Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

Chapter 26: The Leopard

Qingyi Society is a secluded and deep courtyard in the West Wing.

Liu Dabiao stood outside the tightly closed door, rubbing his sweaty palms. He hesitated for a moment before finally raising his stiff arm and knocking on the door.

"Come in."

The voice coming from inside the room was deep and cold, carrying an air of authority without being angry.

Liu Dabiao pushed open the door and entered.

The room was dimly lit, the windows were tightly closed, and only a few wisps of dust floated in the darkness.

Inside the room, a man was sitting back in a grand chair, his eyes closed as if he were resting, his whole being seemingly blending into the shadows.

"Master Leopard." Liu Dabiao didn't dare to be negligent and bowed respectfully.

Leopard didn't open his eyes, his long, slender fingers tapping idly on the armrest: "Speak."

"Sir, Chen Ping went to the greywater field." Liu Dabiao lowered his head, his tone somewhat uneasy. "He didn't wander around much. He went straight to the house of that poor scholar named Li Wenxiu and stayed there for a full half hour."

Leopard still didn't open his eyes, but the rhythm of his tapping on the armrest paused almost imperceptibly for a moment.

Liu Dabiao swallowed hard and continued, "I'm collecting Li Wenxiu's debt as you instructed."

"I don't know why, but Chen Ping was there. He also said that Li Wenxiu owed him money and told me to wait and pay him back first."

"One of my brothers couldn't stand it and cursed a few times... Chen Ping attacked him directly, punching him so hard that he was seriously injured and broke three ribs."

Liu Dabiao raised his head and cautiously glanced at the person in the chair: "Brother Leopard, this kid is clearly... trying to get involved in the greywater plant."

Leopard slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes were cold, like a frozen lake in the depths of winter, devoid of any warmth.

Liu Dabiao's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look directly at her.

"Anything else?" Leopard's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet it made people feel oppressed.

"No, that's all." Liu Dabiao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Leopard closed his eyes again, leaned back in his chair, and resumed his deathly still expression.

After a long pause, he waved his hand dismissively, saying indifferently, "I understand. You can go now."

Liu Dabiao felt as if he had been granted a pardon, breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to leave.

But as he reached the door, the long-suppressed resentment and confusion made him stop and turn back.

"Master Leopard..."

Leopard opened his eyes again and looked at him coldly.

Liu Dabiao braced himself and said, "Brother Leopard, to be honest, this greywater treatment plant... isn't really a good job."

"The brothers are all saying that the place on East Street can bring in fifty or sixty taels a month, and sometimes even over a hundred taels."

"But what about our greywater quarry?" Liu Dabiao gave a bitter smile and spread his hands. "After working ourselves to the bone for a month, we only earn a dozen or so taels of silver."

"Having to stay in that kind of place every day, smelling that stench of feces and urine, it's just..."

"Those poor peasants, they're all like beggars, you can't squeeze anything out of them..."

He got more and more excited as he spoke, as if he wanted to pour out all the bitterness in his heart: "If you ask me, if that kid Chen Ping really wants to take charge, he might as well..."

The words came to an abrupt halt.

Because Leopard raised his head.

He didn't speak.

Just looking at him.

His gaze was cold and sharp, like an invisible blade scraping across the skin, carrying a chilling aura.

Liu Dabiao's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, his legs went weak, and he swallowed the rest of his words.

"Leopard, Leopard, I, I didn't mean that..." His voice was trembling and his teeth were chattering.

Leopard remained silent, simply watching him quietly.

Liu Dabiao felt that his little schemes were completely seen through by those eyes.

"Master Leopard, I'll... I'll take my leave now..."

Liu Dabiao hurriedly retreated, almost fleeing from the room, and closed the door behind him with a quick, soft sound.

The door closed, and the room fell silent once more.

Leopard sat alone in the dimly lit room, his fingers continuing to tap on the armrest.

a bit.

The pace is slow and heavy.

Two years.

It's been two whole years.

Leopard slowly stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

My gaze travels through the layers of green-tiled rooftops, looking towards the west, towards the direction of the greywater field.

No one knows why he was staring so intently at that piece of rotten land that even dogs would avoid.

Two years ago, he accidentally obtained a fragmented ancient book during a black market transaction.

