Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

Dawn was breaking.

Tucked between two high bluestone walls, the Old Woodshed was a bit of an eyesore.

The old Gatekeeper from next door tiptoed out, a wooden bucket in hand, and approached the Woodshed’s entrance.

He grimaced and rubbed his belly, which was clearly still in agony. Muttering curses, he raised his hand, intending to splash the filth from the bucket all over the door.

"You dare take a lover! And you have the gall to hit me!"

Neighborhood revenge rarely turned fatal, but it was guaranteed to make someone’s life miserable.

Especially for a widow with no man in the house to stand up for her. A few visits like this every day, and it wouldn’t be long before she couldn’t live on this street anymore.

SPLOOSH!

Just as the old man lifted his hand, he was grabbed by the scruff of his neck like a chick.

The foul mixture in the bucket didn’t fly; instead, it splashed all over him.

"Let go of me!"

The old codger’s yellow-stained beard trembled violently as he whipped his head around.

His eyes met a fair, handsome face creased with a smile.

But his pupils constricted as if he had seen a demon. His hands trembled, and he nearly dropped the wooden bucket.

The mere sight of that familiar face made the Gatekeeper’s stomach ache all over again.

"Mas-Master Fox... I was possessed! Spare my life!"

This time, however, he didn’t dare to curse out loud. Instead, his legs went weak, and as Lin Shu let go, he collapsed to his knees with a THUD.

Word had already spread through the neighborhood: the scoundrel carrying on with the little widow was from the Black Water Gang, a man who had killed three people and never been caught.

The courtyard gate creaked open.

Hearing the commotion, Miss Yun came out to see.

She saw at a glance what mischief the old Gatekeeper was up to, but she wasn’t angry. Instead, she looked at the young man with pleasant surprise, clearly not expecting him back so soon.

"Thank you, Lord Lin. Please, come in."

"..."

After such a long day, Lin Shu had no interest in scaring the old codger any further.

He dusted off his sleeves and strode into the courtyard.

Compared to "Master Fox," Lin Shu much preferred the little widow’s title of "Lord."

’It made him sound respectable.’

"I’ve already cleaned this cloak and was waiting for you to return." Miss Yun brought out the neatly folded White Fur Cloak from inside.

"This one I’m wearing needs washing too. Get a clean set of clothes ready for me as well."

Lin Shu stretched and walked straight into the side room.

He gave orders as he walked, as if he owned the place.

Miss Yun followed behind with small steps, nodding obediently. "Alright."

’She never seemed to care about the gossip.’

And so, a strangely harmonious atmosphere formed between them.

One was blunt, the other compliant. They didn’t seem at all like two people who had just met.

"Oh, and get some good meat. I’ll eat when I wake up."

Lin Shu took off his shirt and tossed a piece of silver onto the table.

’Money in your pocket certainly gives you confidence.’

"..."

Miss Yun clutched the clothes to her chest. She looked at the dried bloodstains, then glanced at the piece of silver.

A trace of sadness welled up in her eyes.

This city was just like the "Black Water" in its name, a turbulent current that swiftly corrupted everyone.

Miss Yun sighed to herself. Though she had anticipated it, she still hadn’t imagined... that her benefactor would adapt to his role in the Black Water Gang so quickly.

In just one night, he had blended right in with the pack of foxes.

"Please get some rest. I’ll go make preparations."

"Go on."

After the little widow left the room, Lin Shu lay down lazily on the bed.

’Perhaps the deeper one waded through the mire, the more one yearned for cleanliness.’

He had always kept his work and life strictly separate.

The Woodshed might be run-down and the bed planks a bit hard, but lying here gave Lin Shu a sense of security.

He closed his eyes, planning to review the Immortal Technique in his mind a few more times before sleeping.

After all, it was his only means of self-defense against those Cultivators and Martial Artists.

Lin Shu’s breathing gradually steadied.

The image of a lone wolf’s back slowly formed in his mind.

It had a powerful build and smooth, silvery-white fur, and it stood atop a lonely peak.

The next moment, a sky-blotting Full Moon rose from below the peak. It was dark and emitted a deep RUMBLE, rising until the White Wolf was silhouetted right in its center.

