Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

Chapter 43: Chapter 41: The Zhao Family Tragedy

Sifang Street, the Zhao Family residence.

The entrance to the small, bluestone courtyard was adorned with a pair of faded lanterns.

The family ran a pastry business on the street that had been passed down for several generations. They had even opened a branch shop and were reasonably well-known.

While not extravagant, their household could be considered comfortably well-off.

At this moment, a crowd of gawkers had gathered outside the courtyard, peering with lingering fear through the open gate, their mouths abuzz with discussion.

”I was just at their banquet a few months ago. How did things turn into such a mess?”

”What do you know? I knew something was off back then. A family of pastry makers—where would they get the Immortal Fate or the money to buy a Treasure Medicine to nourish a pregnancy? And they even threw a celebration for it.”

”Turns out his pretty wife was secretly in cahoots with the Fierce Wolf Hall, making who knows how much dirty money. Now look what happened. Not only was his wife hauled off by the constables, but he even lost his own life!”

A jealous gossip was clucking their tongue in amazement when they were suddenly bumped by someone’s shoulder.

He turned back in confusion, his face instantly draining of color. He quickly shrank back and burrowed into the crowd.

’A real Fierce Wolf is here!’

”There’s really nothing to see,” Dong Cheng said, trailing reluctantly behind the young man, a headache already forming.

In the end, it was all just the same old dirty business from the White Tiger Hall.

The Treasure Medicine was a genuine Treasure Medicine. The only thing was, before it could be used for Alchemy, it was best to nourish it with life force for a period of time.

And so, the pastry-making family’s luck suddenly exploded. They ”coincidentally” heard news of an Immortal Elixir.

It was said this medicine could ensure the safety of both mother and child, and even make the baby innately intelligent.

Boss Zhao spent a great sum to bring the Immortal Elixir into his home and successfully fed it to his wife, allowing the medicine’s power to merge with the unborn child in her womb.

Now, the time of birth was fast approaching.

Since Liu Zhen had made a handsome profit from selling the medicine, he naturally had to come ”collect” the ”Immortal Elixir” and deliver it to the White Tiger Hall.

As for the excuse? Well, he naturally picked the one that came most easily...

”Colluding with a Fierce Wolf?” Lin Shu mused, walking slowly through the crowd as he listened to their discussions.

A single sentence from a constable had sealed this family’s fate.

Common folk on the street, not content with living their lives peacefully, actually dared to collude with a Fierce Wolf.

This was too outrageous.

The most outrageous part was that Lin Shu, as the Fierce Wolf of Sifang Street, was completely unaware of it.

It was one thing for him to be a newcomer, but even Dong Cheng had never mentioned it.

This couldn’t help but pique Lin Shu’s curiosity.

”Don’t look at me. In our current situation, who but a lunatic would get involved with us? That guy Liu always does things this way. You’ll get used to it.”

Dong Cheng shrugged helplessly, sneaking a glance at the top of the young man’s head and muttering, ”I told you we shouldn’t have come.”

’Not only did we not see any of the money, we also failed to curry favor with the White Tiger Hall. But we’ve certainly taken the blame for it.’

As the new Fierce Wolf in charge of this area, in the eyes of the common people, this debt would surely be tallied against Master Lin.

If he had the power to do something about it, that would be one thing. But since he didn’t, wasn’t he just asking for trouble?

Just as he expected.

As Lin Shu and Dong Cheng walked to the courtyard entrance, the surrounding crowd fell silent.

The jealous ones were in the minority. Most people were more curious about what exactly the Zhao Family’s daughter-in-law had done for the Black Water Gang to make the Government Office forcibly arrest her just as she was about to give birth.

Did this new Fierce Wolf have no opinion on the matter?

Or perhaps, did he not dare to have an opinion...

”Let’s take a look first.”

Lin Shu ignored the strange looks from the crowd and stepped through the courtyard gate.

Inside, the entire household, from the old to the young, including servants and maids, was practically paralyzed with fear, slumped on the ground.

Even seeing Dong Cheng, this ”young wolf,” didn’t elicit much of a reaction. They all just stared blankly at the ground.

A man was lying face down there.

He was well-dressed, but his silk clothes were now a complete mess, soaked with warm blood.

His body was covered in marks from a blunt instrument, a section of the back of his head was caved in, and his back was riddled with horrifying gashes. It was clear he had been severely beaten first, then hacked to death.

”He must have resisted arrest and pissed off that guy Liu.”

Dong Cheng ruffled his hair, feeling a slight sense of regret.

’I actually quite liked the Zhao Family’s pastries. Sweet and soft. The kid had skill, no worse than his father’s.’

’But from the looks of it, I’m afraid I won’t be eating them anymore.’

’Resisted arrest?’

Lin Shu lowered his gaze to look.

The man’s fingers were clawing at the ground in front of him. Even in his last moments before he stopped breathing, he was still trying to chase after them, toward the gate.

Beside him lay a broom covered in bloody handprints.

It was probably the most suitable weapon he could grab at a moment’s notice.

With only this, the man had fought against several armed constables. He had tried to use this laughable thing to protect his wife and child.

”Tsk.” Lin Shu stood with his hands down, staring at the corpse. His expression didn’t change, but a chill quietly surfaced in his eyes.

’This man dared to resist arrest with a broom. That’s very dangerous indeed.’

’He must have terrified the constables, forcing them to beat him to death right in front of his family.’

”...”

The new Fierce Wolf’s silence made the crowd outside begin to whisper among themselves again.

The common people of West City just wanted to live in peace.

Whether they sided with the Government Office or submitted to the Black Water Gang, they were only trying to preserve their own lives.

After all, neither side was any good.

The Zhao Family might have truly colluded with a Fierce Wolf, or they might not have. None of that mattered.

