I become stronger by sacrificing my lifespan, becoming invincible in the world.

The knocking was very soft, but it was exceptionally clear in the deathly still night.

Knock, knock, knock.

After three taps, it stopped.

Lin Chen gripped the knife tightly and held his breath. There was no sign of footsteps leaving outside the door; the person was still standing there, seemingly waiting.

He moved silently to the door and listened intently.

A very faint breathing sound came from outside the door, long and steady. It was someone who practiced martial arts, and their cultivation level was not low—at least the fifth or sixth level of the acquired realm.

They're not one of Scarface Wang's men. Scarface Wang doesn't have anyone of that caliber under his command.

It wasn't the Blood Blade Gang either. If the Blood Blade Gang were seeking revenge, they wouldn't be knocking on the door so politely.

Who could it be?

Lin Chen slowly pulled out the door bolt and opened the door a crack.

Moonlight shone through the crack in the door, illuminating half of the person's face outside.

He was an unfamiliar officer.

He was in his thirties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and sharp eyes. He wore standard border army leather armor, but the leather was finer and the plates were thicker, clearly the equipment of a captain. A narrow-bladed longsword hung at his waist, its scabbard adorned with dark red cloud patterns.

"Lin Chen?" the officer asked, his voice low.

"It's me." Lin Chen didn't open the door, but asked through the crack, "And you are?"

"Zhang Heng," the officer announced his name. "Commander of the Patrol Battalion."

Zhang Heng?

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat. He had heard Zhao Tiegu mention this name before—one of the few mid-level officers in Ghost Cry Pass who didn't really respect Wang Scarface, in charge of a patrol battalion of five hundred men, who was said to be fairly upright, but also shrewd and calculating.

"What brings you here so late at night, Commandant Zhang?" Lin Chen asked.

"There's a job I need," Zhang Heng said bluntly. "Tomorrow morning at dawn, a convoy is leaving the pass to transport supplies to Black Rock City. We need thirty guards: twenty from the scout battalion and ten from my patrol battalion. Scarface Wang recommended you."

Recommended by Wang Scarface?

Lin Chen's eyes turned slightly cold.

They just transferred him to the warehouse, and now they're recommending him for a mission? And it's a seemingly "safe" but actually highly unpredictable task like escorting a convoy.

"Captain Zhang," Lin Chen said calmly, "I was just transferred to the warehouse and am not familiar with the situation outside the pass. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the job."

"Scarface Wang said you're quite skilled, having killed demons in the Black Wind Forest." Zhang Heng stared at him. "Moreover... this job is quite lucrative. If you deliver it successfully, each person will receive three taels of silver as a reward. If you encounter any petty thieves along the way, the spoils will be extra."

Three taels of silver.

For an ordinary exile, this is a considerable sum.

But Lin Chen wasn't short of money—he still had the ten taels of silver Han Li had given him untouched. What he lacked was security and time.

"Can I not go?" Lin Chen asked.

"Okay." Zhang Heng actually nodded. "But you'll have to explain things to Wang Scarface yourself. Also, let me remind you—General Liu Zhenshan is personally overseeing this mission. Those selected are all top-notch fighters chosen from each battalion. If you don't go, you'll probably have a hard time getting ahead in the Central Plains."

A combination of soft and hard tactics.

Lin Chen remained silent for a moment.

"What is the convoy transporting?" he asked.

"Armaments, medicine, and some..." Zhang Heng paused, "...special supplies. You don't need to know the specifics. Your mission is to escort them to Blackrock City and hand them over to the garrison commander there. Follow the orders of the escort officer throughout the entire journey."

Who is the escort officer?

"Fatty Wu," Zhang Heng said, "one of Scarface Wang's men."

really.

Lin Chen sneered inwardly.

Wang the Scarface is using someone else to do his dirty work. He'll send a trusted confidant as the escort, and then find some excuse along the way to "legitimately" get rid of him.

"I'll go," Lin Chen suddenly said.

Zhang Heng was somewhat surprised: "You've figured it out?"

"I've thought it through," Lin Chen nodded. "But I have two conditions."

"explain."

"First, I need to bring two people with me—Zhao Tiegu and Li Quezi. They know the roads well, and... they're trustworthy."

Zhang Heng thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. Li the Cripple has an injured left arm, but he can still ride a horse. Zhao Tiegu is an old scout, so he can lead the way."

"Secondly," Lin Chen stared at Zhang Heng, "if an accident occurs on the road, such as a 'command error' by the escort officer that puts us in danger... I have the right to make my own decision."

Zhang Heng frowned: "You want to disobey orders?"

"I just want to live," Lin Chen said calmly. "Since Lieutenant Zhang knows about the feud between Wang Scarface and me, he should understand that this mission isn't so simple. All I want is the right to protect myself in dire straits."

The two looked at each other.

Under the moonlight, Zhang Heng's eyes held a complex expression.

After a long pause, he slowly nodded: "Alright. But remember—unless Fatty Wu shows clear signs of betrayal, you cannot touch him. Otherwise, military law is merciless."

"clear."

"Meet at the gate at the beginning of Mao Shi (5-7 AM)." Zhang Heng turned and left, but after a few steps, he turned back. "Lin Chen, I don't care what grudge you have with Wang Scarface. But this mission is about supplying medicine to hundreds of wounded soldiers inside the gate. Don't mess it up."

