The Tiger Gang, Prologue

"Second Master doesn't like being watched. Let's wait outside for a bit. As for these Kudali, detain them for now."

Li Zhiming explained, then directed everyone to get busy.

The patrolmen had just fastened the chains and sent the Kudali-disguised Martial Artists to the prison. From the depths of the jail came bursts of hoarse wails, sending shivers down one's spine.

Lin Mo glanced towards the depths of the prison. The corridor was pitch black, but vaguely, he thought he heard Hu Pangsan confessing...

However, it only lasted for a moment before being quickly suppressed.

Was that my imagination? Lin Mo pondered, then solidified his thought. He's a Second Level Martial Artist in disguise, after all. If his bones aren't tough, why would he be sent on a mission like this? It's probably not that easy to extract information.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Hu Pangsan was brought out like a puddle of mud. It was different from Lin Mo's imagination of severe torture, with his body covered in bruises and torn flesh.

Lin Mo examined him up and down. Hu Pangsan's luxurious robes were not significantly damaged, with only three very shallow stick marks on the collar. If not for his Insightful Eye, Lin Mo would have hardly noticed.

When he used his Insightful Eye to observe Hu Pangsan's Destiny, he was suddenly shocked to find that the words related to Blood Essence above Hu Pangsan's head had completely vanished.

Have his meridians and dantian been crippled? He can't even preserve his Blood Essence?

Lin Mo was somewhat stunned. The other patrolmen were completely unaware, only seeing him emerge intact, aside from being thrown to the ground like a puddle of mud by Li Erlang.

"Second Master, did he confess?" Li Zhiming inquired.

"His bones were much softer than I expected. I only hit him three times, and he couldn't take it anymore."

Li Erlang chuckled sinisterly, which Lin Mo found somewhat unsettling. A patrolman who had also engaged in interrogation squatted down to examine Hu Pangsan closely.

After a long while, he couldn't find any clues, his brow furrowed.

"Second Master's technique with those three strikes... I can't even tell," the patrolman murmured, a mix of surprise and a desire to test Hu Pangsan himself, yet fearing he might offend Second Master.

Lin Mo rested his chin on his hand and quietly stated his deduction, "The first strike probably shattered all his meridians. Yet his clothes are completely unharmed. This technique is truly terrifying..."

Li Erlang was discussing matters with Li Zhiming when he unexpectedly heard a young voice describe his interrogation method. He followed the sound and looked over.

"Good kid, your eyesight is truly remarkable... I remember you, Lin Mo?"

Li Erlang looked over thoughtfully, then sighed and shook his head. "You're Yang Yun's disciple. When you have time, please send my regards to your master."

"Don't worry, Second Master. I will surely deliver your message," Lin Mo replied, cupping his hands.

Li Zhiming stood rooted to the spot, pondering for a long time. Then, recalling his earlier conversation with Second Master, he seemed to have connected something.

"Second Master, this kid is from our county's Tiger Gang, and he was entrusted to arrange the blood sacrifice. The reason is likely to lure Water Ghosts... Someone probably wants to disrupt the Water Ghost disaster and cause trouble for our Li Family."

Li Erlang nodded. "The Tiger Gang has long been located in the Osmanthus Street slum west of Changhe County. They have several houses as their hideouts. Their influence isn't strong, and their leader is merely a Second Level Martial Artist. Take your men and arrest them all."

"Then, I will personally interrogate them, and it will become clear who they were entrusted by."

To ensure the capture of the Tiger Gang leader alive, Li Zhiming summoned almost all the patrolmen and stationed them on all the necessary routes, while he prepared to go directly to their location.

Osmanthus Street slum.

It was noon. In a courtyard, more than ten ruffians and thugs dressed in coarse cloth sat around. A one-eyed man in a rocking chair indifferently watched his subordinates.

"How are the arrangements at the docks coming along?"

Zhao Hubiao crossed his legs, playing with two iron walnuts in his hand, rolling them around. His single, sinister eye sent a chill down one's spine.

Someone quickly stepped forward to report, "Master Biao, of the three groups at the east dock, two have returned. Both groups at the south dock have also returned..."

The person continued, "Perhaps Third Master finished his business and took them out for some fun. They'll be back soon."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. Tell the brothers to be vigilant. If there's any sign of trouble, leave early."

Zhao Hubiao felt a vague sense of unease.

He thought about how the Qianjin Escort Agency had entrusted this matter to them. The deposit alone was a thousand taels of silver and a partial scroll of a breathing technique. Although the breathing technique scroll could only be cultivated to Second Level Perfection, if it were put on the market, it would fetch at least three thousand taels.

Based on his years of experience, he was quite certain this was a life-risking job.

"Even if we succeed in this, the Escort Agency won't let us off easily. Once this is done, we brothers will scatter our earnings and go our separate ways."

Zhao Hubiao looked at his brothers in the courtyard and solemnly promised, "Don't worry. You've all been my brothers for half my life. I will never treat you unfairly."

He waved his hand, dispersing the crowd. Those who were supposed to collect 'peace fees' from the slum went to do so, and those who were supposed to patrol and guard the posts went to their stations.

Zhao Hubiao basked in the sun in the courtyard for a while, the feeling of unease growing stronger.

He walked into a side room in the courtyard and pulled out a blue cloth-wrapped bundle from under the bed. Although it was only slightly larger than his fist, it represented most of his wealth.

As Zhao Hubiao was tucking it into his pocket, his heart finally settled for a moment, when suddenly a sharp shout erupted in the courtyard.

"Who are you? This is Tiger Gang territory!"

The voice sounded extremely quickly and then abruptly stopped.

This is bad!

Old Third and the others are in trouble. Someone has tracked them here!

Zhao Hubiao's heart skipped a beat. Without a second thought, he dived into the secret tunnel beneath the bed and fled like lightning.

In just three to five breaths, a Martial Artist from the Li Family at Second Level Perfection kicked the door in. His eyes scanned the room, searching, then glanced downwards.

A sliver of wood at the edge of the floor caught his attention. He swung his long saber down, revealing a secret passage less than half a person's height.

A cunning rabbit has three burrows, let alone a local small gang like the Tiger Gang, which was always on the verge of life and death. It was more than just three burrows.

After a morning of reconnaissance, Li Zhiming had pinpointed the Tiger Gang's strongholds to three residences on Osmanthus Street and divided his forces into three groups for the arrests.

It was a pity that their luck was still a bit lacking...

The Li Family Martial Artist turned back and instructed a few words, "Quickly report to Head Patrolman Li. I'm going to pursue them!"

In the dark alleys of Osmanthus Street and the adjacent streets, more or less, people in disguise had appeared.

At the southern entrance and exit of Osmanthus Street, Lin Mo and Zhu Hao were working together, lying in wait in an alley. Zhu Hao had changed into an inconspicuous gray robe, and Lin Mo was wearing the same t-shirt he used to wear while doing Kudali labor.

"Do you think the Tiger Gang leader can escape?"

Lin Mo intended to take this opportunity to gain something, even if it was just dealing with two or three small fry. His Luck would soar.

After all, his Luck had already reached ninety points, not far from upgrading his Destiny to Root Bone.