Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

The wind on the river grew stronger, making the white banners on the boat flutter loudly, sounding like countless lonely ghosts wailing.

Chen Ping carried a whistle stick and followed behind several old members of the Green Robe Society, patrolling back and forth between the deck and the warehouse.

When the canal workers saw the baton in his hand, which represented power, their eyes showed a hint of fear, and they didn't even dare to breathe loudly while working.

During a break in his patrol, he approached an older gang member who looked relatively kind and handed him half a tobacco cake he had saved. This was a little gadget he carried with him after becoming well-connected at the docks, and it was the best tool for building relationships.

"Brother, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Chen Ping lit the fire for the other party and asked in a low voice, "Our Qingyi Society is a well-known name in Huai'an Prefecture, so why are we hanging white banners and acting like pushovers in Xiahe County? What's the background of that White Gang, that they're so domineering?"

The old gang member took a satisfying drag of his cigarette, noticed that Chen Ping looked much more pleasing to the eye, sighed, and his eyes became somewhat weary:

"You're a latecomer to this business, so it's normal that you don't know. If this were fifteen years ago, there wouldn't be any Green Robe Society or White Gang in the world."

He pointed to the surging river at his feet, his tone carrying a hint of melancholy pride:

"At that time, in the thirteen provinces of the country, wherever there was water, there was only one flag: the Canal Caravan."

"Back then, what kind of person was Lao Longtou? He was a figure who was even registered in the imperial court. Whether it was the Grand Canal in the south or the Heishui River in the north, 800,000 grain transport workers obeyed his orders."

At this point, the old gang member shook his head, a hint of mockery on his face:

"It's a pity. The bigger the tree, the more the wind blows. Once the old leader died, none of the big leaders under him would submit to anyone else, and this huge family business was scattered in an instant."

"Our current leader followed the leader of the Green Wood Hall, occupied Qingkou Town, and established the 'Green Robe Society.' The White Paper Fan from Xiahe County occupied the Xiahe water area and established the 'White Gang.' There's also the 'Great River Gang' from Qinghe... Hey, they're all our own brothers. Now, in order to seize territory and claim legitimacy, they're even more ruthless than outsiders."

Chen Ping nodded, understanding dawning on his mind.

No wonder the one-eyed deputy said Xiahe County was a dead end; when fellow disciples know each other inside and out, they are often relentless and determined to kill each other.

The inspection continues.

Chen Ping walked along the gunwale, seemingly staring blankly at the river, but in reality, he was secretly activating the [Water Observation Technique].

On this great river, the moisture was extremely abundant.

The vast, flowing, and unstoppable atmosphere was a hundred times more intense than the stagnant water he saw at the dock.

In his perception, the turbulent water beneath the boat was no longer chaotic, but had transformed into serpentine dragons.

Their slapping, squeezing, and swirling contain a primal force found in the universe.

[Water Observation Skill Proficiency +1]

[Water Observation Skill Proficiency +1]

......

A barely perceptible warmth flowed through Chen Ping's heart, and he felt as if his senses had become even sharper.

Although he was still in the "beginner" stage, the feeling of steady improvement made him feel at ease.

Night fell, and the patrol ended.

Chen Ping handed over the baton and returned to the sweltering, damp warehouse.

He had just sat down in his seat when that small, thin figure came closer again.

It's still Gouwa.

Despite being rejected during the day, the kid didn't seem to have given up.

He looked around warily, making sure Lai San and his gang were far away, before cautiously leaning close to Chen Ping's ear.

"Big brother."

Gouwa's voice was extremely low, even trembling slightly: "I know you wouldn't want that half a pie, but I have something... that you'll definitely be interested in."

Chen Ping kept his eyes closed, not even lifting his eyelids: "If you're trying to get something for nothing, then get lost."

"I'm not empty-handed! I have something real!"

Gouwa grew anxious. He gritted his teeth, as if he had made a huge decision: "It's a martial arts manual called 'Stone-Crushing Force'! And I have money!"

Upon hearing the words "martial arts" and "money," Chen Ping finally opened his eyes and looked at him coldly: "Take it out and let me see."

Gouwa smiled wryly and said, "Brother, how could I dare to carry it with me? There are so many refugees and bandits along the way. If I carried it with me, I would have been robbed long ago."

Seeing Chen Ping's eyes turn cold instantly, and even as he was about to close them again, Gouwa quickly explained.

"That was left by my brother! He was conscripted into the army a few years ago, and six months ago he asked a fellow villager to send it back as a keepsake. He said that he had made meritorious contributions in the army and learned killing techniques from the instructor."

"This thing, along with my family's land deed and the five taels of silver my father buried under the stove, are all in our old house in Xiahe County!"

"Only I know where I hid the thing!"

Chen Ping looked at him, a mocking smile playing on his lips:

"The books are in the old house, the money is under the stove. In other words, I can't see anything right now, yet I have to protect you all the way to Xiahe County because of this pile of unseen promises?"

