Chapter 325: Journey to Julu

The day was bright and clear, the azure sky washed, the warm sun poured down, dispelling the lingering chill of the morning.

In Zhang Fei's vast manor, Yu Lin was comfortably lying on a self‑made lounge chair, which now emitted a pleasant creak with each slight sway.

His eyes were half‑closed, looking lazy, fully enjoying this rare leisurely sunbath.

Just then, a footstep clamor came from outside the courtyard gate, mixed with a hint of resigned chatter.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei entered, their faces bearing the fatigue and worry of unsuccessful recruitment.

"Although we have recruited a few village militia, all sincere, the numbers are still too few and the weapons and armor insufficient…" Liu Bei sighed lightly, his brows tinged with sorrow.

Guan Yu stroked his beard and mused, "Brother's words are spot on; the Yellow Turban forces are strong now, and with our current strength we fear we can achieve little."

Zhang Fei, already impatient with the slow progress, was fuming when he looked up and saw Yu Lin lying there as if nothing mattered, basking in the sun, and his temper flared instantly.

He rushed a few steps to the lounge chair, stretched out his Palm Fan‑sized hand, his voice bitter as iron that won't become steel, and tried to yank Yu Lin's arm:

"Fourth brother! Your idle loafing is unbecoming! While I and our elder brothers are out hustling, you hide here in leisure! A man born in chaotic times should …"

As he spoke, he pulled hard, expecting to easily yank the "delicate Scholar" Yu Lin from the chair, but the pull felt as if his arm were dragging a rooted mountain! Yu Lin remained steady on the chair, barely moving.

Zhang Fei's eyes widened like a leopard's, full of astonishment, and instinctively he added more force, yet the chair would not budge a hair.

He stared at Yu Lin in disbelief, blurted out, "Fourth brother, you look like a delicate Scholar, yet your strength surpasses even me, Lao Zhang?!"

Yu Lin finally rose slowly from the chair, facing the three stunned sworn brothers, and grinned:

"Because I am a Qi‑refining practitioner."

Zhang Fei, hearing this, instinctively nodded and continued, "Oh, so you're a Qi‑refining practitioner, no wonder… Even as a Qi‑refining practitioner you shouldn't be so idle! A man …"

His words abruptly halted, his mind seeming to finally process the information, his eyes widened larger than a bronze bell, his voice suddenly rose, filled with disbelief:

"Huh?! Qi‑refining practitioner?!"

Not only him, Liu Bei and Guan Yu beside him also reacted instantly, their faces simultaneously showing extreme shock.

Liu Bei hurried forward, staring tightly at Yu Lin, his voice trembling with excitement: "Fourth brother, is what you say true? You… you truly are the Qi‑refining practitioner who can Summon Wind and Rain, command spirits?"

Guan Yu's crimson phoenix eyes sharpened, and in a deep voice he said, "Fourth brother, this matter is no trivial matter; do not deceive your second brother."

Yu Lin gave no further explanation, merely smiled faintly, raised his hand and gently waved toward the peach tree in the courtyard corner.

As if an invisible breeze brushed by, or a subtle force guided it, a thumb‑thick, well‑shaped branch from the peach tree fell soundlessly, landing precisely before the three.

Silence speaks louder than sound.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stared at the branch that seemed to have fallen from nowhere, then at Yu Lin's serene demeanor, and their doubts vanished, leaving only immense joy and indescribable excitement!

Liu Bei inhaled deeply, lunged forward a step, his hands gripping Yu Lin's arm tightly, his eyes blazing, his tone unusually sincere and even a bit "rascal‑like": "Fourth brother! On that day at Taoyuan we swore, sharing blessings and bearing hardships together!"

He paused, then said astonishingly, "Otherwise, if you become the elder brother, I'll gladly be the fourth brother! Fourth brother… no, elder brother! Elder brother, you must look after the younger brothers!"

Faced with undeniable proof, Guan Yu's usual unflappable composure vanished, and regarding the Qi‑refining practitioner's cultivation method, especially one taught by sworn brothers, there was no trace of arrogance left.

He also stepped forward, his crimson phoenix eyes full of solemnity, clasped his fists toward Yu Lin, his voice deep and steady: "Elder brother's words are absolutely correct! Fourth brother, we brothers …"

Seeing this, Zhang Fei's mind heated up, unsure how to express his sky‑splitting joy, so he knelt on one knee, raised his fist, his voice booming like a great bell:

"I feel the same!"

