As night fell, the stars and moon revealed themselves, and all was silent. It was a quarter past the hour of the Tiger, when both animals and humans had fallen into deep slumber.
A lithe and agile shadow glided along the alley walls, swiftly weaving through the streets of Baoho County. To avoid being spotted by hidden sentries on duty, Qi Xiu dared not climb onto the rooftops, instead following the circuitous and narrow alleys with great caution until he reached the base of the city gate tower.
The blazing braziers burned brightly, casting flickering flames at the gateway, where four armored soldiers stood guard like spears, constantly turning their heads to scan their surroundings. And atop the city tower, a patrol hawk perched, its sharp, fierce eyes emitting a faint glow.
Just one more, wait a bit longer. In the alley below the wall, Qi Xiu, dressed in black, squatted at the mouth of the alley, calmly observing.
