Patter.
Wei He stood quietly at the doorway. Through a layer of wood, he could hear people inside eating, drinking, and talking.
There were also voices boasting and shooting the breeze.
He reached out and gently laid his hand on the door, waiting for a moment.
He confirmed that the people inside were the ones the captured sentry had described.
Only then did he focus and calm his breath.
His fingers lightly traced the crack in the door, and soon he found a somewhat wider gap.
Then he took a slightly damp paper strip from his robes.
Wei He gently slipped the paper through the crack and waited in silence.
Before long, faint voices came from the room.
"What's that smell?"
"Has the liquor gone bad?"
"No, it's not from the liquor."
Wei He gave a light slap.
The lock gave a sharp crack and broke completely.
The door swung open.
Inside the room,
two Inner Court disciples of Fushan Courtyard and several Night Hawk Tower experts were all present.
Hearing the sound, everyone turned toward the door.
Some rose from the drinking table, some went to the windows to retrieve their weapons, while others surged with blood and gathered their vigor, preparing to defend themselves.
For a moment, every gaze was fixed upon the doorway.
The door was open.
Outside was empty. There was nothing there.
Everyone's minds went blank. With their attention stretched taut, the sudden emptiness left them dazed for an instant.
It was like straining against someone in a deadlock, only for the other person to suddenly release their strength.
In that instant of distraction,
a black shadow abruptly rushed in from the left side outside the door.
It moved so fast that no one present had time to react.
The two Night Hawk Tower experts