[{"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-121":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},2325339,4549,"Chapter 121","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-121",121,"\u003Cp>That night, over wine, the four squad leaders pooled 120 taels, making Fan Yuli delighted. Promises with no cost were handed out in bulk, basket after basket, poured out freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Shi Hong was delighted, but as he listened further, his expression collapsed. He realized he had rejoiced too soon, that his knowledge was too shallow, and he felt deeply frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the other three, it was clear they had never taken Fan Yuli’s promises seriously from the start—they treated them as mere wind. Only he, the fool, grinned happily and became the laughingstock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was utterly humiliating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the wine, the old custom demanded a visit to a brothel, the cost split evenly among the four squad leaders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After settling Fan Yuli, the four squad leaders gathered and inevitably exchanged a few words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When will Grandmaster Fan be transferred? Once he’s gone, Fan Yuli will follow. Any replacement would be less vulgar than Fan Yuli. When that day comes, Chen Tou, why not try for the position yourself?” Wu’s squad leader opened the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou waved his hands repeatedly in refusal, firmly avoiding the trap: “You talk all you want, but don’t drag me into it. We’re all scraping by under Fan Yuli’s thumb—better to keep our heads down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Tou, that’s not your style at all!” Wu’s squad leader teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow and shot back, “What style? I eat well, my family doesn’t starve. With wine, meat, and silver, I’m content. Everyone wants the jailer’s post—I want it too—but I know my own weight. Being a squad leader is enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too modest, too modest! Chen Tou, we all know your abilities—we respect them. If you took the jailer’s post, we’d all support you.” Wu’s squad leader refused to let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d heard the words, but he didn’t believe them for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When interests are at stake, even father and son become enemies. What about mere colleagues? Right now, we all seem to wear the same pants. But the moment the jailer’s post opens, every one of us here becomes a rival. No one wants to see a colleague rise above them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is human nature—neither right nor wrong, not about character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou refused to take the bait, and the conversation ended in awkward silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early in the morning, on duty at the yamen, the jailer Qian Fugui quietly told Chen Guanlou that Li Shaoqing in Cell 27 wanted to see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly but asked no questions. He left Qian Fugui and went straight to Cell 27.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shaoqing had grown thin—perhaps from too many burdens, and the case’s unresolved state, leaving him unable to eat or sleep, his whole frame shrunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…” Chen Guanlou said with genuine concern: “Grandmaster Li, you must take care of your health. You are a pillar of the court—the entire government cannot do without you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Li Shaoqing let out a bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought: how thick-skinned must one be to lie so blatantly, and with such sincerity, making one feel moved? He knew it was false, yet still had to remember the favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head. “I’m likely to die here. Chen Tou, don’t soothe an old man like me. I asked you here today because I have a favor to ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandmaster Li, speak. Whatever you ask, I’ll handle it properly—as long as it doesn’t put me in danger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou made the promise but laid out the ground rules first. He couldn’t promise everything. Officials’ demands were endless. If someone asked him to smuggle in a woman—could he agree? Of course not!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Tou, don’t worry—this won’t trouble you. I have a calligraphy album by a renowned master of the previous dynasty. I know you run an exclusive business. I have only one request: sell this album to the Lord of Hou Fu. I won’t deal with any other buyer. You keep half the commission—how’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t surprising that inmates in the Heavenly Prison knew about his exclusive business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Prison? A place with no secrets. A tiny thing spreads like wildfire in no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was merely curious. “Why must it be the Lord of Hou Fu? Why not another buyer? What if someone offers more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t trust other buyers. I won’t let my treasures be wasted. The Lord of Hou Fu may not be well-read, but I know he truly collects—he doesn’t buy to show off. Tell me: can this deal be done?” Li Shaoqing was firm—he wanted only the Lord of Hou Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it can!” Chen Guanlou agreed at once. Business knocking at his door—how could he turn it away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do I contact someone from the household?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shaoqing told him: “I’ll give you a note. Go to my house, find my wife—she’ll hand the album to you personally. Your commission, fifty percent, not a single copper less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou laughed heartily. “Grandmaster Li, you’re joking—no one can ever shortchange me on commission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shaoqing smiled too. “True enough. You run an exclusive business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They agreed on a rough price, and the deal got off to a good start. Further transactions would require Du Fuzi to handle them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li’s wife saw the note, she asked no questions and immediately handed the calligraphy album to Chen Guanlou herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of Li’s wife, Du Fuzi inspected the item on the spot and confirmed it as a treasure. Only then did Chen Guanlou take possession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, Chen Guanlou personally knocked on the back gate of Hou Fu. This time, he would transact directly with the Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning his purpose, the gatekeeper said, “Wait,” and shut the back gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou pinched his nose and stood outside, waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about an incense stick’s time, the back gate opened again, and the gatekeeper let him in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou, grown to adulthood, had finally stepped inside Hou Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Led by a servant, he passed through halls and courtyards until arriving at the Lord’s study. After being announced, the Lord summoned him in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou felt nervous—this was his first time entering Hou Fu, his first time meeting the Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t had time to look around on the way—everything blurred past, leaving only an impression of lavish splendor, the unmistakable aura of noble wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maids and old women he passed weren’t necessarily stunning, but all looked pleasant enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wealthy households chose maids and servants by appearance. Thus, whether ancient or modern, it’s always a world that values looks—no wonder the cosmetic industry thrives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath and stepped into the Lord’s study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your humble nephew Chen Guanlou pays his respects to the Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed respectfully as a junior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lord was busy writing, ignoring him entirely—only gesturing for him to be at ease. When he finished the calligraphy, the servant took the brush and ink, the maid helped him wash and rinse, he drank tea to moisten his throat, and only then did he finally look at Chen Guanlou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sturdy, good-looking young man with thick eyebrows and bright eyes. No wonder he was an heir of the Chen family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chen clan’s hallmark: men and women alike are all good-looking. But Chen Guanlou was especially handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just this alone pleased the Lord greatly—he warmed to Chen Guanlou a little more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be formal. Sit and talk. Is your duty going well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lord asked casually; a young maid refilled his tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou placed the teacup on the table. “Thank you for your concern, Lord. My duties are proceeding smoothly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s good to be ambitious. Though the Heavenly Prison is a poor posting. Bring me what you’ve brought—let me see it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou immediately pulled out the album he carried close to his body and offered it with both hands. “Please, Lord, examine it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lord kept professional guests on retainer to authenticate goods and assess their quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The album lay on the desk; the guests gathered around, studied it again and again, and finally reached a unanimous verdict: authentic.\u003C\u002Fp>",1353,"2026-06-20T17:39:56.967Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","61c9ecea193ca5191019e17513b32acc4a2ea7c1ee857a38f747c24eeeb2b52b","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-122","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-120",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]