From what was said and unsaid, Zhao Lin had already guessed the outcome, but he still asked, "And then?"
"And then?"
Zhou Pao let out a self-deprecating laugh. "That bear is immensely powerful. Over the years, it's rubbed against the pine trees, and the resin has seeped into its hide, making it like a suit of armor. Blades can't cut it, and spears can't pierce it."
"I led a group to hunt it down twice. All we managed to do was give it a couple of decent-sized scars, but I lost several men in the process."
"It's been twenty years... and that beast is still alive and well!"
He spoke these last words through gritted teeth.
Zhao Lin remained silent, having a sinking feeling he knew what was coming next.
"Younger Brother Zhao."
Zhou Pao stared directly at Zhao Lin. "I want to kill this bear, and I hope you, my brother, can lend me a hand."
"Me?"
Zhao Lin looked surprised. "Brother Pao, you think too highly of me. I don't know any martial arts, and I've never hunted. What help could I possibly be?"
Zhou Pao shook his head. "You're being too modest, brother. You're strong as an ox—everyone at the docks knows it. A stone block that two men couldn't move, you carried away without breaking a sweat. Even some of the martial artists I've seen might not be your match."
"I have an ancestral iron spear at home. In your hands, brother, it could definitely pierce that bear's armored hide!"
'Charge into battle and fight a bear to the death?'
Zhao Lin's expression changed slightly.
Zhou Pao placed a hand on his shoulder, his tone sincere. "Brother, you're young and working yourself to the bone hauling sacks at the docks. Your family must be short on money. You must know that by working yourself to death like this, you can't earn much in a year. Many men break their bodies in less than three years!"
"A bear has three treasures: the bear gall, the Bear Hide, and the Bear's Paw. They're all valuable goods, worth at least several dozen taels of silver! If we just kill this bear, the money we'll make is more than you'd earn hauling sacks for three years."
"What do you say? Join your big brother for one big score, and we'll be set for the next three years!"
Zhao Lin remained completely unfazed. "Brother Pao, I'll be blunt," he said calmly. "I'm afraid of dying."
'Being short on money is one thing, but you have to be alive to spend it,' he thought. 'Besides, I have the Spirit Beast Scroll. I can just slowly build up my strength. There's no need to risk my life fighting a wild beast.'
Zhou Pao persisted, "Brother, there's something you don't know. I've thought of a way to kill the bear. It's absolutely foolproof."
Zhao Lin sneered inwardly. 'If it were truly foolproof, why would he need me?'
"Brother Pao, thank you for looking out for me these past few days. I understand your desire for revenge, but I really am powerless to help with this!"
"You can ask around in Three Families Village. I have sick parents who can barely move, and my older brother was taken for forced labor. The whole family is counting on me. This is a risk I can't take!"
With that, he stood up, clasped his fists in a salute, and strode out of the restaurant.
...
For the next two days, Zhou Pao kept intentionally-yet-casually appearing before Zhao Lin, who pretended not to see him.
He definitely wouldn't get involved in something that could get him killed.
However, he was somewhat interested in the bear.
This kind of bear was a special variant—fierce, aggressive, and able to walk upright. There was a saying that one of them was worth three ordinary bears.
'A mythical beast from the legends of my past life actually exists in this world.'
A piece of information surfaced from his memories of the Spirit Beast Scroll: the higher the level of the beast, the greater the benefit to the body after absorbing its Essence Soul!
The bear was like an enhanced black bear; its level was certainly not low.
However, the bear's innate talent was also strength, the same as the old yellow ox he had absorbed. It wasn't suitable for him to absorb again.
After all, the Spirit Beast Scroll only had nine slots, and each one was precious.
'Once I'm stronger, I can consider absorbing the Essence Souls of other unique beasts.'
...
After a hard day's work, Zhao Lin returned home to see his mother weeping in the main hall and his father squatting on the threshold, puffing on his pipe one drag after another.
