[{"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-26":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},2325244,4549,"Chapter 26","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-26",26,"\u003Cp>The killer’s surname is Duan, his full name is Duan Tianlin, and he possesses a Martial Vein. Relying on his martial strength, he teamed up with several local companions to roam the countryside, becoming a notorious bully in the region. Later, when the court launched a campaign against the north, Duan Tianlin and his companions were conscripted into the army. Once enlisted, they thrived like fish in water and were quickly promoted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Du recounted the killer’s past in a slow, measured tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou only then learned that the killer had once been a soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had he been a soldier, he had become a military officer. After all, possessing a Martial Vein and formidable martial prowess, even though he lacked personal virtue and acted recklessly, the army needed men like him and turned a blind eye. Before enlistment, Duan had arranged a marriage. But because he was constantly away, the wedding was delayed; as the bride’s age grew older, Duan’s parents wrote to him, urging him to find a way to return home for the wedding or to bring the bride north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Tianlin kept rising in rank within the army and came to believe the bride was no longer worthy of him. If his fiancée was willing to demote herself to concubine, he would send someone to fetch her north. Upon hearing this, her parents flew into a rage and immediately broke off the engagement. Duan’s own parents, knowing their son was a scoundrel, secretly agreed to the breakup without informing Duan Tianlin and arranged new marriages for themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should have been a normal matter enraged Duan Tianlin. He accused the bride’s family of being ungrateful and vowed to teach them a lesson. Everyone thought it was just angry talk—but he secretly returned to his hometown and slaughtered the entire bride’s family, even infants in their cradles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly a wicked man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bride’s family broke off the engagement with valid reason—what fault did they have? Duan Tianlin slaughtered them all over it—he no longer deserves to be called human, he is nothing but a beast. Relying on his martial strength, he acted without restraint, showing no regard for law or human life. He is clearly an antisocial personality, cruel in method and fiercely vengeful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what? Was he arrested?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Du sipped his wine and shook his head. “He covered his tracks well; the yamen only uncovered the truth later. But his deeds couldn’t stay hidden from his close comrades. When news of the bride’s family massacre reached the north, his comrades calculated the timeline and knew it was him. It’s said they confronted Duan Tianlin directly. No one knows what was said, but the matter was temporarily buried.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Duan Tianlin was cunning. Fearing his crimes might one day be exposed, during a field operation, he led his subordinates into a trap that framed his comrades for a heinous crime: a village massacre. All 323 villagers—men, women, children, the elderly—were slaughtered. Now the comrades were bound together on the same rope, like rats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was also a rumor about this massacre: several outsiders had been staying in the village. It was said Duan Tianlin’s men extracted a secret from them. The exact details remain unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, from then on, Duan Tianlin took pleasure in killing, often leading men out of camp to commit murders in remote areas. Those who walk often by the river will eventually get their shoes wet. His crimes eventually reached higher authorities. He got wind of the investigation and knew they planned to arrest him and settle accounts later—even his patrons refused to protect him. So he faked his death during battle, escaping and killing his own comrades along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His methods were ruthless and efficient. Hearing this, Chen Guanlou thought: if Duan Tianlin had even a shred of humanity instead of being antisocial—if he had served properly in the army instead of taking pleasure in killing—he might have achieved great things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how was he caught?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Du held his wine cup, swaying his head as he hummed two lines of opera. “After faking his death, Duan Tianlin went into hiding and took up murder, robbery, and banditry. He never changed. Once the heat died down, he began killing again for amusement. Killing a few people or slaughtering entire families no longer satisfied him—he started massacring villages again. He succeeded twice, but on the third attempt, he walked straight into a trap and was captured on the spot. He was later sentenced to death by a thousand cuts—deservedly so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The killer Duan Tianlin never died—he is still alive, locked away in the Tianlaomiao prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This secret is likely unknown even to those inside the prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou asked: “Did you go to watch the execution, Master Du?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I watch such a bloody spectacle? Public outrage was high; the government feared unrest and surrounded the execution ground with troops. The people couldn’t get close—they could only watch from afar. I’m a cultured scholar. How could I attend such a bloody spectacle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Public execution, yet the grounds sealed off—preventing close viewing. They claimed it was to prevent unrest, but Chen Guanlou knew: it was to conceal the truth of the substitution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duan Tianlin spent years in the army—he must have had many comrades. When he was arrested, didn’t any of them plead for him? At least a swift beheading would’ve been better than a thousand cuts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Du shook his head. “I heard no one from the army pleaded for him. It’s said Duan Tianlin was erratic—he even killed his sworn brothers. Everyone in the army likely resented him. No close comrades remained. Perhaps even his comrades hoped he’d die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s not right!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not his army comrades who saved Duan Tianlin’s life, then who? Who orchestrated the substitution, the switch, and fooled the entire empire?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And why save Duan Tianlin at all—yet leave him locked away, forgotten?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Tianlin deserves to die a hundred deaths—what’s so valuable about him that someone would spare him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou had too many questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Master Du couldn’t answer them. What Master Du knew was only the official version—the version the government wanted people to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what was the real truth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Tianlin’s village massacre seems undeniable. But could there be another reason behind it—not the one the public believes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In your opinion, Master, Duan Tianlin once had a bright future. With his bravery and martial strength, he would’ve risen to become a general. Why did he destroy his own path?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who can say for sure? Arrogance invites disaster. This man was rumored to be reckless and audacious. Perhaps he thought he could hide the massacre. But his men were many, and mouths even more—his own brothers might not have agreed with his methods. Secretly reporting him was possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So before faking his death, he killed his brothers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The inner details are beyond my knowledge. If you’re truly curious, try using your connections at the Hou Fu. They might have the means to retrieve Duan Tianlin’s case files.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou gave a self-deprecating laugh. “The Hou Fu wouldn’t even look at a lowly jailer like me. They probably think I’ve brought shame to the Chen family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be so sure. Recently, someone from the Hou Fu actually mentioned you—said you’ve tarnished the Chen name. Be careful. If they take notice of you, you might suffer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Chen Guanlou immediately expressed his anger. “The Hou Fu meddles too much! When I was starving, they didn’t care. Now that I’ve finally gotten a job, they complain I’m bringing shame to the family. Our branches have been out of five degrees of kinship for generations—what right do they have to interfere in my life? It’s like a dog chasing rats—none of their business! Besides, I inherited my father’s position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your father was a jail official—not a jailer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Du’s words struck Chen Guanlou like a soft blade straight to the heart—painful!\u003C\u002Fp>",1331,"2026-06-20T17:39:56.967Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b95896981ab6bca09606f38422ff05dcd6bd43bcb189786add61cf2ad694deca","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-27","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-25",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]