[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s":3,"chapter-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-105":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Immortal Through Martial Path, I Who Cannot Die Shall Ultimately Be Invincible",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2325323,4549,"Chapter 105: Human Trafficker","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-105",105,"\u003Cp>“Not everyone in this world harbors ill intent—those who refuse to make money are scoundrels. Chen Tou, you’ve served in the Tianlaomiao and seen countless evils; you’ve come to believe everyone is evil, and I understand that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li the Shopkeeper spoke like a wise elder, slowly uttering half-truths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s wrong for one man to hoard all the profit—it invites hatred. But if you partner with the Qian Zhuang, everyone in the Tianlaomiao will respect you. Even promotion to jailer is simple. If you agree to cooperate, I guarantee you’ll be named jailer before year’s end, managing one of the main prisons. What do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou lifted his teacup, swaying his head as if drunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled, pointing at the man. “There’s a saying: exaggerate past achievements, promise a glorious future, and demand you sacrifice your present. It’s called drawing a cake. Li the Shopkeeper, I may be young and unworthy, bringing shame to the Chen family—but I still have a brain. No cakes fall from the sky, and even if they did, they wouldn’t land in the hands of a nobody like me. The ones above barely have enough to share—why would they give away such profit to me? If you were in my place, what would you choose?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I would seize the opportunity before me,” Li the Shopkeeper declared with unwavering certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if it costs your head?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes—even if it costs your head. But your head being cut off is just your guess—it may never happen. Everything depends on human action. You can think I’m drawing a cake, or you can think I’m offering you a chance. It’s up to you to seize it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why should I take your chance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have a choice?” Li the Shopkeeper looked at him with a faint, mocking smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou suddenly froze in place. He felt the presence of two Peak Third-Rank martial cultivators drawing near—extremely close. The pressure of their power made not just him, but the thugs and jailers outside the pavilion, hold their breath and dare not move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the crushing dominance of the strong over the weak, the contempt of the powerful for the insignificant. A mere ant dared to say no? Utterly foolish, utterly ungrateful. Refuse a gift? Then I’ll take your face entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He weighed his options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Peak Third-Rank martial cultivators—where did they get such confidence? He felt he could fight, even if victory was impossible, escape was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then his identity would be ruined forever. The name Chen Guanlou, the status it represented, must be erased from the world. Erasing it might not even be enough—he had an elder sister, and she would surely be dragged down with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the jailers outside—he had brought them. He could retreat, but they would be left to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suppressed his restless heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gentleman seeks revenge—ten days is not too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No rush. No need to rush now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could pretend compliance, feign obedience while secretly resisting. That was his specialty. In later times, urban office slaves all possessed the skill of Sichuan opera face-changing, the art of splitting personalities—cursing inwardly while bowing outwardly, the mandatory lesson of workplace survival. Everyone has psychological illness—this is no lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He burst into laughter. “Li the Shopkeeper, no wonder everyone says the Qian Zhuang’s managers are all old foxes. You’ve prepared both soft and hard tactics. Why go to such lengths for a lowly jailer like me? Unnecessary, unnecessary. Tell me—what’s the cut? How does it work? I’ll say this upfront: if the money’s too little, I won’t do it—not even if you kill me. I’m risking my head—my pay must match my risk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li the Shopkeeper stared at him with deep eyes—surprised, suspicious, but mostly: Hmph. So that’s all he is. A young fool learns to be sensible; with training, he might yet be useful. People are just like this—spend all your kind words, they won’t listen; only when you turn hard do they finally understand their place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh! Today’s youth are all obsessed with money—open their mouths, they talk profit; close them, they say they won’t work unless paid enough. Back when I was young, if given a chance, money or no money, I’d do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s youth—no substance, too practical, no ideals, no passion. Good only as beasts of burden, never as talents to be cultivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Money is no problem,” Li the Shopkeeper’s tone shifted from cordial to condescending, the arrogance of a superior giving orders to a subordinate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll tolerate you—for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both sides reached a basic understanding, awaiting their first cooperation to further refine the arrangement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the talk, Chen Guanlou led the jailers out of Guanmei Building without delay, heading straight to Zui Xiang Lou as previously arranged, to drink with courtesans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Jin, Qian Fugui, and the others were delighted, hugging their mistresses, each grinning like fools. They were pleased that Chen Tou understood the situation—no break with the Qian Zhuang. Excellent! Superb!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as money’s made, who cares how? Life goes on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou joined their laughter, appearing satisfied. Inside, he seethed—a dammed lake ready to burst, ready to swallow lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the revelry peaked, the eldest son of Spring Fragrance’s neighbor ran into Zui Xiang Lou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Lou, something’s happened—my mother says you must return at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened? You’re so young—who sent you? Did the madam give you trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The madam’s my adoptive mother—she even promised me discounts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou kicked out. Da Wang, the boy, was nimble—he dodged behind the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me—what really happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ya Ya’s gone. Your elder sister sent people to look—no one can find her. I asked around and found out you’re here drinking with courtesans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou’s heart lurched. Ya Ya was gone—had she wandered off, or had she been kidnapped by a human trafficker? His mind fixed on one thought: trafficker. Ya Ya had been taken. In this age, no cars, no highways—where would he even begin searching? When had she disappeared? Could the trafficker still be in the city?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Chen Tou’s sister’s daughter was missing, the jailers all rose and joined the search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Tou, don’t worry—the little girl might just be playing too hard and lost track of time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s only three and a half—she couldn’t have gone far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe she’s at a neighbor’s house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She might already be back home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t think of the good. Think worst-case. If Ya Ya really was kidnapped, how do we find her? Who can help?” Chen Guanlou’s mind was chaotic—he needed clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Find Da Tou. Find Lu Da Tou. He knows every underworld figure in the capital—he’ll have connections. Liu She, go get Lu Da Tou. Meet us at my sister’s house. Go now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou finally realized—at this moment, no one was more useful than Lu Da Tou.\u003C\u002Fp>",1143,"2026-06-20T17:39:56.967Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","89c5d6ebbc525351e59c8fccf54cc6f8af236e64c69e08352f240b1f5a5bd928","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-106","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-104",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]