The night wind howled, stirring the clouds into wave-like swells. A bright moon drifted in and out of the dark clouds, vanishing one moment and revealing itself the next.
Beneath the gauze-dark night sky, the streets lay empty, with scarcely a soul in sight apart from scattered patrol constables.
With the Rebel Army surrounding the city, every household had shut its doors tight. Entire families huddled in their rooms, trembling with fear, terrified that making the slightest sound would see them seized as spies.
Even the Warm Fragrance Brothel, usually packed to the brim, was exceptionally deserted now.
In stark contrast were the directions of the Zhang Family in the east and the Du Family in the west, where a vast roar like a rising tide spread in every direction.
Zhong Lin stepped out of his room, sprang upward, kicked off the wall twice with a whoosh, whoosh, and easily landed on the roof. Raising his eyes, he saw that two immense blazes had lit up the night that should have been pitch-black. Those fires were unmistakably located at the Zhang and Du Families' estates.
"Has it already begun?"
Not only were the two great families under attack—the city gates were also ablaze, with thunderous cries of slaughter ringing out. He could vaguely see the city's garrison racing through the streets, scattering into the wilderness like sparks blown into the clouds.
Cries of battle, pounding war drums... they shook heaven and earth.
Old Man Xu also hurried out of the house. Looking at the distant flames in terror, he asked, "Zhong Lin, what's wrong? What happened?"
"The Rebel Army is attacking the city."
Zhong Lin leaped down from the roof, his expression grave as he said to Old Man Xu, "Wake Shi Tou and the others. Everyone goes into the