Tianjin, starting with unorthodox methods to achieve immortality

I searched around Willow Leaf Alley all morning, but I didn't find a trace of evil spirits or even a hint of yin energy.

Chen Mo originally wanted to slack off and kill some time, but Zheng Changkong insisted on asking him to lead the way.

He had no choice but to accept his fate and lead the four men to knock on doors and ask questions, from the beginning of the alley to the end, from sunrise to sunset.

By the time the last house closed its door, the sun was already high in the sky.

It's noon.

The bluestone path gleamed with a white light.

Normally, the weather in Jinshi should have gradually cooled down after the Mid-Autumn Festival, but today the sun is scorching hot.

The old locust tree at the alley entrance drooped its leaves, and the surroundings were quiet. At this hour, the vendors had packed up their stalls, and even stray dogs lay panting against the wall.

"Will this work?"

Fang Yingxia took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead and complained weakly.

The dark blue uniform was soaked with sweat, turning black and sticking to his back, feeling sticky and uncomfortable.

Liu Ruyan stood beside her, her uniform of the same color cinched at the waist, revealing a dark patch on her back.

She didn't speak, but simply raised her hand to shield her eyes, her face showing weariness.

Only Chen Mo's complexion remained normal; his face was clean and clear, without a trace of sweat or even a speck of oil.

Fang Yingxia was feeling hot and anxious, so she subconsciously moved closer to him. A sudden coolness rushed over her, like opening the door to an ice cellar on a summer day, the cool sensation penetrating straight into her pores.

She paused for a moment, then quietly moved closer. The coolness was even stronger, yet it carried a refreshing and comfortable feeling.

"Chen Mo, you're so cold."

She couldn't help but reach out and touch the back of his hand with her fingertips.

It's icy cold.

"Why are you so cool?" Fang Yingxia's eyes widened, she chuckled, and reached out to touch you, "Hehe, let me cool off too."

Fang Yingxia's shout caused the people in front to turn around.

Chen Mo gave her a disdainful look, then withdrew his hand expressionlessly. "If you touch me again, I'll have to charge you."

"..."

Fang Yingxia's face flushed red, whether from the sun or embarrassment, it was hard to tell. "Who wants to touch you!"

"It's getting late, let me treat you to lunch."

Seeing that everyone looked exhausted, Zheng Changkong waved his hand. "I know a restaurant called Tailai, which serves excellent Huaiyang cuisine. Let's have a good meal."

As he spoke, he beckoned the four of them to walk into the street.

Fang Yingxia jogged a few steps to Liu Ruyan's side and whispered in her ear, "Why is Chen Mo so cold? Is something wrong with him?"

Liu Ruyan glanced at her, her gaze indifferent: "Perhaps it's due to a cold constitution."

"But when I touched his hand just now, it was like ice..." Fang Yingxia said, then turned back to look at Chen Mo walking behind her. "In this hot weather, it's so cold!"

Chen Mo happened to look up and meet her gaze. He smirked and said, "If you keep nagging, the fee will double."

Fang Yingxia immediately turned her head and muttered under her breath, "Stingy."

Wu Gan, who had been walking silently at the back, chuckled twice, revealing a set of yellow teeth: "Miss Yingxia, don't keep provoking him. Chen Mo is a very wicked person."

He was a bit short, in his early thirties, and always had a slick smile on his face, looking like a wandering swordsman.

Fang Yingxia rolled her eyes at him: "None of your business."

The Tai Lai Hotel is located on the edge of the French Concession. It is a small two-story building with a small facade, but the interior is elegantly decorated.

Upon entering, you'll find a bright, open hall with several square tables by the window, covered with snow-white tablecloths. There are also private rooms upstairs.

It was lunchtime, and the main hall was mostly full of customers, some clinking glasses, some playing drinking games, and others talking in a buzzing voice.

Zheng Changkong greeted the waiter and asked for a table at the back, where the group sat down.

The waiter quickly brought over a hot towel, brewed some jasmine tea, and handed over the menu.

Zheng Changkong took the menu, didn't even look at it, and handed it directly to Liu Ruyan and Fang Yingxia: "You guys order, just order whatever you want to eat."

Fang Yingxia's eyes lit up. She took the menu, flipped through it, and then said somewhat embarrassedly, "The dishes here aren't cheap, are they?"

"I said I'd treat you all to a nice meal." Zheng Changkong picked up his teacup, his tone calm. "Thank you all for your hard work today, it's only right."

Fang Yingxia stopped refusing and joined Liu Ruyan to study the menu.

Chen Mo remained as lazy as ever, leaning back in his chair, his gaze aimlessly sweeping across the hall.

Wu Gan sat next to him, took out a cigarette and wanted to offer it to him, but Chen Mo waved his hand, so he lit it himself, squinting his eyes and puffing out smoke.

The waiter brought out several plates of cold dishes, then a plate of crystal-clear braised pork and stir-fried tiger tail, and the hot dishes came one after another.

Squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, braised crab meat lion's head meatballs, braised dried bean curd strips, and finally a clay pot of chicken soup, all with an irresistible aroma.

This meal will easily cost at least ten or twenty dollars.

Fang Yingxia was probably hungry, because she ate with a relaxed expression, having long forgotten the heat from earlier.

Liu Ruyan ate politely, picking up a piece with her chopsticks, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, and chewing slowly.

Zheng Changkong barely touched his chopsticks, seemingly lost in thought.

Wu Gan didn't stand on ceremony, wielding his chopsticks with great skill, and mumbled as he ate, "Captain Zheng, you've gone to a lot of trouble for this meal. If you need any errands later, just let me know."

Zheng Changkong nodded, about to say something, when the sound of conversation from the next table drifted over.

Zheng Changkong nodded, about to say something, when the sound of conversation from the next table drifted over.

"...Have you heard? Something happened last night near the White Bone Pagoda in the west of the city."

His chopsticks paused.

"How come I haven't heard of it!" came the reply from a middle-aged man in a long gown.

Although the restaurant was crowded and noisy, the conversation from that table still drifted over intermittently: "They say someone else died, and the skin was ripped off..."

The person at the table gasped: "Peeling again? Isn't that the same as this morning at Dongjiekou?"

"Indeed! This time it's even stranger, dying at the foot of the White Bone Tower, that place is already..."

"Shh..." Another elderly man at the table quickly stopped him, "It's the middle of the day, aren't you afraid of attracting trouble by saying these things?"

The middle-aged man shut his mouth in annoyance, picked up his wine glass, and took a swig.

Fang Yingxia tightened her grip on the chopsticks and subconsciously moved a little closer to Liu Ruyan.

Wu Gan also stopped eating, looked at Zheng Changkong, and then at Chen Mo.

Zheng Changkong had already put down his teacup and was about to get up and go over.

"You peeled another one last night?"

Chen Mo raised his voice and glanced at the table.

The middle-aged man nodded subconsciously when he was looked at like that: "Yes... I heard that he died a very gruesome death, with all his skin gone."

Chen Mo said "Oh" and leaned back in his chair.

Zheng Changkong had already stood up, took out the token from his pocket, and walked towards that table.

"Gentlemen, I'm from the Inspection Bureau. Could you elaborate on the case you mentioned earlier?"

The middle-aged man's expression changed upon seeing the identification, and he waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Sir, I only heard it; I wouldn't dare to speak carelessly..."

"Don't worry, I was just asking."

Zheng Changkong sat down next to him. "You just said that the police went to the White Bone Tower this morning. Do you know which department they were from?"

When asked this question, the middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, but finally answered, "It's from the West District branch office. My brother-in-law works there. I really don't know anything else."