Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

"What did you say?"

The fat on Ghost Hand Zhang's face twitched violently.

The leopard's voice sharpened, "You...you called the authorities?! Are you crazy?!"

Matters of the martial world should be settled within the martial world itself.

This is the rule of the trade.

Once the government gets involved, especially with a serious crime like privately raising demons, the entire Tsing Yi Society will be put on the spot!

If that inspector investigates, the Green Robe Society will have to pay a huge price if it wants to quell this matter!

Rouge Tiger paused slightly in her hand, which was holding the teacup.

She raised her eyebrows slightly, abandoning her spectator-like demeanor, and her eyes became somewhat sharp.

Ghost Hand Zhang stared intently at Chen Ping, his chest heaving violently.

A moment later, he suddenly let out a sinister laugh:

"Report to the authorities? Who are you trying to fool!"

"boom!"

Ghost Hand Zhang suddenly took a step forward.

The martial artist's vital energy erupted without reservation, causing the floor beneath his feet to crack into a spiderweb pattern.

He pointed at Chen Ping, his tone menacing:

"You just escaped from the Greywater Field, half-dead, and you think you can fly all the way to Shanyang City to report to the authorities? When I was making my way in the martial world, you were still playing in the mud! You think you can use the government to intimidate me? You're still too green!"

As if grasping at a straw, the leopard scrambled to Ghost Hand Zhang's feet, pointing at Chen Ping and shouting, "That's right! Master Zhang, he's bluffing us!"

Chen Ping offered no explanation.

He leaned forward slightly, staring expressionlessly at the enraged Ghost Hand Zhang:

Believe it or not, it's up to you.

Chen Ping's voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear:

"My men, carrying evidence, infiltrated Shanyang City overnight. They should be watching the sky right now."

"You can wait until dawn. If he doesn't receive my message before dawn..."

Chen Ping paused, his gaze sweeping over the leopard before finally settling on Ghost Hand Zhang's face:

"The petition drum of the Shanyang City government will be sounded. At that time, let's see if the constables and city defense troops of Shanyang City will surround Qingkou Town."

"How about we take a gamble?"

The hall fell silent once again.

The muscles on Ghost Hand Zhang's face twitched violently.

To be honest, he didn't dare to gamble.

It's better to be safe than sorry.

If the authorities are summoned and the charge of privately raising Rakshasa is confirmed, the incense master will be unable to protect him, and Leopard, as the direct handler, will surely be executed by slow slicing.

As the leopard's superior, even if he was unaware of the situation, if he were accused of "lax management and colluding with demons," he would be severely punished, if not killed!

This kid is using his own life to hold the entire Green Robe Society hostage!

Chen Ping is a mad dog!

Ghost Hand Zhang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the killing intent in his heart, and abruptly turned his head:

"Third brother! Fifth brother!"

Two burly men who had been waiting entered in response to the call, clasped their hands in greeting, and bowed: "Master Zhang!"

"go."

Ghost Hand Zhang lowered his voice, his face grim:

"Steward Li happens to be listening to music at the Chunfeng Tower in Shanyang City tonight. Go to the stables and fetch two fast horses, then hurry over and find him! Report the situation here in detail and ask him to investigate the matter at the yamen!"

"yes!"

The two accepted the order and turned to run away.

Chen Ping lowered his eyelids slightly.

Manager Li?

For Ghost Hand Zhang to mention this person, Manager Li, with such apprehension and even a hint of invitation, suggests that Manager Li holds an extremely high position within the Green Robe Society.

Soon, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the courtyard, quickly fading into the distance, and silence returned to the area outside.

An eerie silence fell over the hall.

Ghost Hand Zhang stood still, his hands behind his back, staring at Chen Ping with a sinister gaze.

Rouge Tiger lowered her eyes, sipped her tea, and remained silent.

Leopard sat behind Ghost Hand Zhang, covered in cold sweat, glancing at Ghost Hand Zhang and then at Chen Ping every now and then.

Chen Ping leaned back in his chair, dark red blood seeping from the bandage on his left arm, his broken ribs causing him excruciating pain with every breath.

But his eyes remained calm.

Time passed by, second by second.

No one speaks.

The only sounds were the faint crackling of candlelight in the hall and the rustling of the night wind blowing through the bamboo grove outside the courtyard.

Finally, Ghost Hand Zhang couldn't hold back any longer.

"Chen Ping."

Ghost Hand Zhang's voice was hoarse and deep:

"I'm giving you one last chance."

"Admit you're bluffing me, and I'll spare your life." His face twitched, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace. "I'll even offer three hundred taels of silver for your corpse core. You take the money and leave; the world is your oyster. I won't make things difficult for you. How about it?"

"how?"

