Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

It was named Cyan Willow Lane, but in reality, it was just a dark alley at the junction of the South Suburbs and West City.

A few faded lanterns hung at its entrance, unable to mask the dilapidated air that permeated the entire lane.

This was the poor man’s paradise.

The truly wealthy residents of the city wouldn’t deign to come to a place like this.

"Master Fox, this way."

Little Liuzi wasn’t old, probably just twelve or thirteen. He didn’t have a docile look about him, but the slick sycophancy plastered across his face was already a perfected art.

He carefully led Lin Shu around the muddy puddles, guiding him into the quiet lane.

...

Old Yang’s throat felt dry. He didn’t dare breathe too loudly.

Even now, he couldn’t understand why Lin Shu had been willing to bring him along.

He could only sneak glances at his surroundings, trying hard to conceal his utter discomfort.

"At this time of day, the girls are all resting. It gets much livelier at night."

Little Liuzi looked at the houses with tightly shuttered windows and doors on both sides of the lane, explaining to Lin Shu in a fawning tone, "Our establishment is one of the best brothels in Cyan Willow Lane. The business and income are both pretty good. As for the exact figures, Master Wolf will go over them with you during the handover."

"Master Wolf?" Lin Shu glanced to the side.

"This Master Wolf’s surname is Tian. He was originally a junior member of the Fierce Wolf Hall—a ’wolf cub,’ you could say. He was temporarily assigned to our establishment. Recently, he achieved Great Success with his Divine Skill and broke through to Mid-stage Qi Cultivation. The gang bestowed him a new title, making him a full-fledged Fierce Wolf, and he’s been promoted to another post."

Little Liuzi held nothing back.

Master Wolf might be fierce, but he didn’t have much to do with bottom-feeders like him.

A brothel servant like him could never dream of joining any of the Black Water Gang’s other halls. The Cunning Fox Hall, which had no strict strength requirements, was his only hope.

That’s why it was all the more important for him to latch onto the Master Fox standing before him.

"I see."

Lin Shu gave a slight nod.

He knew why those two "wolves" from before had looked down on him. It was simply because he lacked an Inner Technique and thus couldn’t formally begin Cultivation.

For anyone else, this would be a time to just get by, relying on what little skill they had to eke out a living.

But to Lin Shu, this Inner Technique might be the key to replenishing his Fog—something that was inextricably linked to his very life.

He also wanted more contact with these so-called Cultivators.

"We’re here. Please, right this way."

Little Liuzi stopped before a small, two-story building and gently pushed open the greasy main door.

It was dim inside. A counter stood ahead, and next to it, a ladder led straight to the second floor.

In the corners, makeshift beds of bamboo mats were scattered about, upon which several scantily clad figures lay askew.

Even the arrival of new people didn’t disturb them as they scrambled to get some sleep.

A faint, sour stench, coupled with the rising and falling snores, made it impossible to feel any sort of amorous inclination.

"Ahem."

Nervously, Old Yang kept his eyes fixed straight ahead.

He knew in his heart that this was Lin Shu’s territory from now on.

’A new boss needs to project an air of authority.’

’I absolutely cannot be the reason these girls look down on him.’

The two men followed Little Liuzi to the second floor.

The first thing they saw were seven or eight cramped rooms. Little Liuzi led Lin Shu to one of the doors and stopped.

"Come in."

Hearing their footsteps, a lazy voice drifted out from inside the room.

Little Liuzi obediently backed away from the second floor, while Old Yang waited dutifully by the door.

Lin Shu reached out and pushed the door open.

The first thing he saw was a rather obese, middle-aged figure on the bed, wearing only a green, open-front shirt that left his belly exposed.

"Close the door."

Tian Jingyuan stretched his arms, glancing at the young man at the door with a distinct lack of interest.

He leaned against the corner of the bed, shoved aside the sleeping woman beside him as if rolling over a dead pig, and pulled out a Cyan Jade Pipe to light.

"Let’s cut the crap. I’m leaving today, and there’s something I need to go over with you."

He took a deep drag from the pipe, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. "According to the gang’s rules, you’re supposed to take a twenty-percent cut from this brothel every month. You should know that."

At this, Tian Jingyuan paused. He tapped his pipe on the foot of the bed, then laboriously heaved himself to his feet. "But that’s the gang’s rule. As for me, Master Tian, I take sixty percent. After I’m gone, you’ll continue to take sixty percent on my behalf."

As he spoke, his corpulent body swayed and wobbled toward the door.

...

Lin Shu stood quietly. As the man drew closer, the same sense of danger he had felt before washed over him again.

However, compared to the woman named Yan, the threat this fat man exuded was far less potent.

