Mu Xuehuang was not the only one feeling uneasy. Ning Yuanzhou, who had already returned to Flowing Sand, felt the same.
It was late at night, but Ning Yuanzhou had yet to sleep.
He stood by the window, gazing at the bright moon, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive.
"Caw! Caw!"
Just then, a pitch-black crow flew over, calling as it went, then landed steadily on Ning Yuanzhou's hand.
A letter was tied to the crow's leg.
Ning Yuanzhou untied it and read it. The letter contained only one brief sentence: The last stronghold has been abandoned.
There were many more such envelopes on the table-this had been Ning Yuanzhou's order.
The Great Li Dynasty had finally moved against Flowing Sand, the thorn in its side.
To reduce unnecessary casualties, Ning Yuanzhou had ordered everyone stationed at their strongholds to withdraw.
Now, inside their headquarters, the space behind the waterfall was packed with people.
A dark, dense mass, ten thousand strong.
Creeeak-
The wooden door slowly opened with a drawn-out creak.
Luo Qingwan walked in.
She glanced at the scattered envelopes and said, "All our strongholds have been occupied. The court's next step will probably be to search for our headquarters."
"Once they find it, they'll launch an all-out assault."
"When that happens, a fierce battle will be inevitable, on the scale of a full-blown war."
There was something Luo Qingwan left unsaid-this was a war whose outcome was already certain.
Since ancient times, outlaws had never been a match for the authorities, yet these rebels had fought the court for so long.
But once they clashed head-on, no matter how many experts they had among them, they could never match elite regular troops.
Ning Yuanzhou said nothing. He merely held the envelopes over the candle in silence.
The bright