Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

After leaving Chunfeng Tower, Chen Ping headed straight for Xifang Market.

The setting sun cast its rays, turning the bluestone pavement a glaring dark red.

The streets of Shanyang City are much wider than those of Qingkou Town, and even in the evening, the shops on both sides still have their doors wide open.

In the streets and alleys, one could see refugees wrapped in tattered straw mats, huddled together like corpses waiting to die.

After turning through two noisy streets, a series of uneven reading voices drifted over, mixed with the steam from the meat bun stalls on the street.

Chen Ping followed the sound and stopped in front of a dilapidated mud house that let in drafts from all sides.

The earthen house didn't even have a signboard.

Through the crooked wooden window, he saw a familiar figure standing in front of the stage: Li Wenxiu.

Li Wenxiu was dressed in a blue robe, and her hair was casually tied up with a broken wooden hairpin.

He stood ramrod straight, holding a tattered book in his hand, and was leading the reading at a steady pace.

A dozen or so emaciated children sat in the audience.

They sat on several wooden benches of varying lengths, dressed in coarse cloth clothes covered in patches. They were about the same age as Ah San, clearly poor children from the neighborhood, yet they listened with unusual seriousness.

Chen Ping didn't go in immediately; he simply stood in the shadows outside the window and observed quietly.

"Kid, you want to learn to read too?"

A hoarse voice came from the side.

Chen Ping turned his head and saw an old man with a hunched back.

The old man was wearing a faded long gown, and his cloudy old eyes were sizing up Chen Ping.

Chen Ping shook his head, gestured with his chin towards Li Wenxiu inside the room, and asked calmly, "When did he arrive?"

The old man followed Chen Ping's gaze, a hint of admiration flashing in his cloudy eyes. After a moment's thought, he replied, "It's been a few months, hasn't it? When this young man first came to Xifang City, he was with two teenagers, copying books and doing odd jobs everywhere. I noticed he had a scholarly air about him and seemed quite upright, so I lent him this empty room as a school."

Chen Ping glanced at the children inside the room: "Who are these children?"

The old man chuckled, revealing a few missing teeth: "They are all poor children from the slums next door who have no one to care for them. Mr. Li teaches them well, and he charges very low tuition fees. Sometimes he only gives them a steamed bun made from mixed flour. These children love to listen to him talk."

Chen Ping did not respond.

Just then, the sound of reading inside the room stopped.

"That's all for today. Go back and practice your calligraphy more." Li Wenxiu put down her book.

A dozen or so children filed out, running noisily toward the slums.

Li Wenxiu tidied up the books on the table and stepped out of the school.

When he looked up and saw Chen Ping standing in the shadows, he was first taken aback, then quickly walked forward, his eyes filled with undisguised surprise: "Boss?!"

The shout startled Gouwa and A-San, who were sweeping behind the house.

"Brother Ping!"

Gouwa dropped his broom and ran over quickly.

He stood in front of Chen Ping, his eyes red-rimmed, his hands gripping the hem of his clothes tightly, too excited to know where to put his hands.

Half a year has passed, and Gouwa has grown quite a bit taller.

Ah San, who was hiding behind Gouwa, timidly peeked out half of his head, looking at the broadsword behind Chen Ping, and dared not speak.

Chen Ping glanced at Li Wenxiu, then at the old man beside her: "You teach here without a registered residence. Aren't you afraid the officials from Shanyang City will come and arrest you?"

Li Wenxiu smiled somewhat embarrassedly, cupped her hands and said, "This old gentleman has some prestige in Xifang City. It was he who vouched for me that prevented the officials from causing trouble."

The old man waved his hand, turned around, and walked into the depths of the alley with his hands behind his back: "Since old friends have come looking for you, you should catch up. This old man needs to go back and have some hot porridge."

Chen Ping watched the old man's retreating figure, then solemnly clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, sir."

In this world, the old man is a kind person for being willing to vouch for refugees he doesn't even know.

Although Chen Ping himself could not do it, he never hesitated to show due respect to those who were useful and kind-hearted.

Turning his head, Chen Ping carefully examined Li Wenxiu for a few moments.

Li Wenxiu was thinner than when she was at the greywater field, with slightly sunken cheeks, but her eyes were much brighter than before, no longer the numb, lifeless look, but full of vitality.

"Master, are you here today because the six-month period is coming to an end?" Li Wenxiu's smile faded, and her expression became somewhat solemn. "I'll pack up and then take Gouwa and Asan back to Qingkou Town with you."