It was only enough to make Lin Shu’s body tense slightly. Deep down, however, he felt a faint thrill, an excitement at the prospect of enjoying the crisis—even challenging it head-on.

"And—"

Tian Jingyuan casually slapped a slip of paper onto Lin Shu’s chest. "Every month, deliver fifty percent to the address on this note for me, Master Tian. The remaining ten percent is your reward."

"If you dare delay, or if you let this slip to anyone else... heh heh!"

With that, a chill touched the fat man’s lips, his voice laced with an imperious tone that brooked no refusal. "Nod if you understand."

"I think I understand, for the most part."

Lin Shu looked thoughtfully at the slip of paper.

’I’ve kept quiet this whole time just to see what kind of stunt he’s trying to pull.’

’Clearly, this fat man has been treating this place as his own personal piggy bank.’

’And now that he’s being transferred on the gang’s orders, he can’t bear to let it go. He’s desperate for an obedient watchdog to take over.’

"So this is your private coffer,"

Having figured out the reason, Lin Shu let out a soft breath.

He looked up again, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Good that you understand." Seeing that the kid was sensible, Tian Jingyuan nodded in satisfaction.

But just as he prepared to step past him and leave, the expression on his fat face suddenly froze.

CRINKLE, CRUMPLE—

The young man before him closed his fist, crumpling the note into a ball before casually tossing it to the floor.

Lin Shu’s smile vanished. "Not anymore," he said seriously.

’Being sent to watch a brothel was humiliating enough. My salary is supposed to be a twenty-percent cut, but now ten percent is being stolen right out from under me. And on top of that, I have to risk the gang finding out while I collect this guy’s dirty money.’

’If this fat man had been reasonable and maybe promised me something related to an Inner Technique, I might have considered it.’

’But this attitude, like he’s recruiting a dog... tsk tsk.’

"Get lost!"

Lin Shu disgustedly brushed off the spot on his clothes where the man had touched him, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

’This fat man’s business can’t see the light of day.’

’Does he think he can scare me with a few empty threats and take shiny silver right out of my pocket?’

’He must take me for some greenhorn who doesn’t know a thing.’

...

The skin on Tian Jingyuan’s face twitched violently. He never imagined this newcomer would be so arrogant!

His chest heaved violently, the fury finally erupting into a sharp, breathless laugh, the last note drawn out like a eunuch’s shriek.

"Hahaha, you wretched fox! You’re asking for a beating!"

The pipe in his hand began to creak and groan.

"Do you really think this money is that easy to earn? Without Master Tian as your backer, do you, a single fool, think you can keep these bitches safe?"

Once he finished laughing, Tian Jingyuan showed no intention of continuing the squabble.

He shot the kid one last, deep look, then pushed the door open and strode out, leaving only a single, chilling sentence behind.

"Don’t worry. You’ll bring it to me."

’Even if he has to beg everyone and their mother, this wretched fox will find that address and obediently deliver my cut.’

’This was the confidence that came with being a Fierce Wolf!’

With a thunderous THUMP, THUMP, THUMP of heavy footsteps, the corpulent Fierce Wolf nearly collapsed the fragile staircase before swaggering off and leaving Cyan Willow Lane entirely.

The woman on the bed had been jolted awake long ago.

She was so startled she forgot to cover herself with the blanket, staring in terror at Lin Shu’s back.

’For the girls in this brothel, a dispute between two masters from the Black Water Gang was absolutely not a good thing.’

’She had never seen anyone dare to speak to Master Tian like that.’

The woman didn’t dare to speak, much less get up and leave.

’Even if this young man decided to take his anger out on her, she could only endure it obediently.’

However, Lin Shu had no interest in looking back at her. He simply turned and strode out of the room.

When he stepped out of the room, seven or eight people had already gathered at the head of the stairs, their gazes cautious.

The entire brothel was deathly silent.

...

Old Yang was pressed tightly against the wall, his face drained of all color.

’He really wanted to be more composed, to save some face for Lin Shu.’

’But the aura that had radiated from the fat man as he left was enough to suffocate an ordinary person like him!’

Even Little Liuzi, who had been so full of flattery moments before, was now gulping nervously, his eyes wide with panic.

’Lin Shu had offended Master Tian the moment he arrived.’

’This made it hard for him to tell whether this man was a great tree he could cling to for support, or a poisoned vine that could snap at any moment.’

’They were all just insignificant weeds in Black Water City. A single wrong choice could mean a gruesome death with no grave to mark the spot.’

’Angering Master Tian meant he wouldn’t just wash his hands of this place; he would likely go out of his way to cause trouble for them.’

’Could this young Master Fox really withstand the coming storms all on his own?’

At this thought, a flicker of apprehension passed through everyone’s eyes.