Start your cultivation journey by allocating points to your Destiny.

Lu Chen, his face covered, had already arrived at Cheng Datou's courtyard.

The snoring could be heard even from outside.

Lu Chen walked to the door of the room, preparing to sneak in and pick the lock, when suddenly a soft sound came from the gate of the courtyard outside.

Someone is opening the door!

He immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

Why are there still people coming at this hour?

Lu Chen quickly darted behind the water vat next to the wall of the side room and hid in the shadows.

The door closed, and light footsteps sounded.

Lu Chen held his breath, gripping the stone in one hand and the dagger in the other, his back pressed tightly against the wall, not daring to make a sound.

near, near.

At some point, the snoring inside the house seemed to have stopped.

Lu Chen's heart sank immediately.

He saw the person who had come.

It was the middle-aged woman who was drinking with Cheng Datou.

She was completely unaware that there was another person in the yard, and walked straight to the door and knocked.

"Big Head, it's me!"

After a while, sounds came from inside the room and the lights came on.

Lu Chen tried his best to shrink into the shadows and listened to the conversation.

"Third Aunt, what are you doing here at this time?"

There was a rustling sound inside the house. After a while, the door opened, and Cheng Datou looked at Huang Sangu standing at the door with some dissatisfaction.

"Let's go inside and talk!"

Huang Sangu walked straight into the room with a serious voice.

The noise level dropped considerably after the door was closed.

Lu Chen was also very curious.

This seems like we're about to discuss serious matters?

Thinking of the mole on Huang Sangu's chin, and considering that this person's surname is Huang, could she really be a relative of Huang Chao?

She knew Huang Chao was in trouble, so she came to find Cheng Datou?

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment, then decisively and quietly went to the window, squatted down, and pricked up his ears.

"We just received news that our business has been intercepted by the Flying Eagle Caravan. They've even threatened to raze us to the ground if we don't pay a ransom of one thousand taels of silver. In addition, they'll take a 10% cut from every shipment we make in the future."

Huang Sangu's voice rang out, and you could hear the panic in it.

Lu Chen memorized the words "Flying Eagle Caravan".

"The Flying Eagle Caravan, aren't they usually active in Mingde Prefecture in the north? How come they've come to our Shanyang Prefecture?" Cheng Datou seemed a little scared when he heard the name, but he was more puzzled.

Huang Sangu said, "It seems that two of their leaders were killed and they fled here. Now, what do you think we should do? I can't control the gang's business, but we can't let them take a cut of our business too, can we?"

Cheng Datou paced back and forth in the room, somewhat agitated. "The Flying Eagle Gang has thirteen leaders in total. The weakest among them is at the third level of the Refining Realm. It's said that their eldest brother has already reached the Perfection of Marrow Cleansing and is about to touch the threshold of the Innate Realm. Even if two of them die, our little Green Bamboo Gang can't possibly resist them. If they really want to come here to steal our food, we're just ordinary Copper Skin Realm cultivators. What can we do?"

He was furious.

Lu Chen listened from outside, his heart pounding.

"Refining the filth? Marrow cleansing? Innate level? There truly is martial power here that surpasses that of ordinary people!"

"This Cheng Datou claims to be at the Copper Skin Realm... and the third realm is the Refining of Impurities, so there might be realms like Iron Bones or Steel Bones in between? Does this mean Cheng Datou is most likely at the first realm? This Shahu County is remote and sparsely populated, so there shouldn't be any particularly powerful people here. Cheng Datou is just a minor leader. But we can't be careless; who knows what the Copper Skin Realm is really like!"

He became increasingly cautious and continued to eavesdrop.

"Then how can we continue our own business?" Aunt Huang was also very frustrated. "Do you think they'll take a liking to our business?"

"Of course we can! Why can't we? You're such a short-sighted woman. Do you think these big shots would personally kidnap children? Maybe we can even make more money with this Flying Eagle Caravan in the future!"

Cheng Datou thought about it more and more and it seemed more and more likely.

After thinking about it, Huang Sangu realized that it made sense.

The Thirteen Heroes of Flying Eagles—no, now it's eleven—are quite well-known in the entire Daqian Green Forest, so it's impossible for them to be involved in any dirty work like human trafficking.

It's beneath their dignity.

If they want to make money, don't they still have to rely on the Green Bamboo Gang?

