Lin Family Fortress, Misty Rain Pavilion

The next day.

As usual, Su Chen did not go to the Martial Hall.

In any case, he had already achieved his goal. It no longer mattered whether he went or not.

He rose early, practiced his fist and palm techniques for an hour, ate breakfast, and then left the city.

This time, his destination was Lin Family Fortress.

Lin Family Fortress was a small castle located more than ten kilometers northwest of White Stone City. It had already existed for over a decade.

It was said that the previous Magistrate had also borne the surname Lin, and had specially petitioned to build it for certain reasons.

By now, Lin Family Fortress had developed into another of the Lin Family's territories, like a small town.

After leaving the city, Su Chen spent half a day reaching Lin Family Fortress.

Though it was called a fortress, it was really just surrounded by a two-meter-high wall, still a far cry from White Stone City's five-meter walls.

Still, being able to establish a fortress in such a remote corner was enough to show the Lin Family's strength.

Lin Family Fortress had been modeled after White Stone City, divided into two areas equivalent to White Stone City's Inner City and Outer City.

Anyone could enter the outer area after paying a fee, but the inner area could only be entered with the Lin Family's permission.

Though it could not compare to White Stone City's prosperity, it was still very bustling.

After paying the entry fee, Su Chen entered the fortress. The moment he stepped inside, he could sense the difference from White Stone City.

Sure enough, just as Li Mo had said, aside from some merchant caravans, most people deliberately wore bamboo hats to conceal their identities.

Moreover, most of those walking the streets were martial artists.

Su Chen had similarly disguised himself.

"Misty Rain Pavilion!"

Before long, Su Chen arrived before a grand restaurant. After hesitating for a moment, he entered Misty Rain Pavilion.

According to Li Mo's introduction and the information Su Chen had gathered himself, Misty Rain Pavilion was supposedly an organization established by the Lin Family specifically to serve martial artists.

Martial artists could conduct all kinds of transactions through Misty Rain Pavilion, such as selling information, posting missions, and accepting missions...

It was somewhat like the Yamen in nature. The difference was that Misty Rain Pavilion's operations were broad and tangled, and most of them could not bear the light of day.

When Li Mo had told Su Chen about it, Su Chen had been somewhat surprised that he knew of it.

Li Mo's answer had been that he had heard it from a friend as well.

Su Chen had not dwelled on it too much. Instead, he asked about the details, then made up his mind to come here.

"Guest, is there anything you need?"

Seeing Su Chen wandering around the main hall for quite some time without taking a seat, a waiter walked over and asked politely.

"I want to accept a mission."

Su Chen lowered his voice. Upon hearing this, the waiter bowed. "Please follow me, guest."

The waiter then led Su Chen through several twists and turns until they reached a side room, where several people stood or sat.

These people were not surprised by Su Chen's arrival.

"Guest, you can accept missions here. Take a look, and once you have made your choice, you can collect it from that man."

As he spoke, the waiter pointed at a short man behind the counter.

Su Chen nodded, took out a few copper coins, and handed them over. After thanking him, the waiter turned and left.

Su Chen looked ahead. Sheets of white paper hung there, some bearing portraits and others words, each one different.

"Hmm? Liu Tong?"

Suddenly, Su Chen inadvertently caught sight of a portrait. It was unmistakably Liu Tong, whom he had seen before.

Yet the description beneath it was somewhat more detailed than the Yamen's account.

It not only listed Liu Tong's times and places of crime, but also recorded the innocent people he had killed.

"One hundred taels!"

At the end, Su Chen's gaze tightened slightly. The reward listed on it was actually as high as one hundred taels.

"Lao Lin, I want to withdraw this assassination mission."

At that moment, a man walked over and spoke to the short man. It was obvious that he had deliberately altered his voice.

Lao Lin named a price and did not ask about the man's identity. Once the man paid, he withdrew the assassination mission and took it down.

"Assassinate Zhao Hai? Could he be Zhao Hai?"

Su Chen caught sight of the name on the portrait and froze slightly, guessing at the man's identity.

"Do you have to pay money to withdraw a mission too?"

With doubts in his heart, Su Chen did not immediately go forward to ask. Instead, he sat in a chair at the back and observed for a while.

During that time, people came one after another. Most bought information, a small number posted missions, and one or two turned in completed missions.

Almost no one withdrew a mission like that man had.

After watching for a while, Su Chen gradually saw the clue.

The man who had withdrawn the mission earlier was probably not the person who had originally posted it.

Most likely, just as Su Chen had expected, he was the person in the portrait.

"I never expected that after someone posts an assassination mission, the target can spend money to cancel it. If the poster issues it again and the target cancels it again, over and over like this, Misty Rain Pavilion would be making a killing!"

Thinking of this, Su Chen actually felt a faint trace of envy. This was true freeloading!

And there was not even any risk!

After his envy faded, Su Chen rose to his feet. Having watched for so long, it was time to accept a mission.

He had not forgotten that the purpose of this trip was to accept missions and make money.

"Guest, what would you like?" Lao Lin asked with a smile.

"I would like to ask, is all the information on these accurate?"

Lao Lin shook his head. "Not entirely. Most of it is provided by the people posting the missions. If Misty Rain Pavilion knows anything, we will make slight revisions, but not many."

Su Chen nodded upon hearing this and casually pointed at three portraits. "This one, this one, and this one. I'll accept them all. What do I need to do?"

"These are the mission tokens. I also need to register you. May I ask your honorable surname?"

"My surname is Tie, and my name is Niu."

Lao Lin's hand holding the brush paused slightly. That name...

But he did not hesitate for long. He quickly wrote down the name, then handed three small tokens to Su Chen.

Once Su Chen had accepted them, Lao Lin took down the three missions.

"One more question. What if I discover that the information on a mission is wrong?"

Lao Lin replied, "You may cancel the mission without paying anything, as long as you provide proof."

Only then was Su Chen reassured. Taking the three missions, he turned and left.

After leaving Misty Rain Pavilion, Su Chen departed Lin Family Fortress.

He found a place, then unfolded the three missions he had accepted and carefully read them:

"Kill Sun Fan, leader of the Clingy Clothes Gang in Niu Family Village. This man was steeped in evil, trafficking women and exploiting children for begging profits. His strength was at the Practice Strength Realm. Killing him would earn five taels of silver."

"Kill Lu Tao, a disciple of Iron Clothes Martial Hall. Backed by Iron Clothes Martial Hall, this man oppressed the good and bullied the weak. His strength was at the Practice Strength Realm. Killing him would earn ten taels of silver."

"Kill Qian Huan, the person in charge of the Medicine Gang in Liu Family Town. This man abused the convenience of his position to forcibly seize women. His strength was at the Practice Strength Realm. Killing him would earn fifteen taels of silver."