White Wave

Chen Mu had been a socially anxious shut-in in his previous life.

The only passion in his blood had been reserved for 2D anime.

Even after coming to a new world, though he wanted to look around and see more of it, he was still more accustomed to staying home.

So changing was hard for people.

Even if they changed worlds, they merely changed environments and continued living as before.

But it wasn't as though nothing had changed.

In the past, he would never have practiced a skill so obsessively that he forgot to eat and sleep.

So changing wasn't actually that difficult either.

As long as the change gave someone an easy sense of achievement.

The Body Tempering Technique, Flying Locust Stones, Sleeve Sword—Chen Mu now possessed all these extraordinary powers that could only be found in novels and anime in his previous life. He could clearly feel himself growing stronger bit by bit. How could he not become absorbed in it?

Besides staying home to practice martial arts, he had recently picked up a new hobby—running in the wild.

The sensation of the gale rushing past his ears clearly told Chen Mu that he was no longer the same as ordinary people.

Qingshan County's east gate.

Chen Mu had deliberately taken a detour from the south gate to reach the east gate, all so he could run a little longer through the uninhabited wilderness.

It was unbelievable when he thought about it. A fat shut-in who had once sat still all day without moving now actually enjoyed running?

East Market.

Chen Mu wore a bamboo hat and gray clothes, his skin dyed sun-browned and his face painted with a Birthmark Disguise.

"Fresh live fish! Thirty coins each! First come, first served!" Chen Mu bellowed in a rough, hearty voice.

The servants of various households who had already been prowling nearby immediately swarmed over.

Supplies in Qingshan County were still scarce. Fresh live fish were rare meat.

Chen Mu's appearance as a Fisherman had long been noticed by those with ulterior motives.

The moment he appeared, people began scrambling to buy.

The two baskets of live fish were quickly sold out.

Carrying the empty baskets and a long string of copper coins tucked into his clothes, Chen Mu strode away.

But as he walked, two Burly Men in short gray shirts blocked his path.

Blue wave tattoos covered their bare arms.

Their dark faces were full of flesh.

They were grinning at Chen Mu.

"Fisherman, good fortune has come your way."

"Our White Wave Gang has a big deal to discuss with you!"

Chen Mu looked at the two without any surprise.

The third time he had sold a large quantity of fish, he had noticed someone secretly watching him. They had finally lost patience and come out.

"Sure." Chen Mu remained calm.

Now it was the two White Wave Gang members' turn to be surprised.

Was this Fisherman really this composed?

"Consider yourself sensible!" The two snorted. "Come with us."

"No problem." Chen Mu said evenly.

He followed them without hesitation.

The two kept watch on him, one in front and one behind.

Chen Mu wasn't nervous in the slightest as he followed them along East Market's streets.

Judging by the direction, they seemed to be heading for Anle Ward.

But as they walked, the man watching Chen Mu from behind suddenly had his view blocked by a passing Middle-aged Man.

He didn't pay much attention to it.

Yet when the passerby had gone by, the Fisherman in front of him had vanished?!

Where was he? Hadn't he just been there?!

The two stood blankly at the street corner. Apart from the passing crowd, there was no trace of Chen Mu anywhere.

Inside a small alley.

Chen Mu carried his baskets, his steps light and brisk.

They were just two gang thugs. Usually, they acted tough and fought fiercely, but they could only handle ordinary people.

The Leaping Style of the Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique excelled at dodging, turning, and shifting.

With only a slight adjustment to his steps and the cover of passing pedestrians, he had easily shaken them off.

He would have to have water in his brain to follow those two to the so-called White Wave Gang.

But...

"They didn't demand protection money directly. They wanted to take me away for a talk, so they aren't after the little profit from my fish."

Chen Mu pondered silently.

"Selling a large quantity of fresh live fish at once was still too eye-catching."

There was only one Bailang River outside Qingshan County, and no large lakes.

An ordinary Fisherman could never make catches like Chen Mu's.

Chen Mu sighed. He couldn't underestimate anyone, especially gangs that roamed the streets. They were shrewd.

"Someone has taken a fancy to my Medicated Bait."

Avoiding pedestrians all the way, he took a roundabout route to make sure no one was following him.

Chen Mu returned to his home in the west of the city.

A grape arbor stood on the east side of the courtyard, planted by the previous tenant.

The vines intertwined and climbed across the wooden frame, forming a natural sunshade.

A Stone Table stood beneath the arbor, and a familiar figure sat beside it.

Silver-white hair and beard, drooping eyelids, expressionless face.

It was Jie Jia, waiting for his meal.

Ever since Chen Mu had moved here, Jie Jia had become a frequent guest. He took all three meals a day at Chen Mu's place.

With such a master guarding the place, Chen Mu felt far safer.

It was only a few meals. Chen Mu didn't mind.

At the moment, Jie Jia was busy rolling little balls—little silver balls.

He held a piece of broken silver in his left hand and pinched it between the index finger and thumb of his right hand. With a pinch and a pull—

The hard metal was like a lump of clay. He easily tore off a small piece, then rolled it between his fingers into a Silver Bead the size of a soybean.

The bead Jie Jia rolled was round and smooth, without a single edge. One look was enough to tell that he was well practiced.

Noticing Chen Mu enter, Jie Jia rolled his eyes and glanced at him, then picked up the silver beans on the Stone Table one by one and placed them in his palm.

With a flip of his wrist, he gathered them into his sleeve, and the silver beans completely disappeared.

Chen Mu was already used to Jie Jia's strange hobby.

After one glance, he went inside to "remove his makeup."

Half an hour later.

Pan-fried fish chunks, Boiled Fish slices, cold mixed vegetables, Fish Ball Soup, and White Wheat Rice. Dishes rich in color, aroma, and flavor filled the Stone Table.

"I'd like to ask about something." Chen Mu said, picking up a slice of Boiled Fish.

"Go ahead." Jie Jia narrowed his eyes as he chewed a fish ball.

"Do you know the White Wave Gang?" Chen Mu asked.

Jie Jia narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. "Two taels."

"Fine." Chen Mu nodded.

"Pay me after dinner." Jie Jia took a bite of the tangy vegetables and nodded in satisfaction.

"Run into trouble?" Jie Jia tempted him. "I can help you get rid of them."

"No." Chen Mu waved a hand. "I can't afford that price."

"I can give you a discount." Jie Jia coaxed.

"Ninety percent off?" Chen Mu asked with a delighted expression.

Jie Jia: "..."

Go cool yourself somewhere else!

That night, at the Residence beside the Zuo Family's home.

Chen Mu lit an oil lamp and carefully studied the note in his hand.

The White Wave Gang's Gang Leader, Zhang Ye, had three Hall Masters beneath him. It was the largest gang in the East Market area.

More than half of the prosperous East Market district, including Anle Ward, lay within the White Wave Gang's territory.

Rumor had it that they had murky ties to one of the city's great clans.

Xinyou Alley was the gang's main base.

Daily task assignments, discussions of major matters, distribution of money, and more were all handled there.

"East Market, Xinyou Alley..."

Chen Mu considered it for a long while, then sighed helplessly.

"This world is far too unfriendly to ordinary people."

He had merely sold some fish, yet it had drawn envious eyes.

They had come looking for him because they wanted to force out his secret for catching fish.

"Even if I gave it to them, I still wouldn't have peace."

To ensure the secret did not leak, his fate likely wouldn't be pleasant.

Being forced into the White Wave Gang and made to risk his life for them would be the best possible outcome.

If he encountered someone ruthless, they might simply silence him for good.

"Why can't they just be good people?"