[{"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-117":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},2325335,4549,"Chapter 117","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-117",117,"\u003Cp>After finishing his shift, Chen Guanlou took wine and meat to visit Master Du, to deliver good news and spare the old man from constant anxiety and sleepless nights. If he fell ill because of it, the guilt would be great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old servant of the Du household saw him and grinned toothlessly, expertly taking the wine and meat, then pointed to the study, signaling him to enter directly—Master Du was busy inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For days, Master Du had been deeply troubled, fearing that one night he would fall asleep and never wake up, his head severed from his body. Seeing Chen Guanlou arrive, his eyes lit up, staring fixedly at the young man, trying to read his expression—was this a moment to drink and rejoice, or to wail in grief?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou gave Master Du a brilliant smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Du slapped his thigh. Perfect!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that smile, he knew everything was settled. Ha ha ha! Today, I shall drink three large cups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you manage it? Could the Sitong Bank really agree to you? Tell me quickly—I’ve been worrying about this nonstop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured for Chen Guanlou to sit and asked eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou replied vaguely: “I found a friend—a man with real ability, and behind him, an even more powerful patron. In short, Sitong Bank is now struggling to save itself. Li the Manager is overwhelmed, with no time to bother with two insignificant people like us. By the time they resolve their current troubles, it’ll be years before they dare touch this kind of shady business again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once bitten by a snake, one fears a well rope for ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s investigation ends, if Li the Manager dares to touch unverified antiques or paintings again, I’ll respect him as a man—but he’ll be as good as dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does the old emperor value most right now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money is the old emperor’s lifeline. Whoever touches his private treasury is labeled a traitor in his eyes—even his own son must shed a layer of skin; in severe cases, he’s imprisoned outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old emperor’s cruelty and lack of mercy extend not just to his ministers, but to his own sons as well—he has always been cold and heartless. The Crown Prince was once his most beloved child, granted everything he desired, almost as if the emperor would pluck the stars and moon from the sky to give him. If there had been a way to pluck stars and moon, the old emperor would not have hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now? He treats the Crown Prince like a rebel, furious at the mere sight of him, wishing to beat him to death on the spot. Where is the affection of those days?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Crown Prince suffers this, what of the other imperial princes? Only a few young princes, posing no threat to the throne, still earn the old emperor’s smiles and praise. Every adult prince, without exception, is under the old emperor’s tight surveillance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, even after the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s investigation ends, Chen Guanlou bets Li the Manager won’t dare touch this business for years. Thus, he himself remains safe and unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li the Manager is utterly confused—he believed his actions were perfectly concealed, flawlessly deceiving superiors and subordinates alike. Why had the Embroidered Uniform Guard been alerted? Was there a traitor among them? He couldn’t figure it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Zhao was a clever man. “Could it be that the Chen boy leaked word?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you assign men to tail him constantly? Did you see him contact anyone connected to the Embroidered Uniform Guard?” Li the Manager asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Zhao shook his head reluctantly—he couldn’t lie, only tell the truth: “No sign. The Chen boy goes straight from duty to home, two points, one line. At most, he chats with neighbors, greets them. He’s a lonely man, with not even a woman by his side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then there truly is a traitor inside?” Li the Manager’s eyes turned fierce, thick with murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Zhao instinctively shuddered, his heart uneasy. “It can’t be! Those who know of this business are all my trusted men. Who would be so foolish as to become the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s spy? Uncle, could there be another explanation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li the Manager slowly shook his head. “You don’t understand the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s reach. They infiltrate everywhere. Who can guarantee Sitong Bank has no spies planted by them? Such a large operation—wouldn’t it be strange if they didn’t watch it? We must investigate everyone around us—not just the person, but their ancestors for three generations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Zhao felt nails beneath his seat, sitting on pins and needles, shifting slightly, desperate to stand—but afraid that any sudden movement would arouse Li the Manager’s suspicion. He knew well: Li the Manager was the most paranoid, cruel, and ruthless man alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No bank manager is soft-hearted. Mercy doesn’t command troops; righteousness doesn’t manage wealth—this principle holds true for banks too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I handle this matter?” Manager Zhao, who had swaggered before Chen Guanlou, now trembled like a mouse before a cat, daring not raise his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only wanted to feast and drink, do simple tasks, collect generous rewards, and avoid responsibility. Investigating three generations of family? In his view, money came second—the real problem was the sheer workload, the risk of mistakes, and the inevitable punishment afterward. Li the Manager would surely make him pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to do this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Call him lazy, call him useless—he didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li the Manager shot him a cold, icy glance. “You? Forget it. Get out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Zhao felt as if freed from execution, scurrying away quickly, inwardly elated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li the Manager was deeply disappointed—useless mud that won’t stick to the wall. Today’s youth are all useless, lacking the drive he had in his youth. Every one of them fears difficulty like a tiger, no ambition at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had plenty of men under him. If Zhang the Butcher is gone, there’s Li the Butcher, Su the Butcher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thing is certain: he must dig out the traitor, flay him alive, chop him into pieces, throw the men into the mines as slave laborers, and the women onto the mines as prostitutes—may they never rise again in this life or the next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Manager, the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s Lord Xiao has arrived,” said the servant, standing at the door, speaking carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li the Manager leapt to his feet. “Quickly, show him in! No—I’ll go welcome him myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hurried out without delay to greet him at the gate—only to find Lord Xiao had already entered with his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Chen Guanlou were here, he would cry out: “The Embroidered Uniform Man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Xiao was the very man who had slain Duan Tianlin, the Embroidered Uniform Man who nearly severed Chen Guanlou’s head with a sword during the night curfew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Xiao wore a flying-fish robe, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, radiating fierce vigor. A deadly aura clung to him—no one knew how many had died by his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He towered over Li the Manager by a full head, looking down at the old man with quiet authority. “Li the Manager, let’s have a proper talk today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talk! We’ll talk properly! Lord Xiao, please come inside,” Li the Manager bowed low, respectfully ushering him into the flower pavilion, offering tea finer than imperial tribute—rare Mingqian tea from an exclusive origin, so scarce even the emperor himself had no right to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver had already been prepared—large-denomination banknotes, ready to be handed over the moment the time was right.\u003C\u002Fp>",1263,"2026-06-20T17:39:56.967Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e630efc72938c46ec2c59b8f0effcd56d57a84f84be3bfb585e0f3b0d72caa54","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-118","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-116",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]