Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The morning light once again pierced through the dark clouds over the prefecture, tinting the gray tiles of the "Sanheyuan" courtyard with a pale gold hue.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, isolating the outside world from the hustle and bustle of a new day beginning in the "muddy puddles," and also from the possible aftershocks of the brief but bloody battle at the "Listening to the Rain Pavilion" last night.

The curtain of the main room was lifted, and Lin Feng changed into a clean dark gray cloth robe. His hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin. His face showed no signs of fatigue, but his eyes were even more deep and sharp than usual, like two bottomless cold pools.

He walked into the courtyard. Liu Sandao's shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages, and his face was a little pale, but his back was still straight. His single eye gleamed, and he was whispering instructions to a few people.

"Master Lin." Upon seeing Lin Feng emerge, everyone quickly rose to their feet and bowed. Liu Sandao's movements aggravated his wound, causing him to gasp for breath again.

"Sit down, everyone." Lin Feng waved his hand, walked over to Liu Sandao, looked at the wound on his shoulder, and asked, "Brother Liu, how's the injury?"

"It's just a flesh wound, nothing serious, it'll heal in a couple of days." Liu Sandao grinned, then tugged at his wound, wincing in pain. "Those bastards, they really went all out. Those crossbow bolts were military-grade three-edged armor-piercing bolts. If I hadn't dodged quickly, this arm would be ruined."

"Military standard procedure, to eliminate all witnesses..." Lin Feng murmured repeatedly, his eyes gleaming. "It seems that what we caught wasn't a small fry, but a big catfish hiding at the bottom of the water, and maybe... it's connected to an even deeper turtle."

Lin Feng paused, then asked, "Hou Qi, how's the screening process going with those new people who came to join us yesterday?"

Hou Qi emerged from the side room, a small notebook in his hand, his face beaming with excitement: "Reporting to Master Lin, the screening is complete! Of the thirty-seven men, nine are usable! Six are first-class, all with solid skills; three are veterans retired from the north, two are ruthless individuals who make a living on the water, and one is skilled with concealed weapons and darts. Three are second-class, quick-witted and agile, suitable for errands and reconnaissance. The rest, as you instructed, have been paid and politely sent off."

"Nine...not bad." Lin Feng nodded; there were more than he had expected. "What are the names of the six in the top tier? What's their background?"

"Reporting to Master Lin," Hou Qi said, flipping through his notebook as if reciting a familiar story.

"The three veterans are: Zhao Hu, who used to serve in the border scouts, is skilled in tracking and setting traps, but has a slight limp in his left leg, a result of being struck by Di Rong's spiked club; Qian Bao, strong and a former swordsman and shield bearer in the Trapped Camp, is a bit stubborn; and Sun He, skilled with a crossbow, has excellent eyesight, but is a man of few words. The two best swimmers are brothers, the elder named Chen Da, the 'Dragon in the Waves,' and the younger named Chen Er, the 'Mirage Overturning the River.' They are originally from Poyang Lake, but their family suffered a disaster a few years ago, and they ended up here. Their swimming skills are unparalleled. The one who can throw darts is Zhou Wu, who used to be a镖师 (bodyguard/escort), but after the镖局 (escort agency) went bankrupt, he wandered the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), and his willow-leaf darts are fast and accurate."

Lin Feng silently memorized these names and characteristics.

These are all promising talents; with a little polishing, they could become sharp knives.

"Brother Liu, until you recover from your injuries, keep an eye on the drills and the training of the new recruits in the courtyard. Zhao Hu, Qian Bao, and Sun He, these three veterans, will be in a separate team under your supervision. They'll familiarize themselves with the docks and the western area, and also explain our rules to them. The Chen brothers, Chen Da and Chen Er, will be handed over to 'Iron Head' to familiarize themselves with the docks, the water conditions, and the boats. As for Friday…" Lin Feng hesitated for a moment, "Have him follow Hou Qi for now, run errands, and get a feel for the state government."

The division of labor was clear, and everyone performed their duties. Liu Sandao and Hou Qi both nodded in agreement.