"Dad, Mom, what's wrong?"
Zhao Lin realized something had happened at home. His intuition told him it was probably about his brother.
Sure enough, his father said grimly, "There's news about your brother. Qian Sanming said the county yamen refuses to release him. He won't be out for at least three to five months."
"That long!"
Zhao Lin said in shock, "In past years, wasn't it two months at most?"
His father sighed. "The old County Magistrate was dismissed for not collecting enough autumn grain. The new County Magistrate is making his mark by ordering a dam to be built at Fengtang to prevent another drought next year."
"They're short on manpower for the dam, so the able-bodied men they've rounded up won't be released until the work is done. No visits are allowed, either. They've even dragged prisoners from the jail out to dig."
Mrs. Zhao sobbed, "Working alongside prisoners... will he even make it out alive?"
Zhao Lin's heart sank, and his brow furrowed.
Building a dam was a massive undertaking.
Fengtang was west of Qinghe County, a basin in the mountains near the upper reaches of the Qingxi River on Baitou Mountain.
He guessed the new County Magistrate likely wanted to dig a channel to divert water from the Qingxi River.
This was equivalent to turning Fengtang into a reservoir. If a drought occurred next year, the water from the reservoir could be used to irrigate the surrounding fields.
The policy was sound, but the methods were ruthless.
Yang Guang had worked a million laborers to death building the Grand Canal. This reservoir required digging a long channel, and while the scale couldn't compare, how many people did the county even have?
Forced labor in this era had no concept of humanity. As long as you didn't die from the work, they'd work you to death.
In fact, you could even forget the first part of that sentence. Working someone to death wasn't a big deal.
'It's true what they say: a county magistrate can ruin a family, and a prefect can wipe out a clan!'
Zhao Lin calmed himself and asked, "Dad, did you ask if there's a way to get him out?"
His father quickly replied, "I did. I asked along with a few other families. Qian Sanming said there really is no way."
Zhao Lin thought for a moment, then said, "Dad, Mom, don't worry just yet. I know someone at the docks whose family has connections. I'll go ask him tomorrow. Maybe something can be done."
"Really?" his parents said in unison.
"Yes." Zhao Lin nodded.
He had to say something to placate his parents for now.
His parents believed him, and their expressions eased a little. They reminded him, "Then don't go empty-handed tomorrow when you go see him. Take a small gift."
Zhao Lin nodded in agreement, but what he was really thinking was that he would go ask Qian Sanming again tomorrow.
'A lot of things concerning the yamen can't be said outright. Dad is a simple, honest farmer; he might not have picked up on any hidden meanings.'
The next day, Zhao Lin woke up early and left the house as usual. Not far from the village, he turned toward Lisha Town.
Qinghe County had seven towns. Lisha Town was the smallest, located near the southern foot of Baitou Mountain and not far from Three Families Village.
When Zhao Lin arrived in Lisha Town, he didn't go directly to Qian Sanming's house. Instead, he waited for the sun to rise and took a stroll through the market.
'Qian Sanming is famously afraid of his wife. Giving a gift to him is not as good as giving one to his wife.'
Gritting his teeth, Zhao Lin spent forty copper coins at a clothier's shop for two bolts of patterned fabric.
Qian Sanming lived on the south side of town. His house had a vermilion-lacquered main gate, in front of which sat a pair of stone drums meant to ward off evil.
The man had originally come from a poor background, living a life where he never knew where his next meal was coming from.
The year before last, he had somehow become related to the County Registrar. That was when he'd really started to get full of himself.
Zhao Lin knocked on the door a few times. Someone from the courtyard called out, "Who is it, so early in the morning?"
"Brother Qian, it's me, Zhao Lin from Three Families Village. My father is Zhao Baotian."
The courtyard gate opened, and a man in his thirties with a handlebar mustache peeked his head through the gap.
"You're Zhao Shan's brother?"
"That's right. I see you remember, Brother Qian," Zhao Lin said with a smile.