Becoming a god starts with one certificate becoming eternal.

Lin Yan first scanned the shed to make sure there weren't any familiar faces before approaching.

Finally, he sat down opposite Ye Xiao, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the people at this table to hear:

"You chose this spot? Aren't you worried about too many people gossiping?"

Ye Xiao glanced at him: "There are a lot of people here, and most of them are talking, so it's easy for their words to get drowned out."

Lin Yan was momentarily speechless, then smiled:

"Okay, you're really good at calculating."

He draped his sleeve over the table, flicked it with his fingertips, revealing a small section of thick hemp rope... with an unusual knot tied in it.

"Let's talk about the Giant Shark Gang first. I've basically figured out all the information you wanted."

Ye Xiao didn't touch the rope; his gaze fell on the knot: "Is this the Giant Shark Gang's mark? What's so special about it?"

Lin Yan lowered his voice:

"That's right. The giant sharks only leave hemp rope knots. These are called shark knots, and they're commonly used for unloading cargo at the docks where they're based. They're used to tie up packages. The knots are thick and tight, and they won't break even if you pull hard. An amateur can't imitate them."

Ye Xiao didn't speak, but instead examined the shark knot on the table. After a few breaths:

"What are the details? What step is the layperson most likely to make a mistake in learning?"

Lin Yan took the knot and explained, "Look closely, the difference is in the point of force application. It's not a simple knot, but two forces interlocking... An amateur can tie it by copying the form, and the knot will look similar, but it will slip when pulled. A real shark knot gets tighter the faster you pull it."

Ye Xiao nodded: "Your work style?"

"Ruthless, but not chaotic," Lin Yan said. "They have a habit of blocking the way before they strike, and they can retreat even faster."

Ye Xiao pondered for a moment, then asked, "If the Giant Shark Gang were to take away goods from the Tianyuan Escort Agency, would they kill people?"

"Unless absolutely necessary, I won't."

Lin Yan laughed and said, "Tianyuan Escort Agency's power is no weaker than that of the Giant Shark Gang. It's fine if it's just a simple robbery of goods, but if someone is killed, then it will be a fight to the death between the two forces."

"Furthermore, according to my investigation, Tianyuan Escort Agency has some connections with Shangcheng. If there are really dead people in the escort agency, it may alert the city guard."

"Even if they are not as terrifying as the Town Guard, the forces in the lower city still do not want to provoke them."

Ye Xiao nodded, confirming that this was roughly what he had guessed, and immediately moved on to the second matter:

"Tianyuan Escort Agency?"

Upon hearing the words "Tianyuan Escort Agency," Lin Yan's smile faded slightly; clearly, the name was more sensitive, but he still voiced his opinion:

"Tianyuan's current escort mission is for winter supplies: coal, salt, and ironware. There are three wagons, eight to twelve men on the surface, plus two scouts and two rear guards."

"The team leader is Du Wanjun, a late-stage Bone Forging expert. He has extensive experience in escorting goods, is not greedy for credit, and is not reckless."

Ye Xiao asked the crucial question: "In which section were they most scattered?"

Lin Yan immediately pushed a crumpled piece of paper over, which only had three lines and a bridge mark on it:

"Based on my deduction, it's on the bridge. The bridge is narrow, and cars can only travel one way. Three cars would definitely have to keep their distance. In addition, there is an old gate at the bridgehead, so you have to stop before crossing the bridge."

Ye Xiao's gaze lingered on the bridge for a moment: "Signal?"

"A fine copper whistle."

Lin Yan said, "Even in a strong wind, the whistle can be transmitted. Usually, the person at the front or the rear of the formation blows and responds at the bridgehead and the tail, and the formation can be quickly brought together. If you want to make a move, you have to stop the whistle first, or subdue the person blowing the whistle immediately."

Ye Xiao withdrew his gaze: "Will they set a trap?"

Lin Yan nodded:

"Definitely. According to the customs of the escort agency, there is a box that is bait... It will be the one that looks most valuable. The seal is clean and the position is conspicuous. As soon as you pounce on it, they will surround you."

"There's also a second-in-command in the team. I heard this from where they were staying. He's in charge of keeping the team at the back, and his strength is at the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm."

"As for whether there are other experts in the shadows, I cannot guarantee that."

