CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: ALL FEAR COMES FROM INSUFFICIENT FIREPOWER

...

The medicinal potency still had some surplus, and Lin Zheyu did not waste it.

’Use 1 unit of Source Power to enhance Golden Swan Skill.’

The thought was transmitted, and 1 unit of Source Power was reduced.

The cultivation progress of the Golden Swan Skill began to rapidly jump.

Lin Zheyu’s spirit plunged into a special state.

He seemed to be in an indescribable space, where he had only one thought, and that was to practice the Golden Swan Skill!

He practiced over and over again, tirelessly, like a madman.

The progress was rapidly jumping, 40%... 60%... 100%, in an instant, it broke through to the second layer and continued to improve.

It only stopped when it reached 24% in the second layer.

Mysterious energy surged from the depths of the cells, starting to nourish and transform Lin Zheyu’s body, mainly concentrating on his two legs.

He felt that the tendons and muscles of his legs became increasingly firm and powerful, his fascia strengthened, and his bone density rapidly increased, becoming harder and more explosive.

[Heaven rewards diligence]

Name: Lin Zheyu

Source Power: 2

Skills:

Wild Bull Fist (Proficient 4%)

Golden Swan Skill (Second Layer 24%)

Turtle Breath Skill (Third Layer 0%)

"Reached the second layer, Bone Refining Realm."

Lin Zheyu opened his eyes and stretched his muscles and bones, feeling no deficiency in Qi Blood.

His body was no longer as hot as before, and the medicinal power in the soup was nearly consumed, leaving just a bit.

"The Blood-Nourishing and Bone-Strengthening Soup is indeed extraordinary."

Lin Zheyu thought to himself, planning to use this prescription in the future as it was not only potent but also convenient.

Only 2 units of Source Power were left, so he couldn’t elevate the Golden Swan Skill to the third layer.

That wasn’t urgent either.

Although he had the Turtle Breath Skill to conceal his strength, the usage and comprehension of the Golden Swan Skill could not be easily faked and would naturally show in real combat.

In the coming days, he would go to Mr. Liang’s house daily for real combat training with Senior Brother Han Mo.

Gradually improving could be attributed to remarkable insight, rapidly enhanced through daily combat.

...

Three days later.

On the way to the Bidan Tea House, every household was setting off firecrackers and worshipping the deities.

Crackle—

Firecrackers went off in succession, children frolicked and played joyfully.

"On the third day, worship the Kitchen God, on the fourth, sweep the house, on the fifth, steam buns, on the sixth, slaughter pigs..."

"There’s pork to eat..."

They chased and played while singing proverbs.

Watching the familiar scene before him, Lin Zheyu couldn’t help but think of his childhood in his past life.

At that time, he was carefree and as happy as these children.

Upon arriving at the Bidan Tea House, Lin Zheyu curiously asked, "Mr. Wo, what day is it today? Why is everyone setting off firecrackers and worshiping gods?"

"Today is the day to worship the True Monarch of the Kitchen God and Fate. Doesn’t your family worship the gods?"

Mr. Wo said matter-of-factly, but soon realized that Lin Zheyu was a refugee who had been separated from his family and friends while fleeing.

"Sorry, I spoke too quickly," Mr. Wo apologized.

"No problem."

Lin Zheyu waved his hand and said, "Worship the True Monarch of the Kitchen God and Fate, no wonder it’s so lively today."

This world is very similar to the previous life in many ways.

Worshipping the True Monarch of the Kitchen God and Fate could ward off disasters, exorcise evil, and bless the family with safety, abundance, and prosperity in the coming year.

Besides the Kitchen God, there were also the Door God, Earth God, Bed God, Well God, Toilet God, River God... Ugh... Water God, and so on.

In the Great Wei, the power structure is quite interesting, valuing not the divine right of kings but rather the divine grant of kingship, with all deities conferred by the emperor.

Just like the Kitchen God, whose full title is the Celestial Venerable of Yellow Heaven, Fate, Blessing, and Virtue, is the deity overseeing the palace chefs.

The emperor’s ancestor, on the other hand, is the Supreme Emperor of the Yellow Heaven, abbreviated as the Yellow Heaven Emperor.

