Chapter 22: Teaching Cultivation

When Yu Lin arrived at Liu Bang's home, it was afternoon.

He pushed open the creaking wooden door and saw a young woman washing clothes by the well.

It must be Liu Bang's wife—Lv Zhi.

Hearing the noise, she looked up and saw Liu Bang returning with people, and her brows immediately knit.

"Liu Ji!" she flicked the Water Droplets from her hand, her tone unfriendly: "The rice jar at home is almost empty, and you still..........."

Before she could finish, she suddenly stopped.

The stranger before her wore a long robe, with a clear and handsome face, and an air of otherworldliness in every gesture.

What surprised her even more was that her usually lax husband now stood respectfully behind the man, even bowing his waist slightly.

Seeing this, Liu Bang hurried forward: "Madam, this is Mr. Yu, my master!"

Before Lv Zhi could speak, Liu Taigong, leaning on a cane, stepped out from the inner room.

The elder squinted, examining Yu Lin, a flash of sharp light in his cloudy eyes: "Who is this gentleman?"

"Father!" Liu Bang, seeing him emerge, became even more excited and laughed:

"My master can use the Immortal Method! That day I saw with my own eyes........"

"Silence!" Lv Zhi glared at her husband, and when she turned to Yu Lin, her expression had become respectful:

"Please excuse me, sir, my humble home is simple........"

Yu Lin gave a slight smile: "No problem."

"I've never cared about such things."

At that moment, a boy of about five or six ran out of the house—it was Liu Ying.

Before Liu Bang and Lv Zhi could react, he ran to Yu Lin's front, tugging curiously at Yu Lin's robe:

"Brother, do you really know the Immortal Method?"

It seemed as if he heard his father's words.

"Ying'er!" Lv Zhi hurried to pull the child back.

Yu Lin, however, had already crouched down and, as if performing a trick, produced a handful of candies from his sleeve:

"Want a taste?"

Liu Ying took it with surprise, popped one into his mouth, and his eyes instantly brightened:

"So sweet!"

Lv Zhi and Liu Taigong exchanged a glance, each seeing shock in the other's eyes.

Only then did they notice that Yu Lin's robe was spotless, standing out in the dusty countryside.

Liu Bang puffed out his chest proudly: "How is it? I didn't lie to you, right? My master can indeed........."

"Then quickly invite the gentleman inside!" Liu Taigong suddenly tapped the ground with his cane, cutting off his son's words.

Turning, he bowed deeply to Yu Lin: "My mischievous son, you have not abandoned me..."

"No problem, no problem, please rise quickly, elder." Yu Lin helped the elder up, his gaze sweeping over the modest farmhouse courtyard.

"I have come to teach Liu Ji some cultivation methods; if possible later, please do not disturb."

Hearing this.

Liu Taigong and Lv Zhi hurriedly nodded:

"Yes, yes, certainly!"

"Sir, rest assured."

Then,

Lv Zhi walked toward the kitchen: "Sir, please wait a moment, I will prepare some water."

Liu Taigong, meanwhile, led Liu Ying to sit beside him.

Yu Lin and Liu Bang came to the open area in the courtyard.

"What would you like to learn?" Yu Lin stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering lightly in the wind.

Liu Bang rubbed his hands, a cunning sparkle in his eyes: "Whatever master teaches, disciple will learn. However........"

He lowered his voice: "If I could choose, I would learn Longevity and the world‑invincible Immortal Method!"

Yu Lin's mouth twitched imperceptibly.

You think you're Sun Wukong or what?

He cleared his throat lightly: "I cannot achieve either of those."

Seeing Liu Bang's disappointed expression, Yu Lin picked up a wooden stick:

"Today I'll first teach you a set of Lian Qi Method."

"Watch closely"

The wooden stick carved deep marks into the compacted earth, ancient simple characters gradually appearing one by one.

Liu Bang leaned in to examine; he wrote one and recited it.

Until the whole passage was displayed.

"Memorize it," Yu Lin tossed the stick aside.

Liu Bang stroked his beard, his eyes scanning the characters back and forth.

In less than two passes, he recited it aloud perfectly, without a single error.

Such memory, one could say, is beyond that of ordinary people!

Yu Lin raised an eyebrow: "Good memory."

"Sit down, I will let you feel the presence of 'Qi'."

"Yes!" Liu Bang, over forty, moved surprisingly agilely, and in an instant sat upright like a clock.

Yu Lin sat cross‑legged behind him, his palms lightly pressed against his back:

"Close your eyes, calm your mind."

As Yu Lin infused Qi.

Liu Bang's brows twitched slightly, and fine sweat seeped from the corners of his forehead.

Suddenly, his whole body shivered: "Heat... it's like a little snake is slithering inside the body!"

"Continue." Yu Lin resumed his cultivation.

During the third guidance, Liu Bang let out a long sigh, and a fresh breeze seemed to flow through his pores.

"Master!" Liu Bang opened his eyes, his face full of surprise: "I think... I've grasped it!"

"Qi is everywhere! With just a little guidance, it can enter the body!"

"How profound!"

"Not bad." Yu Lin nodded without expression, yet was astonished inside.

To achieve drawing Qi into the body in just three attempts, it's unclear whether Liu Bang's insight is extraordinary or he benefited from the abundant Qi here.

He ignored it.

The faster Liu Bang cultivates, the quicker his task is completed.

"Remember this feeling," Yu Lin stood up.

"You keep cultivating until you can no longer stop."

Liu Bang nodded: "Yes."

He closed his eyes, like a person long parched suddenly finding water, eagerly drawing the Qi of heaven and earth into his body, turning it into his own Qi!

Yu Lin then moved to the side and sat down.

He turned his head to glance.

At this moment, Liu Ying, licking a candy, will later become the second emperor of the Han Empire; and Lv Zhi, busy now, will eventually become the first Empress in Chinese history to rule in the court.

And.

The tiny figure standing at the windowsill of the room.

It must be the Princess Lu Yuan, whose name is unknown to history, who was taken onto the carriage with Liu Bang during his flight, and later pushed off together with Liu Ying to lighten the cart's weight.

Liu Bang showed a bit of paternal affection, but not much.

A small place, yet it produces so many talents, truly...

Yu Lin could only describe it with his ability—

Miracle.

At this moment.

Lv Zhi carried a coarse ceramic water cup out of the kitchen, stepped lightly to Yu Lin's side, and offered it with both hands:

"Sir, please have some water."

"Thank you," Yu Lin took a shallow sip; the water temperature was just right.

Lv Zhi suddenly bowed deeply, the wooden hairpin in her bun glinting faintly in the sunset:

"Thank you, sir, for taking him as a disciple. He has always... been wayward; to receive your guidance is truly... a three‑life blessing!"

"Madam need not be so," Yu Lin pretended to support her:

"I help him, and I help myself as well."

Lv Zhi straightened up, her brows slightly furrowed.

Those words seemed to carry deeper meaning, yet remained inscrutable.

It could only be let go.

She added, "Sir, if you don't mind, would you stay for dinner?"

"I'll go out to buy some meat and treat you, sir."

"No need," Yu Lin smiled, interrupting, and pointed at Liu Bang:

"Later I'll go out of the city with him to catch some game and bring it back."

"Yesterday he ate so much his mouth was dripping with oil."