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

A blatant warning! An undisguised threat! And in front of so many people!

Zhang Biao was trembling with rage. He pointed at Lin Feng, his lips quivering. He wanted to curse, but he was intimidated by Lin Feng's unfathomable eyes and the icy killing intent emanating from him. He couldn't utter a single word.

Behind him, "One-Eyed Dragon," "Big Bear," and the others had their hands on the hilts of their knives, but none of them dared to actually draw them. They knew of Lin Feng's ruthlessness in crippling Song Mazi with a single move at the dock.

"You...you..." Zhang Biao stammered for a long time, his face turning from red to white, then from white to green, his chest heaving violently. Finally, as if all his strength had been drained, he slumped back into his chair, panting heavily, his eyes filled with resentment, fear, and a deep regret—if he had known that Lin San was so troublesome, he shouldn't have let the wolf into the house in the first place!

Lin Feng stopped looking at him, turned around, and glanced at the others who were silent with fear, finally landing on Qian Youcai: "Boss Qian, I won't drink anymore. Things at the docks will be handled according to the rules. The 'peace money' for the shops at the west end should be paid to 'Sanheyuan' before the fifteenth of this month. Those who fail to pay on time, or try to play tricks, will bear the consequences themselves."

After saying that, he didn't linger. He turned around, opened the door to the private room, and walked straight out. From beginning to end, he didn't look at Zhang Biao, who was slumped in the chair, even once more.

Even after Lin Feng's footsteps disappeared at the top of the stairs, the private room remained deathly silent. After a long while, Zhang Biao's heavy, suppressed breathing could be heard, along with the gasps of relief mixed with even greater fear from Qian Youcai and the others.

"Biao...Master Biao..." Qian Youcai began in a trembling voice.

"Get out! All of you, get out!" Zhang Biao suddenly grabbed the wine pot on the table and smashed it on the ground. Porcelain shards mixed with wine splashed everywhere, scaring everyone into getting up and scrambling away from the private room.

A moment later, only Zhang Biao, One-Eyed Dragon, Iron Abacus, and Big Bear remained in the private room. The room was a mess, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol and the dejection of losers.

"Brother Biao, are we... are we just going to let it go like this?" One-Eyed Dragon said in a low voice, unwilling to give up.

"Just let it go?" Zhang Biao suddenly raised his head, his triangular eyes bloodshot and filled with resentment. "Just let it go? Lin San made me lose face in front of so many people, took my territory, and now he wants me to just let it go?!"

"But... Lin San is very skilled, and he has gathered some desperados under his command. What about us..." Tie Suanpan said worriedly.

"Hmph! He can fight, he can kill, but does he think he can withstand open and covert attacks?" Zhang Biao gritted his teeth, a sinister look on his face. "Isn't he arrogant? Doesn't he want to set the rules? I'll make sure he can't! At the docks, have our men secretly contact the canal gang and tell Huang San that Lin San doesn't take him seriously at all and will completely drive the canal gang out of the western district! Send people to warn those merchants in the west that anyone who dares to pay according to Lin San's rules will have their shop smashed! And..."

A glint of madness flashed in his eyes: "Didn't he get involved with Zhao Baiwan of 'Fu Rui Xiang'? We can use that rice incident as a pretext! Go, spread the word that the bandits who robbed the rice at Black Stone Beach were in cahoots with Lin San! He robbed the rice and then framed someone else! He'll muddy the waters completely! I want to see if Lin San can cover up the truth and stop everyone else and the government from taking action!"

"Brother Biao, isn't this...isn't this going too far?" Tie Suanpan was a little scared.

"Big? How can I kill him if I don't?!" Zhang Biao roared. "Do as I say! Remember, be careful, don't give anyone any leverage! Also, prepare a generous gift; I'm going to personally visit Steward Zhou An at the Zhou residence! Lin San... you've cut off my livelihood, I'll make sure you die a horrible death!"

A conspiracy targeting Lin Feng was quietly brewing in the messy, elegant room of Zuixianju. Lin Feng, who had already returned to his courtyard and was listening to Hou Qi's report on the evening's events at the docks, seemed completely unaware of this. He stood in the courtyard, gazing at the dazzling, hazy lights of the city in the direction of the prefecture, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Zhang Biao's reaction was exactly what he expected.

In fact, his tough stance at Zuixianju today was deliberate, intended to force Zhang Biao to come out and see his true colors, and also to bring to light any potential backers behind him.

"Master Lin, everything at the dock is normal tonight. The money collected under the new rules is 30% more than usual," Hou Qi reported excitedly.

"Okay." Lin Feng nodded. "Tell Chen Da and Chen Er to increase patrols tonight, especially near the 'Yongfa' shipping company and the canal gang's boats. As for Liu Sandao, have his men keep an eye on the leaders under Zhang Jinbiao, and also on the movements of Zuixianju."

"yes!"

"Furthermore," Lin Feng paused, a sharp glint in his eyes, "starting tomorrow, spread the word that I, Lin San, am opening a 'freight forwarding' business in the west end, specializing in short-distance freight from the docks to the city. Fair prices and guaranteed safety. Shops are welcome to cooperate, and brothers with ability who want to earn a stable income are also welcome to join us."

What he wanted was not just control of the docks and territory, but also to establish his own legitimate and transparent business network, to make his foundation deeper and more stable! At the same time, this was also to further squeeze Zhang Biao's living space and force him to make a move.

Hou Qi's eyes lit up: "Yes! Master Lin! That's a great idea! I'll get it done first thing tomorrow morning!"

Lin Feng waved his hand, dismissing Hou Qi. He stood alone in the courtyard, the night wind ruffling his clothes.

Zhang Biao's death throes were, in his eyes, nothing more than a minor ailment. His true adversaries were a far greater shadow lurking deep within the prefecture, connected to the serpentine token, the plundering by imposters, and perhaps even to the secret treasures of the previous dynasty. And then there were Zhou Wenyuan, Prince Qi, Ye Qingli…

However, one must take things one step at a time. First, we need to deal with Zhang Biao, that old dog who's blocking our way, and completely control "Muddy Land" and the docks. Only with a solid foundation and financial resources can we accumulate enough power to shake those truly towering trees.

"Want to play? Then I'll play with you." Lin Feng gazed in the direction of Zuixianju, a cold, confident smile curving his lips. "Let's see if your fangs, you local tyrant, are sharper, or my claws, this outsider's, are stronger!"

As night deepened, the lights of the prefectural government flickered in the darkness, as if foreshadowing an even fiercer confrontation and storm to come.

Inside the courtyard house, the simple "Lin" character flag fluttered silently in the night wind, like the most steadfast battle flag, pointing towards an unpredictable yet destined-to-be magnificent tomorrow.