Tianjin, starting with unorthodox methods to achieve immortality

Chapter 266 The Small Knife Society

In the afternoon, Chen Dachuan, in a great mood, was unusually generous.

He offered to have Chen Mo cut two pounds of pork and also got a fish.

Finally, Aunt Liu, who had just returned from delivering goods, surprisingly killed a chicken.

As soon as it got dark, Aunt Liu was busy at the stove, her feet barely touching the ground, the cleaver making a loud thud on the cutting board.

The aroma of scallions, ginger, and garlic wafted through the backyard, making one's mouth water.

Yuanyuan moved a small stool and sat in front of the stove, holding a scallion in her hand, occasionally sticking her head out to take a deep, blissful breath.

Aunt Liu sent him away three times, but he ran back four times.

Aqing was squatting by the well, killing fish. There was a plaster on the corner of her eye and a scabbed scar on the bridge of her nose.

Xiao Wu was in a worse state; his left cheekbone was swollen very high, and there was a crack at the corner of his mouth.

They were all beaten up along with Chen Dachuan when the Green Gang caused trouble before.

He was just a young boy, but he was tough and sturdy. Although he was bruised and swollen, he ate and drank as usual without missing a thing.

"Senior brother, try this garlic. It's freshly harvested this year, and it's really spicy."

Xiao Wu peeled a clove of white garlic and handed it to him.

Chen Mo took the garlic clove, took a bite, frowned slightly, and quietly threw the rest into the trash can.

What flavor?

Chen Dachuan, with one arm in a sling, paced back and forth in the yard, his smile lines deeper than usual.

As dusk fell, the lanterns were hung under the eaves, their golden light illuminating half the courtyard.

The octagonal table was moved to the courtyard, and the braised pork belly, glistening with oil and alternating layers of fat and lean meat, was shakily arranged on a rough porcelain plate.

The braised fish was drizzled with a thick layer of sauce and sprinkled with cilantro.

Add a big pot of old hen soup.

The soup is golden in color, with a few red dates and goji berries floating on top, and the aroma is so rich it's almost overwhelming.

There was also a dish of peanuts and a dish of smashed cucumbers, making it as lavish as a New Year's feast.

Xiao Wu and A Qing helped set out the chopsticks and serve the rice, their hands and feet moving quickly, but their eyes kept wandering to the plate of braised pork belly.

"Sit down, everyone, stop busying yourselves."

Chen Dachuan tapped the table and sat down in the main seat first.

Yuanyuan had already climbed onto the stool and was sitting upright, her eyes glued to the chicken leg.

Chen Mo sat down next to her and put a chicken leg into her bowl.

Yuanyuan looked up at him, then at Chen Dachuan, "Uncle, can we eat now?"

Chen Dachuan couldn't help but laugh: "Eat up, eat up, your brother Mo put these on your plate, why are you asking me why?"

Upon hearing this, she immediately grabbed a chicken leg and took a big bite.

His cheeks were bulging, and his mouth was immediately covered with a layer of oil.

"Delicious..."

"7

Xiao Wu and A Qing only dared to pick up food after Chen Dachuan started using his chopsticks.

The boy, just past his prime, was at the age where he could eat a lot. He would pick out the fatty parts of the braised pork, chewing them piece by piece until his mouth was full of oil.

Chen Mo watched them eat, a slight smile curving his lips, and pushed the plate of braised pork in front of him closer to them.

"Senior brother, you should eat too." Xiao Wu said, his mouth full of meat, his words muffled.

"Eating."

"7

He picked up a peanut and chewed it slowly.

Chen Dachuan picked up the wine bowl and took a sip.

The bowl contained strong baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor), and the smell of alcohol was overwhelming.

Aunt Liu glanced at his arm, seemed about to say something but held back.

"Uncle Chen, why did you make so much delicious food today?"

After finishing one chicken leg, Yuanyuan looked longingly at the second one.

"So much meat still can't shut you up? Have I been neglecting you?"

Before Chen Dachuan could speak, Aunt Liu gently tapped her forehead with her index finger.

Yuanyuan rubbed the spot where she had been hit, pouting and muttering softly, "That's how it is... It's usually corn porridge with pickled vegetables, I haven't seen any meat in ages..."

""

Aunt Liu was about to raise her hand again when Yuanyuan quickly picked up the bowl to cover her face, leaving only her round eyes showing.

Chen Dachuan was amused by the mother and daughter, and put the chicken leg back into the round bowl. "Eat up, eat up, don't listen to your mother."

Yuanyuan put down her bowl, stuck out her tongue at Aunt Liu, grabbed a chicken leg, and started taking big bites.

Seeing this, Chen Mo's smile widened. He poured some wine into his bowl and raised it to Chen Dachuan.

He paused for a moment, then picked up his bowl as well.

The father and son touched the table together, neither of them spoke, and each took a silent breath.

The strong liquor choked Chen Dachuan, causing him to cough twice and his eyes to turn red.

Aunt Liu quickly got up and poured him a bowl of warm water. "Drink less, your injury hasn't healed yet."

"It's nothing, it's just a rare opportunity to get together."