Yu Lin, seeing this, couldn't help but laugh, rose and pulled the still‑kneeling Zhang Fei up, patting his sturdy arm, and said, "Why the theatrics, brothers? Since we swore at Taoyuan, becoming sworn brothers of different surnames, sharing fate, I will hold no secret, and will never shortchange my own brothers."

He scanned the excited Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, then turned, walked toward the house, and casually waved as he went, "Come, come, the outside isn't a place for talking. Follow me inside; we'll learn slowly, teach slowly."

Liu, Guan and Zhang, hearing this, did not hesitate and immediately followed him inside.

Half a month passed in a flash.

Inside Zhang Fei's manor, a deep, muffled boom suddenly erupted, startling a few sparrows under the eaves.

Immediately after came Zhang Fei's thunder‑like shout, "Ah—good! Lao Zhang has become!"

In the courtyard, Zhang Fei, still in a punching stance, saw the solid Wooden Dummy used for training shatter before his fist, turning into a litter of broken wood on the ground.

His whole body surged with Qi and blood, faint currents of air subtly swirling, clearly indicating his first glimpse of the Qi‑refining path.

Not far away, Guan Yu, waist bent on horseback, sliced the air with his great sword, a visible teal Blade Aura arcing like a new moon, silently cleaving another Wooden Dummy in two, the cut surface smooth as a mirror.

He stroked his beard, standing, his crimson phoenix eyes holding restrained brilliance, his aura more refined and lingering than half a month ago.

On the other side, Liu Bei let out a low shout, a faint white sheen flashing from his palm edge, seemingly lightly tapping the Wooden Dummy's head; with a crisp "crack", the dummy's head fell off, rolling on the ground.

He withdrew his palm and stood, not as spectacular as Guan or Zhang, yet his precise control over power revealed his meticulous mind.

Yu Lin stood behind them, hands clasped behind his back, watching the cultivation results of the three sworn brothers over the past half month, nodding slightly, his expression satisfied: "Not bad. Drawing Qi into the body, tempering sinews and bones, the three brothers have now entered the Qi‑refining gate. From now on, follow the method, practice diligently without cease, contemplate slowly, and your cultivation will deepen day by day."

His tone was calm, with a hint of entrustment: "Do not be impatient; the path of cultivation values perseverance, haste leads to failure. Henceforth, proceed slowly …"

The three, hearing this, turned together, faced Yu Lin, and with solemn expressions bowed deeply.

Liu Bei said sincerely, "Our progress today is all thanks to the fourth brother's bestowed method!"

Guan Yu solemnly replied, "Preaching and teaching, this favor is as heavy as a mountain!"

Zhang Fei, his voice like a great bell, added, "Fourth brother, Lao Zhang isn't one for flowery words; in short, thank you!"

However, the most perceptive Liu Bei, from Yu Lin's calm words, keenly sensed an unusual nuance, not mere encouragement but a parting instruction and entrustment.

A strange emotion rose in him; he lifted his head, gazed directly at Yu Lin, a barely perceptible tension in his eyes, and asked, "Fourth brother, hearing you say that… are you leaving, and where are you going?"

Yu Lin looked at Liu Bei, then at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, whose faces also showed concern, smiled faintly, and said calmly, "Hmm, elder brother guessed correctly."

"I'm going to Julu to meet that Great Sage Benevolent Master who stirs the winds and clouds."

He paused, his gaze seeming to reach the distance, his voice still calm: "I will be in Julu, awaiting the brothers."

"Farewell."

The words barely left his mouth before Liu, Guan and Zhang could react, and Yu Lin's figure suddenly blurred before their eyes, then vanished like thin mist blown by a gentle wind, silently disappearing without a trace.

The courtyard fell into silence for a moment.

Zhang Fei stared blankly for a moment, then stamped his foot hard, the ground seeming to tremble, and growled, "We promised to work together on great deeds! How could he run off first?!"

He whirled toward Liu Bei and Guan Yu, urgently asking, "Elder brother! Second brother! When shall we enlist, set out to find the fourth brother?"

Guan Yu's hand on his beard paused briefly, his deep voice saying, "The fourth brother goes ahead; there must be a deeper meaning."

"How could we keep him waiting?"

"Elder brother, what do you say?"

Liu Bei inhaled deeply, flung his sleeves aside, and strode out of the courtyard:

"Today!"