’What’s happening?’

Lin Shu could already feel the cutting edge of the Moon Wheel, but it lacked a certain effortless flow.

An incongruous aura was constantly interfering with the Immortal Technique’s operation.

Just then, the White Wolf suddenly turned its head, its nose twitching slightly.

And Lin Shu found himself doing the same.

Empowered by the Fog enveloping his body, he finally pinpointed the disruptive aura!

’What is that?!’

The dark moon and the White Wolf shattered.

Lin Shu shot up and grabbed at it, unwilling to let the aura slip away.

Two wisps of Cyan Qi landed in his palm.

[Half-Life Immortal. Immortal Body not yet condensed.]

Lin Shu stared blankly at the prompt, quickly realizing what had happened.

A flash of delight crossed his eyes.

’The Immortal Relics I was just discussing with Old Yang... did I really just stumble across one so randomly?’

But the Spiritual Light he had captured wasn’t enough to make this member of the Immortal Family manifest.

’Not this... not this either.’

Lin Shu frantically grabbed at nearby objects—the pillow, the quilt—and even peered under the bed.

The little widow’s home was practically bare. With only a few items visible at a glance, none of them carried the aura from before.

He sat back down on the bed and closed his eyes, intending to search for it again.

After some time, beads of sweat formed on Lin Shu’s forehead. He opened his palm; there was now one more wisp of Cyan Qi.

He looked out the window in silence.

The auras were scattered, drifting throughout the entire courtyard, with no focal point to track.

To put it simply... ’If there really is an Immortal Relic here, then it has to be the Old Woodshed itself.’

Lin Shu averted his gaze, pondered for a moment, and slowly took out two jade coins.

’Who says you can’t feed something just because it doesn’t have a mouth?’

He decisively pressed the jade coins in his hand into the three wisps of Cyan Qi.

[Consumed two Merit Coins. Immortal Body not yet formed.]

The Cyan Qi swirled together. Two of the wisps gradually unfurled, transforming into a pair of blurry wings before the changes stopped.

’Immortal chicken wings?’

Lin Shu suddenly felt a little hungry.

Although he hadn’t managed to fully materialize this member of the Immortal Family, at least his Merit Coins now had a use.

’And I don’t have to pin all my hopes on that pup.’

’Feeding two members of the Immortal Family at once should greatly increase the chances of one spitting out an Inner Technique.’

’Besides, this Old Woodshed isn’t going anywhere, so there’s no need to rush.’

"Is the food back?"

Lin Shu walked out of the room and glanced at the sky. It was already afternoon.

"It’s all on the table for you."

Miss Yun was squatting, vigorously scrubbing clothes in a washbasin.

The posture accentuated the already full curves of her voluptuous figure.

Seeing Lin Shu emerge, the little widow tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and said respectfully, "There’s also a clean set of clothes on the stool over there."

"Not bad."

Lin Shu walked over to the small table in the courtyard and sat. On it was hot stewed meat and a small pot of yellow wine.

Next to them was a pile of copper coins with a slip of paper underneath, on which the prices of the wine and meat were meticulously recorded.

He glanced at the delicate handwriting, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat heartily.

Chewing the stewed meat, Lin Shu took a swig of wine and asked casually, "Is this courtyard for sale?"

"Hm?"

As if she hadn’t understood the probing nature of his question, Miss Yun looked up and smiled shyly. "I’m not qualified to sell this courtyard, but Lord Lin saved us. You can stay for as long as you like."

"..."

Lin Shu’s expression remained calm, but a strange look flickered in his eyes.

On the night Liu San died, he’d already found the little widow’s behavior odd. That, combined with the Immortal’s aura in the courtyard, made it hard not to let his imagination run wild.

’Whatever. As long as it doesn’t stop me from getting the Cyan Qi, the rest is none of my damn business.’

"Fine. Consider the remaining coins rent."

Finishing the food and wine in a few quick bites, Lin Shu put down his chopsticks and stood up.

He threw on the clean clothes and walked briskly out of the courtyard gate.

Tracking down the Immortal Aura had taken too much time. It was getting late.

A night had passed.

The Hongyun Martial Arts Hall should be making its move by now.