After saying that, his figure disappeared into the night.

Lin Chen closed the door, leaned against it, and took a deep breath.

They arrived as expected.

Wang the Scarface's revenge won't stop with just one negotiation. He's simply changed his methods, making them more covert and "legitimate."

Escorting a convoy?

It's probably a suicide convoy.

But Lin Chen had no choice but to go.

Refusing to go would be disobeying orders, giving Wang the perfect excuse to deal with him. Going, on the other hand, would at least offer a glimmer of hope—if he could return alive, he could use this mission to gain favor with Zhang Heng and even Liu Zhenshan.

What he wanted was never just to survive.

What he wants are the steps to climb up.

Before dawn the next day, Lin Chen had already packed his things.

The waist knife, wolf claw dagger, nine armor-piercing arrows, ten taels of silver, half a piece of dry rations, and the book "Blood Battle Sword Technique" and the Gray Wolf Tribe dominoes in my arms—none of these can be left here. If we don't come back, we can't let them benefit others.

When I went out, the old man was squatting at the warehouse entrance, eating a pancake.

Seeing Lin Chen fully armed, he raised an eyelid and asked, "On a mission?"

"Mm." Lin Chen nodded.

"Where to?"

Blackrock City.

The old man paused for a moment while eating the pancake.

"Blackrock City..." he murmured, "That road is not peaceful."

"I know."

"It's not just demonic beasts." The old man looked at Lin Chen, a complex light flashing in his single eye. "There are other things too."

"What is it?"

"Human." The old man uttered this word, then said no more and continued to munch on his pancake.

Lin Chen didn't ask any more questions and turned to leave.

As I reached the gate, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

About thirty people had already gathered in the open space. Twenty were convicts from the scout battalion—Lin Chen spotted Zhao Tiegu and Li the Cripple, who were adjusting their saddles. There were also ten border guards from the patrol battalion, whose equipment was noticeably superior, with their leather armor intact and their swords and bows fully equipped.

Fatty Wu was standing next to a carriage, checking the list with a man who looked like an accountant.

Fatty Wu lived up to his name; he was as fat as a ball, his face so fleshy it squeezed his eyes into slits. He wore an ill-fitting leather armor, the buttons on his stomach almost bursting open. Seeing Lin Chen, he smiled and waved.

"Brother Lin, you're here?" Fatty Wu's voice was greasy. "Captain Wang specifically instructed that you'd better put in a lot of effort on this mission."

"You're too kind, Mr. Wu," Lin Chen said expressionlessly.

"Come on, let's get acquainted." Fatty Wu pointed to the ten border guards from the patrol battalion. "These ten are brothers sent by Captain Zhang to assist us. They are all skilled. With them here, this journey should be much safer."

The ten border soldiers looked at Lin Chen with obvious scrutiny and disdain. Clearly, they looked down on these "convicts" from the scout battalion.

Lin Chen didn't pay attention and walked to Zhao Tiegu's side.

"How is it?" he asked in a low voice.

"Something's not right." Zhao Tiegu's expression was grave. "The convoy has a total of five vehicles. Four of them are carrying weapons and medicine, but the last one... is covered with a black cloth and locked with an iron chain. We don't know what's inside."

Lin Chen looked towards the back of the convoy.

Sure enough, that carriage was a size larger than the other four, with thicker wheels and a sturdier frame. The canopy was completely covered with a thick black cloth, and there weren't even any windows. A large brass lock hung on the door, with a chain as thick as a thumb.

"Fatty Wu said those were 'important supplies,' and no one was allowed to get close," Li the Cripple added. "He even went to check the list himself."

Important supplies?

It needs to be covered with a black cloth and locked with iron chains?

Lin Chen was filled with doubts.

"Also," Zhao Tiegu lowered his voice, "the six henchmen that Fatty Wu brought kept circling around that car, their eyes darting around suspiciously. I suspect... what's inside isn't anything legitimate."

As they were talking, Fatty Wu clapped his hands to gather everyone together.

"Listen up, everyone!" He cleared his throat. "The caravan will depart at 3:45 AM, taking the shortcut through 'Wind Howling Gorge,' and is expected to reach Blackrock City before 3:00 PM. We might encounter small groups of demonic beasts or bandits along the way; fight them without mercy. But there's one thing—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Lin Chen's face: "The last car, no one is allowed to approach! Anyone who dares to glance at it or ask a single question will be court-martialed!"

Everyone fell silent.

"Alright, check your gear, get ready to go!" Fatty Wu waved his hand, turned around and climbed onto the shaft of the first carriage.

Lin Chen, Zhao Tiegu, and Li Quezi brought over horses—all inferior horses, skinny and bony, but at least rideable.

Before mounting his horse, Lin Chen took one last look at the black cloth carriage.

The moment he looked over, the black cloth suddenly moved.

It's like... something inside is struggling.

Immediately afterwards, a very faint whimper, muffled by a covered mouth, was heard.

Although it was very soft, Lin Chen's five senses were far beyond those of ordinary people, and he heard it clearly.

That's not cargo.

are people.

And there's more than one.

Lin Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

He suddenly understood.

The real purpose of this "escort mission" was probably not to transport military equipment and medicines at all.

But...

Human trafficking.