Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 20 Tortoise and Snake Locking Qi, Cause and Effect Cleared

A few days later, the snow in Changning County began to melt.

Icicles dripped water from under the eaves, mixing with the trampled snow on the street, forming murky rivulets.

The snow melted quickly, just like the traces left by the Black Dragon Gang in Changning County, and was quickly forgotten by people.

The door panels of the paper-making shop were removed, and the morning sunlight streamed in, making the paper figures and horses in the room feel warmer and less eerie.

Gu Yan sat behind the counter, holding the purple clay teapot in his hands. He seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, he was practicing the "Concealing Breath Turtle and Snake Technique".

With each breath, the surging energy within him began to slowly subside.

My heartbeat slowed to an extremely slow pace, only once every three breaths, and was strong yet silent.

His eyes, which had become slightly sharp due to his breakthrough in Iron Sand Palm, had become gentle and cloudy, like a pebble whose edges had been polished away.

This is the turtle-snake lock of qi.

Now, unless a powerful expert two realms above him is personally investigating him, anyone who sees him would only think he's an ordinary craftsman with a little bit of strength.

"Master Gu, are you busy?"

Several neighbors passed by and greeted him with smiles.

"Busy doing nothing, busy doing nothing. These are turbulent times, many people are leaving to beg for food."

Gu Yan responded with a smile, his smile both sincere and mercenary, without a single flaw.

His business has been exceptionally good these past few days.

Although the Black Dragon Gang deserved to die, their families still had to collect their bodies.

In addition, the government also entrusted him with the follow-up matters of the unidentified corpses cleared from the mass graves, and Gu Yan's turnover from selling coffins and paper money increased several times over.

However, he didn't hire any help and continued to work alone.

After all, there are too many secrets in this shop, and the more people there are, the more risks there are.

Just as I was calculating today's income, a carriage slowly pulled up in front of the shop.

Although this carriage was not as eerie as the ghost sedan chair that Master Yin had that night, it was still quite impressive.

The curtain was lifted, and a young girl dressed in a plain white dress stepped down.

The person who arrived was Shen Youwei.

Having survived that life-or-death ordeal, the once pampered eldest daughter of the Shen family had lost a lot of weight, and her brows had lost some of their childishness, gaining more of the composure of someone who had survived a disaster.

Two servants followed behind her, carrying two heavy boxes.

"Miss Shen?"

Gu Yan put down the teapot and hurriedly came out to greet him, a perfectly timed look of surprise on his face. "What brings you here? How is your father feeling?"

Shen Youwei looked at the smiling young boss in front of her, a hint of bewilderment flashing in her eyes.

The terrifying armored monster from that night really resembled the person in front of me from behind.

But the aura... was completely different.

That strange man was domineering, ruthless, and like a god or demon descended to earth.

The Gu Yan before me had only a faint smell of paper pulp and the air of everyday life about him. His eyes were clear yet shrewd, and he was just an ordinary person struggling to make a living.

It seems I was overthinking it.

Thinking of this, Shen Youwei sighed inwardly, then gave a slight bow:

"Thank you for your concern, Master Gu. My father is much better now. I came today to thank you for what happened that night... Although you didn't directly intervene, if you hadn't reminded my father to prepare black dog blood and glutinous rice, the Shen family probably wouldn't have survived until the officials from the Demon Suppression Division arrived."

She waved her hand, and the servants carried the box in.

"This is a small token of my appreciation, and also the remaining payment I promised that night. Please accept it, Master Gu."

Gu Yan didn't stand on ceremony and opened the box right in front of Shen Youwei.

One box contained fine silk fabrics, and the other box contained a full one hundred taels of silver.

Upon seeing the silver, Gu Yan's eyes immediately lit up. His genuine greed dispelled the last trace of doubt in Shen Youwei's heart.

"Oh, Miss Shen, you're too kind! I can't possibly accept this... I'd be very honored to accept it!"

While saying sorry, Gu Yan quickly moved the box behind the counter, as if afraid that the other party would change their mind.

"Miss Shen, that night was truly dangerous."

Gu Yan carefully put away the silver, then put on a still-shaken expression:

"I heard that a superhero in armor later tore that wicked matchmaker to shreds? That's a true hero! The people of Changning County are so lucky."

Shen Youwei nodded, a hint of admiration and regret in her eyes:

"Yes, it's a pity that the great hero is elusive. I didn't even have a chance to thank him in person before he disappeared."

Gu Yan chuckled inwardly.

No need for thanks, the money is enough.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shen Youwei took her leave.

The Shen family suffered a great calamity. Although they survived, they were severely weakened. She now has to go back to take charge.

As the carriage drove away, Gu Yan's smug smile gradually faded.

With the cause and effect cleared, the money taken and the matter settled, the Shen family can go their own way from now on, while he goes his own way. This is the best outcome.

Gu Yan closed the shop door, hung up the "Closed" sign, and went to the worktable in the backyard.

He pulled out the "Black Dragon's Reverse Scale" from his pocket, which he had taken from the Black Dragon Gang's treasure vault.

He's been figuring out how to use this thing for the past few days.

Making it directly into armor would be too wasteful. The greatest characteristic of this reverse scale is its hardness and ability to reflect some of the force.

Combined with the paper-binding technique, could it perhaps create a damage-reflecting shield?

With a thought, Gu Yan summoned the Yin Iron Rakshasa.

This behemoth is now even more magnificent, with dark red patterns flowing across its black iron armor surface.

Gu Yan placed the Reverse Scale on the chest of the Yin Iron Rakshasa, which was the core area where the Yin Sha Yuan Dan was placed.

Heart protector.

This not only protects the most vulnerable core, but also utilizes the reverse scale's properties to deliver a fatal counterattack when the enemy attacks the core.

Gu Yan took out the specially made gold glue and cinnabar and began to carefully draw the runes, perfectly blending the reverse scale with the iron armor.

With the final stroke completed.

[The Yin Iron Rakshasa has been successfully enhanced.]

[New Equipment: Reverse Scale Heart Protector Mirror.]

[Effect: Greatly increases the core area's defense. When attacked by melee, it can reflect 30% of the damage and inflicts a mental shock from the Black Dragon's resentment.]

perfect.

This is equivalent to equipping a tank with reactive armor.

Gu Yan patted the cold breastplate of the Yin Iron Rakshasa with satisfaction.

Now, his defense system is basically complete.

He has the Yin Iron Rakshasa to protect him from damage, the Concealing Breath Turtle-Snake Skill to hide his strength, and the Iron Sand Palm as his trump card.

As long as he doesn't provoke those old monsters, Gu Yan is the safest guy in this small territory of Changning County.

only……

Gu Yan raised his head and looked out at the gloomy sky.

The people from the Demon Suppression Division are gone, and so is the Black Dragon Gang.

This suddenly available territory and profits are like a piece of fat meat thrown on the roadside.

The old beast is dead, and the new beast is probably already on its way.

But so what?

Gu Yan blew out the candles, a faint smile playing on his lips.

As long as they still have to lose people, they'll have to come to me to buy coffins.