As dusk approached, thick, heavy clouds always gathered overhead. The setting sun could only slip through tiny gaps, casting crimson streaks of light like fish in a deep, dark sea occasionally turning over to flash their golden scales.
A cavalry unit of roughly three hundred men, clad in the Holy Dragon Army's battle armor, took advantage of the chaotic crowds at the city gates to slip quietly into the city through a collapsed section of wall.
Clop, clop, clop! Clop, clop, clop! Clop, clop, clop!
The rapid, lively pounding of hooves drew closer as the fully armed cavalry galloped down Imperial Avenue. The once-bustling streets were deserted, silent as the grave. Clearly warned beforehand, the residents had already scurried into their homes and barred their doors, leaving only narrow cracks in their windows through which to spy from afar. When they sensed the thick killing aura surrounding the cavalry, they were too frightened to make a sound, terrified of inviting slaughter upon themselves.
The cavalry did not indulge in pointless killing. Before setting out, they had received orders from Pope Bibi Dong: they were to storm the Sky-Blasting Gang's headquarters and capture Yang Ming's family, using them to force the gang leader into submission!
They had long since memorized the routes through Heaven Dou City. In truth, the Sky-Blasting Gang's headquarters was easy to find. They simply had to follow Imperial Avenue to the center of Heaven Dou City, where the headquarters stood not far from the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Heaven Dou City now had fewer troops stationed within it than at any other time in its history. Even its remaining forces had been sent to defend the walls. The cavalry encountered virtually no resistance along the way, and their unhindered progress even gave them the peculiar impression that