Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

Chen Ping pushed open the wooden gate of the courtyard and stepped inside.

The sun was setting in the west, its rays like blood, streaming in through the wall and casting an extremely long shadow of the old jujube tree in the yard, like a black scar torn from the ground.

Gouwa was squatting by the well washing dishes when he heard the noise. He quickly wiped his hands on his apron and stood up. "Brother Ping, you're back."

Chen Ping nodded, went into the inner room, took out an oil paper package, and handed it over.

"Take this and go to Huichuntang."

Gouwa hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously took it, finding it heavy in his hand: "Brother Ping, this is...?"

"Three ounces." Chen Ping's voice was devoid of emotion. "Go buy some medicine to clear the lungs and reduce fever. Remember, tell the shopkeeper that you need the fastest-acting, most potent medicine. Don't try to fool me with those mild herbal remedies."

"After buying the medicine, take it directly to the greywater field and find that scholar surnamed Li."

Gouwa's eyes lit up instantly, and he clutched the silver tightly: "Alright! I'm going right now!"

"Wait a minute."

Chen Ping called out to the boy who was rushing out like a rabbit, his tone becoming more serious: "When you get to the greywater field, keep your eyes open, don't talk nonsense, and avoid those thugs. Once you've delivered the medicine, head back. Don't linger in that muddy pit."

"Don't worry, Brother Ping, I know what's important!" Gouwa nodded vigorously and ran out of the alley in a flash.

Chen Ping stood in the courtyard until the boy's figure completely disappeared before turning around and going into the house.

The room was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of cheap tobacco leaves.

Old Liu sat in the shadows by the table, puffing on his pipe.

As the stars flickered, they reflected his deeply lined old face.

He raised his eyelids and glanced at Chen Ping, but didn't say anything.

Chen Ping sat down by himself, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and gulped it down.

The cool tea rolled down my throat and into my stomach, suppressing that inexplicable restlessness.

Silence spread through the cramped room.

After a long silence, Old Liu tapped his pipe, breaking the stillness: "Went to the ash disposal site?"

"Um."

"Mind your own business?" Old Liu exhaled a puff of smoke, his cloudy old eyes staring at Chen Ping. "The people there have lives as fragile as paper; you can't save them."

"I didn't intend to save anyone."

Chen Ping put down his teacup, his fingers tracing the rough rim, and said in a flat tone, "I'm just doing a business deal."

Old Liu squinted: "A deal?"

"That Li Wenxiu is a scholar, he's learned," Chen Ping said slowly. "Gouwa's age can't just be a cook; he needs to be literate and reasonable. How much would it cost to hire a private tutor for a year? Now I can buy a scholar to be Gouwa's teacher with just two taels of silver."

Chen Ping raised his head and looked directly at Liu Laoguo: "This deal is worthwhile."

Old Liu stared at Chen Ping for a long time, seemingly trying to find a trace of "good intentions" on the young man's face.

But Chen Ping's eyes were too still, as still as an ancient well.

After a long silence, the old man sighed and shook his head: "You kid... you always have a bunch of fallacies."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "What about Rouge Tiger? You've essentially interfered on her territory."

"Intervene? Not at all."

Chen Ping remained calm: "I am the Red Flower Stick of the Green Robe Society. Taking in a down-on-his-luck scholar as an accountant and tutor does not violate the gang rules, nor does it ruin her business. No matter how domineering Rouge Tiger is, she can't refuse to give her even this much face."

His tone was calm, yet it conveyed a sense of firmness.

Liu Laoguo didn't say anything more, but just took a deep drag on his cigarette.

His expression was somewhat complicated amidst the swirling smoke.

This kid is cunning and ruthless; he's definitely better than I was back then.

Chen Ping didn't say anything more, got up and walked back into the courtyard.

By this time, the sun had completely sunk below the horizon, and the fiery clouds on the horizon gradually cooled into a dark purple.

Chen Ping stood under the jujube tree, took a deep breath, and began to stretch his muscles.

"Click click click..."

