Tianjin, starting with unorthodox methods to achieve immortality

The creaking of the wheels echoed through the empty streets as Chen Mo pushed the cart quickly toward the South Wharf.

There is a small steamship at the South Wharf called the Night Owl, which runs the waterway from the south to Jinshi. It also stops in Linhe County at night.

The ship owner has a complicated background and is lenient in inspecting cargo; he'll even transport coffins as long as you pay enough.

It is the preferred method for many shady people and goods to be smuggled.

Chen Dachuan took this very boat when he took the original owner to the Ghost Market in Jinshi.

The dock was dimly lit and sparsely populated at this time.

The Night Owl resembled a tin monster crouching in the dark water, with only a few portholes letting out a dim, yellowish light.

A narrow gangplank connects the boat to the pier, where a man with a cigarette dangling from his lips stands lazily, collecting money and selling tickets.

Chen Mo lowered his straw hat and pushed the cart forward.

"White or black?" The burly man smoking glanced at the large items covered with straw mats on the cart and asked casually.

This is an inquiry into whether he is smuggling any illicit goods, as the freight prices for the two types of goods are different.

"The white one, someone over there ordered a large item."

Chen Mo inquired about the price and handed over two silver dollars.

The man weighed the silver coin in his hand, grinned, and without asking any further questions, waved for him to board the boat.

"Stop! Police inspection!"

Several bright beams of flashlight suddenly shone from both sides of the pier, blinding people.

Five or six policemen in black uniforms quickly surrounded him. The one in the lead was a middle-aged officer with a serious expression, his sharp eyes scanning Chen Mo and his cart.

"What are you pushing so late at night?" The middle-aged police officer walked to the cart and shone his flashlight on the outline under the straw mat.

Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat, but he forced a look of fear and obsequiousness onto his face and bowed slightly: "Replying to the officer, it was a job the shop took on, delivering paper offerings to an old customer in Jinshi. The old man was in a hurry, so we had to catch the night boat..."

"Paper offerings?" A young policeman next to him frowned, seemingly finding it unlucky, and subconsciously took a half step back.

The middle-aged police officer remained unmoved, gently lifting a corner of the straw mat with his baton to reveal the dull-colored paper armor of the general guarding the house.

He reached out and patted the general's arm, making a dull thud, which indeed sounded like thick paper.

"Open it and take a look," the middle-aged police officer ordered, his eyes fixed on Chen Mo's expression.

"Officer, this is against the rules."

Chen Mo looked troubled, lowered his voice, and said with a sob, "The offerings were sealed, but if we open them on the way, we'll disturb the spirits. If the master blames us, I can't bear the consequences. Besides, these things are tainted with yin energy, which is unlucky."

"Enough talk! Open it!"

The middle-aged police officer shouted sharply, his hand already on his holster. "Things have been tense in Linhe County lately. Orders from above have been given to strictly inspect all ships and cargo entering and leaving the area! Who knows if you've hidden contraband in there?!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Other police officers gathered around, their flashlight beams focused on the cart.

Chen Mo's heart was pounding, but his brain was working at lightning speed.

Forcefully resist, kill them all?

The other party has guns, and there are many people at the dock; he will definitely be wanted afterward.

Open it directly? Over thirty kilograms of valuables will inevitably be exposed!

Even if it's explained as payment for goods, it's easy to be labeled as having a huge amount of property of unknown origin, not to mention that these assets are already connected to the Black Tiger Gang!

In a flash, he made a thought and communicated with the invisible paper puppet hidden behind the paper general.

Just as the middle-aged police officer's hand was about to grasp the edge of the straw mat, ready to pull it open with force—

"Squeak—!"

A distinct and audible strange sound suddenly emanated from inside the heavy paper general guarding the house!

A faint, chilling aura emanated from the paper general.

Under the flashlight beam, the general's originally expressionless face seemed to distort for a moment as the light and shadow flickered.

"Hiss..." Several policemen gasped at the same time, their hair standing on end.

The young policeman turned pale and took another step back.

There are many strange folk tales about paper craftsmen.

Especially at this late-night dock, facing a truckload of paper offerings that are clearly funeral supplies, the sudden strange noises and chilling atmosphere are enough to touch the deepest fears in people's hearts.

The middle-aged police officer's hand froze in mid-air, and his expression changed.

Although he didn't believe in superstitions, the aura and sound were too illogical. "What's going on?!"

"Officer... Officer! Don't move! That person might be unhappy!"

Chen Mo's eyes widened, his face filled with even greater terror. "This batch of materials uses bamboo from near an old grave, and the paper is specially made yin-talisman paper, which is inherently prone to attracting evil spirits! Once it's sealed, it absolutely cannot be consecrated halfway through the journey! If we disturb it, everyone on this ship will be in trouble!"

His words were half true and half false, and combined with the chilling aura created by the paper puppet, the effect was outstanding.

The police officers looked at each other, somewhat apprehensive.

They may not be afraid of living people, but they have a natural awe for these supernatural and ghostly things.

Especially with the recent rumors of strange things happening to the Fierce Tiger Gang, they were even more uneasy.

Upon hearing that it might affect everyone on the ship, the ticket seller, who had been squatting by the side smoking and watching the commotion, couldn't stay still any longer. He quickly came over and pulled the middle-aged police officer aside, and the two chatted for a while.

The middle-aged police officer listened with a mixture of anger and uncertainty, then glanced back at the cold-blooded general guarding the house, and finally let out a heavy snort.

"Damn it, what bad luck!"

He cursed, pulled his hand away from his holster, and waved it irritably. "Get out of here! Get on the boat! Don't block the way!"

After saying that, he stopped looking at Chen Mo and the strange paper offerings on the cart, turned around and led his men toward the other passengers waiting for inspection.

However, when leaving, his pace quickened noticeably, as if he wanted to get further away from the cart.

The ticket seller breathed a sigh of relief, winked at Chen Mo, and whispered, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up! And be quick!"

"Thank you so much, brother!" Chen Mo quickly thanked him, his heart still pounding.

He didn't dare to delay, so he quickly pushed the cart over the gangplank and onto the deck of the Night Owl.

Two boatmen in short jackets came over and helped push the cart to an inconspicuous corner of the cargo hold, where they hastily secured it with thick hemp rope.

One of the boatmen curiously glanced at the large items on the cart a few more times and muttered, "Wow, these paper figures and horses are quite heavy."

Without asking any further questions, he accepted the copper coin Chen Mo secretly handed him and left happily.

The cargo hold was filled with all sorts of odds and ends, and reeked of fish, mold, and cheap tobacco.

Chen Mo found a relatively clean corner, sat down against the cold cabin wall, and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

"That was close..." he thought to himself.

If we hadn't kept a backup plan, things probably wouldn't have ended well today.

But he also knew that this was just luck.

If one were to encounter a martial artist from the Investigation Bureau who possesses vigorous blood and energy and has some knowledge of unorthodox techniques, this little trick would probably be seen through at a glance.