Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

West City, Sifang Street.

It was evening, and the people, who had been busy all day, were enjoying a brief moment of peace.

"Scared me to death. I really thought the Government Office was going to have a complete falling out with the Black Water Gang."

"As long as everything’s fine, everything’s fine."

The massive commotion a few days prior had clearly terrified the common folk.

When gods fight, mortals suffer.

A single casual move from one of those Cultivator masters could easily claim the lives of several ordinary people.

Fortunately, the Government Office had only made a show of force, and the Black Water Gang hadn’t reacted strongly. It was a close call, but no real harm was done.

Just then, the person speaking was secretly kicked by someone next to him.

He looked over in confusion, but the corner of his eye caught sight of a tall, slender figure, and his expression changed slightly. "..."

Everyone fell silent, watching with complicated expressions as the young man walked down the long street.

To the common people, it didn’t really matter whether the Government Office or the Black Water Gang came out on top. After all, no matter who was in charge of the street, they wouldn’t be collecting half a penny less in silver.

But this time was an exception.

They had heard that Master Lin had offended the White Tiger Hall to protect the Zhao Family, then later angered the Gang Leader. He was being ostracized within the gang and was even in mortal danger.

It would have been better if the Government Office and the Black Water Gang had actually started fighting.

Now that things were calm, once the situation settled completely, the Black Water Gang would probably replace him and send a new Master Wolf to watch over Sifang Street.

"Master Lin, you’re back. Would you like something to eat?"

A street vendor hesitated for a long time before calling out softly. He took out a few small dishes from under his stall and said respectfully, "This is what I saved for myself to eat. It’s not the best food, but I guarantee it’s clean!"

"..."

Lin Shu was silent for a moment. ’So this guy doesn’t even eat the food he sells to others,’ he thought.

"Change that pitch-black oil of yours, or I’ll flip your stall over."

He shot the man a look and walked slowly back to the Old Woodshed.

"Heh heh."

The vendor scratched his neck awkwardly. As he watched Master Lin walk away, a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.

The other passersby also sighed.

Setting aside everything else, their lives had indeed become much easier in the short time since this Greedy Wolf had arrived.

’Unfortunately, the affairs of Cultivator masters are not something people like us can meddle in.’

...

At the entrance of the Old Woodshed.

Dong Cheng sat dejectedly, looking as pathetic as a stray dog.

Even now, he couldn’t understand why Master Lin would give up a good life just to provoke that Mountain-Smashing Dragon.

’That Third Boss is a real bastard, too! Using people and then tossing them aside.’

Logically, Dong Cheng felt he should have cut ties with Master Lin long ago, but for some reason, he just couldn’t bring himself to leave.

"Go to the County Yamen and deliver a message for me."

Just then, a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

It was the same calm tone, as if he were completely unaffected by the rumors.

Even if he was being ostracized by the gang, he was still the Fierce Wolf who guarded Sifang Street!

Dong Cheng shot up from the ground. The moment he saw the person who had arrived, all the worries in his heart were thrown to the wind, and his earlier indecisiveness vanished completely.

’Master Lin doesn’t look the least bit dejected, so what am I afraid of?’

The young wolf puffed out his chest and declared with heroic passion, "Just give the order, Master Lin!"

"Ask the County Captain to come over," Lin Shu said as he stepped into the courtyard.

He wasn’t asking her to come because he was pulling rank after saving Chang Yi.

Rather, it was because, with his reputation as the Fierce Wolf, he most likely wouldn’t even be allowed into the County Yamen.

"Huh?"

Dong Cheng was stunned. ’That’s it?’

A few moments later, understanding dawned, and he gritted his teeth. "Got it."

’That’s right! The son-of-a-bitch Black Water Gang is playing favorites, siding with that pack of Tigers. Why the hell should we take this crap?’

’Worst case, I’ll ditch this "young wolf" identity, go to the Government Office to get a Purple Flood Dragon Profound Robe, and become a constable under Master Lin!’

With this thought, Dong Cheng dusted himself off and ran straight for East City.

"You’re finally back!"

Just as Lin Shu stepped into the side room, a petite figure shot up from the bed.

The little one clung to his neck like a gourd, smearing tears and snot all over him.

"..."

He reached out in distaste, grabbed Yu Sheng by the scruff of her neck, and lifted her up before looking at the young woman by the bed.

"I didn’t mean to come in. She was just too worried, so she asked me to keep her company," Miss Yun said, standing up a bit nervously. As she explained, the deep worry in her eyes never faded.

"It’s fine."

Lin Shu placed the little one back on the bed.

This feeling of being missed was slightly unfamiliar and novel to him.

"Can you please not go out again? We can have Miss Yun take us to the South Suburbs. She knows the area well. We can hide for a while, just until the city gates open again. She can support us by washing clothes."

Yu Sheng rubbed her red-rimmed eyes.

Miss Yun didn’t seem to find this absurd proposal strange at all. Instead, she nodded vigorously.

Apparently, the two of them had discussed this many times over the past few days.

The corner of Lin Shu’s mouth twitched.

Just then, Dong Cheng, who had just left, had already returned and was calling out from outside the courtyard.

"Be quiet for a bit. I have something to take care of. We’ll talk more later."

Lin Shu glanced at Yu Sheng.

The little one obediently wriggled under the covers and hid herself.

