The first rays of morning sun pierced the gloom of the cramped confinement cell through the narrow window.

A rapid, yet surprisingly ordered, series of footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor, approaching the cell. "Huh? What in the world is this?"

Zhao Hu Zi stared at the iron door, which had been smooth as glass the last time he saw it. Overnight, it had become hideously uneven, covered in raised welts from fists and boots, some nearly half a foot thick.

The surveillance officers trailing behind him exchanged wry smiles, unsure how to respond, and simply presented their key cards to the electronic lock reader. Beep... beep...

Usually, the electronic hum was followed by a distinct thunk as the lock disengaged automatically. Today, after the buzzing sound, the electronic lock remained stubbornly inert. "Huh?" "What is this?" "Is it broken?" "No way, right?" A string of confused murmurs rose. The surveillance team swiped their access cards again. Only the electronic beep sounded; there was no sign of the door unlocking.

The officers exchanged glances and simultaneously looked toward Zhao Hu Zi. One finally admitted ruefully, "It seems Lieutenant Colonel Qin might have damaged it last night." "Fen?" Zhao Hu Zi’s bell-sized eyes widened even further. While only Qin Fen was inside, there was no other explanation for the state of the door. But the speed of this kid’s advancement was simply too alarming!

Zhao Hu Zi shook his head with a weak, bitter smile. The Qin Fen from the Rookie Competition couldn't possibly have become this ferocious. This was hardened steel plating warped by half a foot.

"Qin Fen," Zhao Hu Zi raised a hand and knocked on the metal. "You broke the door; do you have a way out?"

Qin Fen finished his exertion, stood up, surveyed the wrecked confinement cell, and a hint of embarrassment crossed his face. Causing this much damage was surely destroying government property.

"Make way," Zhao Hu Zi gestured, pulling his men back. "Give the kid room to work."

Qin Fen stood before the warped metal door, slowly sinking into a horse stance, lowering his waist, and beginning to pressurize his Long Xiang Ban Ruo Gong energy—one fold... two folds... three folds...!

The total volume of Long Xiang Ban Ruo Gong true energy grew larger, demanding ever-increasing control to manage the compression. Qin Fen realized with frustration that his ability to control this growth was barely keeping pace with the sheer volume of energy. Compressing it to four times was still the absolute limit of his current capacity. To increase it further would require expensive surgery to implant super-compression chips within his body.

But doing that would change far more than just that one aspect.

The Long Xiang Ban Ruo Gong, inherently fierce and domineering, unleashed at four-fold simulated compression, was already straining the maximum capacity of Qin Fen’s current meridian strength. To boost it further would require activating the bio-mechanical beast inside him to assist in meridian reinforcement.

No wonder the Vajra Suppression Origin Technique is so costly! Qin Fen sighed inwardly. This was definitely a martial art forged by burning through massive amounts of wealth—something the common folk could never afford to practice.

Loosening his hips, sinking his waist.

Long Xiang Ban Ruo Gong true energy surged into his legs. The sound of Qin Fen's heart beating echoed like war drums, and the rushing sound of his blood made those outside think someone had left a faucet running inside the cell.

His closed eyes suddenly snapped open, two beams of sharp brilliance shooting out to strike the iron door. It shone intensely, as if someone were shining flashlights directly onto the metal—a distinct effect achieved only when the vital essence is fully concentrated in the eyes.

Just as the sound of rushing water outside peaked, Qin Fen took a half-step forward with his right foot, rotating his torso from the waist. A sharp clatter echoed down his spine as his muscles bunched into an inverted triangle, slamming squarely into the iron door.

Luohan Fist: Turning Mountain Block!

A thunderous impact followed. The iron door tore loose from the fixtures anchoring it. It was as if several tons of TNT had detonated inside the confinement cell. The overwhelming shockwave blasted the door from its frame, driving it violently into the opposite wall, causing a cascade of falling debris.

A hazy cloud of dust and smoke billowed into the corridor. Qin Fen moved, rubbing his own back, which felt somewhat fiery, as he stepped out of the room.

The surveillance team stared blankly at Qin Fen. This was a confinement unit reserved for Nine-Star and Ten-Star martial artists, designed under the premise that even a fully powered Ten-Star martial artist could not break out after a night of trying.

