Zhao Lin took the two sheets of paper. He saw that the first page detailed the bandits’ internal organization, while the second was a map marking the locations of traps and mechanisms in the valleys of Seven Pillar Mountain.

The bandits primarily operated in three locations: Seven Pillar Peak, Old Ridge Peak, and Fuli Valley.

These three places were all within the heartland of Baitou Mountain, guarded by bandits year-round. Drilling Mountain Leopard would change his base of operations periodically.

The two minions only knew the general defensive layout of Seven Pillar Peak. However, the traps and mechanisms were not static; whenever the bandits changed lairs, the original markings on the map became outdated.

The bandits numbered around two hundred seventy or eighty men. Among their core members, besides Drilling Mountain Leopard, there were three other formidable figures.

The Second Shopkeeper was Xu Feng, at the Third Layer of the Qi Realm. He was skilled with a large iron rod and was commonly known as Xu Mabang.

The Third Shopkeeper, Yin Hu, and the "Topping Sky Beam," Wang Mazi, were both at the Second Layer of the Qi Realm.

Heartless Pillar, Zhao Feilong, would have been one of them, but he was dead. Drilling Mountain Leopard hadn’t found a suitable replacement, so the position remained vacant for now.

The remaining leaders—such as the "Supporting Sky Beam" (strategist), the Horse Stable (in charge of horses and livestock), the General Manager (logistics), and the "Wire" (intelligence)—also had cultivation levels at the First or Second Layer of the Qi Realm.

Zhao Lin noticed a problem. "Why isn’t Drilling Mountain Leopard’s cultivation level written down?" he asked.

Liang Song shook his head. "Drilling Mountain Leopard’s cultivation level has always been a mystery; even his own men don’t know. Some say he’s at the Third Layer of the Qi Realm, while others claim he has already entered the Blood Realm, just without breaking through to the First Layer of the Blood Realm."

"But one thing is known throughout the gang: the Second and Third Shopkeepers combined are no match for him."

Zhao Lin was puzzled. ’Why would Drilling Mountain Leopard be so secretive even about his cultivation level?’

But even without counting Drilling Mountain Leopard, the strength of the bandits’ core members surpassed that of most martial arts dojos and minor sects. Combined with their combat experience, large numbers, and utter lack of morals, it was no wonder they had grown so powerful.

The confession also detailed the bandits’ daily activities and other miscellaneous matters, all of which Zhao Lin committed to memory.

After leaving the jail, Zhao Lin and Liang Song were both starving. They went out for a meal, and by the time they returned to the constables’ office, Guo Sheng had finally appeared.

"Constable Zhao, here is Chu Liu’s release order."

Guo Sheng was all smiles as he handed over an official document. "I was just following procedure. If I’ve caused any offense, please don’t hold it against me."

Zhao Lin knew the Lingshan Sect must have relented for Guo Sheng to agree to the release. He cupped his hands in thanks. "Many thanks for your help, Brother Guo. Although Chu Liu is my Senior Brother, he was the one at fault. Keeping him locked up for half a day was getting off easy."

Guo Sheng observed his expression and saw that he was serious and not faking it. He smiled and said, "I’m relieved to hear you say that, Younger Brother Zhao."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Guo Sheng took his leave.

Zhao Lin looked at the release order in his hand and decided to let Chu Liu stay in his cell a while longer. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair to catch up on some sleep.

Just as it was about time to get off duty, He Qingquan woke Zhao Lin up.

Zhao Lin immediately roped He Qingquan into doing the task. He sent him to release Chu Liu, as he really didn’t want to deal with his fifth senior brother himself.

He Qingquan left with the release order and returned a short while later.

Zhao Lin saw that he didn’t look too happy and asked, "Old He, how did it go? What did he say?"

He Qingquan’s mouth twitched. "He didn’t say a thing."

"Not even a word of thanks?"

"Nope. Not a single one."

...

In the evening, as Zhao Lin was leaving the Liuhe Sect, he was surprised to find Liang Song waiting for him outside the gate. Liang Song’s face was flushed with excitement, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"What’s up, Brother Liang?"

