[{"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-964":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},2326182,4549,"Chapter 964: Two-Faced Deceiver","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-964",964,"\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou received his assignment and escorted Sun Daoning out of the Tianlaomiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To silently poison Zhang Yulang and bring him to the brink of death, only Mu Yiguan can do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Mu, you’ll have to trouble yourself—prepare some medicine, and send Zhang Yulang off to a life of wealth and honor. He’s a pampered young master, raised in silk and jade, unaccustomed to prison life. He fell ill from stress. The medicine isn’t working—he’s near death. Tell his family to pay up and take him home. Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yiguan’s lips twitched. “My lord, what scheme are you cooking up to extort them now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What scheme? Old Mu, am I that kind of man? It’s the Zhangs who’ve done evil deeds—someone dislikes him and has threatened to teach him a lesson. You know the Zhang family is powerful; if Zhang Yulang dies in prison, it’ll be a nightmare. Right now, Hou Fu is in a precarious time, barely able to save itself. Sigh… better to send him home and let his family worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou put on an air of selfless concern, saying not a word about the case or Sun Daoning. The fewer people who knew, the better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To poison Zhang Yulang, no truth needed to be told—any half-true, half-false excuse would suffice. Everyone would be at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he couldn’t bear to drag Old Mu into this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Mu was an old man, terrified of the imperial palace and the imperial family—any taint of them would drive him to despair. If he learned the truth, he’d panic and make mistakes, leaving behind evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yiguan believed he had uncovered the truth. “How much did the Zhangs pay you to devise such a scheme to help Zhang Yulang escape? Beware—some silver isn’t worth the trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have my limits. Don’t worry. When it’s done, I’ll give you a hundred taels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two hundred!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One hundred and fifty. Not a copper more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Daoning had only approved five hundred taels total—spending one hundred and fifty at once hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yiguan reluctantly agreed, swayed by the silver. “But I warn you—if the Ministry of Justice asks, I’ll say it was all your doing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was my doing—I’ll own it. You know my character: I never frame others. If it’s my fault, I’ll take the blame.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He resolved to extort the Zhangs heavily after this was done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Zhang household steward came to visit, he hinted to the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steward was sharp—he caught the implication, assuming Zhang Yulang had bribed Chen Guanlou, and that’s why Chen Guanlou devised this plan to help him escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhang steward immediately bowed in thanks and promised to quickly make up the silver. As long as their young master could leave prison, the Zhang household would spare no expense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou deceived both sides—all preparations were complete, waiting only for the right wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make it convincing, Mu Yiguan dosed the medicine with precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He told Chen Guanlou: “The illness must worsen gradually, with several relapses in between—only then will it seem credible. Whoever examines the medical records will find no flaw. Only then will the matter be resolved satisfactorily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Mu, do as you please—I trust you completely. Secretly, the Zhangs have already sent the first installment. They’ll deliver the second when Zhang Yulang is near death, and settle the final payment the day he’s released.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, what a masterstroke! You’ll make a fortune this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We all profit. I never hoard gains—you know that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Yiguan chuckled. Precisely because he never hoarded gains, every guard in the Tianlaomiao respected him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He warned: “My lord, should you inform Zhang Yulang? I fear that if he doesn’t know, he’ll frighten himself to death when the illness worsens—that would be unfortunate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good point. I’ll go see him soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou descended into the Jia-graded cells, found Chen Quan, and asked about Zhang Yulang’s condition: “How has he been these past days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s been quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just complained a bit—asked for special meals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Zhangs have money. Let him have his special meals—deduct it straight from his account. If he runs out, I’ll notify the Zhang household.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wealthy families, especially favored sons—the Zhangs always paid quickly. Even knowing they might be extorted, they turned a blind eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one argued with prison guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even imperial relatives in prison didn’t haggle over a few taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards had countless ways to quietly punish prisoners—leaving them with no recourse, no proof, no justice afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You couldn’t go to the authorities and complain that guards mistreated you in prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too shameful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The authorities wouldn’t accept such a case!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No evidence existed—just words against words!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Punishing one guard meant making enemies of all guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless you’re certain you, your family, and your friends will never be imprisoned—if you ever are, the guards will exact revenge, and you’ll wish you were dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Money’s sufficient! The Zhangs pay generously!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou nodded in satisfaction—he loved prisoners who paid well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually inspected the cells, arriving at Zhang Yulang’s door. “Young Master Yu, how are you holding up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lou! I’ve missed you so much! I’m itching all over—can I bathe? I can’t take it anymore!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. I’ll arrange it. Your family heard you’re suffering in here—they’re heartbroken, pulling every string to get you out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yulang nodded. “I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhangs wanting to get him out was only natural—not surprising at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou lowered his voice. “But they’ve all gone to the wrong people, petitioned the wrong offices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yulang hurriedly asked: “Brother Lou, what do you mean? You’re the expert—tell me. If you have a way, please advise me. I’ll repay you handsomely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou cleared his throat, speaking mysteriously: “If this were a normal case, their current approach would work. But this is an examination fraud case—huge, grave. The Emperor is furious; many heads will roll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Master Yu, we’re like brothers by fate—I can’t bear to see you dragged to the execution ground. I’ll give you one piece of honest advice: to escape this, you must fake death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fake death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Near death! With your status and family, your household can pay heavily—and I’ll find a way to free you. But do you have the courage? Faking death isn’t a joke—it’s a real battle with death. If you lack confidence, stay in prison and wait for trial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How to fake death?” Zhang Yulang clearly had courage—faking death was nothing compared to prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou immediately pulled out a porcelain vial, poured out a pill. “Take this. Within three to five days, you’ll collapse and truly experience near death. The physician will treat you—relapses are normal. During this time, I’ll contact your family—we’ll work together to free you.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1122,"2026-06-20T17:40:00.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","42cb14f8feb0ffd427482e449375a293a2a424eb62c0b2137415fe1d76c41072","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-965","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-963",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]