Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

’If the Immortal Technique is real, then doesn’t that mean this White Wolf...’

’This place really does have immortals, even if they look a little strange.’

Lin Shu followed his body’s instincts and tried to use this Immortal Technique.

But he quickly stopped.

The moment the thought arose, the Fog that sustained this body’s life began to diminish at a rate visible to the naked eye.

He faintly smelled the scent of death.

’It seems this technique consumes my own life force.’

"Huuuh."

Lin Shu let out a soft breath, gradually making sense of things.

If he understood correctly, he could kill people to obtain Sin Coins, which he could then feed to this strange-looking Immortal Family in exchange for so-called Immortal Techniques.

But in this body’s current state, never mind fighting someone to earn Sin Coins, even taking a couple of steps was difficult.

’That Immortal Technique seems powerful, but I can’t use it many times. After I use it up, I’ll probably be dead.’

At this thought, Lin Shu suppressed his emotions and continued to lean against the earthen wall, waiting for the Fog to heal him.

He wasn’t in a hurry.

He needed to first see to what extent this body could recover before he could decide his next move.

The process was a bit dull and tedious. Lin Shu’s nose suddenly twitched. "Something smells good."

"Don’t even think about it. None for you," Old Yang said, swallowing hard.

Through the tattered paper window, they could see a large pot being set up outside.

The aroma of chili and fatty meat overwhelmed the original stench of Blood Qi, and wine jars were placed on the table.

Unfortunately, only a few of the men were allowed at the table.

Never mind the two locked in the woodshed, even the old men and women in the troupe weren’t qualified to pick up chopsticks. They could only take their rock-hard flatbreads and return to their rooms.

"After they drink, they’ll make their move."

Old Yang sighed and wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

"That old woman’s family still has a widow and her child. By tonight, they’ll definitely realize something is wrong. They won’t give the widow a chance to report it to the Government."

"..."

Lin Shu listened quietly, sorting through the extra memories in his mind.

Black Water City was a chaotic place.

Even a powerful External Expert like Master Liu San, who could shatter a man’s bones with a single palm strike, could only resort to scams and trickery, rather than more direct forms of robbery and plunder.

His memories even contained traces of Cultivators.

The Black Water Gang and the Government divided the city. The entire city was surrounded by the Black River and had, for some unknown reason, lost contact with the outside world.

This place was a wolf’s den with no escape!

Tempted by the aroma of meat, Lin Shu felt a gnawing hunger, and a trace of greed flickered in his eyes.

Old Yang, however, curled up, trying not to smell the aroma or listen to the raucous sounds of drinking and feasting from outside.

He just hoped the three men’s activities tonight would go smoothly so that he and Lin Shu might be spared a beating.

As the two fell silent, the woodshed grew quiet.

Until nightfall.

The sky grew dim.

In the courtyard, Master Liu San stood up, tucked the short knife from the table into the back of his waistband, and left the courtyard with the two Ma Brothers, taking large strides.

Only Wang Xu remained at the table, drinking by himself. He hadn’t trained in Martial Arts and was no match for the other three, but he was more than capable of guarding two cripples.

"Tsk."

Lin Shu took all of this in. He then raised his right arm, feeling the strength of his body.

Compared to his previous life, this body was a bit weak, which he found slightly unsettling.

But thanks to the healing of the Fog, his injuries had long since recovered, and his strength had returned to its peak.

Moreover, actively channeling the Fog seemed to have the effect of enhancing his Physique, but the consumption rate was much higher.

’It should be enough.’

Lin Shu licked his dry lips and unsteadily got to his feet.

He walked towards the door. It was a little cold at night, so he casually grabbed the clean White Fur Cloak hanging on the wall.

His predecessor had worn this very outfit to play the part of a fake immortal in the city.

"Are you crazy?! That’s your costume for the procession! How dare you touch it when you’re covered in blood? Liu San will kill you!"

The drowsy Old Yang was instantly jolted awake. "And where do you think you’re going?!"

"I’ve been paid. I’m going to do the job."

Lin Shu draped the cloak over his shoulders and pushed open the door.

...

In the courtyard.

Wang Xu picked up a piece of fatty meat with his chopsticks and chewed on it greedily.

His drunken face was full of smug satisfaction.

His mind was still replaying the moment from the afternoon when he had decisively jumped out and swiftly kicked that old hag to death.

’Look at that sharp eye of mine!’

’It was an effortless task, but the others didn’t dare do it, so they missed out on the pleasure of this wine and meat.’

At this thought, Wang Xu couldn’t help but hum lightly, failing to notice someone approaching.

Lin Shu sauntered up behind him. Seeing the hot pot still bubbling away, he reached out, grabbed the wine jug, swirled it gently, and then drained it in one go.

"Who?! Who the fuck let you out?"

Wang Xu was startled by the figure that had suddenly appeared. Upon seeing it was Lin Shu, he instinctively barked out a curse.

The kid’s weak and easily bullied nature was known to all.

Plus, he’d been beaten half to death today, so Wang Xu couldn’t even be bothered to reach for the short knife on the table.

"Ptooey! The wine’s mediocre."

Lin Shu spat, shook his head, and looked at the hot pot curiously. "How’s the meat? Is it good?"

Hearing this, Wang Xu almost laughed in anger.

He heard the provocation in the other’s tone. Drunk and enraged, a vicious glint appeared in his eyes, and he prepared to make a move. "It’s great. Why?"

Before the words had even left his mouth, he saw Lin Shu grin, his perfectly white teeth carrying an inexplicable, chilling coldness.

The next moment, the wine jug smashed down on his head!

CRACK!

Already drunk, Wang Xu staggered forward from the unexpected heavy blow.

GURGLE—

Before he could steady himself, a slender hand had already clamped down on the back of his head, brutally shoving his entire face into the boiling hot pot!

"If it’s so good, then have some more."

Lin Shu’s eyes were clear, his smile pristine.

But the bulging veins on his right hand and his suddenly hoarse voice were inexplicably terrifying.

BANG! BANG!

Wang Xu’s arms flailed desperately, nearly overturning the table.

In his agony, he instinctively opened his mouth to scream, and the scalding, oily soup poured down his throat and into his stomach.

Lin Shu leaned over, his body taut, like a beast tearing into its prey.

His right hand held the man’s head down while his left arm pinned the man’s shoulders.

The tips of his own fingers were also submerged in the oily soup, quickly turning red and cooking, but the unbearable pain only made the smile on his lips grow more ferocious.

Finally, the table stopped shaking violently. Wang Xu went still, his entire head bobbing up and down in the red oil.

Another streak of black light shot out and flew into Lin Shu’s sleeve.

The commotion woke the others in the courtyard.

But they all just stared dumbly out their windows at the scene.

They watched the White Fur Cloak sway gently as the slender young man pulled back his hand, flicked the oily soup from his fingertips, and took the short knife from the table.

The entire process had been utterly seamless.

This scene... was even more terrifying than when Master Liu San and his men had beaten the old woman to death in a burlap sack earlier today.

"Hrk!"

Old Yang, who had followed him to the woodshed door, found himself unable to cross the threshold.

He had witnessed everything. His legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, his hands gripping the doorframe so tightly it was the only thing keeping him from fainting.

His mind could only recall their earlier conversation about good and evil.

’To Wang Xu, Lin Shu certainly isn’t a good person... But it seems he never got the chance to say it to Lin Shu’s face.’

Old Yang stared blankly as the White Fur Cloak surged into the night and disappeared down the long street.

’Get paid to do a job?’

’Whose money did he take, and what job is he going to do?’