Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

’Something feels off.’

Chang Yi gripped his half-drawn longsword, frozen in a daze.

A moment later, he abruptly turned to look at Lin Shu, his already dark face flushing a deep red.

’Do these disciples from Hongyun Martial Arts Hall think I’m here to back up this old fox?’

’I’ve been played again!’

Chang Yi resentfully shoved his longsword back into its sheath.

The only reason he hadn’t slept all night, standing here like a wooden post, was because he was worried the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall would show up and escalate things.

Of course, there were other reasons, too.

For example...

Chang Yi believed that a fox like him certainly deserved to be arrested. Based on the things they did, even a public execution wouldn’t be excessive.

But he shouldn’t have to die for killing a beast like Zhang Ci.

"..."

Lin Shu retracted his gaze, glancing at the charcoal-faced constable.

He hadn’t expected this, either.

Despite his earlier, deliberate taunts meant to drive the man away, he had still chosen to wade into these muddy waters.

’It makes sense, though.’

’This junior constable looks to be only fifteen or sixteen, and he can’t have been wearing this black uniform for more than half a month.’

’When you’re young, you tend to have a stubborn streak in your heart.’

"Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not here to protect you."

Chang Yi snorted coldly and averted his gaze.

Despite his words, he showed no intention of leaving. "Those men weren’t wrong. I have official duties. I can’t stand guard over Cyan Willow Lane day and night."

"Master Zhang of the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall had only one son. Now that he’s dead, he’s bound to come for your life."

Chang Yi forced his expression to become even colder. "Don’t blame me for not giving you a chance. It’s not too late to come back to the Government Office with me."

It was clearly a matter of life and death.

Yet that old fox was inexplicably calm.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Lord Official, but I’ll pass." Lin Shu waved his hand, rejecting him outright.

"Why?" Chang Yi’s brows furrowed in confusion.

He couldn’t understand.

’Has this fox committed so many crimes that going to the Government Office would be a death sentence anyway?’

’But even that would be better than falling into the hands of the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall and dying after who knows what kind of torture.’

Besides, taking him back to the Government Office was just the official line.

What he really wanted to ask was why this fox didn’t just go into hiding instead of returning to Cyan Willow Lane to provoke those brutes.

Faced with the question, Lin Shu wore an odd expression and retorted, "If the men from the Martial Arts Hall can’t catch me, will they just give up?"

"Well..."

Chang Yi faltered, glancing at the two people beside Lin Shu.

The answer was, of course, no.

After all, Zhang Ci had died in the Magpie’s Nest. Even if the Martial Arts Hall couldn’t catch Lin Shu right away, they would never let go of anyone else involved.

"No, they won’t," Chang Yi said, shaking his head.

"There you have it."

Lin Shu raised an eyebrow, speaking nonchalantly. "They use the money they earn selling their bodies to honor me, and what? After I cause all this trouble, I just turn tail and run?"

As he spoke, a flicker of disdain crossed his handsome face. "That would be too damn low. Master Lin can’t afford to lose that much face."

As his words fell,

The three people beside him fell silent.

Old Yang and Jin Gui stiffly raised their heads to look at the roguish young man.

His methods were vicious, his words direct and crude.

Yet, for some reason, their hearts trembled.

Jin Gui was even more moved. Although Master Lin kept saying he was the one who caused the trouble, last night’s incident had clearly started because of her.

In the end, it was Zhang Ci who refused to back down and tried to kill her, forcing Master Lin to take his life.

"..."

Chang Yi wracked his brain but never would have expected such a reason.

This didn’t fit his impression of a Cunning Fox Hall member at all.

How could those treacherous, cunning foxes—who bullied the weak and feared the strong—possibly risk their own lives over something like face?

Especially not a veteran like this one.

"Suit yourself."

Chang Yi gave him a cold look and sighed inwardly.

According to his seniors’ teachings, he should never have gotten involved in this filthy dog-eat-dog business in the first place.

Although he inexplicably felt this man named Lin was different from the other foxes.

But that was all.

He just hoped the man wouldn’t regret it when the Martial Arts Hall truly began its revenge.

With that thought, the charcoal-faced junior constable slung his longsword over his shoulder and left Cyan Willow Lane.

"Are you all right?"

Lin Shu looked at the cripple beside him.

"I-I’m fine."

Old Yang shook his head vigorously.

’What could happen to me?’

’I got used to being slapped around back in the South Suburbs.’

Besides, those Martial Artists had been wary of the constable nearby and hadn’t dared to hit him with any real force.

But Lin Shu’s earlier slam had shattered that man’s cheekbone, right in front of a Lord Official!

Old Yang was truly worried about Lin Shu.

From what the Lord Official said, it seemed even he couldn’t suppress the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall’s retaliation.

"Good that you’re fine."

Lin Shu started walking, leading the two toward the Magpie’s Nest.

’I brought them here to share in the good times, not to use as human shields.’