Chen Dachuan waved his hand, pushed the warm water aside, and poured himself a bowl of wine.

Aunt Liu glanced at him, sighed, and simply moved the braised fish in front of him, urging Chen Dachuan to eat more vegetables.

Xiao Wu and A Qing had already devoured most of the braised pork. They let out a satisfied burp, scratched their heads sheepishly, and slowed down their eating.

"You two too."

Aunt Liu looked at the injuries on Xiao Wu and A Qing's faces and sighed with heartache, "Next time the Green Gang comes, don't be foolish and rush in. Stay away."

Xiao Wu grinned, which aggravated the wound on his lip, and he hissed, "That won't do. We'll just watch Master get beaten up, won't we?"

"Yes, if we don't go, who will?" Aqing rarely spoke up.

Chen Dachuan held his wine bowl, looking at the two teenagers, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened.

He didn't say anything sentimental, he just picked up the bowl again: "Come on, have another drink with your master."

Xiao Wu and A Qing quickly picked up their bowls, which also contained wine, but diluted with a lot of water, making the color much lighter.

The three of them clinked their glasses and each took a big gulp.

After Yuanyuan finished her second chicken leg, her little belly was already round and full. She leaned back in her chair and let out a satisfied burp.

She suddenly remembered something, turned to look at Chen Mo, and asked, "Brother Mo, when are you leaving?"

Chen Mo put down his chopsticks: "The day after tomorrow."

Round lips pursed again, eyes red-rimmed, looking pitifully at Aunt Liu: "Mother, Brother Mo is leaving the day after tomorrow."

'

Aunt Liu patted her head: "Your brother Mo has important things to do, it's not like he's not coming back."

"When will you be coming back next time?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment before answering, "Let's celebrate the New Year."

She counted on her fingers, realizing there were still several months left, and her face immediately fell.

After Aunt Liu washed Yuanyuan's hands and face, she brought out two bowls of chicken soup, one for Chen Dachuan and one for Chen Mo.

"Your father's injury hasn't healed yet, so drink less alcohol and more soup."

Chen Mo took the soup bowl, took a sip, and felt the rich, hot soup warming him from his throat all the way to his stomach.

The lantern swayed gently under the eaves, its glow fluctuating in size.

The sky was completely dark, and the stars began to shine one by one, filling the night sky.

He held his soup bowl, sipping it slowly, and glanced up at the old man across from him, whose arm was in a sling but who was still drinking heavily.

He then glanced at his two junior brothers, whose faces were bruised and swollen, yet they ate with great satisfaction.

There was also Aunt Liu's busy figure in the kitchen, and Yuan Yuan lying on the table, almost asleep.

Chen Mo didn't say anything, but finished the last mouthful of soup in his bowl and then got another bowl.

Such days are few and far between, so we'll enjoy every bowl we can.

The next morning, the eastern sky was already turning a pale white.

.

Funeral Street is still asleep.

Chen Mo sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes slightly closed, and his aura was slowly gathering.

Inside the body, a purple crescent moon hangs in the center of the dantian, its radiance restrained.

The pale purple magic flowed slowly along the meridians, converging from the limbs and bones into the main trunk, then flowing down the Ren and Du meridians to the lower abdomen, finally flowing towards the crescent moon.

After being purified by the true seed, the color of the magic power changed from light purple to dark purple. Impurities were filtered out, and the spiritual power became increasingly pure.

Beneath the crescent moon, a wisp of illusory dark cloud hangs, neither mist nor smoke.

That was the sign of malevolent energy, a unique mark of the Condensed Malevolent Realm.

Deep purple magic flowed from the true seed, slowly sinking into the dark clouds and merging with them.

With each fusion, the magical power becomes more substantial, and the malevolent energy becomes more concentrated.

Within his dantian, magical power and malevolent energy surged and churned like clouds and mist, intertwining yet remaining distinct.

With each breath, the purple crescent moon trembled slightly, its radiance illuminating the entire dantian until it was clear and transparent.

The dark clouds swirled slowly, emanating magical power and brewing something yet to take shape.

He opened his eyes, let out a long breath, but looked somewhat depressed.

Since the condensation of evil energy, relying solely on moonlight and yin energy has been insufficient to satisfy the ever-growing appetite of the dantian.

Once upon a time, a wisp of moonlight could be refined into three strands of magical power.

Now, even the three strands of moonlight have barely condensed into a trace.

After condensing the evil energy, the magical power becomes more solid and substantial, its grade rises, and the required moonlight naturally increases accordingly.

At the current rate, it would take at least three or four months to reach the perfect state of the initial stage of Qi Condensation.

If you want to break through to the mid-stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, it will probably take several years.

Chen Mo frowned and turned his gaze to the window.

His room was located in a narrow alley.

The alley is not deep; looking out from inside the house, you can see the old brick wall covered with moss across the street.

The alley was so narrow that only one person could pass at a time, and the eaves of the houses on both sides almost touched, leaving only a sliver of sky visible.

As dawn broke, the sky above turned a cool, greyish-blue, with a few remaining stars still hanging on the horizon, about to disappear in a moment.

