[{"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-208":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},2325426,4549,"Chapter 208","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-208",208,"\u003Cp>The Marquis stroked his beard and laughed heartily, “It’s just a painting, no need for all this fuss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it truly comes to that, I’ve got more than enough charges to my name for secretly hoarding imperial paintings,” the Marquis said with utter indifference, studying the painting closely and growing more fond by the moment—“No wonder it’s a famed court painting from the previous dynasty; the lady depicted seems to have come alive. I’m taking this painting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou instantly felt a wave of relief, his whole body light and cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am deeply grateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t your fault. You’re just a young man—you delivered the goods safely, and that’s already impressive. Don’t trouble yourself with these petty matters of appraisal,” the Marquis reassured Chen Guanlou, urging him not to dwell on it. Whoever handled this would inevitably be exploited by the Liu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou felt profound gratitude—he never expected the Marquis to be so generous and righteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, Liu Daowen has balls of steel—I underestimated him,” the Marquis muttered in admiration. A mere junior official of the Minor Office of Works dared to steal and hoard imperial treasures? He had the heart of a bear and the guts of a panther!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the guest advisors spoke up: “Could it be that Liu Daowen was merely holding the painting on behalf of Jiang Tu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that he was holding it for Jiang Tu—it’s that he stole it behind Jiang Tu’s back. That scoundrel Jiang Tu has been siphoning countless treasures from the palace over the years. And yet the Emperor still trusts him completely, relying on him for everything. Your Lordship’s failure to gain promotion or title? Jiang Tu’s doing, no doubt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Why dwell on this? Jiang Tu’s presence at court isn’t all bad. At least the civil officials have no energy left to target our noble military families—they’ve all focused their fire squarely on Jiang Tu, relieving me of considerable pressure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis was remarkably easygoing, seemingly content with his current life, happy to play the role of a middle-aged playboy, secluded from court affairs and military matters, just as the old Emperor wished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old Emperor, too, appreciated the Marquis’s discretion. Unless absolutely necessary, he had no intention of making trouble for the Marquis or the Hou Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter was settled, as far as the Marquis was concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Chen Guanlou held grudges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liu household’s steward had schemed against him behind his back—this debt must be settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis had taken the risk of the painting’s future dangers upon himself to shield Chen Guanlou. In return, Chen Guanlou didn’t demand a high price; the collection of antiques and paintings, worth over forty thousand taels, he accepted only a break-even price of ten thousand taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Marquis refused—he insisted Chen Guanlou had worked hard to retrieve the goods and deserved to share in the profit, and promptly raised the price to fifteen thousand taels. Chen Guanlou couldn’t argue with the Marquis, and the deal closed at fifteen thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanied by the steward to the treasury to collect the banknotes, Chen Guanlou happened to meet Ye Young Master withdrawing money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Young Master needed to give a lavish gift but was short on cash, so he turned to the Lady of the First House for a loan. She had mostly jewelry and limited silver, so she gave him a withdrawal slip to claim funds from the treasury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two met, and the steward introduced them to each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou remembered Ye Young Master—he had been introduced by Zhao Mingqiao, who rented a room from Chunxiang’s sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ye Young Master clearly didn’t recall Chen Guanlou; he only felt the name sounded vaguely familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging greetings, Chen Guanlou left with the steward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ye Young Master withdrew his money, curiosity struck him, and he casually asked the treasury clerk, “What did that Chen Guanlou come here for? Why did the steward personally escort him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He came to withdraw silver, of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s not even part of the Hou Fu—why would he withdraw silver?” Ye Young Master couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk chuckled. “He brought the Marquis something valuable. The Marquis was pleased, so the treasury naturally pays him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Young Master grew even more confused. “He’s a jailer—what valuable thing could he possibly have brought? Why would the Marquis care about what he found?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Antiques and paintings—genuine, authentic. Do you think the Marquis would care?” The clerk was tired of humoring him, but since Ye Young Master was the Lady of the First House’s relative, he had to endure him, silently wishing he’d leave soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Young Master stood speechless—he hadn’t expected this at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t fathom it: “A jailer? How could he possibly acquire antiques and paintings? He’s not even in the trade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk chuckled again. “I wouldn’t know the details, Young Master. If you’re truly curious, ask the Lady of the First House. She might know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuming, Ye Young Master collected his silver and went to the inner courtyard to thank his cousin—the Lady of the First House—and casually mentioned meeting Chen Guanlou at the treasury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...The envelope was bulging—must’ve had several thousand taels in banknotes. Sister, this Chen Guanlou…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t meddle in this. Don’t mention it to anyone. Act as if you never heard of it,” Lady Lu cut him off sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, why not?” Ye Young Master was baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Lu’s expression turned grave. “Chen Guanlou himself doesn’t matter. What matters is that he’s acting on the Marquis’s behalf. That’s all you need to know. No one in the Hou Fu—not even the old matriarch—has the right to question the Marquis’s affairs. Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Young Master nodded. He understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just couldn’t fathom how a lowly jailer could possibly relieve the Marquis of his burdens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a jailer—how could he possibly handle antiques and paintings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?” Lady Lu snorted. “You underestimate the jailers of the Tianlao. Let me tell you this: except for the stars and the moon, if it exists in this world, they can get it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Young Master stared, eyes wide with disbelief. “That’s impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Lu smiled lightly. “Why impossible? Do you know who’s locked up in the Tianlao? Bandits, imperial officials, members and servants of powerful clans. How many treasures do you think they’ve hoarded? Do you think it’s hard for jailers to get their hands on a few of those?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Young Master instinctively wanted to say yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But meeting Lady Lu’s gaze, the words died on his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Chen Guanlou really can get the things the Marquis wants?” Ye Young Master asked, almost unconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Lu sipped her tea, speaking with quiet authority. “Of course he can. This city is different from your hometown. Don’t underestimate the small folk beneath the imperial walls—sometimes, the ones who save your life—or end it—are exactly these unremarkable people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve told you repeatedly: don’t judge the people of the capital by the standards of your village. Even the highest officials may one day become prisoners. A mere jailer can make them wish they were dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, everyone in officialdom says: the end of a career is the Tianlao. Even a first-rank minister of the capital may one day walk through its gates. Take your teacher, for instance—I advise you: don’t get too close. His words are dangerous. One day, you might find yourself visiting him in the Tianlao.\u003C\u002Fp>",1240,"2026-06-20T17:39:59.050Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7ffdd074e55157a9b84e510cbec39c414c0679668b1940714082793d693c43ff","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-209","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-207",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]