Chen Ping didn't move, and said coldly, "It's true that I won the bet. I originally planned to take you back today, but now it seems that you're actually doing quite well in Shanyang City."

As he spoke, Chen Ping reached into his robes, pulled out three slightly worn parchment sheets, and handed them to Li Wenxiu.

"These are three travel permits, one for you, one for Gouwa, and one for Asan," Chen Ping said calmly. "They are stamped with the official seal of the government. With these, you can travel freely in the five prefectures of Huai'an, Yangzhou, Jinnan, Baiyue, and Tianyan in Lichuan Province. No one will treat you as refugees."

Li Wenxiu shuddered, staring intently at the three parchment sheets stamped with red seals in Chen Ping's hand.

He was a scholar, and he knew all too well what an official travel permit that allowed free passage meant in this chaotic world of war.

He didn't reach out to take it, but his lips moved slightly: "Master, I..."

"Take it." Chen Ping interrupted him, shoving the travel permit into his hand. "Do you want to spend your whole life in that filthy ditch of the greywater field? With this travel permit, you'll still be an innocent person, able to continue taking the imperial examinations at any time. Or is your life's ambition to stay in that stinking ditch?"

Li Wenxiu's hand holding the road sign trembled slightly, and her eyes were bloodshot.

He remained silent for a long time, took a deep breath, and gripped the travel permit tightly in his hand.

"My ambitions lie elsewhere." Li Wenxiu looked directly into Chen Ping's eyes, her tone resolute. "But I, Li Wenxiu, have promised you something, and I cannot abandon it halfway. Gouwa still hasn't fully understood the accounts..."

"There's no need to take him back to teach."

Chen Ping interrupted him again, his voice cold and hard: "Teaching is teaching, no matter where you are. The world is getting more and more chaotic. The number of refugees at Qingkou Wharf is surging. The White Gang has already started using knives. Shanyang City is a prefectural city with strict rules, so it is actually safer than the wharf."

Chen Ping glanced at the drafty schoolroom and continued, "I think those poor kids really enjoy listening to your lectures. You can stay here. Gouwa can follow you to class and continue learning accounting. I've finished dealing with Li Yuan's matter. I should be coming to Shanyang City more often in the future."

Li Wenxiu looked at Chen Ping, seemingly understanding the meaning behind his words.

He no longer declined, solemnly tucked the travel permit into his pocket, and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your kindness, sir."

Chen Ping ignored his grand gesture and turned to look at Gouwa, who was staring at him expectantly.

"Brother Ping." Gouwa immediately stood up straight.

Chen Ping pulled a heavy cloth bag from his pocket, untied the rope, poured out five gleaming ten-tael silver ingots, and stuffed them directly into Gouwa's arms.

"Here you go." Chen Ping looked at Gouwa. "Go to the city and find a good pharmacy and a reliable doctor to see if they can treat your arm."

Gouwa hurriedly caught the fifty taels of silver.

The heavy weight pressed down on his hands, and his stubborn little face instantly broke down, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Brother Ping...I..." Gouwa choked back tears, biting his lip hard to stop himself from crying out loud.

Ah San stared wide-eyed; he had never seen so much gleaming silver in his life, and his breath caught in his throat.

"You can only help me with my work once you've fully recovered from your injury," Chen Ping said, patting Gouwa on the shoulder.

Gouwa wiped his eyes hastily, nodded heavily, and said in a nasal voice, "Yes! Brother Ping, I will definitely heal my injuries!"

Chen Ping didn't say anything more.

Having finished his business, he didn't plan to stay any longer.

"I still have things to do in Qingkou Town, so I won't stay any longer. You all stay here and don't cause trouble, but don't be afraid of trouble either."

After saying this, Chen Ping turned around and strode onto the bluestone path that was dyed red by the setting sun.

"Take care, sir."

"Take care, Ping-ge!"

Li Wenxiu, Gouwa, and A-San stood in front of the dilapidated wooden door of the school, watching Chen Ping's figure gradually blend into the twilight until it disappeared completely around the street corner.

……

As we left Xifang City, the setting sun sank completely below the horizon.

Shops along the street closed their wooden doors one after another, a cold wind swept through the streets and alleys, and dusk gradually fell.

As Chen Ping walked along the official road, he reached out and touched the two remaining travel permits in his pocket.

One was his own, and the other belonged to Liu Laoguo.

The six-month agreement has been reached.

Chen Ping's eyes were cold and hard as he looked in the direction of Qingkou Town.

In this cannibalistic world, all empty fame and powerful backers are false; only one's own strength is real.

Next, it's time for the Bone Refining Realm.