Liang Song said excitedly, "Want to go kill some more bandits tonight?"

Zhao Lin was taken aback. "Again?"

"Yes!"

Liang Song counted on his fingers. "We killed four and captured two yesterday. That’s six bandits gone in one go. They only have a little over two hundred men in total. How many hits like that can they take?"

"Your logic... is sound."

Zhao Lin said, drawing out his words, before changing the subject. "Let me ask you a question. If you were Drilling Mountain Leopard, what would you do today?"

Liang Song thought about it seriously, the smile on his face gradually fading. "I would... send a few of my best men, disguised as regular grunts, to stand guard outside. As soon as we showed up, they’d trap us like turtles in a jar."

"Or I’d dig pits in front of the mountain and fill them with a bunch of animal traps..."

At this point, Liang Song slapped his own cheek. "Sigh, I oversimplified things."

Zhao Lin nodded. "Exactly. The bandits are definitely on high alert now. We should lie low for a few days and let them stew."

...

「Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, it was mid-November.」

Over the past half-month or so, Zhao Lin and Liang Song had been active from time to time around Seven Pillar Peak, Old Ridge Peak, and Fuli Valley.

If they encountered small groups of bandits or stragglers, they would attack and kill them directly. If they ran into a large contingent, they would avoid them. In just over ten days, the two had claimed the lives of another twenty bandits.

However, after suffering these losses, Drilling Mountain Leopard had grown increasingly cautious.

Not only did he restrain his men, giving the pair no opportunities to ambush them, but he sometimes also set up feints, using low-level minions as bait.

On their most recent outing, the two were lured into a mountain basin. If not for Zhao Lin’s speed, they would have been trapped inside.

Since then, they had stopped their risky excursions and focused on their martial arts, using the time to improve their strength.

「Liuhe Sect, Front Courtyard.」

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Zhao."

Wu Dun and Wang Xiu bowed to Zhao Lin in unison.

The two were new recruits who had just joined the Liuhe Sect and were originally under the supervision of their sixth senior brother, Qian Chengfei.

But Qian Chengfei was recently at a critical stage in his breakthrough to the First Layer of the Qi Realm and rarely had time to come to the front courtyard. Thus, the two had been practicing with the other disciples.

Because they were of a similar age, and because Zhao Lin was easygoing and didn’t put on airs, the two often sought his advice on martial arts matters.

"It’s not really guidance, just some of my own insights."

Zhao Lin waved his hand dismissively and walked over to a long table at the edge of the training grounds.

He picked up a water kettle, poured himself a large bowl of water, then took a wax pill from his robes and washed it down.

After moving around for a bit to let the medicine take effect, Zhao Lin focused his full attention on practicing the Six Harmonies Fist.

This was his daily training regimen—the so-called "a singer never parts with his song, a fighter never parts with his fist."

Halfway through the routine, Zhao Lin suddenly felt something was off with his body.

As he threw punches and kicks, the diaphragm between his chest and abdomen began to tremble faintly. The major tendons in his torso and limbs twitched slightly, emitting a sound like the thrum of a bowstring.

The sound wasn’t loud, but to Zhao Lin’s ears, it was as deafening as a great bell!

’This is... I’m about to have a breakthrough in tendon training!’

The thrumming of tendons and cracking of bones were signs of the Third and Second Layers of the Power Realm.

Zhao Lin had experience with bone training before, so this sensation was exceptionally clear to him.

’It’s good that it’s fast, but isn’t this a little *too* fast?’

This cultivation speed... even Zhao Lin himself was astonished.

He had originally estimated his breakthrough would happen around the end of this year or early next year. But after absorbing the Golden Leopard’s Essence Soul, the Spirit Beast Scroll had clearly accelerated the transformation of his fascia and tendons.

’What should I do?’

Zhao Lin stopped, not daring to continue his practice. Otherwise, the sound of his thrumming tendons would grow louder and louder until others could hear it.

His master had once told him that when training the tendons, he must not let outsiders know. He had to find a secluded place.