In this world, the emperor is not the son of heaven; the emperor is heaven itself!

"There are much fewer people today!"

Lin Zheyu looked at the guests in the tea house, noticeably fewer than before.

"There’s nothing we can do. Anyi City has already fallen, and more and more people are worried it will affect us here in Songyi City," Mr. Wo sighed.

Recently, because of the increasing number of bandits outside the city, the cost of caravan passage has risen, causing the prices in the city to rise accordingly.

If not for Han Mo and the city guards occasionally going out to eliminate bandits and ensure the safety of the trade routes, the prices would have soared long ago.

In recent days, even the storytellers who come to buy content from Lin Zheyu have become fewer because people no longer tip them.

Everyone is poor, starting to save and economize.

...

There were still about half an hour until storytelling time.

Lin Zheyu went over to chat casually with Jia Yanrong and others.

Having joined the Feihong Gang for some time now, Lin Zheyu had become familiar with them.

During the chat, Mr. Wo also joined in.

"Mr. Wo, please, have a seat."

Upon seeing Mr. Wo, Lin Zheyu invited him to sit down.

With fewer guests, the smile on Wo Yinghe’s face had disappeared quite a bit, often replaced by a look of worry.

"Times are hard, and who knows when it will end," Mr. Wo sighed.

The increasing number of bandits outside the city had already barred all refugees from entering the city.

Previously, educated people and skilled workers were still allowed to enter the city for work, but now all are forbidden.

"More and more people are pouring in from other cities, and it’s getting a bit chaotic in the city. Just yesterday, there were three conflict incidents on Hundred Flavors Street."

Xie Jiang said, the city’s order had become chaotic due to widespread fear.

Even though the Feihong Gang was maintaining order and handling conflict incidents, they still occurred from time to time.

With order disrupted, business became difficult, protection fees couldn’t be collected, and their days in the future wouldn’t be easy.

The group ordered some dishes and drank a little wine to pass the time.

At this point, Mr. Wo spoke mysteriously, "Have you heard? Something happened at Qinghe Mountain."

"The Qinghe Mountain belonging to the Nine-Star Gang?" Lin Zheyu asked.

In this period, he had also learned more about the city’s powers.

Qinghe Mountain is a coal mining mountain with abundant coal resources, belonging to the Nine-Star Gang’s territory.

The Nine-Star Gang, composed of several major families, distributed revenue from coal mining according to prearranged agreements among the families.

"Yes, it’s exactly the Nine-Star Gang’s."

"Come on, tell us what big event happened."

Jia Yanrong was intrigued, rejoicing at the misfortune of the Nine-Star Gang.

Earlier, he had a conflict with people from the Nine-Star Gang and was slashed on the neck during a fight, which took a long while to heal.

"I heard there’s been some supernatural event at Qinghe Mountain; people vanished without a trace."

"Someone saw the spirit of a deceased coworker wandering the camp, scared half to death."

"Many men who went into the cave to mine have been scared into fleeing, including quite a few from the Wo Family Manor," reported Wo Yinghe dramatically.

Fortunately, no one from the Wo Family Manor died this time, or else they’d have taken people over to cause a commotion.

"Pff, I thought bandits had invaded."

"What’s strange about a supernatural event? In these coal and iron mines, there are all sorts of things underground, and during digging, it’s not uncommon to uncover something inauspicious."

"What’s so peculiar about this?" Jia Yanrong scoffed, dismissing it.

"Indeed, nothing much."

"In the past, when I went to guard the mountain, I encountered even eerier events than this."

"When encountering it, don’t panic. Just blast a few rounds with explosives, and there won’t be any problem." Xie Jiang added.

The Feihong Gang also had its own mines, and their members took turns guarding them to prevent bandits and other powers from causing trouble.

In the wilderness, encountering such events isn’t uncommon.

It’s only people like Mr. Wo, who have stayed in the city for years, who would find it surprising.

Lin Zheyu couldn’t help but be speechless at this.

He’d just gotten interested, but listening to Jia Yanrong and the others, he suddenly lost interest.

Indeed, all fear stems from insufficient firepower.