone says Young Master Lin is exceptionally gifted and formidable in strength. I have long wished to see this for myself.

”I have a younger cousin. He just turned 15 after the new year, two years younger than Young Master Lin, yet his strength has already reached the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm, and his combat ability is outstanding. I wonder if Young Master Lin dares to spar with him?”

Xu Yuxiang spoke with a smile, her words courteous and measured, carrying the demeanor of a refined young lady. From the moment they met today, she had behaved much like Ren Qingying, smiling throughout without making things difficult for him. This left Lin Zheyu somewhat surprised.

So this is what she was waiting for! thought Lin Zheyu to himself.

”Are you saying you want Chen Mu to make a move?” asked Xu Qinyi. When he saw Xu Yuxiang nodding with a smile, he couldn’t help but scold, ”Nonsense!”

”It’s only a sparring match. Young Master Lin is two years older than my cousin, so what’s wrong with letting them fight? Or is this Young Master Lin all show and no substance, nothing but a flashy spearhead of tin?” Xu Yuxiang smiled as she retorted, her words dripping with mockery, clearly meant to provoke Lin Zheyu into action.

”You even brought your cousin Chen Mu here?” exclaimed Chen Xihong in surprise.

Chen Mu was a member of the Chen Family, and Xu Yuxiang’s mother was his aunt. Marriages between the three great families of the Feihong Gang had long been commonplace. In terms of martial talent, Chen Mu was a step behind Chen Xihong. But his obsession with training was so extreme that even Chen Xihong felt uneasy about it, calling him practically a madman.

What’s more, Chen Mu was a battle maniac. At 12, he had used family connections to join the City Guard, where he fought alongside the soldiers against bandits outside the city, reveling in bloodshed.

At such a young age, he had already cultivated a terrifying killing intent, one that even Chen Xihong felt intimidated by. The elders of his family held him in high regard, believing that if he lived long enough, he might one day touch upon the Marrow Refining Realm.

”Who is this Chen Mu?” Lin Zheyu quietly asked Ren Qingfeng. He grew curious after seeing everyone’s reaction. This fellow seemed anything but ordinary.

”The Chen Family’s battle maniac, the kind who fights as if his life doesn’t matter. Fighting him means preparing to be seriously injured. Among peers, no one is willing to spar with him,” said Ren Qingfeng.

He had seen Chen Mu fight many times. Each punch of his punches landed with raw force, his fighting style fierce and reckless. It was as if life and death were meaningless to him. Watching him fight was enough to set one’s blood boiling. But that was all. If he had to actually fight Chen Mu himself, it would be impossible.