2: Gou.

The four hours passed exceptionally slowly amidst hunger and planning.

As the sun tilted westward and the shadows inside the temple lengthened, the cold mechanical voice in Lin Mo's mind rang out on time:

【Daily Summon Refreshed.】

【Today's Death Warrior has been delivered.】

The air twisted silently once more, and another figure materialized beside One.

The person who appeared this time was also a young man, slightly shorter and leaner than One, with eyes as sharp as a hawk's. After quickly scanning the surroundings, he knelt on one knee toward Lin Mo: "Master."

A new surge of warmth crashed into him!

Lin Mo let out a muffled groan, clearly feeling his muscle fibers swell and reorganize, his bone density quietly increasing, and his five senses rising another level above their already enhanced state.

If before he could hear the bustle of the market, now he could even catch the rustling sound of a beetle crawling over withered leaves dozens of paces outside the temple.

The sense of power was even more surging; he suspected his pure physical strength at this moment was comparable to five or six grown men who did manual labor year-round.

At the same time, information about the new Death Warrior automatically surfaced: Code Name 【Two】, Random Skill: 【Basic Tracking】.

Lin Mo suppressed the boiling sense of power within his body and scrutinized the two absolutely loyal subordinates before him.

One was as silent as a stone, and Two had a keen gaze; both were excellent tools.

"Master, I have a new discovery," Two spoke up proactively, his voice carrying a hint of alertness.

"Half a mile to the west, there is an abandoned River God Temple. It's more remote, backed by a low hill, and has traces of a water source. The area is sparsely populated and has a good field of vision, making it more suitable for a temporary refuge."

An environmental observation ability that came with the tracking skill? Lin Mo was delighted.

Although the ruined temple provided temporary shelter, it was near the edge of town. The constant flow of people was inconvenient, and there was a risk of being spotted by the Black Fish Gang's lackeys.

A more hidden base was crucial.

"Lead the way," Lin Mo decided immediately.

Before the sky turned completely dark, the three of them quickly left the ruined temple.

Under Two's guidance, they avoided the main roads and followed a path overgrown with wild grass, soon arriving at the foot of a low hill.

Sure enough, there was a half-collapsed River God Temple. It was even more dilapidated than the previous Earth God Temple, but part of the structure still remained. Behind it, a dried-up riverbed and several clumps of stubbornly growing reeds were faintly visible.

The location was indeed hidden; it was difficult to see directly from the direction of the town.

After clearing a corner, Lin Mo sat down and spread out his remaining nine copper coins.

He had used three of his twelve wen, leaving nine wen, plus two coarse grain cakes. This was his entire fortune.

"One, go to the docks again first thing tomorrow morning."

Lin Mo began his deployment. "Avoid the group from yesterday's conflict. Look for other foremen or small boat owners and try to pick up some odd jobs.

The primary goal is food and a small amount of copper coins. Pay attention to the Black Fish Gang's daily manpower and shift patterns at the docks."

"Yes," One responded.

"Two, your mission is reconnaissance. With this temple as the center, map out the situation within a three-mile radius.

Specifically, look for places where food can be safely obtained.

Such as woodlands with wild fruit or where traps can be set, whether there are other wanderers or hidden dens, and the main areas where the Black Fish Gang operates.

Especially their routes and times for collecting protection fees. Stay hidden and do not conflict with anyone."

"Understood, Master." A sharp light flashed in Two's eyes; he was clearly very well-suited for this type of mission.

"Currently, what we need most is food, a stable foothold, and a deeper understanding of this world."

Lin Mo said in a low voice, "Develop quietly and accumulate strength. Before I give new orders, avoid all unnecessary conflict, but if someone takes the initiative to threaten us..."

He paused, "You are permitted to strike back on the premise of self-preservation, striving for a quick resolution without leaving any lingering trouble."

"Yes!" the two of them responded in low voices simultaneously.

Night fell, and the chill began to rise.

Lin Mo divided the last cake into three portions, barely suppressing his rumbling hunger.

Leaning against the cold wall, he felt the strength coursing through his body, far exceeding that of an ordinary person, and his heart settled slightly.

Adding one absolutely loyal Death Warrior with a specialty every day, and having his physical fitness grow exponentially every day.

This growth rate was terrifying.

But he knew well that without knowing the martial power levels of this world at all, this bit of capital was far from enough to rely on.

A local bully like the Black Fish Gang was still a threat that needed to be cautiously avoided for now.

"Cultivate..." Lin Mo remembered the System's second rule.

The results of the Death Warriors' cultivation would be fed back to him at 80%. But what to Cultivate? How to Cultivate? It wasn't in the original owner's memory, and this body had never been in contact with it.

Does this world have Internal Energy, Spiritual Qi, or other extraordinary power Systems? He needed to find out as soon as possible.

He told One and Two to rest as well to preserve their strength. He himself maintained a light sleep, listening in all directions.

The long night stretched on. From the distant town, the sound of a night watchman's clapper faintly drifted over, interspersed with the barking of wild dogs. Lin Mo's heart grew increasingly calm.

Transmigration was a reality, and the System was his greatest reliance. What he had to do was first 'hide' and survive.

Tomorrow, another new Death Warrior would arrive. His strength would grow once more.

He closed his eyes and began to plan silently.

Once he had a preliminary food source and a more hidden base, the next step had to be finding a way to obtain information—about this world, about the power Systems, about Qingyuan Town, and even the broader world outside.

The next morning, Lin Mo woke up on time amidst hunger.

He didn't wake up naturally, but was jolted awake by a third surge of warmth that emerged from nowhere within his body.

Strength, perception, and endurance all improved comprehensively once again. He could even clearly hear the slight sound of morning dew sliding off grass leaves on the low hill outside the temple.

The Death Warrior codenamed 【Three】 knelt silently before him, with a vigorous build and alert eyes. Random skill: 【Basic Stealth】.

Excellent. The plan in Lin Mo's heart became a bit clearer.

He had One continue to the docks and Two expand the reconnaissance range, focusing on marking locations where the Black Fish Gang might store wealth or gather.

The newly arrived Three was given a more secretive mission—to try and slip into the town to observe the dynamics of the streets.

Especially places where gossip gathered, such as taverns and tea houses, to collect information about the common knowledge of this world, power levels, and the various factions in Qingyuan Town.

"Everything is on the premise of your own safety and staying hidden," Lin Mo emphasized repeatedly.

He himself remained at the River God Temple. On one hand, he served as the hub, waiting for the information to be compiled; on the other hand, he needed to adapt to his daily surging physical fitness.

He tried to control his strength. At first, even walking could easily crush the bricks on the ground, and if he wasn't careful when picking things up, he would leave finger marks.

This was a loss of control brought about by the explosion of strength, which had to be overcome as soon as possible.

He found some stones and wooden sticks to perform basic gripping, carrying, and throwing exercises, focusing on restraint rather than release.

Progress was fast. His extraordinary neural reactions and body coordination allowed him to gain preliminary mastery over the basic control of this inhuman body within a few hours.

In the afternoon, One brought back some coarse grains and over a dozen copper coins, with no new injuries on his face.

"I switched to another dock area and encountered a small merchant caravan unloading goods; the wages were paid daily."

He reported briefly, mentioning that about seven or eight members of the Black Fish Gang were permanently stationed at the docks, changing shifts at noon and in the evening, and they seemed quite lax.