Immortality: Starts with seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster!

Chapter 8: Tonghe County 

"Look." 

Xiao Fan didn't waste any time. He went directly to the kitchen, took a kitchen knife, and slashed the skin of his arm. 

But it left only a white mark; he was unscathed. 

Seeing this scene, Mu Qingyao's heart nearly jumped out of her chest. 

She almost thought her man was committing suicide. 

"As hard as cowhide, this is a warrior in the Skin Tempering Realm." 

"Brother, have you really become a warrior?" 

Mu Qingyao was surprised and delighted. 

She grabbed Xiao Fan's arm, immediately scratching and squeezing it, feeling that the skin was as tough as cowhide. 

Ordinary swords fell upon it without leaving a mark. 

This is a unique characteristic of Skin Tempering Realm warriors: strength beyond that of ordinary people. 

"Yeah, don't worry now." 

"But this is a secret. Don't tell anyone else so as not to cause trouble." 

Xiao Fan reminded her. 

"Yes, I know." 

Mu Qingyao was overjoyed, her pretty face flushed, and her heart filled with joy. 

She never expected that her brother would become a warrior. 

The status of warriors in this world is incredibly high. Even warriors in the Skin Tempering Realm are considered superior to others. 

If his strength were exposed, it would be enough to inspire awe. 

If Uncle Meng's family had warriors yesterday, how could Zheng Wenbing dare to take advantage of them? 

"Then I'm leaving." 

"Stay well at home and don't go out unless necessary." 

"It's been very chaotic lately," Xiao Fan warned. 

He was also concerned about what might happen to Mu Qingyao at home alone, so he reminded her to be careful. 

After all, he would not be home and didn't know what might occur while he was in Tonghe County. 

"There's a cellar at home." 

"If something happens, I'll hide in the cellar as soon as possible." 

Mu Qingyao nodded. 

"That's good." 

Xiao Fan knew that Mu Qingyao was a very cautious woman, so there shouldn't be any significant problems. 

After saying these words, he took some silver and walked towards Tonghe County. 

... 

In just an hour, Xiao Fan arrived in Tonghe County. 

Since he had been to Tonghe County with his father before, he was already familiar with the layout. 

Along the way, he passed through many barren mountains and ridges. 

He understood why the villagers of Osmanthus Village were reluctant to go to Tonghe County. 

There aren't many people on this road, and mountains and dense vegetation surround it. 

If something goes wrong, the body could easily be left in the wilderness. 

Even if he asked for help, no one might come to save him. 

"I didn't expect that the Soaring Snake Breathing Technique could actually enhance physical strength," Xiao Fan mused. 

After being promoted to the Skin Tempering Realm, he possessed incredibly strong physical strength. Even first-level athletes from his previous life couldn't compare to him. He ran at full speed and soon covered a distance of twenty miles. 

After arriving in Tonghe County, his endurance was still high, and he could scarcely feel breathless. 

If it had been before, it would have taken him at least two or three hours to arrive, and he would have felt very tired. 

After paying the entrance fee, Xiao Fan entered Tonghe County with ease and was not stopped by the soldiers at the city gate. 

After all, someone like him, a poor-looking individual, wouldn't appear to have much money. 

Even if he were pressed, it wouldn't be worth squeezing out a few ounces of oil. 

"It seems that the victims from the north haven't started to affect this place yet." 

Xiao Fan took a closer look at the situation in Tonghe County. Everything was still the same as before. The prices of various commodities had not yet started to rise, and they maintained a balanced state for the time being. 

But he knew this was just a temporary state. 

Once a large number of disaster victims arrived from afar, Tonghe County might fall completely into chaos. 

By then, let alone soaring prices, even those with money might struggle to buy food. 

The residents living here were unaware of these impending troubles, so they couldn't imagine what was coming. 

But that was a good thing. 

It meant he still had time to prepare. 

Should chaos truly erupt, buying food would not be so easy. 

"Sure enough, I still have to go to Tonghe County to buy food." 

"The prices here are much cheaper than at the fish farm." 

Xiao Fan arrived at a market in Tonghe County, filled with various stalls and shops. Items like soybeans, cucumbers, and rice were priced more than 30% cheaper than at the fish farm, with some even 50% cheaper. 

Compared to the fish farm, the prices were practically a steal. 

It was clear how ruthlessly the Dragon King Gang exploited the fishermen. They wanted the fishermen to become the "moonlight tribe," leaving them with nothing. 

Thinking of this, he felt even more animosity toward the Dragon King Gang. This gang was a cancer in Yunmeng Lake. 

He couldn't fathom how many fishermen were exploited by them and how many families were ruined. 

"I can't buy too much food." 

"If I buy too much, it not only becomes hard to transport, but it will definitely attract attention." 

"I might even attract gangsters." 

"Buy a small amount of food at a time—dozens of kilograms will suffice." 

"Then buy it every day, in small quantities and multiple times, and be cautious." 

"Spend most of the money and exchange it for food." 

Xiao Fan considered his plan, understanding that in the last years of the dynasty, money was the least valuable resource; food was the true currency. 

When people truly starve to death, money cannot be used as food. 

Besides, when stored properly, food could last more than two years, or even three. 

So he didn't need to worry about the food he bought going bad. 

With this in mind, he began shopping in the market. 

... 

But what Xiao Fan didn't know was that a man in a black vest had accidentally spotted him. He was a member of the Dragon King Gang and one of Zheng Wenbing's subordinates. 

"Huh? Isn't this kid the poor fisherman from Osmanthus Village? He actually still has money to come to Tonghe County to buy food?" 

"It seems this kid lied last time. There may be a lot of money left at home." 

"These fishermen may look poor, but they could be hiding a lot of wealth." 

The man in the black vest's eyes glinted with malice, and various evil plans began to form in his mind. 

Without hesitation, he turned left and right and soon arrived at Baihua Building in Tonghe County. 

Zheng Wenbing, the leader of the Dragon King Gang, was enjoying himself there. 

After all, he had collected a lot of money from Osmanthus Village and other places, taking the opportunity to loot along the way. 

The Meng family was just one of his many victims. 

Too many fishermen had been savaged by him. 

Now, after pocketing a large sum, he couldn't wait to come to Tonghe County to indulge himself and enjoy the luxuries of life. 

In short, the money he collected basically funded his escapades with women. 

"Xiao Wu, why did you take so long? I've been waiting for you," Zheng Wenbing laughed as he spotted the man in the black vest. 

"Master Bing, you probably don't know who I just saw." 

"Xiao Fan, the fisherman from Osmanthus Village, seems to have come to Tonghe County too." 

The man in the black vest quickly relayed what he had seen, adding that the boy was supposedly very wealthy and was buying a lot of food. 

"Damn it, I knew there was something off about that kid." 

"You're right to point out that he took the initiative to hand over money. It seems he got rich after all." 

"If you hadn't noticed this kid coming to Tonghe County, I would've been ensnared in his trap." 

"But this is a good thing. Fishermen generally don't have much money; how can we make a fortune?" 

Zheng Wenbing sneered, his eyes gleaming with a hint of cruelty that sent shivers down the spine.

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