I become stronger by sacrificing my lifespan, becoming invincible in the world.

No one was injured or killed, and no one was left behind.

They also brought back potentially valuable clues.

Back at the "Dingqi" barracks, everyone unloaded their gear. Although exhausted, their eyes shone with excitement. Their first group operation had been successfully completed, and their trust and understanding with each other had grown stronger.

Lin Chen told everyone to rest, while he took the dark red cloth and went to report back to Zhang Heng.

Some findings need to be reported.

However, he needs to verify some of his guesses.

Zhang Heng's barracks were brightly lit.

After listening to Lin Chen's report and carefully examining the piece of cloth and the black ash powder stuck to it, Zhang Heng's brows slowly furrowed.

"This stuff... looks a bit like the slag from 'black iron ore'. But black iron ore doesn't have this strong fishy smell."

He looked up at Lin Chen, his eyes sharp. "It seems there really is something fishy going on deep within the Black Wind Forest. Lin Chen, your trip wasn't in vain. But..."

He paused, then lowered his voice, "Don't let this get out of here yet. Especially not with Chen Hong. I have other plans."

Lin Chen nodded in agreement, but a thought suddenly occurred to him.

What could Zhang Heng's "other plans" be? And what do that piece of cloth and the strange mineral powder on it point to?

He suddenly remembered that Shi Jian had mentioned in his secret letter that the Tiger Gang was trading with the demon race for a kind of ore called "magic iron ore".

Is there any connection between these two things?

It seems I'll have to find another opportunity to go to the black market, or perhaps ask the Shi family directly.

When we came out of Zhang Heng's barracks, it was already completely dark.

The wind was biting cold, and the lights inside the city gate flickered in the night.

Lin Chen left the small piece of dark red cloth and the sample of mineral powder on it with Zhang Heng, while he himself only brought back a bellyful of doubts.

Black iron ore? Demon iron ore? Zhang Heng's cryptic attitude only made the secrets deep within the Black Wind Forest seem even more mysterious.

However, he needs more information.

Back at Dingqi's barracks, Zhao Tiegu and the others had already rested. The embers in the hearth glowed faintly red, illuminating several tired but peaceful sleeping faces.

Lin Chen sat down on his bunk, preparing to regulate his breathing, when his ears suddenly twitched slightly.

Outside the barracks, three very soft, rhythmic tapping sounds came.

Two short and one long.

It was the secret code that Shi Jian agreed upon with the Shi family when he left.

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed, and he silently got up, put on his coat, and slipped out of the barracks.

The night was as dark as ink, with the faint light of the sky reflecting off the snow. As agreed, he avoided the patrolling soldiers and arrived at an abandoned beacon tower in the southwest corner of the military camp.

A figure wrapped in a thick fur coat and wearing a tattered felt hat was already waiting there. Upon seeing Lin Chen, the man quickly stepped forward and lowered his voice, "Benefactor Lin?"

The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Lin Chen approached and, by the faint light of the snow, could see the other person's face clearly—it was Shi Jian's son, Shi Tou, whom he had seen before when he escorted the Shi family back to Black Rock City.

"Stone? What are you doing here?" Lin Chen looked around warily.

"The patriarch sent me." Shi Tou took out a long, tightly wrapped bundle from his pocket, along with a small cloth bag, and respectfully handed it to Lin Chen. "The patriarch said that great kindness need not be expressed in words of thanks, but the promised items must be delivered."

Lin Chen took it. The long bundle felt heavy in his hand, while the small cloth bag was rather soft.

"This isn't the place to talk. Come with me." Lin Chen led Shi Tou around to a leeward, dead-end corner of the beacon tower.

He first opened the long bundle.

Inside was a neatly folded dark gray soft armor, cool and supple to the touch, with a matte sheen in the night. Beside it was a sheathed, straight-bladed longsword.

"The soft armor was woven by the patriarch himself, using the wolf skin you left behind, mixed with the tendons of three of the toughest ferocious beasts and a special kind of 'ice silkworm silk' from the north. It was also lined with thin iron plates," Stone explained in a low voice.

"Lightweight and close-fitting, yet difficult to penetrate with ordinary swords and arrows, and especially effective against slashing and blunt force trauma."

Lin Chen unfolded the soft armor; it was indeed thin and light, less than half the weight of the leather armor used in the army. He tugged at it with his hand; it was extremely resilient. He then tapped the lining with his fingers, producing a dull sound.

Good stuff. It can save your life in a critical moment.

He picked up the knife.

The scabbard is made of simple hardwood covered with brass, without any patterns. Grasp the hilt and slowly draw the knife.

The blade is straight, about three feet long and two fingers wide. It has a uniform dark silver color, with fine, flowing forging patterns near the back. The edge gleams coldly in the night, and a subtle sharpness can be felt when approaching it.

A hundred-times-forged steel knife.

Although not a divine weapon, it is definitely several levels above the standard military knife. From the materials and forging to the sharpening, it all reflects the exquisite craftsmanship of the Shi family.

"The sword was also forged by the patriarch himself, using the finest refined steel from our stock. I wouldn't dare say it can cut through a hair with a single blow, but it's more than capable of slicing through ordinary iron armor and the tough hides of demonic beasts," Stone said with pride.

Lin Chen sheathed his sword, satisfied. With these two items, his survivability and attack power would both be significantly enhanced.

He then opened the small cloth bag.

Inside were three small white porcelain bottles, each plugged with a red cloth.

The bottles were labeled: Hemostatic Powder, Muscle-Regenerating Ointment, and Detoxifying Pills. These were all good medicines for treating injuries and providing emergency relief, and their quality was clearly superior to the inferior goods issued to soldiers.

At the very bottom of the cloth bag was a secret letter sealed with wax.

Lin Chen tore open the envelope and quickly scanned it by the faint light of the fire on the distant city wall.

The letter was written by Shi Jian himself, and the handwriting was somewhat messy.

There are two contents:

First, it has been confirmed that Lei Hu, the leader of the Fierce Tiger Gang, is indeed a master of innate skill and has a close relationship with Chen Hong. Moreover, Lei Hu's recent movements have been elusive, and he has been in close contact with a demon tribe in the northern border called the "Black Nightmare Tribe." The trade between them is suspected to include a special ore and... people.

Secondly, the Shi family is willing to form a closer alliance with Lin Chen. They can provide limited but reliable intelligence support, and have several safe houses in and around Blackrock City for emergency shelter or message relay. The Shi family's shops can also provide some financial and material assistance. They only ask that Lin Chen, if given the opportunity in the future, will protect the Shi family.

At the end of the letter, Shi Jian expressed his gratitude again and said that if needed, he could contact the blacksmith shop in Blackrock City with the token (an ebony plaque with the character "Shi" engraved on it).

After reading it, Lin Chen's expression turned somewhat solemn; it contained a great deal of information.

Lei Hu's dealings with the Black Nightmare Tribe, involving ores and people... this vaguely aligns with his previous guesses and the traces he discovered in the Black Wind Forest.

As for the Shi family's proposal for an alliance, it was exactly what they wanted.

He needs a reliable intelligence network and logistical support.

"Please thank Patriarch Shi for me." Lin Chen put away the ebony token and porcelain bottle, and said to Shi Tou, "I accept the gifts. I will also remember the Shi family's kindness."

Shi Tou quickly waved his hands, "My benefactor, please don't say that! The entire Shi family remembers your life-saving grace!"

Lin Chen pondered for a moment and said, "I also have two things that I need the Shi family's help with."

"Please speak, my benefactor!"