The pages of the book are yellowed, and it contains a secret method.

As long as you place specific items in a specific location and feed them regularly...

Several months later, that thing will take shape.

In a few more months, that thing will be fully mature.

At that time, he will be able to use that thing to break through to the Refining Realm.

Following the instructions in the ancient texts, he quietly placed it in the ash water field, a place where evil spirits and filth gathered.

Two weeks ago, he went down to check and confirmed that it was growing as planned.

This month, he noticed it beginning to transform.

Ancient books say this is the most crucial stage.

This is also the most dangerous stage.

It can take anywhere from a few months to half a year.

Once discovered, two years of hard work will be wasted.

Therefore, he must guard the greywater field.

Everyone must be made to believe that it is just a poor place and not worth paying attention to.

Even Liu Dabiao was included.

Even his own men couldn't know the truth.

Otherwise, if the information is leaked...

In a few more months.

In just a few months.

Once that thing is fully mature, he will be able to break through to the Refining Realm.

By then, he will be qualified to compete for the position of manager.

He has been with the Tsing Yi Society for so many years, he has enough seniority and enough merit.

Just this last step.

Once he breaks through to the Refining Realm, he will surely have a place in the management of the Green Robe Society.

But now...

Leopard's fingers gripped the window frame tightly.

He recalled the scene from half a month ago when Ghost Hand Zhang called him over.

"Leopard, Yellow Tooth needs manpower, so Greywater Field has to be vacated."

Ghost Hand Zhang sat in a chair, legs crossed, speaking casually.

Leopard remembered that day, when he stood in front of Ghost Hand Zhang, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails were digging into his flesh.

"Master Zhang..." he began, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"You've followed me for so long, I won't treat you unfairly." Ghost Hand Zhang waved his hand, interrupting him, "I've secured the East Market, there'll be plenty of money to be made in the future."

"Giving up a place like the Greywater Dump to Yellow Teeth is a way of giving him face."

Do you understand?

Leopard gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and replied, "Understood."

He could not resist.

Because Ghost Hand Zhang is his superior.

Moreover, he cannot allow anyone to suspect anything.

If suspicion arises, someone will go down to investigate...

All the hard work of those two years was wasted.

But he never expected that Huang Ya would give the greywater field to Chen Ping.

That newcomer who just got promoted.

That kid who killed White Gang's Pockmarked Guy and presented the Blood-stained Jade Pendant to Yellow Teeth.

Leopard stood by the window, looking at the distant view that was faintly visible in the morning mist, his eyes filled with gloom.

He knew it very well.

This is not Ghost Hand Zhang's fault.

In order to protect the East Market, Ghost Hand Zhang had to exchange the Greywater Field for it.

This is the rule in the gang.

He hated Chen Ping.

If Chen Ping hadn't offered up the blood-stained jade pendant, how could Huang Ya have protected him?

If Chen Ping hadn't been promoted to Red Flower Stick, why would Huang Ya have wanted the Grey Water Field?

If it weren't for Chen Ping...

Leopard's eyes grew colder and colder, and a murderous intent surged within them.

But he couldn't do it.

He had to endure it.

You must not use your hands.

We must not alert anyone.

In a few more months.

In just a few months.

Wait until that thing matures, wait until he breaks through to the Refining Realm.

By then.

We'll settle this score with Chen Ping slowly.

"Knock knock".

Footsteps sounded again outside the door.

Liu Dabiao returned and asked in a low voice through the door, "Brother Leopard, so... should I continue collecting the settlement fee at the greywater treatment plantation?"

Leopard pulled himself out of his thoughts, turned his head without looking back, and said in a cold, hard voice: "Stop."

"What if Chen Ping..."

"Endure it if you can," Leopard interrupted him, his words as firm as iron, "but what is due must be taken, not a single coin less."

Only by continuing with the status quo and being greedy for money can one avoid arousing suspicion.

"Yes."

Liu Dabiao was stunned for a moment, then responded and left.

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Leopard stood by the window, still looking in the direction of the greywater field.

My fingers tapped the window frame again.

a bit.

Outside the window, the morning mist gradually dissipated.

The sparse sunlight fell in the courtyard and onto the moss on the ground.