"You're so smart! Go to sleep, I'm leaving."

Lu Chen was startled and quickly retreated behind the water tank.

"Don't go yet. I'm already awake. Let me relax for a bit."

"Hmph, you bastard!"

Lu Chen's eyes were icy cold.

He understood.

These two scoundrels, in addition to their business with the Green Bamboo Gang, also engaged in the trafficking of women and children.

You beast! No, you're worse than a beast!

Hearing the sounds of lovemaking coming from the room, Lu Chen waited until the noise grew louder and more heated before quietly approaching the door.

Gently push the door open.

The door wasn't locked; there was a crack in it.

Lu Chen squatted down and could see the bedding on the bed swaying through the gap.

He showed no interest in appreciating it, but instead took out a packet of lime.

He is waiting.

Lu Chen was caught off guard.

No, has it been two minutes?

He only heard the big-headed guy inside let out a satisfied sigh.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Chen pushed the door open and threw the lime in his hand at Cheng Datou's face.

"What...?"

"puff!"

The lime exploded on his face, sending white powder flying everywhere.

Cheng Datou didn't even have time to let out a scream.

His eyes were directly hit by lime, causing a burning and excruciating pain.

My eyes felt like they were on fire.

He covered his eyes, looking utterly miserable.

Huang Sangu, who was beneath him, was also covered in lime and inhaled a lot of powder, causing her throat to burn.

"The Flying Eagle Caravan is here!"

Lu Chen let out a low roar, and without the slightest pause, the dagger in his hand shot out, heading straight for Cheng Datou's neck.

"Pfft!"

The sharp dagger plunged straight into Cheng Datou's neck, the force so great that the tip of the blade even pierced through to the other side.

Fresh blood immediately flowed out.

Cheng Datou's body stiffened, his hand covering his eyes fell limply, and he collapsed with a thud, landing on top of Huang Sangu.

Huang Sangu was about to scream when Lu Chen's hand moved with lightning speed, launching pebbles that slammed into her temples and throat.

Through repeated upgrades and attribute adjustments, Lu Chen's strength increased dramatically, including attributes like "strong physique" and "abundant energy."

At such a short distance, there was absolutely no possibility of losing control.

Huang Sangu's temple was dented by the stone, and her bones were shattered, with white and red substances splattering out.

Within seconds, the room fell silent once again.

Lu Chen also heard the notification tone.

[Under the host's influence, the fates of Cheng Kui and Huang Sangu have changed.]

Cheng Kui died, his life points increased by 90.

[Huang Sangu dies; Life value +50, Luck value +1]

Total: 140

"A number of luck points?!" Lu Chen was very surprised.

He never expected that Aunt Huang could actually extract a luck value.

He had previously thought that the system had mentioned that entries could be modified using fate and luck values.

But he had absolutely no idea how to obtain the luck value.

But now I've unexpectedly gained a little something.

This was a completely unexpected delight!

"I'll study this carefully when I get back!" he thought to himself.

With the system notification, Lu Chen didn't go for the final blow, but instead closed the door.

They then began searching the entire house, trying to find hidden compartments on the bed, walls, and floor.

After searching for a while, he looked at the spoils on the table and was very satisfied.

80 taels of silver, and 500 taels of silver notes from Daqian Money Shop.

Besides the money, he also found a piece of clothing, which seemed to be the unique uniform of the Green Bamboo Gang, embroidered with green bamboo.

In addition, there is a round green sign with two bamboo sections carved on it.

Lu Chen thought for a moment and then put both items away.

Most importantly, there's a book.

The Art of Dissecting an Ox

"Withdrawal successful!"

Lu Chen couldn't even suppress the smile that was hidden under the black cloth.

He actually found a secret manual.

Stuffing the silver and the manual into his pocket, Lu Chen went to Cheng Datou's side, wrapped the dagger in a cloth, and pulled it out.

Fresh blood spurted from his neck, but luckily there was a cloth to cover it, otherwise it would have splattered all over Lu Chen.

He picked up the pebbles, and he also picked up the thing wrapped in lime.

He left nothing behind that belonged to him.

He swept away the footprints on the lime with a cloth, slowly retreated outside, and closed the door.

Outside, all was still silent, just like yesterday.

After making sure he hadn't left any trace, Lu Chen scaled the wall and left, waiting for the city gate to open.