Chen Ping slightly raised his eyelids, his tone completely calm:

"That's a nice thing to say, Master Zhang."

"But I'm not stupid. If I agree now, I'd probably be chopped to pieces the moment I step out of this yard, wouldn't I?"

Ghost Hand Zhang's fake smile froze instantly.

He snorted coldly, deciding to throw caution to the wind: "Then you just wait. When my men return, if the authorities don't make a move... I've already thought about how you'll die."

Chen Ping did not respond.

He closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and seemed to be in deep meditation.

Another half hour passed.

Chen Ping suddenly opened his eyes.

He used the handrail to stand up.

Blood seeped from his left arm, and the friction of the broken bones made his movements somewhat stiff, but he did not stop and walked step by step toward Rouge Tiger.

But he didn't stop.

Chen Ping walked step by step toward Rouge Tiger.

"Madam," Chen Ping said in a hoarse voice.

Rouge Tiger put down her teacup, her sharp eyes asking, "What?"

Chen Ping didn't waste any more words.

Chen Ping reached into his robe with one hand, pulled out an oilcloth bag, and slapped it on the table.

The oilcloth peeled off layer by layer.

A fist-sized, deep black crystal lay quietly on the table.

Upon seeing the corpse core, the leopard's eyes bulged, staring intently at the crystal, its face filled with resentment.

A terrifying glint flashed in Ghost Hand Zhang's eyes: "Rakshasa Corpse Core?!"

Chen Ping ignored Ghost Hand Zhang's exclamation.

He looked at Rouge Tiger and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"I present this to the lady."

"I only have one condition."

Chen Ping turned around and pointed at the leopard:

"If he dies, I live."

"Once he dies, this corpse core is yours."

A hint of appreciation flashed across Rouge Tiger's brows. She extended two long, strong fingers, grasped the corpse core, and a smile played at the corners of her lips:

"nice one."

Rouge Tiger's gaze shifted, looking at Chen Ping:

"Chen Ping, I'll take this job."

She clenched her fingers tightly, holding the corpse core in her palm, then looked up at Ghost Hand Zhang:

"Ghost Hand Zhang, did you hear that? This corpse core is mine now."

"You dare!"

Ghost Hand Zhang roared, his eyes bloodshot as he stared intently at the corpse core.

"Rouge Tiger!"

Ghost Hand Zhang, his eyes blazing with fury, roared, "You really want to tear off all ties with me for this brat?!"

"Tear off the mask of civility? When you led your men to kick down my door and injure my guards, why didn't you mention tearing off the mask of civility then?"

Rouge Tiger did not back down and took a step forward.

"Moreover, Leopard privately kept Rakshasa, falsely conveyed the steward's orders, and set a deadly trap to harm his fellow disciples. According to the rules of the Green Robe Society, this is a serious crime! You, as the eldest brother, have failed in your discipline. What's wrong with me cleaning house for you tonight?"

Ghost Hand Zhang choked so hard his face turned ashen, and his chest heaved violently.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and forced a ferocious smile onto his face:

"Good, very good."

"Rouge Tiger, you might not even need this corpse core, so perhaps..."

Ghost Hand Zhang slowly opened his mouth:

"Seven hundred taels."

"The market price is five hundred, but I'll add two hundred more taels to buy it. How about that?"

What do you think?

Upon hearing this, the leopard suddenly raised its head, its eyes showing disbelief.

Seven hundred taels!

Master Zhang was actually willing to go to such lengths to protect him!

Chen Ping watched coldly from the sidelines, without saying a word.

Rouge Tiger toyed with the corpse core, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Seven hundred taels? That's quite a sum, but what a pity..."

Her eyes suddenly turned cold, filled with murderous intent:

"This thing is mine now."

"Moreover, the leopard must die; this is the condition I agreed to with Chen Ping."

"you......!"

Ghost Hand Zhang could no longer suppress his murderous intent and was about to launch an attack.

Right now.

"Tap...tap...tap..."

Suddenly, a series of unhurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

The sound wasn't loud.

But each step carried a strange, unsettling rhythm.

The footsteps seemed not to be treading on the floor, but rather striking directly into everyone's hearts.

Just as Ghost Hand Zhang was about to unleash his power, his expression suddenly changed, and the boiling blood and qi in his body abruptly froze.

Rouge Tiger's pupils contracted slightly, and he silently took a step back.

A maidservant tumbled and crawled into the hall, then knelt down with a thud.

"Madam! Steward Li is here!"

These words were spoken.

The tense atmosphere in the hall vanished instantly, replaced by an even deeper sense of oppression.

Chen Ping turned his gaze towards the door.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the chair.

"clatter."

The footsteps stopped outside the threshold of the hall.

A tall, elegant figure silently blocked the moonlight from the doorway.