Zhao Hu Zi strode forward, ignoring Qin Fen, his eyes fixed solely on the iron door embedded in the wall. Clearly visible on the sturdy metal was a massive inverted triangle imprint, testifying to the sheer force of the strike.

Qin Fen glanced sideways at the mark on the door, deeply impressed by the destructive capability he had unleashed. He noted wryly that now, without any immediate enemy, he needed a significant amount of preparation time to execute such a technique.

In a true life-or-death battle, no opponent would grant him such a long window to charge up a finishing move.

"Not bad, not bad," Zhao Hu Zi nodded repeatedly. "You've progressed a lot in just a few days. Come with me; you can’t stay in the combat unit for the time being."

Qin Fen smiled faintly. Was he being transferred to logistics? That wouldn't be bad; it would afford more time for self-cultivation.

Walking across the East Asia Military Region compound, every soldier they passed stared intently at Qin Fen following Zhao Hu Zi. Is that the Lieutenant Colonel who crippled a man on the street? Is that the Lieutenant Colonel who has faced continuous challenges from the younger generation of Shengjing these past few days? Is that the insignificant Lieutenant Colonel who has caused the generals of the East Asia Military Region to hold several emergency meetings? Is that the youngest Lieutenant Colonel in the history of the East Asia Military Region?

These converging questions focused entirely on one man, instantly making Qin Fen the most discussed soldier within the East Asia Military compound.

Entering Zhao Hu Zi’s office, Qin Fen noticed the General's office was not large: a desk, a chair, a sofa... It was stark, exuding the simple directness of a battle-hardened soldier.

"Kid, this is where you're going." Zhao Hu Zi casually tossed a paper file packet to Qin Fen. "I called you here only to tell you this: regardless of where you are stationed, you always belong to the Military Region. Even on temporary leave, remember to bring honor to the Region. If you encounter any trouble you cannot resolve, call me anytime."

Qin Fen smiled and opened the packet, pausing in surprise at the contents of the reporting document. To the Police Corps? Qin Fen tucked the document away, clicking his tongue. "A little unexpected."

Zhao Hu Zi laughed heartily. "Finally, kid, something that surprises you! You’ve shocked and surprised everyone else these days; it’s time for you to feel it too. Go on! Report for duty!"

"General," Qin Fen remained standing, his gaze locked onto Zhao Hu Zi’s eyes. "Does this matter have something to do with Liang Tao's mother?"

Zhao Hu Zi's eyebrows twitched in astonishment. "Looks like it's not just that?"

"Mm." Zhao Hu Zi shrugged. "It doesn't hurt to tell you; it might serve as a warning. Yesterday, the Sky Horse Fitness Club was subjected to a strange terrorist attack, killing a new Taekwondo martial arts instructor."

Qin Fen merely nodded. In this environment, everyone understood the unspoken truth, but the fact that General Zhao brought it up suggested the matter was far from simple.

"Unfortunate," Zhao Hu Zi said, though his expression was quite pleased. "This Instructor Li, killed in the terrorist attack, happens to be the nephew of General Li Mingzheng, a powerful figure in Hanzhou. To say 'nephew' is almost an understatement; Li Yongjun was orphaned young and raised entirely by Li Mingzheng. He learned his New Taekwondo skills under the tutelage of Pei Chengjun..."

Zhao Hu Zi took a sip of green tea. "When a son dies, naturally, one seeks revenge against the terrorists."

Qin Fen found the situation almost darkly comical—killing one snake only to reveal a giant python guarding the nest behind it. It was truly unexpected.

After a brief silence, Qin Fen frowned deeply and sighed heavily. This situation was proving more troublesome than he had initially imagined. Generals, especially those with real power, usually possessed considerable martial strength themselves. If their own fighting ability was insufficient, they were invariably protected twenty-four hours a day by formidable martial artists, making a direct assault extremely difficult. Even a sniper shot required obtaining powerful long-range equipment through clandestine channels, as weapon management within the military was extremely strict.

