[{"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-111":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},2325329,4549,"Chapter 111: Demanding Payment","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-111",111,"\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou deliberately took a day off to host a banquet at Guanmei Restaurant, inviting all the jailers to thank them for their efforts during Yaya’s disappearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His elder sister and brother-in-law stood by his side, raising their cups in toast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the banquet, Chen Guanlou took a few close companions to Zui Xiang Restaurant to continue drinking and reveling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not bring his brother-in-law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For his sister’s sake, he naturally could not—and firmly prevented—his brother-in-law from descending into corruption and moral decay. It was immoral, and would be despised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his brother-in-law left with his sister, he turned back and gave Chen Guanlou a deeply resentful look, as if to say: Brother-in-law, be a decent man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Zui Xiang Restaurant, everyone let loose and indulged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the wine flowed freely, Lu Datou told him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few days ago, I passed by Li Dahong’s house. I found Liu Shi was no longer there. Where could a woman like her go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou lifted his cup, swirled it gently, and smiled knowingly at Lu Datou: “Liu Shi has her own path—none of our concern.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou disagreed. “How is that concern? She’s Li Dahong’s widow. As fellow officers, it’s only natural to care. You look like you know where she went—spill the inside information!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou firmly denied it. “What inside information? A beautiful young widow like her always finds her way. It’s not our place to worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You definitely know something,” Lu Datou said with certainty. “That night, we kept watch together at Li Dahong’s house—you left alone for a long time. You must’ve met Liu Shi and talked to her. I won’t ask what you said. But I warn you: she’s still Li Dahong’s widow. Don’t touch another man’s wife. Even if you two were at odds, he’s dead now. Let the past go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou assured him: “What do you take me for? No matter how low I sink, I’d never harm a woman. You’re underestimating me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several cups, Lu Datou’s inhibitions faded, and the words he’d held inside spilled out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone’s talking about the Nameless Hero. Who is he really? How did he know the children were hidden on the boat? That night, when you went down into the Underworld—what did you see? What happened? We’ve been too busy to ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou set down his cup and looked at him. “I saw dead people. Countless dead people. Beyond that, I know nothing. Do you believe me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou nodded heavily. “I believe you. Whatever you say, I believe. We’re brothers. You wouldn’t lie to me, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou laughed heartily. “Of course we’re brothers. Why would I lie to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely concealed certain truths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the drinking ended, each man took a beautiful courtesan upstairs to spend the night in pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, they returned to work as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He encountered Fan Yuli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Yuli asked with concern: “You’ve been swamped, haven’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou replied: “Thank you, Young Master Fan, for your concern. I’ll make up for the delayed work. Please rest assured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Yuli laughed, waving his hand. “Take your time, no rush. But the ledgers must be submitted—the higher-ups are pressing hard. You know every office is short on funds. The officials above are watching the Tianlao like it’s a mountain of gold and silver. They give us no breathing room. This job is getting worse by the day. Lucky you—your niece went missing, but she was found in a single night. That Nameless Hero—who do you think he is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou shook his head repeatedly. “I’m still completely clueless. If I knew who the Nameless Hero was, I’d set up a longevity tablet for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke with deep sincerity, utterly genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Yuli nodded vigorously. “A longevity tablet is absolutely deserved. Without this Nameless Hero, those children might have suffered unspeakable fates. These child-snatchers are utterly lawless—daring such crimes right under the Son of Heaven’s nose! What are the yamen constables doing? They didn’t sense a thing! If I were a court official, I’d file a formal complaint against the Jingzhao Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou quickly agreed, praising him: “If you were an official, you’d be a model of integrity and diligence—the people would be blessed, and so would we. Too bad the court fails to recognize talent—you’re a man of ambition, yet stuck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Yuli was delighted. Chen Guanlou truly understood him. Other jailers were like wooden clubs—couldn’t even speak properly, only groveled and flattered until it made you sick. A man who’d read books was different—his words were so pleasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou entered the duty room, drank tea, then took out the ledgers and began working calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Team Leader Shi Hong had been overwhelmed lately. Fan Yuli had piled heavy burdens on him, leaving him frazzled and behind on several accounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou wouldn’t coddle Shi Hong. He assigned Qian Fugui to pressure Shi Hong into submitting the ledgers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The higher-ups were pressing hard. His delay was tolerable—but if he delayed the two Young Masters’ matters, it would be fatal. When they blamed someone, everyone would suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Hong resented this. The prisoners assigned to him by Young Master Fan were either stubborn or broke—he couldn’t freely use torture. He had no connections like Chen Guanlou, no backing, no approval from Sitong Bank. He could only force prisoners to pay, honestly and painfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money matters never resolved overnight. He told Qian Fugui to relay to Chen Guanlou: he’d pay eventually—but not now. He needed a few more days. Preferably ten or fifteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Chen Guanlou heard this, he laughed. “He thinks too highly of himself. When Old Yu was in charge, no one got extensions. Besides, I’m not the one pressing—the Young Master is. The Ministry of Justice is pressing the Tianlao. If the money isn’t paid, everyone suffers. Tell Shi Team Leader: I give him five days. After that, he must settle every account. Otherwise, he can explain it himself to Young Master Fan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Fugui hesitated, asking cautiously: “Chief Chen, are you sure you’ll do this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you feel sorry for him?” Chen Guanlou asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Fugui shook his head quickly. “Chief Chen, you misunderstand—I just mean everyone’s struggling lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t I struggle? Don’t you struggle? Everyone struggles. But difficulty doesn’t excuse delaying our superiors’ orders. Those officials above won’t care about our hardships—they’ll only blame us for incompetence. If we can’t even handle small tasks, who will? I seem to be pressuring Shi Team Leader, but I’m actually helping everyone. Better one man takes the blame—or all of us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Fugui stayed silent, too timid to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet inwardly, he agreed: yes, better Shi Team Leader alone bore the blame.\u003C\u002Fp>",1118,"2026-06-20T17:39:56.967Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d55507fa85dc644a8ab46aaef8ebb4fa8ae8ae97ebc315bb495c3a4c2ebae90b","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-112","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-110",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]