Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

So-called Relics were nothing more than things that members of an Immortal Family had touched.

They retained the lingering aura of an Immortal.

Ordinary mortals could use this aura to comprehend the Immortal Techniques hidden within.

But this Immortal Descendant...

It could produce this aura on its own!

This meant that even if Lin Shu couldn’t form the Cyan Bird Immortal Body, as long as he had the cub, he would have a stable source of Cyan Qi, making it easier to absorb Merit Coins in the future.

He could even use the cub to mass-produce Cultivators in Black Water City.

Of course, whether these people could truly step through the threshold of Cultivation and what their level of Cultivation would be was another matter entirely.

At the very least, it provided a possible path.

"..."

There was no joy on Lin Shu’s face, only a flicker of apprehension.

’If I really did that,’

’if word got out, within two hours I’d either be handing over the cub obediently or my corpse would be tossed onto the street.’

With Lin Shu’s current strength, he already felt that Yan Jin was a threat.

And no matter how strong she was, she was just one Fierce Wolf. Above her were the two great halls of the White Tiger and Chenlong.

Neither the Black Water Gang nor the Government Office would tolerate such a thing falling into another’s hands.

Even if he wanted to cultivate a few allies, they would have to be people he could trust completely.

But before that, he needed to have some control over his surroundings to prevent any leaks.

’The current situation is definitely not good enough.’

’My status is too low. I don’t even have a proper territory to call my own.’

"Sigh."

Lin Shu knew that some things required patience and shouldn’t be rushed.

He had only been in Black Water City for a short time; just getting a foothold was an achievement in itself.

But the events of the day had served as a wake-up call.

Black Water City was indeed very similar to the squalid alleys of his past life, but there was a fundamental difference.

Lin Shu was quite experienced when it came to matters of conflict.

He could roughly deduce what these people cared about and what they feared.

Take Zhang Zhongping, for example.

Lin Shu could tell at a glance that the old man was all bark and no bite.

He wasn’t some desperado seeking revenge for his disciples; his heart was full of desire for fame and fortune.

How could someone truly prepared to die make such a theatrical display, hiring a troupe to play music, parading through the streets, and even bringing his son’s corpse along as a bargaining chip against the constables?

He was like a gambler clutching his last chip, desperate to win back his losses.

If he had even a shred of backing willing to support him, the old man would never have come to Cyan Willow Lane.

Conversely, when dealing with the inscrutable Yan Jin, Lin Shu was much more cautious. Unless it was a matter of life and death or a personal bottom line, he wouldn’t easily make an enemy of her.

He couldn’t say his experience-based judgments were always correct, but they could at least eliminate most of the risks.

But the problem was, what if his opponent wasn’t human? What if a random yellow dog on the street turned out to be an Immortal wandering the mortal world?

Faced with that dog, Lin Shu’s so-called experience would become a joke.

The Immortal Descendant in his hands was a perfect example of this.

’To put it bluntly, my awareness is lacking. My understanding of this world is too shallow!’

"I’ll put it aside for now."

Lin Shu lifted the covers and lay down on the bed.

He tucked the cub into a corner by his feet, so he could give it a nudge at any time to make sure it was still there.

This Immortal Descendant might be his key to understanding these new and strange things.

Gathering his thoughts, Lin Shu closed his eyes. He didn’t dare to actually sleep. Instead, he silently began to circulate the Cyan Bird Qi-Introducing Formulas.

The crisp chirping sound it produced eased the exhaustion in his mind.

...

The horizon was shrouded in a white mist.

Lin Shu sat on a small stool at his doorway, holding a bowl of braised pork noodles.

He picked up the noodles with his chopsticks, and as he chewed, a satisfying warmth spread from his throat to his stomach.

A full stomach also brought a sense of security.

He let out a long breath. "It’s not like we’re short on silver. Why don’t we try something new? It’s braised pork every day; we should at least get a decent dish to try."

"Er..."

Miss Yun carefully smoothed over the marks in the dirt ground.

Hearing this, she looked up at the young man, her expression faltering, unsure of how to explain.

"Never mind."

Lin Shu realized what was going on.

Although he didn’t subscribe to the notion that some people were born to die for others...

...in the eyes of the Cheng Family, the young widow was clearly the main culprit behind their young miss’s death.