"Of course, the people putting in the main effort this time are Liang Tao's mother, Cao Rong, and the controlling Elder Madam Cao," Zhao Hu Zi said, stroking his thick beard. "Their influence in Shengjing, Zhongzhou, is clearly much greater than General Li's in Hanzhou. They are the ones handling things."

As expected! Qin Fen squeezed his hands into tight fists. The decision he had mulled over in the confinement cell solidified completely now.

Zhao Hu Zi smiled. It was no wonder the Snake King chose Qin Fen for observation. The kid usually gave the impression of someone who avoided trouble, but when faced with danger, he never hesitated in self-preservation, demonstrating complete decisiveness and efficiency.

"You intend to kill them?"

"En!" Qin Fen admitted without concealment. "They have status and power, but nothing else. Even if I don't provoke them, they absolutely will not spare me. There's only one way to untangle this deadlock..."

Zhao Hu Zi snapped his fingers. "One side has to die."

"Precisely!" Qin Fen sighed. "I don't like killing, but if I don't act, I will die. The problem is, I don't want to die, nor should I be the one to die. From the start, they stole my competition slot; I only used legitimate means to reclaim what was mine. Upon arriving in Shengjing, they tried to kill me again. If my strength hadn't surpassed Liang Tao's estimation, I would be dead now."

Zhao Hu Zi nodded silently. Those young bullies from Shengjing weren't fools. Ganging up on one person, and even using tear gas—a visual obstruction to prevent clear monitoring footage—meant that if Qin Fen had died, it would have been impossible to prove who did it. For a Lieutenant Colonel, seemingly without powerful direct relatives backing him, such a death would likely result in a quiet cover-up, even if an investigation were ordered. That was the brutal reality.

"And the Ninth on the Blood List last time was also arranged by Liang Tao's family," Qin Fen’s eyes flashed with increasing ferocity. "He stole my spot, I took it back, and he sent assassins after my life. I killed him this time to eliminate future trouble, but I carelessly forgot about his mother behind him. If I hadn't acted, the next threat might be the Eighth on the Blood List, or perhaps even assassins from the Fierce List or Death List you mentioned."

Zhao Hu Zi could only agree. That lunatic Cao Rong, with her son dead, was capable of anything. With her family's wealth and influence, hiring assassins from the Fierce or even Death Lists to seek revenge was certainly plausible.

If assassins from the Fierce List were mobilized... Zhao Hu Zi rubbed his temples in distress. Even powerful active Generals had fallen victim to assassins from the Fierce List before.

"Tolerance," Qin Fen spread his hands. "Does not buy peace."

In his silence, Zhao Hu Zi tossed another file packet across the desk. Qin Fen caught it, a hint of astonishment reappearing on his face.

Inside was a large map, several smaller schematic diagrams, and text documents detailing the combat ratings of Cao Rong and Elder Madam Cao. The large map had a circle drawn around a villa, marked with the character "Cao."

The schematic diagrams detailed the defensive layout of that villa complex: the placement of surveillance cameras and the number of security personnel guarding the compound.

"This isn't Military Region data," Zhao Hu Zi waved his hand dismissively. "Nor is it mine. I’m done speaking on the matter."

Qin Fen stood up and gave a deep, respectful bow, a junior showing deference, rather than using a military salute.

As he turned to leave the office door, he heard Zhao Hu Zi ask, somewhat puzzled, from behind him, "What are these terrorists thinking nowadays? In the past, when they committed an atrocity, they left traces so people would know who did it. But these recent terrorists in Shengjing leave absolutely no evidence. Have they changed their style?"

Qin Fen stood with his back to the General, the corner of his lips curling slightly as he pushed the door open and walked out.

Walking away from the East Asia Military compound, Qin Fen's brow remained tightly furrowed. Cao Rong resided in a private villa; its defenses were tight, but not impossible to breach. The real difficulty lay with Li Mingzheng.

Assassinating a powerful General... Qin Fen felt a shiver run down his spine just contemplating it. Such a person would certainly be protected by formidable martial artists; a close-quarters fight was out of the question—only a sniper shot! Long-distance precision targeting!

Weapons were a serious problem! The character "well" on Qin Fen’s brow deepened. Every building within the Military Region compound was constructed to withstand terrorist attacks; the walls were hard enough to resist artillery shells, and the glass... its strength was even more terrifying than the steel plating. Forget sniping; even small-caliber cannons would only manage to crack it. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the entire compound was built like a fortress of stone.