This time, she surprisingly showed no dissatisfaction toward the "big-chested woman" outside.

Lin Shu retracted his gaze, led Miss Yun out of the room, and closed the door behind him.

Outside the Old Woodshed.

Gu Nanzhi was still standing at the edge of the Array, saying with a hint of helplessness, "If you hadn’t come back soon, I was planning to go to North City to find you."

Having finally seen a glimmer of hope, her thoughts were almost entirely focused on this young man, to the point that she had remained in West City for the past few days.

Hearing this, Dong Cheng looked bewildered. He had no idea his Master Lin’s relationship with the County Captain was this good.

His eyes darted around, and he quickly chimed in, "I ran into County Captain Gu before I even left Sifang Street. You two talk first. I’ll go take a walk."

"Go on."

Lin Shu nodded slightly and invited the County Captain inside.

It was the same low table. Miss Yun brought them both some cool tea and said gently, "Please have a seat, Your Excellency, the County Captain."

"Where did you abduct such an obedient little maid?"

Gu Nanzhi teased, using the joke to hide the turmoil in her heart.

Unlike her last visit, her heart was racing now that she suspected a "senior" might be silently watching from this very place.

Lin Shu didn’t speak, simply pulling out a stack of prescriptions and handing it over.

"Hm?"

Gu Nanzhi paused, took them, and examined them carefully. Her expression gradually began to change.

After a moment, she pursed her red lips, looked up with a complicated expression, and handed the prescriptions back.

The County Captain said nothing.

She didn’t believe that the Greedy Wolf who could even train someone like Chang Yi would think she could trust the contents of these prescriptions.

Mountain-Smashing Dragon has a hidden ailment, his Realm is unstable...

’Does he really take me for a fool?’

Under the woman’s gaze, Lin Shu’s expression remained unchanged. His long, slender fingers landed on the tabletop, pressing lightly on the prescriptions.

He asked bluntly, "Want to give it a try?"

"Try what?"

Gu Nanzhi looked slightly taken aback.

’Someone prepared these prescriptions for Lin Shu to give to me. They clearly want to use some excuse to lure me into making a move against Mountain-Smashing Dragon.’

’But I’m responsible for the lives of an entire city’s people. Unless I’ve lost my mind, how could I possibly do something so impulsive?’

"If the opportunity arises."

Lin Shu’s index finger twitched, and the thick stack of prescriptions was silently shredded by Spiritual Qi. A new note of seriousness entered his voice. "Try killing him?"

Mountain-Smashing Dragon was the number one boss of the Black water Gang, arguably the man at the very top of the entire city.

And now, someone actually dared to have killing intent toward this old dragon—and that person was merely a Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivator.

Gu Nanzhi instinctively found it absurd.

She was just about to refuse when her eyelid suddenly twitched.

’If Black Water City is this young man’s training ground, does that make Mountain-Smashing Dragon the target he needs to overcome?’

’No matter how arrogant an Immortal Descendant is, they wouldn’t send their disciple to a senseless death.’

’Perhaps they gave him many life-saving measures and don’t actually expect him to defeat Mountain-Smashing Dragon. They just want to test his courage and see how well he can handle the situation.’

The implications were too great. Gu Nanzhi didn’t dare to rely on speculation alone.

She hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage and carefully released a tiny bit of Spiritual Power to probe her surroundings.

A moment later, the woman’s delicate and beautiful face trembled slightly, and even her breathing grew ragged.

"Hah!"

Gu Nanzhi abruptly lowered her gaze, her shoulders trembling like a child who had been caught misbehaving.

After an unknown amount of time, upon realizing the other party had no intention of punishing her, she clenched her fists with lingering fear.

’There really is one! There’s really an Immortal Descendant in this Old Woodshed!’

Even though she had only detected a sliver of that aura before retreating in terror, Gu Nanzhi was now certain that all her speculations were correct.

That Immortal Descendant was sitting quietly in the room.

Watching them without a sound.

Gu Nanzhi could almost picture their indifferent expression, not even bothering to acknowledge her offense.

’Such magnanimity... it’s likely an adult Immortal Descendant, comparable to a Core Formation Cultivator!’

"I think that’s no problem!"

She swallowed hard and quickly tried to recover, forcing a somewhat stiff smile. "Haha, let’s discuss the details."

’With an Immortal Descendant backing him, what is there to fear?’

"..."

Lin Shu’s gaze was strange; he was a little perplexed by the woman’s sudden change in attitude.

’Although I have a general understanding of the situation behind Black Water City and hold the Filthy Moon Wolf Lord as a trump card, I’m still not very clear on the power difference between Foundation Establishment Cultivators.’

’The risk of acting alone is simply too great.’

That was why he had only approached her to test the waters.

If the County Captain agreed, he would decisively seize this opportunity.

Even if he couldn’t escape Black Water City, he could at least allow the Government to gain a temporary upper hand over the Black Water Gang.

If she disagreed, then he would really have to consider joining the Government Office and swapping his clothes for a Purple Flood Dragon Profound Robe.

’But why did that woman’s sudden bow just now seem so strange?’

「In the side room.」

Yu Sheng was curled up under the covers.

With Lin Shu’s return, the little one had finally calmed down and was already letting out soft snores.

She slept soundly, smacking her little lips and casually scratching her feet.

’Why’s it feel like a bug just bit me?’