What mattered was that Chief Liu, through his own actions, had declared just who held the lives of the people on this street in their hands.

No matter how many new wolves came, the result would be the same.

”Let’s go, let’s go.”

Seeing that the matter was settled, someone sighed, and the crowd of onlookers dispersed.

The area outside the Zhao Family courtyard suddenly became much quieter.

”Well, we’ve completely lost face this time.”

Dong Cheng clicked his tongue. ’What was the point of coming to see this spectacle?’

He shot an irritated glare at the surrounding Zhao Family members and barked, ”Hurry up and move the body! Do you all have a death wish?”

Since Liu Zhen had already taken the woman away, the necessary charges would surely be systematically listed by tomorrow at the latest.

If this family wanted to survive, they had to grit their teeth, swallow their pain, and stop making a fuss. Then, they needed to prepare a generous tribute to send to that Chief Liu.

If he was in a good mood, he might just spare the lives of the rest of the family.

Hearing this, the members of the Zhao Family looked grief-stricken.

They knew Dong Cheng’s words carried no weight on this street, and that the position of Fierce Wolf above him had changed three times in a row. So they hadn’t held any expectations for the two of them to begin with.

But what he said was right.

Even though the woman of the house had been taken away, the fate of the child in her womb was unknown, and their pillar of support had been beaten to death right here.

They couldn’t afford to cause a scene.

If they wanted to live, they had to endure!

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

It was accompanied by a loud shout.

”The evidence is not conclusive! This matter requires further review! Everyone, stop!”

The words had barely faded when a constable nicknamed Blackhead rushed in frantically.

He clutched a sweat-soaked slip of paper, his movements stiff as he held it high.

”Everyone, stop...”

Chang Yi stared at the slumped figures filling the courtyard, then looked down at the corpse at his feet. His arm fell limply to his side.

”HAAH! HAAH!”

He was silent for a long time, his breathing growing heavier, as if sweat was stinging his eyes. His gaze suddenly turned bloodshot.

SHINGG!!

This exceptionally green constable suddenly gripped his saber’s hilt. The cold steel blade slid from its sheath, his very fingers trembling.

After learning what was happening, he had rushed to get a signed order from his superiors and hurried over as fast as he could.

He never expected to be too late.

Looking at the corpse before him, Chang Yi suddenly found the rules and regulations laughable.

’Why is it that in all of Black Water City, I seem to be the only one bound by these restrictions?’

’Compared to this useless piece of paper in my hand, I feel an urge to draw my saber and cut down those bastards!’

”What is this lunatic doing...”

Dong Cheng had been startled by the sound of the blade being drawn.

But after getting a clear look at the newcomer’s face, a hint of pleasant surprise flashed in his eyes.

’So it’s the famous Master Chang, the one who acts like a fool.’

’The guy is too naive. When it comes to experience, he’s no match for a wily old fox like Liu Zhen.’

’But if, in a fit of rage, he really did draw his saber and cut down that guy Liu... huh! Wouldn’t things on Sifang Street start looking up!’

’As for how this reckless kid would be punished, what does that have to do with us from the Fierce Wolf Hall?’

”Heh heh.”

At this thought, Dong Cheng couldn’t help but chuckle aloud.

But in the next moment, he saw his own Fierce Wolf slowly walk over and casually push Chang Yi’s saber back into its sheath.

The junior constable froze for a second, then immediately lowered his head again.

”I know you’re used to seeing this stuff and think it’s no big deal, but don’t stop me! I can’t swallow this!”

Chang Yi clenched his jaw, tears welling in his eyes as the sweat stung them. ”These sons of bitches!”

Brother Zhao and his wife had always been good to him. When he was on patrol, they would often prepare tea and pastries for him, inviting him to sit in their shop for a while.

Two good people like that... with no conclusive evidence, what right did that gang have to just arrest one and beat the other to death?

”Who’s stopping you?”

Lin Shu looked at him, slightly exasperated. ”I was just going to say, they’re already gone. Who are you drawing your saber on, a ghost?”

”Secondly...” He glanced at the slip of paper in Blackhead’s hand and remarked, ”Sometimes, you need to be a little more flexible.”

With that, Lin Shu strode out of the courtyard.

Dong Cheng followed, feeling rather regretful.

’So the kid knows Master Lin. Sigh, and I was looking forward to seeing a dog-eat-dog fight.’

’Now that the junior constable knows how to be flexible, what’s to become of Sifang Street...’

”I’m heading back first,” Lin Shu said, stretching his arms slightly.

”Rest easy, sir. I’ll report back immediately if anything comes up.”

Dong Cheng forced a smile and cupped his hands, about to turn away.

However, before he could take a step, his entire body staggered.

”Oh, right. Before nightfall, remember to bring me those account books you mentioned.”

The young man’s voice held little emotion, just like back at the food stall, a casual mention as if he were just looking for some entertainment.

But the words themselves were enough to make Dong Cheng’s face turn deathly pale.

’People might get your name wrong, but never your nickname.’

’Truly worthy of the name Greedy Wolf.’

’It’s his first day here, and he’s already planning to use the ledgers to blackmail Liu Zhen into spitting out silver!’

’But if it were that simple, wouldn’t I have done it myself? Why would I wait for you, Master Wolf, to handle it?’

”Go on.”

At the courtyard gate, Lin Shu gazed nonchalantly down the long street.

’Am I used to it?’

’Doesn’t seem like I am.’

Whether it was running to West City to save that orphan and his widowed mother for the old lady, or pinning Zhang Ci down and killing him at the foot of the stairs in Cyan Willow Lane.

There was always the pretext of getting paid to do a job.

’But it seems I haven’t been paid this time.’

’Oh well. If I haven’t been paid, I haven’t been paid.’

’I’ll put it on a tab for now.’