As his joints twisted, a series of crisp, cracking sounds, like popping beans, burst from his body.

They set up their stance.

"Crushing Stone Force", starting stance.

Chen Ping made a move.

His figure moved nimbly in the dimly lit courtyard, his fists tearing through the air with a muffled whistling sound.

With each step, the ground seemed to tremble slightly.

Every move was no longer the awkwardness of a beginner, but carried a smooth and flowing rhythm, yet concealed a deadly intent.

On the seventh repetition, a familiar surge of heat exploded from my dantian.

That is the Qi and blood nurtured by the "Water Stabilizing Stakes".

This heat surged up the spine and rushed to the crown of the head, then transformed into countless trickles that nourished the limbs and the entire body.

The slight fatigue from before was instantly washed away, replaced by a surge of full power emanating from deep within my muscles.

Chen Ping closed his eyes, feeling the power surging within his body.

This feeling is captivating.

Like a piece of pig iron, it is gradually transformed into refined steel through repeated forging with fire and hammer.

"drink!"

Chen Ping suddenly opened his eyes and threw out his right fist without any fancy moves.

The air vibrated, and a crisp sound even came from the point of impact.

My strength has increased again.

Although the amount is small, the key is that there is continuous improvement every day.

Before my retina, the pale blue words appeared as expected.

[Stone Crushing Force, Proficiency +1]

Current progress: Minor success 232/500

practice!

Chen Ping didn't stop; taking advantage of the heat, he threw punches again and again.

Sweat soaked through his clothes, falling from his hair and instantly being swallowed by the soil.

Only when night completely enveloped the courtyard and the moon rose high in the sky did Chen Ping slowly cease his movements.

He stood in the middle of the courtyard, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for breath.

Tired, but exhilarated.

He walked to the well, took out a bucket of ice-cold well water, and poured it over his head.

"Splash!"

Chen Ping shook his head, feeling as if every pore on his body was cheering.

After a quick rinse, he sat on a stone bench, enjoying a moment of tranquility.

The wind rustles through the jujube trees.

"Squeak—"

The courtyard gate was pushed open, breaking the silence of the night.

Gouwa came running in, panting, his face flushed with excitement: "Brother Ping! It's done!"

Chen Ping looked up: "Delivered?"

"It's delivered!" Gouwa wiped the sweat from his forehead. "When Mr. Li saw the medicine, he immediately knelt down! He kowtowed several times, and we couldn't stop him. He cried and said that Brother Ping was a living Bodhisattva..."

"Alright."

Chen Ping waved his hand, interrupting Gouwa, "How's the child?"

"The shopkeeper said that if it's delivered in time, three doses of strong medicine will be enough to suppress it. I've already seen the first dose being forced down my throat."

"Hmm." Chen Ping nodded. As long as the person is alive, this investment is not a loss.

Gouwa hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer: "Brother Ping, Mr. Li asked me to pass on a message to you."

"explain."

"He said..." Gouwa mimicked Li Wenxiu's refined yet excited tone, "He said that this life was given to him by you, and from now on, this wretched life of his belongs to you. No matter if it's going through fire or water, he will obey your every word without hesitation."

Chen Ping's expression remained unchanged after hearing this.

Just listen to those kinds of words and leave it at that.

Loyalty isn't something you can just talk about; it's something you can prove through actions.

"Okay, go to sleep."

"Alright!" Seeing that Chen Ping seemed to be in a good mood, Gouwa happily ran back to the house.

The courtyard returned to silence.

Chen Ping sat alone on the stone bench, his fingers gently tapping the cold stone surface.

He was reviewing today's chess game.

Rescuing Li Wenxiu was indeed a risky move.

Firstly, it was for Gouwa's education; secondly... in a place like Greywater Field, full of illiterate people and hooligans, he needed a clear-headed, literate "eye" to keep watch there.

But if you step on it, the ripples on the water will definitely spread.

Trouble is definitely coming.

Chen Ping raised his head, looking at the pitch-black night sky, his eyes gradually sharpening.

Come on then.

there is always a solution to a problem.