Chen Mu had been a socially anxious homebody in his previous life.
The only bit of passion he had was for anime.
Even after arriving in a new world, he felt the desire to look around everywhere, but in reality, he still preferred to stay at home.
So, it’s very difficult for people to change.
Even after switching worlds, it’s just a change of environment, continuing life as before.
But it wasn’t as if there were no changes.
In the past, he would never practice a skill so fervently that he would forget to sleep or eat.
So actually, it’s not difficult for people to want to change.
As long as that change can easily give a sense of achievement.
Shape Cultivation Technique, Flying Locust Stone, Sleeve Sword Technique—these supernatural powers that only existed in novels and anime in his former life—Chen Mu now possessed them all and could clearly feel himself getting stronger little by little. How could he not be addicted to that?
…
Besides holing up at home to practice, he had picked up a new hobby—running in the wilderness.
The feeling of the wind blowing past his ears told Chen Mu that he was no longer the same as an ordinary person.
East Gate of Qingshan County.
Chen Mu had deliberately taken a detour to arrive at the East Gate from the direction of the South Gate, just so he could have a longer run in the deserted outdoors.
It’s incredible to think about. The fatty who in his past life wouldn’t move all day now actually enjoyed running?
East Market.
Chen Mu, wearing a conical bamboo hat, dressed in grey, his skin dyed suntan brown, and his face painted with birthmarks as a disguise.
“Fresh live fish, thirty Copper Coins each, first come first served!” Chen Mu shouted in a rough voice.
The servants of various families, who had already been scouting around, immediately gathered.
Goods were still scarce in Qingshan County. Fresh live fish was a rare type of meat.
The appearance of Chen Mu, the fisherman, had long been noted by the observant.
As soon as he showed up, a frenzy of buying would begin.
Two baskets of live fish were quickly sold out.
Carrying the empty baskets and with a string of Copper Coins in his arms, Chen Mu strode away.
But as he was walking, two brawny men in grey tunics blocked his path.
On their exposed arms, they bore blue wave-like tattoos.
Their dark faces were covered in horizontal creases.
At the moment, they were looking at Chen Mu with smiling faces.
“Fisherman, you’ve got a good opportunity,” one said.
“Our Bailang Gang has a big deal to discuss with you!”
Chen Mu looked at the two men without any surprise.
The third time he sold a large quantity of fish, he had noticed someone discreetly watching. Now they finally couldn’t help but come out.
“Alright,” Chen Mu said calmly.
The two members of the Bailang Gang were surprised.
This fisherman was just too composed, wasn’t he?
“You know what’s good for you!” the two of them snorted coldly, “Come with us.”
“No problem,” Chen Mu replied calmly.
He followed the two men.
They watched him closely, one in front and one behind.
Chen Mu wasn’t nervous at all as he walked down the busy street of East Market.
Looking at the direction, it seemed that they were heading to Anle Square.
But as they walked, the man behind, who was keeping an eye on Chen Mu, suddenly lost sight of him when a middle-aged passerby blocked his view.
He didn’t pay it much mind.
However, after the passerby had gone by, the fisherman had vanished without a trace!
Where did he go? Wasn’t he just here a moment ago?!
The two men stood bewildered at the street corner. Other than the passing crowd, there was no sign of Chen Mu.
Inside a narrow alley.
Chen Mu, carrying the baskets, walked briskly.
They were just two gang thugs. Usually brave and fierce, they could only bully the common folk.
The Soaring Leap Technique of the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique was best at quick and nimble movements.
With just a slight adjustment in his steps and using pedestrians as cover, he easily shook the two men off.
He’d have to be out of his mind to follow those two to the so-called Bailang Gang.
However…
“They didn’t want a protection fee and captured me for a meeting; they’re not after the few fish I have,” Chen Mu thought quietly to himself.
“Selling a big quantity of fresh live fish at once was just too conspicuous.”