Ye Xiao folded the crumpled paper, stuffed it into his sleeve, closed his eyes, and began to mentally reconstruct the whole situation.

After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes and said:

"This information is very detailed and useful to me. Consider the money you lent me earlier as a fee for this information."

"How could you?"

Lin Yan shook his head repeatedly: "Without your few taels of silver, my mother wouldn't have made it through. It's a debt, but also a matter of life and death, and I must repay it."

Ye Xiao calmly said, "You don't owe me your life, you owe me money. I'll take the money now, and use the intelligence to settle it."

He paused, his tone softening slightly:

"Don't feel like you're getting a good deal. If we really have to calculate it, I'm the one who's benefiting."

Lin Yan opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't argue, only saying in a low voice, "Then let's do as you say and settle the debt."

Ye Xiao stood up and left the money for the tea.

Lin Yan called out to Ye Xiao's retreating figure, her voice very soft:

"Whatever you do, be careful."

Ye Xiao stopped but did not turn around.

Lin Yan swallowed hard and continued, "The path you're on now... is very good, very bright, but too dangerous."

Ye Xiao only left one sentence:

"If you don't leave, you'll die."

As the fog and wind blew outside the shed, the noise and footsteps from the other seats pressed in, and that sentence seemed to be crushed into the night.

"You told me... we are all in the gutter, but we can still look up at the stars. I will never forget those words, even if I can't be like you."

Lin Yan stood there, murmuring softly, until Ye Xiao's footsteps completely disappeared.

He knew in his heart that Ye Xiao had already embarked on the path he had never even dared to dream of.

This made him worry about Ye Xiao, but also inspired and encouraged him.

……

The fog pressure was very low.

The further out you go from the inner city, the more scattered the neat stone paths become, and the shop signs change from new to old.

Ye Xiao walked along the edge, his steps slow, as if he were measuring the distance with every step.

Not far ahead lies the boundary between the inner city and the Silent Alley.

The bridge spans between two areas, and beneath it lies a narrow, dark ditch, the sound of which is swallowed by the fog, leaving only a faint gasp. The bridge is so narrow that three cars must be separated, and when crossing, each car squeezes through one by one; no matter how orderly the formation, it will be forcibly broken apart by the bridge's structure.

An old gatehouse stands at the bridgehead.

It's not a tax card, nor is it an official rule; it's more like a checkpoint that's been tacitly accepted over time... Vehicles passing through at night must stop.

When three cars stop and move, the distance between them must be increased; when people switch positions, their vision must be momentarily disrupted.

Ye Xiao stood under the bridge for a few moments, his gaze sweeping over the bridgehead, the bridge tail, the sluice gate, and then glancing at the low wall and ditch on the side of the bridge.

Cars must stop when crossing the bridge.

The formation must be changed; the window of opportunity is just that moment, when it is most scattered and chaotic.

Everything is correct.

After confirming everything, Ye Xiao looked away as if he were just passing by and turned to leave.

Bypassing the busiest side road near the bridge, the noise is blocked behind the wall.

Ahead was an empty yard where old wooden crates were stacked high, creaking in the wind. It wasn't far from the main street, so the noise could blend in, but it wasn't right next to the bridge.

Two figures were already waiting.

One on the left and one on the right, their positions are carefully chosen, allowing them to watch both the alley entrance and the hospital gate.

Their clothes were made of decent material, and the black thread on their cuffs was like iron wire, stiff and cold. It was not just about being presentable, but also about being disciplined. These were two men in black cuffs.

Ye Xiao stepped in, and the two men clasped their hands in greeting.

The person on the left moved with such steady movements, as if they had measured the angles, and their voice was perfectly controlled.

"Lord Ye, I am Shen Sheng."

The man on the right clasped his hands faster and harder, as if he had just finished something he had to do. He couldn't hide the slight resentment in his eyes, but he didn't dare to let it show.

"Lord Ye, I am Yan Quan."

Ye Xiao didn't exchange pleasantries; he cut straight to the point:

"Master Huang has three requirements."

"First, we need to get our hands on the goods. Second, we need to make people believe that the Giant Shark Gang did it. Third, we can't kill anyone."

Yan Quan raised his eyelids, intending to say something, but Ye Xiao's words silenced him.