Because the constable was present, Lin Shu couldn’t earn any more Sin Coins.

But he wasn’t too disappointed.

Lin Shu was very self-aware. This body of his was neither scholarly nor martial. He could only barely suppress these Martial Artists thanks to the Fog.

To put it bluntly, if he were to face these men in a real, no-holds-barred fight,

he would definitely need to use an Immortal Technique to end it.

The problem was, ever since his Immortal Technique was Promoted, its consumption had become even more terrifying.

Even if he drained himself completely, it was questionable whether he could even use it twice more.

And it was uncertain if the Merit and Sin Coins gained from using it would be enough to replenish his Fog and truly let him cross the threshold of Cultivation.

If not, Lin Shu would revert to being as powerless as his predecessor, who couldn’t even truss a chicken.

Or even worse!

Under these circumstances, it was definitely more worthwhile to wait for some "Big Goods."

"Master Lin!"

Inside the Magpie’s Nest, everyone rose to their feet.

The enthusiasm on Sister Hua’s face far surpassed yesterday’s.

They had witnessed the entire event. As expected of a Master Fox from the Black Water Gang, his network even included a constable from the Government Office!

Much of the worry vanished from the Brothel Madams’ faces.

"Prepare a room."

Lin Shu leisurely walked up to the second floor.

Although he disliked this kind of place and his mind was on the Immortal Aura in the Old Woodshed, the matter with the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall was still unresolved, so it wasn’t convenient to return to the widow’s place for now.

...

The night was murky.

On the dim West City Street, only one establishment was brightly lit.

A red-lacquered plaque hung high above, its characters wild and flamboyant.

Hongyun Martial Arts Hall!

The main hall was filled with disciples, but it was dead silent.

There weren’t many decorations in the hall, just a few pots of green pines placed on either side.

A piece of calligraphy hung on the wall, reading: "Uphold the weak and strike down the strong"!

An old man with white hair and a youthful face sat at the head of the hall, dressed in a simple white tunic and black pants.

His eyelids drooped, his gaze somber, containing both sorrow and a natural, imposing pressure.

This was the master of the Martial Arts Hall, the Grand Martial Artist Zhang Zhongping, whose Cultivation had reached the realm of Inner Strength Release.

"Master, the silver has been delivered!"

"Chief Liu said he can give us half a day."

People continuously hurried in from outside, respectfully reporting news.

Until Zhao Peng, clutching his face, rushed into the hall and fell to his knees with a THUD. "Master, we failed to capture that fox!"

"..."

Zhang Zhongping’s expression didn’t change, as if he had already expected this.

The people from the Cunning Fox Hall were cautious and treacherous by nature. Since he dared to make a move, he must have had a backup plan.

And what he was doing today was systematically cutting off the man’s escape routes.

A large sum of silver had been spent, first and foremost, to handle his connections at the Government Office.

After all, the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall operated legitimately, unlike those desperadoes. They had to follow procedures.

As for what else needed attention...

Zhang Zhongping turned and cupped his fist toward the person beside him. "Congratulations on your promotion, Brother Tian."

"Heh."

A corpulent mountain of flesh was squeezed into a chair, lazily picking at his fingernails.

Tian Jingyuan’s lips curled into a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. "My pleasure."

His attitude was clearly contemptuous.

But Zhang Zhongping’s face showed no change in expression.

When the other man was still a "young wolf" watching over the brothels in Cyan Willow Lane, their strengths were similar, and they treated each other as peers.

But now Tian Jingyuan had broken through to Mid-stage Qi Cultivation, been granted a wolf’s name, and had even been given an entire street as his territory.

The situation had naturally changed.

For Zhang Zhongping to kill someone from the Cunning Fox Hall, he couldn’t bypass the Black Water Gang.

"Look how anxious you are."

Tian Jingyuan picked up the heavy bag of silver from the table. "Relax. As long as the silver is here, our nephew can’t have died for nothing."

He had originally been pondering how to teach that worthless fox a lesson.

He never thought that just two days later, the man would bring a fatal disaster upon himself.

Tian Jingyuan was in a great mood, so he threw in a few extra pieces of information for Zhang Zhongping. "I’ve made some inquiries. That kid is just from some opera troupe in the South Suburbs. It seems they had some internal strife recently, which is why he ran off to West City."

"Seeing as that opera troupe has paid a lot of tribute to the Cunning Fox Hall over the years, they just casually took him in as a fox."

"For a lowly cur like that, as long as I’m willing to say the word."

Tian Jingyuan licked his lips and said smugly, "Putting everything else aside, the Government Office gave you half a day. I, Tian, can afford to give you that much, too. And I guarantee no one will come looking for trouble with the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall afterward."

With that, mockery flooded the fat man’s eyes.

He once thought that worthless fox would soon understand the difference between him and a Fierce Wolf.

Now, it seemed that thought had been unnecessary.