Just beyond Qingshan County lies Bailang River, with no large lakes in the vicinity.
Ordinary fishermen couldn’t expect a catch like Chen Mu’s.
Chen Mu sighed. No one should be underestimated, especially the street gangs. They were shrewd.
“Someone has taken a liking to my bait recipe, huh.”
…
He dodged pedestrians, taking a roundabout route to throw off any possible tails.
Chen Mu returned to his home in the west of the city.
In the eastern part of the courtyard was a grape arbor, left there by the previous tenant.
The vines entwined, climbing over the wooden frame to form a natural shaded canopy.
Beneath the arbor, there was a stone table, by which a familiar figure sat.
His hair and beard were silvery white, eyes drooping, his face expressionless.
It was Jie Jia, waiting for his meal.
Ever since Chen Mu had lived here, Jie Jia had become a regular visitor, sorting out all three meals here.
With this great master present, Chen Mu felt a significant increase in safety.
A few meals were of no concern to Chen Mu.
At that moment, Jie Jia was busy rolling pellets—rolling silver pellets.
In his left hand, he held a piece of silver, pinched between the forefinger and thumb of his right hand, a pinch and a pull at a time.
The hard metal was like a piece of putty, easily pulled off in small amounts by him, then swiftly rolled into bean-sized silver beads by his fingers.
Jie Jia handled the beads until they were smooth and round, with no edges, the work of an expert.
Noticing Chen Mu’s entrance, Jie Jia’s eyes shifted for a glance, then he began to pick up the silver beans from the stone table, one by one, cradling them in his palm.
With a flip of his wrist, they swooshed up his sleeve, disappearing without a trace.
Chen Mu was used to Jie Jia’s peculiar hobby.
He glanced and then proceeded inside to “unload his disguise.”
…
An hour later
Fragrant pan-fried fish cutlets, boiled fish slices, mixed cold vegetables, fishball soup, and plain bread – a full-flavored spread adorned the stone table.
“I’d like to inquire about something,” Chen Mu said, picking up a slice of boiled fish.
“Speak,” Jie Jia said, chewing a fishball with squinted eyes.
“Do you know of the Bailang Gang?” Chen Mu asked.
Jie Jia thought for a moment with narrowed eyes, “Two Silver Pieces.”
“Agreed,” Chen Mu nodded.
“I’ll tell you after the meal,” Jie Jia said, taking a bite of the refreshingly sour vegetables, nodding in satisfaction.
“Run into trouble?” Jie Jia asked tantalizingly, “I could help you take care of them.”
“No, thanks,” Chen Mu waved his hand, “I can’t afford that price.”
“I could give you a discount,” Jie Jia coaxed earnestly.
“A ten percent discount?” Chen Mu asked with feigned excitement.
Jie Jia: “…”
Go cool off wherever it is cool!
…
At night, in the residence next to the Zuo Family’s.
Chen Mu lit the oil lamp and closely examined the note in his hand.
Zhang Ye, the leader of the Bailang Gang, had three hall chiefs under him and was the largest gang in the East Market.
Including Anle Square, a majority of the bustling East Market area was under the control of the Bailang Gang.
They were rumored to have dubious ties with a major clan inside the city.
Xinyou Alley was the gang’s main stronghold.
Everyday task assignments, major consultations, and financial distributions were all carried out there.
“East Market, Xinyou Alley…”
Chen Mu pondered for a long while and heaved a sigh of helplessness.
“This world is too unfriendly to ordinary people.”
All he did was sell fish, yet it had attracted covetous gazes.
People approached him with the intention of forcing out his fishing recipe.
“Even if I gave it to them, I wouldn’t be left in peace.”
To ensure the recipe’s confidentiality, his own fate would probably not be a pleasant one.
Being coerced into joining the Bailang Gang as an underling might be the best outcome.
And if he were to run into someone ruthless, they might well silence him harshly.
“Why can’t one simply be a good person?”