New Recruit Reporting In—My Name Is Lin Mu

The Lei Ming Merchant Caravan's recruitment point was set up at the post station outside Mingde City.

Huo Yuhao entered the courtyard with a pack on his back, sizing up the sizable merchant caravan before him. More than fifty carriages stood neatly lined up, while the guards inspected their equipment.

"New recruit reporting in!"

A burly, bearded man strode over. He had a powerful build, with a heavy-backed saber hanging at his waist.

"I'm Lei Ming, the captain. You're Lin Mu, the one who registered yesterday?"

"That's right." Huo Yuhao nodded. "Please guide me."

Lei Ming gave him a few appraising looks. "You're not very old. Do you have a foundation in soul power?"

"I'm a one-ring Soul Master."

"Fine. Follow the veteran guards and learn the ropes for a few days." Lei Ming pointed toward the training grounds in the distance. "Someone over there will teach you the rules."

Huo Yuhao headed toward the training grounds as the [Thought Palace] silently activated.

[Analysis Target: Internal structure of the merchant caravan]

[Detection Result: Captain Lei Ming, three-ring Soul Elder, martial soul: Lightning Leopard. Vice Captain Mo Sen, two-ring Grand Soul Master, abnormal behavior.]

[Discovery: Mo Sen has secretly met with strangers several times, suggesting hidden dealings.]

"New recruit, come here!"

A tall, thin middle-aged man waved him over. This was Vice Captain Mo Sen.

"My name is Mo Sen. I'm responsible for training newcomers." His smile was warm and friendly. "A caravan guard's work isn't complicated. Mainly keeping watch and patrolling."

Huo Yuhao listened attentively while secretly observing Mo Sen's expression.

This guy's smile is far too fake.

"By the way, little brother, do you know anything about soul tools?" Mo Sen suddenly asked.

"I know a little." Huo Yuhao answered modestly.

"That's good. The soul tools in our caravan often develop minor problems, and we happen to need someone knowledgeable."

Over the following days, Huo Yuhao behaved in a steady, unremarkable manner. He did not vie for attention during training, and he was conscientious while patrolling. Before long, he had blended into the group.

But his [Thought Palace] had been analyzing everything in secret.

[Intelligence Collection Complete]

[Discovery One: The caravan's cargo manifest does not match its actual load. There are twelve extra crates containing unknown items.]

[Discovery Two: Mo Sen secretly inspects these crates every night.]

[Discovery Three: Captain Lei Ming is completely unaware of this.]

On the fifth night, Huo Yuhao took advantage of a shift change to quietly make his way into the cargo area.

Under the moonlight, he clearly saw the markings on those mysterious crates.

"Military soul tools?"

Huo Yuhao's heart jolted. These were all contraband!

[Thought Palace, analyze the destination of the contraband.]

[Inference Result: Highly likely to be a secret arms transaction between empires.]

[Risk Assessment: If exposed, the entire merchant caravan will be implicated.]

Just as he was preparing to leave, footsteps sounded behind him.

"Who's there?"

Mo Sen's voice!

Huo Yuhao's heart tightened, and he hurriedly hid behind a carriage.

"Strange. I clearly heard something." Mo Sen walked over and carefully inspected the area.

After confirming that no one was there, he opened one of the crates.

Inside lay more than a dozen exquisitely designed soul tools, neatly arranged. Each one radiated a dangerous aura.

"Fourth-grade offensive soul tools—the Thunderbolt Guns." Huo Yuhao recognized the weapons.

These were standard-issue military equipment!

After finishing his inspection, Mo Sen locked the crate again and took out a communication soul tool.

"The cargo is secure. Proceed according to plan."

He lowered his voice and spoke a few words before hurriedly leaving.

Huo Yuhao waited until he had gone far away before emerging from his hiding place.

[Thought Palace, formulate a response strategy.]

[Plan One: Report it immediately, but this may alert the enemy.]

[Plan Two: Secretly gather evidence and wait for the right opportunity.]

[Plan Three: Tell Captain Lei Ming directly.]