There was already some movement in the yard; I wondered who had gotten up first.

He got dressed and came out of the door.

The air in the courtyard was crisp and clear, carrying the scent of dew.

A thin layer of dampness covered the blue brick floor beside the well.

Chen Mo walked to the well, turned the well pulley, and drew up a bucket of water.

Well water is warm in winter and cool in summer, and the temperature is just right in the early morning.

I poured the water into the rough earthenware basin next to me, scooped up a handful and splashed it on my face; the icy water instantly invigorated me.

After washing up, Chen Mo took out a toothbrush and a flat tin box from his pocket.

The toothbrush is made of pig bristles and has a bone handle.

These days, city dwellers no longer brush their teeth with their fingers; toothbrushes and toothpaste are the new trend.

He unscrewed the lid, squeezed out a little pale blue paste onto the brush bristles, and the cool minty sensation spread out.

I was squatting by the well, about to put the toothbrush in my mouth, when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Senior brother, what's this?"

Xiao Wu approached at some point, still sleepy, and the bruise on his left cheekbone looked even more conspicuous in the morning light.

He tilted his head to look at the toothbrush and toothpaste box in Chen Mo's hand, his eyes full of curiosity.

Aqing followed, saying nothing, her eyes also fixed on the two objects.

The two boys, who grew up in the countryside, had rarely seen toothbrushes or toothpaste.

Normally, when they rinse their mouths, if they are particular, they will rub some salt on their fingers; if they are not, they will just rinse with water.

Chen Mo didn't say anything, but handed over the toothpaste box.

Xiao Wu took it, examined it from all angles for a while, unscrewed the cap, and smelled it. A minty scent filled his nostrils. "It smells pretty good."

He glanced at the toothbrush in Chen Mo's hand again; the handle was smooth, and the bristles were neat. "Is this thing any good?"

Aqing leaned over and smelled the toothpaste, unusually remarking, "A foreign product?"

"Um.

""

Chen Mo put the toothbrush in his mouth and started brushing his teeth. "Toothpaste costs one yuan, and the toothbrush costs eight mao."

Xiao Wu clicked his tongue; this amount of money was enough to buy several kilograms of pork.

He returned the box to Chen Mo and squatted down to watch him swipe it. "City people are so particular."

Chen Mo rinsed his mouth and put away his toothbrush and the box.

"I'll bring some for you next time I come back."

Xiao Wu and A Qing exchanged a glance and both smiled.

"Alright, then senior brother, you'd better keep your word."

Just as he was about to get up, the communication talisman in his pocket suddenly became hot.

It must have been Shen Qi who lit the talisman he left behind.

So early?

Chen Mo took out his pocket watch and checked the time; it was only a little past six.

Hengjie Street.

The courtyard of the Small Knife Society.

The door was still the same broken door with half of it missing, but there were many more people inside than yesterday.

As soon as Chen Mo entered the room, about twenty pairs of eyes turned to look at him.

On the wooden bed against the wall, Shen Qi leaned against the bedding, her shoulders wrapped in newly changed gauze, her face still somewhat pale.

The middle-aged man stood to the side, holding a bowl of medicine in his hand.

"Master Chen is here, please have a seat." His voice was still a little hoarse, but his spirits seemed quite good.

In fact, Shen Qi woke up last night and figured out the details of Du'e Zhai.

If he didn't know that Chen Mo was from the Inspection Bureau, he would have thought that this person was mentally unstable and was deliberately trying to scam them.

"Need not."

Chen Mo waved his hand, stood in the middle of the courtyard, and looked around.

There were about twenty people, mostly the remaining members of the Small Knife Society. They all had injuries on their faces, and some of them were leaning on sticks.

"Master Chen."

Shen Qi straightened up a bit, the movement aggravating the wound on her shoulder. Her lips twitched. "What did you mean by what you left behind yesterday?"

"Mr. Chen, you're also from the government, you should know better than us how powerful the Green Gang is, right?"

"We want revenge too, but what's the background of the Green Gang?"

"He has over a thousand men under his command. Although Zhao Jiyan is only in charge of this area in Linhe County, the entire Green Gang stands behind him."

"Our Little Knife Society has a total of about twenty people, and we don't even have a decent gun..."

1

He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear: what do we have to compete with them?

Chen Mo looked around and his gaze fell on a stone millstone about half a person's height in the corner.

Made of old bluestone, it weighs at least 300 jin (150 catties), and is probably the most solid thing in this courtyard.

It looks like it's been around for a long time; the trough is filled with years of old grain husk ash, and the millstone is polished to a shine.

Chen Mo extended a finger and flicked it casually in that direction.

A beam of purple light, almost invisible to the naked eye, shot out from between the fingers and disappeared into the stone mill in the blink of an eye.

boom!

The stone mill exploded with a sound.

The entire old bluestone was pierced through the middle, creating a hole the size of a fist.

Gravel flew everywhere, and grayish-white stone dust spread in the morning light, covering the ground.

The courtyard was completely silent.

All twenty or so people froze.

There was silence for a full five or six breaths.

"Holy crap, that's Sixth Brother's family heirloom!"