Tianjin, starting with unorthodox methods to achieve immortality

"Shh... those dark-skinned guys are coming."

The shopkeepers were terrified. Although they couldn't distinguish between the inspectors and ordinary police officers, they instinctively shrank back and made way when they saw the uniform.

Three inspectors in black uniforms were walking from the street corner.

The leader was Yue Shan, whom I had seen last night; he was not carrying a long sword today.

But that intense, fiery energy, even in the bright sunshine of the day, subtly created an invisible field that slightly diminished the pervasive gloom that permeated the funeral street.

His expression was calm as his gaze swept over every shop on the street, finally settling on the slightly worn cloth banner of Du'e Zhai.

Behind them were still the same male and female team members.

The man held a notebook, while the woman's eyes sparkled, and the small leather pouch and compass at her waist swayed gently with her steps.

They went straight to Du'e Zhai.

Chen Mo, who was inside the shop, seemed to be disturbed by the commotion outside the door. He slowly opened his eyes, and when he saw the person who came in, a perfectly appropriate look of bewilderment flashed across his face.

He tried to stand up from the wicker chair, but his movements were weak and unsteady. He tried twice before he could barely stand, holding onto the edge of the counter and breathing slightly heavily.

"Sir... what brings you here?" Chen Mo's voice was hoarse and weak, and his face appeared even paler in the dimly lit shop.

Yue Shan stepped into the store, his eyes scanning the room once more.

The focus lingered for a moment on the unfinished paper faces before finally settling on Chen Mo.

"Inspection Bureau, Yue Shan." He flashed his token, his tone businesslike. "Routine investigation. A heinous crime occurred in the west of the city last night; the Black Tiger Gang was wiped out. We've heard that the Funeral Street has close ties with the Black Tiger Gang, so we've come to investigate. Are you Chen Mo? The young master of this paper-making shop?"

"It's...it's me." Chen Mo lowered his head, coughed twice, and his shoulders trembled slightly. "The Black Tiger Gang...is gone? This...cough cough...this is just a small business of ours. We only...we only paid some sanitation management fees every month. We didn't know anything else."

His cautious and humble answer perfectly portrayed a frail and timid small shop owner.

Yue Shan looked at him quietly without saying a word, his expression suggesting he was weighing something.

Zhou Ling, the female team member behind him, frowned slightly. Her gaze lingered on Chen Mo's excessively pale face and weak breathing. Subconsciously, her fingers gently brushed against a leather pouch at his waist, where something seemed to be slightly warm.

Yue Shan suddenly stepped forward, getting closer to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo seemed to be intimidated by the masculine and fiery aura emanating from him, his body shrank back almost imperceptibly, and his breathing became slightly rapid.

"Extend your hand," Yue Shan said calmly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

Chen Mo hesitated for a moment, then slowly raised his right hand. His hand was thin, his fingertips were slightly cool, and there were still traces of paper money and gold foil on it. At this moment, he couldn't help but tremble slightly.

Yue Shan did not touch him, but stared intently at the skin on his wrist and the breath on his fingertips.

A moment later, his gaze moved upwards and landed on Chen Mo's brow, where a faint bluish-black aura lingered. However, under Yue Shan's intense gaze, it seemed to become more pronounced.

"The Yin energy has entered your body and penetrated deep into your bones." Yue Shan stated calmly, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself. "This is not just ordinary weakness; it is the result of long-term exposure to Yin energy without proper guidance and protection, which has led to the Yin energy's invasion and damage to your fundamental health. Moreover... the delay has been too long, and the Yin energy has become entangled with your life force, like a carbuncle clinging to the bone."

Chen Mo stiffened, then a more bitter and helpless expression appeared on his face. "Sir...you have a good eye. Family-inherited skills inevitably...inevitably get tainted with some impurities. It's just that I'm useless..."

His words were half true and half false. The Yin energy entering his body was a problem left over from the original owner, and it was also his best cover at the moment.

At this moment, Zhou Ling, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but speak softly, her tone carrying a hint of professional inquiry and instinctive regret: "The evil energy has invaded to this extent... the yang energy has been almost suppressed, and the functions of the five internal organs are declining. Looking at your age... I'm afraid... it will be difficult for you to survive a year."

After she finished speaking, she seemed to feel that saying these things to a stranger was too blunt and cruel, especially since the other person was so young. A trace of pity flashed in her eyes, and she added, "What a pity."

Her last words, "What a pity," were spoken softly, but clearly audible in the quiet store.

It's hard to tell whether it's a pity for his illness or for his handsome appearance that couldn't be hidden even when he was sickly and pale.

The tragic fate of handsome men is always particularly poignant.

Yue Shan glanced at Zhou Ling but said nothing, tacitly acknowledging the diagnosis. He then looked at Chen Mo again: "Regarding the Black Tiger Gang, if you recall anything unusual or see anyone suspicious, please report it to the Investigation Bureau immediately." He paused, his words carrying a deeper meaning, "Take good care of yourself. Linhe County hasn't been very peaceful lately; avoid trouble, and perhaps... you'll have more time."

These words sounded like advice, but Chen Mo detected a subtle scrutiny in them.

Did Yue Shan fully believe that he was just a terminally ill paper craftsman?

"Thank you... thank you for your guidance, sir." Chen Mo nodded weakly, followed by another suppressed cough.

Yue Shan said no more, turned around and left Du'e Zhai with his men.

They asked a few more questions at several other shops on Funeral Street, but all they got were fears of the Black Tiger Gang and a desire to distance themselves from the matter, much like what Chen Mo had said.

As the three inspectors disappeared into the street corner, hushed discussions resumed on Funeral Street, this time including whispers about Chen Mo's condition.

"Tsk, it seems that this young man from the Chen family is really past his prime..."

"Since the officer said that, I'm afraid..."

"Sigh, it's pitiful. They haven't even fully mastered the craft yet, and their family business is about to end..."

"When evil spirits enter the body... how many of us in this line of work can die a peaceful death? It's all fate."

Inside the shop, Chen Mo slowly sat back down in the rattan chair, closed his eyes, and looked utterly exhausted.

Only the slight rise and fall of his chest and the way his fingers clenched and slowly loosened revealed that his inner peace was far from what appeared to be.

"Not even a year to live?" Deep in his consciousness, the Moonlight Mirror floated silently, the entry for [Remaining Lifespan] flickering slightly.

Two hundred and sixty-three days.

He originally had a year left to live, but after making two consecutive moves last night, his lifespan has been reduced to just over 260 days.

"Cough cough..." A suppressed cough welled up from deep in his throat, carrying a metallic, sweet taste. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief without making a sound, and when he unfolded it, a dark red spot was glaringly obvious.

The Yin energy within my body is now flaring up intensely, and even in broad daylight, my hands and feet remain incredibly cold.

"I wonder if the ghost market in Tianjin has any methods to deal with evil spirits?"