I slaughtered my way through the border at the start, I am the Great Ming's Night Raider!

Chen Jin's eyes reddened, and she nodded vigorously.

The plan is set.

At midnight, Chen Jin created chaos at the front gate, while Chen Yuan sneaked in from the back office.

After rescuing Uncle Zhao, they left through a secret passage—Qin Xiang had already arranged for backup and a carriage.

"There's one more thing," Qin Xiang said. "I've made contact with the Azure Dragon Society."

"Would they be willing to help?"

"Yes, but on conditions," Qin Xiang said. "The leader of the Azure Dragon Society wants to see you."

"See me? Why?"

"He didn't say," Qin Xiang shook her head. "He only said that if you manage to get out of the Eastern Depot alive, go to the Azure Dragon Society headquarters to see him. He will give you a big gift."

Chen Yuan pondered.

People in the martial arts world value loyalty, but they also value self-interest.

The fact that the leader of the Green Dragon Society wants to see him at this time must mean he has something in mind.

"Let's talk about it after we rescue Uncle Zhao," Chen Yuan said.

Time passed little by little.

At 3:45 PM, the three began preparations.

Chen Yuan changed into night clothes and strapped the necessary tools to his body: grappling hook, wire, dagger, sleeping pills, and a small packet of wound medicine—in case Uncle Zhao got hurt.

Chen Jin changed into eunuch attire, which was an old garment found in the Yongshou Palace storeroom. It didn't fit him very well, but he could still wear it.

Qin Xiang helped him whiten his face, making him look more like someone from the palace.

Qin Xiang herself would change into men's clothing, and she would bring a carriage to meet him in the back alley of the East Depot.

The carriage was equipped with dry food, water, and a change of clothes, and would leave the city immediately once the people were rescued.

It's almost midnight.

Chen Yuan and Chen Jin exchanged a glance and nodded to each other.

There were no unnecessary words; everything that needed to be said had been said.

"Be careful," Qin Xiang warned as a final reminder.

"The same to you."

The three of them set off separately.

The entrance to the dungeon at the Eastern Depot's headquarters.

Two guards yawned and leaned against the door.

It was cold outside, and even colder inside the dungeon. A chilling wind seeped out from under the door, making one's bones ache.

"This damn job..." one guard complained, "guarding this lousy dungeon in the middle of the night."

"Be content," another said. "At least you don't have to go out on patrol. In this weather, your ears would freeze off if you went out."

Just then, footsteps came from afar.

A young "eunuch" walked by carrying a lantern, followed by two junior eunuchs.

"Halt! Who goes there?" The guards blocked their way.

Chen Jin stopped and raised her waist token: "I am from Yongshou Palace, here on the orders of the Grand Princess to interrogate the prisoner."

The guard took the waist tag and examined it carefully; it was indeed the mark of Yongshou Palace.

but...

"Is this the right time for interrogation?"

"Your Highness is in a hurry for a confession." Chen Jin said sternly, "What, is it that Yongshou Palace cannot interfere in the affairs of the Eastern Depot?"

"No, no," the guard hurriedly replied. "But the dungeon has rules: nighttime interrogations require a warrant from Eunuch Cao or Chief Wang..."

Chen Jin sneered, "The Grand Princess's words are a warrant. Should I go back and report to His Highness that the guards of the Eastern Depot don't even give His Highness any face?"

That's too harsh.

The two guards looked at each other, neither daring to let them pass nor to stop them.

Just then, a scream suddenly came from deep within the dungeon.

"What's going on?" the guard exclaimed in surprise.

"It seems to be... the third floor?" another guard listened intently.

The screams rose again, this time even more piercing, mixed with curses and the sound of impacts.

"Go check it out!"

The two guards ignored Chen Jin and turned to run into the dungeon.

Chen Jin's heart skipped a beat—this scream came at such a convenient time, could it be that Brother Yuan has already made his move?

He gestured to the two "little eunuchs" behind him—actually, they were martial arts practitioners hired by Qin Xiang—and followed the guards into the dungeon.

He himself stood guard at the door, just in case.

The third level of the dungeon, cell number seven (C1).

Chen Yuan lay prone on the crossbeam at the top of the corridor, like a black panther waiting for its chance.