Qin Fen looked up at the surrounding glass structures, wondering if the black market website Zhang Xiangyang had mentioned could provide the necessary parts to assemble a powerful sniper rig—one that could be fired even if it disintegrated afterward.

Just one shot! Qin Fen was certain that even if Li Mingzheng himself was a powerhouse, unless he was a freak of nature like the Snake King, one shot should offer a chance to take him down.

The sudden ringing of his phone interrupted Qin Fen’s intense concentration. "Hello? General Zhao, is something wrong?" Qin Fen was surprised. Couldn't they have said whatever it was in the office? A phone call was even easier to intercept.

"Nothing major, just learned a small detail," Zhao Hu Zi’s voice held a note of dejection. "General Li left Zhongzhou on a connecting flight early this morning."

"So quickly?" Qin Fen was truly surprised. Had he given up on avenging his son?

"He heard someone had been released from confinement, so he left early," Zhao Hu Zi sighed. "After all, he has seen the data regarding your sniping abilities."

Qin Fen felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Li Mingzheng was meticulous to a fault. Once he reached Hanzhou, his whereabouts would no longer be immediately trackable by Zhongzhou generals, making a sniping attempt significantly harder.

The line on Zhao Hu Zi’s end went dead. Qin Fen could only reluctantly accept this reality for now. People who reached high positions had undoubtedly faced countless assassination attempts; they were not easily killed.

The black market...

Qin Fen sighed and shook his head. Since he was going to pose as a terrorist this time, he couldn't just assemble a temporary anti-sniper device and complete the mission with two distant shots.

Terrorist... Qin Fen sighed again. It was fortunate he had studied the tactics of various terrorist organizations, as merely pretending to be one was proving troublesome enough.

"Are you Qin Fen...?"

Outside the gate of the East Asia Military Region compound, a tentative voice called out. Qin Fen grimaced. More challengers! This was becoming a headache. He wondered if Cao Rong would use this delay to cook up some new scheme.

"What, going to the Police Corps?" Cao Rong paced back and forth in her room, holding a phone. "General Li, since you know he’s heading there, why didn't you stop him? Why return to Hanzhou? Have you forgotten the loss of your son?"

"I haven't forgotten," Li Mingzheng's face was frosty as he spoke coldly into the communicator. "But since he is out, he will be in extreme danger for the time being. Based on his methods, he will likely retaliate immediately. You should also be careful, Madam Cao. This man has a mastery of sniping."

"You’re afraid he’ll snipe you?" Cao Rong laughed. "You are a General! Your status protects you; does he dare touch you?"

"That's hard to say." Li Mingzheng closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I found out he might be heading to Tianbei City, which is very close to our Hanzhou. I will have plenty of opportunities there. You also need to be cautious, Madam Cao. If Qin Fen discovers you are behind the scenes..."

"What can he do? I am a Colonel, and I have the entire Cao family backing me!" Cao Rong’s screech was so loud it threatened to pierce the eardrum. "General Li, you are too timid! But that’s fine! Him going to Tianbei City—that’s perfect..."

Li Mingzheng was also smiling. It was perfect. If Qin Fen went to Tianbei City, Hanzhou couldn't directly influence Zhongzhou, but it could certainly infiltrate the nearby Tianbei City.

"Hello? Yu Guiqin? This is Cao Rong..." Cao Rong covered her mouth, chuckling wickedly. "Has your son's severed arm been reattached? It has? But his martial arts progress is ruined forever? What a pity! Have you heard? The Qin Fen who cut off your son's arm seems to be heading to the Police Corps in Tianbei City. What a coincidence, isn't it~~?"

P.S.: My wife went out to withdraw cash from an ATM. After she finished, she noticed a car that had been parked beside it the whole time hadn't moved. A person suddenly emerged from it and immediately entered the ATM booth behind her as she was opening the door. Realizing the danger of card skimming these days, she rushed home and insisted I go with her immediately to empty the card's balance. The whole trip took quite a while. Sigh... Living in this society nowadays is truly exhausting.