Dangqing Mountain.
Outer Ranges.
Night fell. A mountain stronghold built on the edge of a cliff blazed with light.
Burly bandits with fierce expressions gripped blades and bows. They strode about, shouting orders and ordering the stronghold's slaves and maids to pack their belongings and trunks, preparing to move out.
Amid the confusion, a young bandit scratched his face and loudly berated several slaves to hurry up. After shouting at them for a while, he glanced around. Seeing no one paying him any attention, he leaned toward a companion and asked quietly, "Brother Gui, why did the First Boss decide we should leave at night?"
"It's pitch-black out. Makes everything such a hassle."
The bandit called Brother Gui gave a mocking laugh and smacked the young bandit on the head, nearly knocking him off balance. "You think of that, but the First Boss doesn't?"
"Our Dangqing Village isn't some bunch of nobodies. If we left in broad daylight, wouldn't all our fellow outlaws laugh at us?"
At that moment, inside the stronghold's main hall, three bandit chiefs with bulging muscles and sinister faces stood bare-chested beneath an ancient Divine Statue, polishing their weapons.
Several tall bandits entered and bowed. "Greetings to the three bosses."
The First Boss, standing in the middle, didn't even look up as he asked, "Have you found the carriage?"
The bandits replied, "Yes, we've found it. There's even bedding laid out inside..."
Before they could finish, the First Boss cut them off. "Then get to it. Hurry and load this thing."
"Yes!" The bandits answered, then stepped forward and offered the Divine Statue a perfunctory fist-and-palm salute. They clumsily lifted it from its shrine and carried it outside, setting it on a crude Green Felt Carriage.
Next, they fetched rope and bound the Divine Statue securely,