The screams he just heard were caused by the chaos he created by hitting a prisoner in the next cell with a stone.

It worked very well; both patrolling guards ran over.

He landed silently and flashed to the door of cell number seven, number C.

The prison door was made of iron and had a large brass lock on it.

Chen Yuan took out a wire and inserted it into the keyhole.

Lock picking is a required course during night scout training.

The master craftsman once said, "Locks are made by humans, and anything made by humans has weaknesses. Find those weaknesses, and you can break them with a single blow."

Chen Yuan's hands were steady as he gently stirred the wire in the keyhole, pressing his ear against the lock to listen to the sounds inside.

"Click...click..."

The lock is open.

He pushed the door open and entered.

The cell was dark, with only a single oil lamp in the corner emitting a faint light.

A man was curled up on a haystack, covered in blood and dressed in tattered clothes, but it was still recognizable as Uncle Zhao.

"Uncle Zhao?" Chen Yuan called out in a low voice.

The person moved slightly and slowly raised their head.

It was indeed Uncle Zhao, but his face was covered in injuries, and one of his eyes was so swollen he couldn't open it.

"Young...Young Master?" Uncle Zhao's voice was hoarse. "Why are you here..."

"I've come to save you."

Chen Yuan squatted down to examine his injuries. He had at least three broken ribs, a fractured left leg, and multiple whip marks all over his body, with the wounds already infected and suppurating.

"They...they forced me to identify the young master as a deserter from Xuanfu..." Uncle Zhao gasped for breath, "If I didn't say...they beat me..."

"Stop talking." Chen Yuan took out some wound medicine from his pocket and sprinkled it on the wound. "Can you walk?"

"My leg is broken... I can't walk..."

Without saying a word, Chen Yuan carried Uncle Zhao on his back.

Uncle Zhao's injury wasn't serious, but his body was very stiff.

Chen Yuan secured him to his back with a cloth strap to ensure he wouldn't slip off.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard footsteps and curses coming down the corridor: "Damn it, which bastard is yelling like that? He made me come all this way for nothing!"

The guards have returned.

Chen Yuan slipped behind the door and held his breath.

The two guards walked by, cursing and swearing, not noticing that cell number seven (C) was open—the lock was still on the door, but it was already unlocked.

Once the guards were out of sight, Chen Yuan carried Uncle Zhao on his back and quietly left the cell.

Return along the same route and arrive at the connection between the second and third floors.

There's an iron gate here, which is usually open, but it's locked tonight.

Chen Yuan put Uncle Zhao down and unlocked the door again.

It took a little longer this time because the lock was more complicated.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead—time was running out, and the changing guards could arrive at any moment.

"Click".

The lock is open.

Just as Chen Yuan was about to push open the door, he suddenly heard noisy footsteps and shouts coming from above.

"There's an assassin!"

"Seal off the dungeon!"

exposed!

Chen Yuan's heart sank.

It's unclear whether the problem lies with Chen Jin or with other prisoners in the dungeon who tipped them off.

There was no time to think about it now; he picked up Uncle Zhao and rushed up the stairs.

The first level of the dungeon is in chaos.

Several guards were chasing a "eunuch"—a江湖人 (jianghu person) brought by Chen Jin, who deliberately exposed himself to divert attention.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Chen Yuan rushed out of the dungeon entrance.

The moonlight outside was so bright that he had nowhere to hide.

"There it is!" someone shouted.

The arrow came hurtling through the air.

Chen Yuan dodged to the side, but was still struck in the shoulder by an arrow.

A sharp pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth and continued charging forward.

According to the plan, the waiting carriage should be in the back alley of the East Depot.

But he was currently in the front yard, and to get to the back alley, he would have to pass through the entire East Depot government office.

The Eastern Depot has already awakened.

Lanterns and torches lit up one after another, and the barbarians poured in from all directions.

Chen Yuan placed Uncle Zhao in a corner: "Uncle Zhao, you hide here, I'll go lure them away."

"No..." Uncle Zhao grabbed his hand, "Young master, go... don't worry about me..."

"I told you, I would take you back."

Chen Yuan tore off his shirt and hastily bandaged the arrow wound on his shoulder. "Wait."

He rushed out, deliberately exposing himself to the firelight.

The guards immediately surrounded them.

"Grab him!"