You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

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Meanwhile, in another, more secluded courtyard in the eastern part of Yingtianfu City, which appeared to be an ordinary merchant's residence.

The candlelight was dim, illuminating several dark-skinned faces with high noses and deep-set eyes.

These were the Tantric lamas who had infiltrated the city, but at this moment they had all changed into ordinary Han Chinese clothing, coarse cloth garments, and at first glance they looked no different from the laborers or merchants in the city.

The leader was none other than Master Urdo, who had gone to see Qin Hui that day.

He sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), his eyes slightly closed, slowly twirling a string of shiny black bone beads in his hand, his breath deep and concentrated.

The other seven or eight lamas were either standing or sitting, but the atmosphere seemed somewhat anxious and uneasy.

"Master Urdo".

A young lama couldn't help but lower his voice and break the silence: "The fellow disciples who were sent to 'persuade' Liu Qi should have returned long ago."

"It's past midnight, why are we still nowhere to be seen?"

"Could it be... that something went wrong?"

Another lama with a scar on his face muttered, "Yes, Master. It's just killing a Southern Dynasty officer. Even if he had personal guards, Batu and his men should have succeeded by now."

"Could it be that Liu Qi didn't return home tonight?"

"Or did you change your itinerary at the last minute?"

Urdo paused slightly as he twirled the bone beads, then slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them.

He also felt a vague unease in his heart.

To assassinate a general of the Imperial Guard who was not known for his personal bravery, sending twelve skilled men should have been a sure thing.

Even if they failed, there should at least be one or two people who would return with news. The fact that there's been no word from them is indeed strange.

completely annihilated?

That's unlikely. Could Liu Qi be hiding some formidable expert bodyguard?

Or perhaps... our actions have already been exposed, and the Southern Dynasty court was prepared and laid an ambush?

If it's the latter...

Uldo felt a chill run down his spine.

Their secret infiltration was made possible by the protection and intelligence provided by Qin Hui.

If the Southern Dynasty court is already aware of their existence and purpose, then their situation is dangerous.

Just as he was about to speak, the lama "Dorje," who had been sent out to gather information and contact Qin Hui's residence, hurriedly walked in, his face solemn, even carrying a hint of panic that he could not completely conceal.

"Master! Something's happened!"

Dorjee's voice was urgent, spoken in Tibetan: "Batu and the others... they're all dead! Not a single one has returned!"

"What?"

"Are they all dead?"

Upon hearing this, the lamas inside the room all changed their expressions drastically, stood up one after another, and were filled with surprise and doubt.

Although they were not afraid of fighting, the fact that all twelve of their skilled fighters were wiped out without a sound was no ordinary feat!

A fierce glint flashed in Uldor's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "How did he die? Has it been determined?"

"Were we ambushed by a large contingent of soldiers?"

Dorje shook his head, his face filled with disbelief: "I don't know the specifics, and the information from the Prime Minister's residence is also very vague."

"They only said there were signs of a fight at Liu Qi's residence, but all our men are dead, and there are signs of a fierce battle at the scene."

"The Prime Minister speculates that perhaps a top-tier martial arts master intervened and ruined our plans."

"The Prime Minister has given a strict order: we must abandon this place immediately, everyone disperse and hide, cease all operations, and await further instructions!"

A martial arts master?

Uldo's heart sank.

He knew that the martial arts world of the Southern Dynasties was full of hidden talents.

If a master of that caliber really gets involved, things will get complicated.

What alarmed him even more was that the operation failed so thoroughly and quickly that it was probably not just a matter of "coincidence".

"It seems that the waters in Yingtian Prefecture are deeper than we thought."

Urdo stood up and decisively declared, "This place is no longer safe."

"Immediately pack up important items, disperse and evacuate, according to Plan C, break into smaller groups, infiltrate into various pre-designated locations, and conceal your movements."

"Without my orders, no one is permitted to act independently, nor to make further contact with the target!"

"Yes!" Although the lamas were unwilling, they knew that the situation had changed and responded in unison.

Soon, the group of lamas disguised as Han Chinese quickly gathered up the few items in the house that might reveal their identities, extinguished the lights, and quietly opened the courtyard gate.

In small groups, like drops of water merging into the ocean, they dispersed in different directions, moving swiftly and in an orderly fashion.

They thought they had done something discreet, but little did they know that in the darkness, eyes had already been watching this seemingly ordinary courtyard.

In the shadows of the street corner, a young beggar, curled up on a tattered straw mat and seemingly fast asleep, slightly opened his eyes a crack the moment the courtyard gate opened.

His name was Wang San, a local Beggar Clan disciple from Yingtian Prefecture. He was very clever and was specially assigned to this area by Lu Mang to keep an eye out for anything unusual.

Ok?

This dilapidated courtyard is rarely visited during the day, but it gets lively at night.

Seven or eight came out at once...

Huh?

They looked like manual laborers, but the way they walked, their stable stances, and their shifty, alert eyes showed they were no ordinary people!

And they dispersed so hastily in the middle of the night...

Wang San muttered to himself, completely wide awake.

Recalling Elder Lu's stern instructions during the day, Wang San's spirits lifted. He quietly shrank his head into the straw mat, leaving only his bright eyes fixed on the backs of two "coolies" walking faster.

Seeing the two men turn into another alley, Wang San, like a nimble cat, silently rolled out of the straw mat, tightened his patched and tattered coat, pulled his worn felt hat down, and followed them at a distance.

He grew up in Yingtian Prefecture and knew the city's streets and alleys like the back of his hand, making it easy for him to follow the trail.

In addition, the Beggars' Sect disciples are best at concealing their tracks and spying, so the two Tantric lamas in front, though vigilant, did not notice that there was a "tail" behind them.

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Lu Mang saw Wang San, whose eyes were sunken but whose spirits were high.

Wang San recounted everything he had seen and heard the previous night, especially how he followed the two "coolies" to the vicinity of an abandoned kiln in the southwest corner of the city, and how he witnessed them meet up with several other people and disappear into a row of dilapidated mud houses.

"Abandoned brick kilns? Mud houses?"

Lu Mang's thick eyebrows furrowed, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and he slammed his large, fan-like hand on the table: "Good lad, well done!"

"This must be another lair of those wicked monks!"

"I'll take my men over there right now and wipe it out!"

"Capture a few prisoners; we'll surely find out the whereabouts of the other wicked monks!"

He was straightforward and hot-tempered. Upon hearing of his enemy's whereabouts, he immediately wanted to gather his men and charge over.

"Wait!" A slightly weak but still authoritative voice came from the inner room.

Hong Qigong came out wearing an outer robe.

"Seventh Master, why are you up?" Lu Mang hurriedly stepped forward to help him up.

Hong Qigong waved his hand to indicate that he was alright, then looked at Wang San and nodded approvingly: "Brother Wang is quick-witted and has done a good job."

He then looked at Lu Mang and said in a deep voice, "Elder Lu, it is not appropriate to go there rashly at this time."

"inappropriate?"

Lu Mang was taken aback for a moment, then said urgently, "Seventh Master, this is an opportunity we must not miss!"

"Those wicked monks just lost several men last night, and they're probably on edge. They might be planning to relocate or strike again. Let's catch them off guard and wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

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