Tianjin, starting with unorthodox methods to achieve immortality

"Let me introduce you." Yue Shan waved to the three people in the tent and pointed to Chen Mo beside him.

"The new guy, Chen Mo, practices the Netherworld Paper Making Technique. He's temporarily assigned to our team to participate in this cleanup operation."

"Zhao Tie," he pointed to the older man who appeared more composed, "knows some divination and feng shui, can observe qi, and can also set up some simple confinement techniques."

Zhao Tie, who was about thirty years old, nodded to Chen Mo with little emotion on his face, but his eyes lingered on Chen Mo for a moment longer.

He clearly remembered the young man's appearance before the moon, as blank as a sheet of paper and as weak as a whisper.

"Zhou Ling." Yue Shan then turned to the short-haired woman. "She's the team's informant, skilled in marksmanship and concealed weapons."

Zhou Ling grinned at Chen Mo, her eyes also full of inquiry.

Because of her young age, she couldn't hold back her words and curiously approached him upon seeing him.

"Chen Mo? Is it really you? Last time we met, the chilling aura emanating from you was so strong that I could feel the cold even from three steps away."

"My father-in-law said you only have less than a year to live. Is that all he has to do?"

Her question was exactly what Zhao Tie was silently staring at.

The Yin energy corrodes the body, depleting its very essence. In their line of work, this is tantamount to a suspended death sentence. It's already a miracle if the condition can be stabilized and prevented from worsening. To recover to normal in such a short time is simply unheard of.

Yue Shan didn't explain for him, but just stood aside with his arms crossed.

Chen Mo could sense the surprise in their eyes, and forced a smile at them, "It's half healed, not completely healed."

"Okay, that's their privacy."

Before she could ask any further questions, Yue Shan waved his hand to interrupt, "That one is Wu Tong."

He pointed to the corner of the tent.

A young man who looked to be in his early twenties was wiping a slender, straight-bladed knife with his head down. When he heard this, he looked up, revealing a rather handsome face, but with a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

His gaze first swept quickly over Zhou Ling before landing on Chen Mo, giving him a nod that was neither enthusiastic nor impolite.

"He uses a knife and has good legwork skills." Yue Shan's introduction remained brief.

Wu Tong didn't stop wiping the knife; he just casually hummed in Chen Mo's direction.

He clearly had little interest in Chen Mo; most of the time, his attention seemed to drift towards Zhou Ling.

Zhou Ling, however, seemed completely oblivious, her entire curiosity focused on Chen Mo. "Half-healed? How much of your skill can you use now? The Netherworld Paper-Making Technique... I haven't seen its true form yet."

She didn't mention lifespan again, but her inquiries seemed even stronger.

This time, Yue Shan didn't stop him, but just looked at Chen Mo.

Wu Tong paused in wiping the knife and looked up.

Sensing the scrutinizing gazes of the group, Chen Mo didn't say anything. He took out a small paper puppet of a sword and weapon, no bigger than the palm of his hand, from his cloth bag.

He brought his two fingers together, and a wisp of purple light, more solid than before, swirled around his fingertips, quickly disappearing into the paper figure's eyebrows and eyes.

The paper figure trembled and instantly expanded to the size of a person. Its head slowly turned, without facial features, yet it made Zhou Ling, who was facing it, feel a chill as if she were being watched.

"Paper puppets obey commands; they can fight, act as bait, and deliver simple items."

Chen Mo gave a general introduction to the functions of the swords and paper puppets. He explained that his own cultivation techniques were all in the secret vault of the Zhenyi Bureau, so there was no point in hiding them.

"In my current state, I can control two paper puppets for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea."

As soon as he finished speaking, the paper figure took a step forward, raised its stiff arm towards Zhou Ling, and awkwardly clasped its hands in a fist salute.

"Hey!" Zhou Ling was startled, then laughed out loud, her eyes filled with even more surprise. "That's interesting! It's like a wooden doll, but it feels even more sinister."

"How many hits can this thing withstand? It's just some kind of unorthodox trick." Wu Tong frowned slightly as he looked at the paper figure that moved on its own. "It can only scare ordinary people."

His tone was rather impolite, clearly indicating his disapproval of this seemingly bizarre method.

However, it's not Wu Tong's fault. Everyone in the Suppression Bureau who cultivates Qi and Blood Martial Arts has some prejudice against these unorthodox methods.

This trend has existed since the arrival of the Red Moon a century ago.

"That's enough," Yue Shan said in a deep voice, silencing any potential argument.

I was afraid that the two young people, being so competitive, would start fighting right there in the tent.

He knew better than the others in the tent whether the paper figure was strong or not, after all, they had already fought it that night at the Black Tiger Gang's place.

Chen Mo looked at Wu Tong with some strangeness. What was the reason for this inexplicable hostility?

What happened to the promise of harmonious, supportive, and friendly teamwork?

Thinking to himself, he still clasped his hands in greeting to the group without changing his expression: "I'm new here, please give me your guidance, seniors."

"It's not about giving us pointers, it's about looking out for each other," Wu Tong said calmly. "Just don't hold us back."

Yue Shan ignored them, walked to a metal box, took out a neatly folded black uniform, a black waist tag, and a sheathed straight knife, and turned to hand them to Chen Mo.

"We all trained at the Inspection Bureau; these are standard equipment for field staff at the Inspection Bureau."

"The uniform fabric is specially made and has a certain effect of protecting against ordinary yin energy, but don't expect it to stop swords and powerful spells."

"Once activated by dripping blood, the waist tag will connect with your aura, serving as both an identity credential and a simple warning and communication function."

Chen Mo took the clothes; they were slightly cool to the touch and had a tough texture.

"The sword is a standard-issue demon-slaying sword, somewhat useful against ordinary ghosts and spirits, and also effective at cutting people."

Yue Shan then pulled a thin booklet out of his pocket.

"The Three Styles of Wind Breaking are basic sword techniques used in the army and the Zhenyi Division. They are not fancy and emphasize speed, accuracy, stability, and ruthlessness. They were created specifically for combat. Take some time to study them and try to understand as much as you can."

"In the town's special offices and the inspection bureau, the more skills you have, the better your chances of survival."

Chen Mo took the knife and the booklet, a slight thought stirring in his heart.

Is this considered a new employee benefit?

Although simple and direct, it exudes a style that prioritizes practicality.

"We'll arrange accommodation for you first. The rest of you can adjust yourselves and meet here for lunch at five o'clock."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the tent.

Chen Mo nodded to Zhao Tie and the other two again and quickly followed Yue Shan.

They passed through several similarly sized tents and arrived at a relatively neat area of ​​brick and stone buildings behind the dock.

This place originally appeared to be a warehouse and manager's office of a trading company, but it has now been temporarily requisitioned by the inspection bureau.

Yue Shan led Chen Mo into one of the two-story buildings, climbed the creaking wooden stairs to the second floor, and stopped in front of a room.

"This room is empty for now, you can stay here." He pushed open the door.

The room was small and simply furnished, with a wooden bed, an old wooden table, a chair, and a small wooden cabinet in the corner.

The windows were tightly closed, but one could see that the sky outside was growing increasingly gloomy.

The sweltering heat of August lingered even in the rooms near the river, and the air was filled with the smell of old wood.