The so-called treasured relics were nothing more than things Immortal Families had come into contact with.
Immortal auras remained on them.
Ordinary mortals could use these auras to comprehend the Immortal Methods hidden within.
But this Immortal Scion...
She could produce these auras herself!
That meant that even if Lin Shu couldn't condense the Blue Bird Immortal Body, as long as he had the cub by his side, he would have a steady source of Azure Qi, making it easier to consume Virtue Coins in the future.
He could even use the cub to mass-produce cultivators in Blackwater City.
Of course, whether these people could truly step onto the path of cultivation, and what level they might reach, was another matter entirely.
At the very least, it would provide a way forward.
"..."
There was no delight on Lin Shu's face. Instead, a trace of wariness passed through his eyes.
If he really did that...
The moment word got out, it wouldn't take an hour before he was forced to hand over the cub—or his corpse would be left lying in the street.
With Lin Shu's current strength, even Yan Jin made him feel threatened.
And no matter how strong she was, she was only a Fierce Wolf. Above her stood the White Tiger and Azure Dragon Halls.
Neither the Blackwater Gang nor the Yamen would tolerate such a thing falling into someone else's hands.
Even if he wanted to cultivate a few allies, they would have to be people he could trust completely.
But before that, he needed at least some control over his surroundings, to keep the news from leaking out.
Under the current circumstances, that was obviously impossible.
He still lacked the status. He didn't even have a proper patch of land to call his own.
"Ha..."
Lin Shu knew that things had to be handled gradually and that he shouldn't be too impatient.
He hadn't been in Blackwater City long. Simply managing to establish a foothold was already an achievement.
But what happened today had given him a wake-up call.
Blackwater City was indeed much like the filthy streets of his previous life, but there was a fundamental difference.
When it came to conflicts of that sort, Lin Shu had plenty of experience.
He could roughly figure out what these people cared about and what they feared.
Take Zhang Zhongping, for example.
Lin Shu could tell at a glance that the old bastard was all bluster and no backbone.
He wasn't some desperado bent on avenging his apprentices. His heart was set on fame and fortune.
Someone truly prepared to die wouldn't put on a whole street performance, hiring a crowd to play music and make a spectacle of themselves. He wouldn't even bring along his son's corpse and use it as a bargaining chip in a standoff with the constables.
He was just like a gambler clutching his last handful of chips, hoping to win it all back.
If the old bastard had even the slightest backing, someone willing to take responsibility for him, he would never have come to Green Willow Alley.
By contrast, Lin Shu had been much more cautious with Yan Jin, whose background he couldn't see through. Unless his life or his bottom line was at stake, he wouldn't easily make an enemy of her.
His judgments, based on experience, weren't guaranteed to be entirely right, but they could at least eliminate most risks.
But the problem was...
What if the other party wasn't human? What if it was just some big yellow dog by the roadside, and yet it happened to be an Immortal wandering the mortal world?
Against a dog like that, all of Lin Shu's so-called experience would become a joke.
The Immortal Scion in his hands was just such a case in point.
Put simply, he still knew too little. His understanding of this world was far too shallow!
"Better put you away for now."
Lin Shu lifted the covers and climbed into bed.
He tucked the cub into the corner beside his feet, so he could give it a kick at any moment and make sure it was still there.
This Immortal Scion might be his best chance to learn about all those strange and wondrous things.
Calming his mind, Lin Shu closed his eyes. He didn't dare fall asleep, so he silently set the Blue Bird Qi-Guiding Art in motion.
Its crisp chirps eased the weariness in his heart.
The sky was veiled in pale mist.
Lin Shu sat on a little stool outside the house, a bowl of braised-meat noodles in his hands.
His chopsticks lifted the noodles. As he chewed, the warmth slid down his throat and into his belly, filling him with a nameless contentment.
A full stomach made a person feel secure, too.
He let out a long breath. "It's not like we're short of silver. Couldn't we try something different for a change?"
Braised meat every day. They could at least make a proper dish for him to try.
"Uh..."
Yun Niang carefully smoothed over the marks in the dirt.
At his words, she looked up at the young man, her expression freezing for a moment. She wasn't sure how to explain.
"Forget it."
Lin Shu realized what was going on, too.
He didn't agree with the idea that anyone was born to die for someone else.