Even though ten years had passed and they were likely not actively searching for her...

...if they happened to run into her on the street, they surely wouldn’t mind taking the opportunity to vent their anger.

Miss Yun was so cautious that even when she went out to shop, she only dared to go when the streets were empty, sticking to the small alleys. It was a good thing she could bring back some braised pork at all.

How could she dare to swagger into a proper restaurant?

"For now, please make do. Next time, I’ll... I’ll think of something," Miss Yun said, forcing a smile.

The two of them tacitly avoided mentioning the events of last night.

For Lin Shu, after he decided to keep the Immortal Descendant, the young widow choosing to stay had turned out to be a good thing for him.

After all, a single man carrying a baby around everywhere was bound to be a bit conspicuous.

"Hey!"

Following a knock, a head peeked into the courtyard—it was Blackhead.

Chang Yi first looked at the young widow, then glanced at the closed door, and saw that nothing was amiss in the courtyard. The orphan and widow were safe.

Only then did he relax. "Smells good. Can I get a bowl too?"

"Sure. Pay up first."

If Lin Shu remembered correctly, the debt from that ten taels of silver last time had already been cleared with braised pork.

"The Government Office is tight on funds! My salary is only forty taels of silver a month, and I have to save up to get married!" Chang Yi instinctively clutched his purse. Even as a Purple Flood Dragon, he wasn’t exactly wealthy.

Unexpectedly, this statement once again triggered Master Lin’s resentment of the rich.

’I’m in a gang, and I make less than an official. Does that make any sense?!’

"Double price for you," Lin Shu said decisively, putting down his bowl and chopsticks.

"Lord Official, I’ll go prepare it for you now." Seeing the two of them banter, a genuine smile touched the corners of Miss Yun’s lips.

However, just as she turned to enter the kitchen, before Chang Yi could even find a place to sit...

...two more figures appeared at the courtyard gate.

"..."

Yan Jin lifted her gaze and swept it across the courtyard, still as silent as ever.

Beside her, Bai Feng’s eyes darted back and forth between Lin Shu and Blackhead.

A fleeting coldness passed over his face.

But in an instant, Bai Feng was already smiling and raising a hand. "Well, if it isn’t Master Chang. Didn’t expect to see you here. Please send my regards to Lord Gu."

CRACK.

Hearing this, Chang Yi’s expression instantly darkened.

He slammed the stool he was holding onto the ground, then turned his back to the two of them before sitting down.

"Tsk, did I say something wrong?"

Bai Feng didn’t seem angry. He just dropped his smile, glanced to the side, and said coolly, "Young Master Wolf, shouldn’t we be on our way?"

Hearing this title, Chang Yi, who had turned his back, silently turned his head back around.

’According to the intel I gathered yesterday,’

’this guy only joined the Cunning Fox Hall nine days ago, and he’s already been promoted?’

"I’m heading out."

Lin Shu rose leisurely, his expression as normal as ever, despite the number of people present.

Compared to keeping the Immortal Descendant with him...

...it was actually a better choice to just relax and leave it in the courtyard.

After all, he could sync with the cub’s senses at any time, which was like having an extra pair of eyes.

The residual cyan light in the courtyard would conceal its aura.

An ordinary petty thief wouldn’t be able to steal the little thing.

If an opponent he couldn’t afford to provoke showed up...

...it would allow him to avoid danger ahead of time.

Then he could simply force out the Essence Blood, erase the connection, and declare, ’This thing and I are not fated to be.’

If he really started to see this hot potato as his own private treasure, unwilling to let go...

...it would mean his mind had grown muddled, and he was already on the path to his own demise.

Only the Immortal Body condensed from Cyan Qi would truly be his own.

"Alright."

Miss Yun nodded obediently, watching him leave the courtyard.

...

「On the long street.」

Yan Jin finally spoke up. "Today, for your induction into the hall, quite a few Fierce Wolves have come, all from West City."

She slowed her pace, glancing at the young man beside her, and reminded him, "Tian Jingyuan is also here. Remember to control your emotions."

Lin Shu had yet to react, but Bai Feng’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Yan Jin in surprise.

He had heard about the conflict between this young wolf and Tian Jingyuan.

’But the problem is,’

’what does that have to do with the two of us?’