"Master Lin," Hou Qi said in a low voice, as if remembering something, "this morning 'Mudfish' came back from outside and said there were some rumors circulating at the docks and the west end."

"Oh? What's the rumor?"

"They say... something big happened in the east of the city last night. A house burned down and someone died. It seems to involve someone from the Qi Prince's mansion. Now the east of the city is in a state of panic, and there are several more squads of soldiers patrolling at night. Also," Hou Qi's voice lowered, "that steward Zhou An from the Zhou family went to 'Liu's Blacksmith Shop' in the west of the city early this morning, the place you mentioned before, and stayed there for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before coming out."

"Liu's Blacksmith Shop..." Lin Feng's eyes flickered slightly. It was one of Zhou Wenyuan's secret contact points, as Han Kun had told him. Zhou An's trip there clearly indicated he was acting on Zhou Wenyuan's orders to deliver or receive some message. Was it related to the "Listening to the Rain Pavilion" matter? Or something else?

"Also," Hou Qi licked his lips, somewhat uncertainly, "'Mudfish' also said that he seemed... he seemed to see a tall figure dressed in black lingering at the entrance of the alley outside our courtyard. When he chased after him, the person had vanished. Judging from the back view... it looked a bit like... like the person I saw at the dilapidated temple and Black Wind Valley that day..."

Ye Qingli? She also noticed the commotion last night and came looking for us? Lin Feng understood. This Miss Ye was indeed omnipresent.

"Understood." Lin Feng's expression remained unchanged.

Lin Feng stood alone in the courtyard, the morning breeze ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead.

He needed time for his mixed group of new and old men to gel and develop into a fighting force. He also needed time for the bait he had laid out last night to ferment and react in the murky waters of the prefecture.

The Qi Prince's Mansion, Zhou Wenyuan, Ye Qingli, and the "big catfish" lurking deeper within, using standard crossbows... all the forces were alarmed by what happened at "Tingyuxuan" last night. The next step is to see who moves first and how. As for him, he must remain calm and collected, accumulating strength while observing the situation carefully, waiting for the optimal moment to strike.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the courtyard gate. It wasn't an insider's signal.

The guards looked at Lin Feng. Lin Feng nodded slightly.

The door opened a crack, and a woman dressed in coarse cloth, with her head bowed and eyes downcast, carrying a vegetable basket slipped in and quickly closed the door.

It was Aunt Wu, the taciturn woman who worked alongside Sister Hong at Zuixianju.

Aunt Wu saw Lin Feng and Liu Sandao in the courtyard, hurried over, curtsied to Lin Feng, and said in a low, urgent voice, "Master Lin, Sister Hong sent me here quickly to deliver a message. Master Zhang Biao... is not quite right."

"Oh? What happened to Zhang Biao?" Lin Feng asked, his expression unchanged.

"This morning, Master Biao locked himself in that room on the top floor of Zuixianju that he never lets anyone in, and smashed several teacups. Later, 'One-Eyed Dragon' and 'Iron Abacus' went in, and I don't know what they said, but Master Biao got really angry, and... he even mentioned your name, Master Lin, and his face was very grim. Sister Hong told me to remind Master Lin to be careful lately, and that he should personally review the accounts at the dock and the west end." After Aunt Wu finished speaking, she curtsied again, and without waiting for Lin Feng's response, she lowered her head and hurriedly left through the back door, as if she had only come to deliver some vegetables.

Zhang Biao? Lin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Master Lin, Zhang Biao, he..." Liu Sandao's face darkened.

"A clown jumping around, nothing to worry about." Lin Feng waved his hand, his tone tinged with coldness.

"If he behaves himself and takes his 50% stake, I guarantee him wealth for the rest of his life. If he doesn't behave himself..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the fleeting cold glint in his eyes said it all.

"Brother Liu, you're injured, so rest in the yard and keep an eye on the training." Lin Feng turned around, "I'm going to the docks for a stroll."

He walked steadily with a calm gaze, heading towards the dock.

There are his ships, his men, and the "empire" he has just conquered, which is not yet secure but full of infinite possibilities.