[{"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-18":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},2325236,4549,"Chapter 18","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-18",18,"\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou stopped visiting Master Su’s home and instead went to the Pingjiang Marquis’s private academy, where a feast of wine and meat won over Master Du. He maintained his habit of visiting every three or five days for guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through this method, he gradually understood the meaning of the first chapter of the Ascension Record and began attempting to cultivate it—the hardships were beyond words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the Elixir of Long Life counteracted the damage to his body, allowing him to persevere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The work at Tianlaomiao proceeded as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Warden Fan, having once served as a Private Secretary, handled affairs with exceptional finesse, subtly reprimanding the jailers while soothing their emotions, instilling in them a sense of awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, Deputy Warden Fan personally hosted a banquet at Guanmei Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the combination of the big stick and the raisin, he left everyone in Tianlaomiao dazed and thoroughly convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou privately confided to Chen Guanlou, “Deputy Warden Fan is more capable than Deputy Warden Jiang. Though Jiang died unjustly, he wasn’t entirely innocent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou took a sip of wine and probed, “Deputy Warden Jiang drowned in the river after drinking—this method is rather crude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A job done by greenhorns—naturally rough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, the tone of Lu Datou’s voice suggested he knew something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou wanted to press further, but Lu Datou abruptly changed the subject—as if he himself realized he had spoken carelessly after drinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou could only sigh inwardly. He still wanted to find out which powerful figures had clashed, dragging the jailers into their conflict. That night had been perilous—he had nearly lost his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, Tianlaomiao had been bustling, with dozens of new prisoners thrown in, filling every cell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason: the Street Brawlers, hired to settle disputes, had fought a gang brawl that ended in deaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinarily, even if a civilian dispute ended in death, the accused wouldn’t be sent to Tianlaomiao—the county jail wasn’t that crowded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was Jingcheng. Drop a tile from the roof, and five of the ten people it hits might be distant relatives of some noble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingcheng had no shortage of distant noble relatives—perhaps even the pork vendor on the street had a relative seven degrees removed from a noble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both gangs involved in the brawl had powerful backers; when the matter was reported upward, even the Six Ministries’ heads grew uneasy. So all were thrown into Tianlaomiao, to be tried at a later date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou never imagined that, after all these twists, the case would somehow involve him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, after finishing his shift, he stepped out of the yamen and met a delicate young girl—Xiujuan, the maid of Manager Liu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been waiting for you a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spoke at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiujuan smiled, lips pressed together. “Young Master Chen, my master has invited you to drink at his residence. I delivered the invitation to your home, but you weren’t there. So I’ve been waiting outside Tianlaomiao for you. Such hot weather, and you won’t even offer me a cup of water?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou quickly led her to the tea shop next door and ordered her a bowl of tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean Manager Liu wants me to drink with him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… why would Manager Liu invite me?” Chen Guanlou was puzzled—he had never met Manager Liu, had nothing noteworthy to offer. Why invite him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not? Ask him yourself when you meet him. Time’s running late—he’s waiting for you at home. Come along quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou thought it over. Manager Liu had helped him greatly—even if it was just a word from him, Chen owed him this debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter the reason behind this banquet, he had to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the Liu residence, everything looked the same—but his heart was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, he had specially prepared a generous gift to thank Manager Liu for his generous aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After months of twists and turns, he finally met the famed Manager Liu—a middle-aged man, slightly overweight, with a gentle demeanor and a perpetually smiling face. Yet his eyes were sharp, as if hiding blades of frost and snow, ready to strike and pierce through anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou carefully approached and bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Lou, come sit. No need for so many formalities. The last two times you came, I was away—I missed you. Tonight, you must drink with me properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m deeply grateful, Manager Liu, for your great help. I’ll drink to you first—bottoms up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou said nothing more—he drank deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Liu watched, visibly pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Lou, you’re excellent. Come, fill your cup again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Lady Liu appeared in a light green dress, graceful and poised. Chen Guanlou looked up—his heart skipped two beats—and quickly lowered his gaze, refusing to stare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Liu smiled faintly, sitting close beside her husband. “Little Lou’s here—still as courteous as ever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With slender, milky-white fingers, she poured wine—her hands like silk threads, winding around a man’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, didn’t I tell you? I said Little Chen was one of the few in the Chen family who truly sought advancement. Wasn’t I right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha… my wife’s judgment is never wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The couple bantered openly, oblivious to Chen Guanlou, who kept his eyes down, sipping plain wine, utterly focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if the performance ended, Lady Liu departed gracefully, leaving behind a lingering, pleasant fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Liu personally refilled Chen Guanlou’s cup, finally turning to the matter at hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I called you here for one thing. Recently, Tianlaomiao took in a group of prisoners—keep an eye on them. Don’t let the old hands here mistreat them. Tell them I’ll supply all the silver they need—don’t extort from the prisoners. They’re just following orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean the two gangs recently imprisoned for the gang brawl?” Chen Guanlou had a strong alcohol tolerance—forged in his past life, and unchanged in this one. After a dozen cups, he was perfectly sober. Hearing Manager Liu’s request, he instantly became alert. This matter could be large or small—he must understand its full context before agreeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Liu snorted. “Ignore those Street Brawlers—use whatever methods you have on them. If you handle them well, I’ll reward you extra. But those estate guards and retainers—you protect them. There’ll be a reward for you afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou sipped his wine. “Forgive me for asking, but I’m just a lowly jailer—no connections, no influence in Tianlaomiao. Why would you entrust me with this? And how is the Marquis’s household connected to these estate guards?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Liu clapped him on the shoulder and laughed. “If you’d agreed right away just now, I wouldn’t have trusted you with this. To be honest, I’ve already taken care of everyone above Tianlaomiao. But you know that place better than I do—easy to deal with the King of Hell, hard to deal with the little devils. Among the jailers, frankly, I trust only you. Look after those men. If you need silver, just say the word—I won’t let you work for nothing. As for why the Marquis’s household is involved—do you know why those two gangs fought?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1182,"2026-06-20T17:39:56.967Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8803d792df959fcb9a3cf5bfb38f0cb1be4d1bf332ed2c7999de4258382b695c","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-19","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-17",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]