But in the Cheng Family's eyes, the Little Widow was obviously the culprit who had caused their young lady's death.
Even though ten years had passed, they might not go out of their way to look for her.
But if they ran into her on the street, they surely wouldn't mind taking the chance to vent their anger.
It was no wonder Yun Niang was so careful. Even when she went out to buy things, she only dared to go when the streets were quiet and take the back alleys. Bringing home some braised meat was already good enough.
How could she dare stroll openly into a proper restaurant?
"Just make do for now. Next time... I'll think of something." Yun Niang forced a smile.
Neither of them brought up what had happened the night before.
For Lin Shu, once he'd decided to keep the Immortal Scion, the Little Widow's choice to stay had actually turned out to be a good thing.
After all, a single man carrying a baby around everywhere would always attract a little attention.
"Hey!"
At the sound of knocking, a black Charcoal head poked through the courtyard entrance.
Chang Yi first looked at the Little Widow, then glanced at the tightly shut door. Seeing nothing amiss in the courtyard and that the widowed mother and child were unharmed, he finally relaxed. "Smells great. Could I get a bowl, too?"
"Sure. Pay first."
If Lin Shu remembered correctly, the ten taels of silver from last time had already been paid off with braised meat.
"The Yamen's short on money. I only earn forty taels a month, and I have to save up to get married!" Chang Yi instinctively clapped a hand over his money pouch. Even as a Purple Flood Dragon, he wasn't particularly wealthy.
But he hadn't expected those words to stir Lin Shu's envy of the rich all over again.
He was mixed up with the gangs and still earned less than a government officer. How was that fair?
"Charge him double," Lin Shu said decisively, setting down his bowl and chopsticks.
"Constable, I'll get it ready for you right away." Watching the two tease each other, Yun Niang couldn't help smiling for real.
However, just as she turned and went into the kitchen, before Chang Yi had even found a place to sit, two more figures appeared at the courtyard entrance.
"..."
Yan Jin's gaze swept across the courtyard. As always, she said nothing.
Beside her,
Bai Feng's gaze shifted back and forth between Lin Shu and the black Charcoal head.
A fleeting trace of coldness crossed his face.
But in the blink of an eye, Bai Feng was already raising a hand with a beaming smile. "Well, if it isn't Master Chang. I never expected to run into you here. Remember to give my regards to Lord Gu."
Crack.
At those words, Chang Yi's face instantly darkened.
He slammed the little stool down, then turned around and sat with his back to the two of them.
"Tsk, did I say something wrong?"
Bai Feng didn't get angry. He simply let his smile fade and glanced to the side. "Young Wolf Lord, ready to set out?"
At that title, Chang Yi, who had turned away, silently turned his head back.
According to what he'd learned yesterday,
the other fellow had joined the Cunning Fox Hall only nine days ago, and he'd already been promoted?
"I'm going out for a bit."
Lin Shu rose unhurriedly. Even with so many people there, his expression remained unchanged.
Compared with carrying the Immortal Scion around,
it was actually better to keep a level head and leave it in the courtyard.
After all, he could synchronize with the cub's senses at any time, which was like having an extra pair of eyes.
The Azure Qi lingering in the courtyard concealed its aura.
If it was just some ordinary petty thief, it wouldn't be able to steal the thing.
If someone he couldn't afford to offend showed up,
that would give him a chance to avoid the danger in advance.
Then he could simply force out some Essence Blood, sever their connection, and say, "This item was never meant to be mine."
If he really treated this hot potato as his own precious treasure and couldn't bear to let go,
then he could only blame himself for being muddleheaded and courting death.
Only the Immortal Body condensed from Azure Qi would truly belong to him.
"Okay."
Yun Niang nodded obediently as she watched him leave the courtyard.
On Long Street,
Yan Jin finally spoke. "There are quite a few Fierce Wolves from West City at the initiation ceremony today."
She slowed her pace and glanced sidelong at the young man beside her, reminding him, "Tian Jingyuan will be there, too. Remember to keep your emotions in check."
Lin Shu hadn't reacted yet.
But Bai Feng narrowed his eyes, staring at Yan Jin in surprise.
He'd heard about the conflict between this young wolf and Tian Jingyuan.
But the problem was,
what did that have to do with the two of them?
Before you continue