"Kid, do you take me for a fool, or a saint?"

Chen Ping's voice was soft, but it carried a chill: "I won't make a move until I see real money."

Gouwa was so anxious that his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He knew that if he couldn't offer something substantial, this cold-blooded man wouldn't even give him a second glance.

"I have proof! I can prove that the book is real!"

Gouwa suddenly rolled up his sleeves, revealing his thin, bony arms.

His elbows and joints were covered in old, twisted, and deformed injuries. His knuckles were frighteningly large, and some areas were even slightly red and swollen, making for a shocking sight.

"I had no one to teach me, I just practiced blindly according to the book, and I almost ruined myself. This injury can't be faked!"

Chen Ping glanced at the wound.

It doesn't look like an external force; it's more like an internal injury caused by excessive force.

"How did you get hurt?" Chen Ping asked casually.

Gouwa said with a pained expression and lingering fear, "The book describes a method of generating power. It says you have to hold your breath in your chest and abdomen and then release the force instantly. But I don't quite understand the meaning of some of the words in it. I don't know how to breathe. Every time I exert force, the force doesn't come out. Instead, it all gets trapped in my joints and explodes."

"Once I trained too hard and my arm was so swollen that I couldn't lift it for half a month. It hurt so much that I wanted to chop my hand off."

As Chen Ping listened, a thought stirred within him.

The force backfired.

This shows that this martial art is extremely powerful and domineering, emphasizing instantaneous bursts of power.

The reason Gouwa failed in his training was because he trained incorrectly.

When ordinary people practice martial arts, the thing they fear most is practicing incorrectly.

If you lose your breath even once, you have to start all over again, and sometimes it can even leave you with a lifelong disability.

But Chen Ping is different.

He has a control panel.

As long as he starts practicing, even if his posture is ugly or his breathing is rough, as long as he completes the corresponding movements, his proficiency will increase.

While others regress after making a single mistake, he steadily progresses even if he makes a hundred mistakes.

As long as my liver doesn't die, I'll work myself to death.

The book should be genuine.

Chen Ping had an idea in mind.

This kid hid the books and money in the old house.

To get the "Stone Collapse Technique" and the five taels of silver, we have to ensure this kid gets home alive.

Well thought out.

He has all the strength he needs, but no martial arts skills for killing or fighting to protect him. He can handle thugs like Lai San, but if he were to face someone like Ghost Hand Zhang who has trained, he would probably have no chance to fight back.

Chen Ping remained silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping his knee.

A military martial arts manual, plus five taels of silver and a land deed, in exchange for a period of protection along the way.

This deal is a good one.

Anyway, it's on the way.

If this kid dares to lie to me, I can just crush him without much effort.

"Since you've practiced, then recite a couple of lines of the mantra for me." Chen Ping stared at Gouwa. "If you're just making it up, I'll show you what happens when you lie to me."

Gouwa swallowed hard, his face turning deathly pale.

He took a deep breath and recited in a low voice:

"His body is as strong as a bow, and his fists are as powerful as thunder."

"Sink your Qi to the Dantian to calm your mind, and exert force through the soles of your feet to penetrate your bones."

"I don't seek a body tempered like iron, I only seek to sever the enemy's soul with a single strike..."

After reciting just these four lines, Chen Ping's eyes changed.

He knows his stuff.

These few lines of incantation are crude and straightforward, conveying a sense of brutal suicidal violence.

In particular, the phrase "power originates from the soles of the feet and penetrates to the bone" refers to penetrating force, a technique for killing.

This is what he lacks most right now.

"make a deal."

Chen Ping interrupted Gouwa's recitation and spoke coldly:

"Once we get to Xiahe County, you can follow me, but let me make this clear beforehand."

He held up one finger: "First, you're not allowed to get too close to me. You can only come within three feet of me when I'm not sleeping."

"Secondly, don't cause me any trouble. If you provoke Lai San and get beaten to death, I won't care. Unless he comes to me on his own, I might help you fend him off."

"Third, and most importantly."

Chen Ping's gaze was as sharp as a knife, fixed intently on Gouwa's eyes:

"If I don't see the books and money when I get to your old house, or if you dare to try anything funny..."

"I will crush your bones, inch by inch."

Gouwa shivered, but the fear in his eyes was quickly replaced by ecstasy. He nodded frantically, as if he had grasped a lifeline.

"Don't worry, brother! The item is definitely here! My life is at your disposal!"

In this chaotic world, hearing such a blatant threat is far more reassuring than hearing any empty promises.

"Alright, go to sleep."

Chen Ping waved his hand and closed his eyes again.

Gouwa felt like he had been granted a pardon and huddled back into the narrow crevice, hugging his knees.

But this time, he slept soundly, because he knew that at least his life was temporarily saved.