The four chatted idly for a while longer before Zhang Guinian made the assignments. He would take Zhang Lingfeng with him, while Meng Yuan would follow Gong Zihua.
"Don't let anything happen to him." Zhang Guinian pointed at Gong Zihua. Without asking about Meng Yuan's progress, he merely warned Meng Yuan, "And don't try to be a hero. We're not the only ones—we've got reinforcements still hiding in the shadows!"
They split into two groups. Gong Zihua led Meng Yuan westward, then, after leaving the commoners' gathering area and avoiding the crowds, turned northeast. After crossing about a li of wasteland, they saw a narrow path ahead.
Beside the road stood a dilapidated courtyard. Inside, seven or eight people in monk's robes were tending fires and brewing medicine. They were Mother Luo's disciples.
According to Gong Zihua, this place was an abandoned funeral house. Being rather remote, it had always seen few visitors.
After winding about for a while, they reached the woods north of the funeral house. Gong Zihua and Meng Yuan each climbed a locust tree and concealed themselves among the leaves. More than ten paces apart, they formed a horn-and-flank formation.
Meng Yuan had no idea where Zhang Guinian and his nephew were hiding, nor did he know where the reinforcements were. He simply waited in silence.
After half an hour, people began arriving in scattered groups. Judging by their clothes, they were poor folk from outside North City, mostly elderly people and women.
By dusk, more than twenty people had arrived in dribs and drabs. Though this fell slightly short of Great Tail Venerable's former turnout, it showed that handing out eggs truly helped spread the faith.
As he waited quietly, Meng Yuan faintly heard the delicate ringing of bells.
He looked up and saw someone