[Recommendation: Plan Two, minimal risk.]

The next day, the caravan officially set out.

The massive procession traveled along the main road. Huo Yuhao rode on horseback, calm on the surface as he considered his options within.

"Lin Mu, come here for a moment."

Captain Lei Ming beckoned him over.

"What are your orders, Captain?"

"I heard you know soul tools?" Lei Ming pointed at a carriage ahead. "The protective barrier on that one keeps flickering. Go take a look."

Huo Yuhao dismounted and walked over to the carriage.

It was a Class 3 protective soul tool, used to safeguard valuable cargo.

[Thought Palace, diagnose the cause of the malfunction.]

[Analysis complete: Energy circuit aging. The core rune needs to be replaced.]

"It's not a major problem. The rune has simply aged." Huo Yuhao inspected it once more. "I'll see if I can fix it."

He took out his tools and began dismantling the soul tool.

The guards watching nearby all stared wide-eyed.

"This kid really knows what he's doing!"

"His technique is pretty professional."

Half an hour later, the protective barrier lit up again, even more stable than before.

"Impressive!" Lei Ming patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "I didn't expect someone so young to have this kind of skill."

"It's just a minor trick," Huo Yuhao said modestly.

But Mo Sen's expression grew complicated.

This kid's skills were far better than he had imagined.

That afternoon, the caravan rested in a stretch of woodland.

Huo Yuhao was washing his face by the river when he suddenly heard a strange sound.

"Roar—"

A deep growl came from the depths of the forest.

[Thought Palace, identify threat.]

[Analysis result: Thousand-year soul beast, Blazing Flame Lion. Extremely dangerous!]

"Everyone, stay alert!" Lei Ming shouted. "A soul beast is approaching!"

The guards drew their weapons, but none of them felt confident facing a thousand-year soul beast.

Boom!

A blast of flame shot out from the woods, instantly setting two carriages ablaze.

A massive lion three meters long charged out, its entire body wreathed in blazing fire, radiating an overwhelming presence.

"A thousand-year Blazing Flame Lion!" someone cried out.

"Everyone, fall back!" Lei Ming swung his broadsword. "Protect the cargo!"

But the Blazing Flame Lion's attacks were too fierce. The caravan's defenses were on the verge of collapse.

"First Soul Skill, Lightning Claw!"

Lei Ming unleashed his soul skill, blue lightning crackling around his claws.

Yet the Blazing Flame Lion only staggered back a few steps, suffering no serious damage.

"No, our attacks aren't strong enough!"

As the caravan was about to be wiped out, Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth.

I can't hide any longer!

He rushed to a carriage loaded with soul tools and quickly dismantled several protective devices.

"What are you doing?" Mo Sen shouted.

"Saving lives!" Huo Yuhao replied without looking back.

[Thought Palace, design temporary weapon.]

[Plan: Convert defensive soul tools into offensive ones using the principle of energy focusing.]

His hands moved rapidly as he reassembled the rune circuits.

Boom!

The Blazing Lion unleashed another fiery charge, sending several guards sprawling to the ground.

"Come on!" Lei Ming shouted anxiously.

"Done!"

Huo Yuhao raised the modified soul tool and aimed it at the Blazing Lion.

"Everyone, get back!"

Blue-white light gathered at the front of the soul tool, its energy fluctuations growing more intense by the second.

"What is that?" Mo Sen's eyes widened.

"A modified energy cannon!"

Huo Yuhao pulled the trigger.

"Boom—"

A thick beam of light shot out, striking the Blazing Lion squarely in the chest.

The massive beast let out a scream as its huge body was blasted more than ten meters away.

"It worked!" the guards cheered.

The Blazing Lion struggled back to its feet, but it was clearly badly wounded. It shot the caravan a vicious look before turning and fleeing into the woods.

"That was incredible!" Lei Ming walked over, his eyes full of shock. "Your modification skills are practically divine!"

The other guards gathered around as well, showering him with praise.

But Huo Yuhao noticed that Mo Sen's expression had grown even more complicated.

This kid's strength far exceeds anything I imagined.