Hu Xiaotian had not expected Xue Lingjun to act so swiftly. Xue Shengjing's advice had indeed been sound: Xue Lingjun could influence the Old Empress Dowager. Without her intervention, the Old Empress Dowager would never have fallen ill so conveniently. Yet Hu Xiaotian felt no relief whatsoever. On the contrary, his sense of urgency only grew. This was Xue Lingjun's way of telling him that the power to grant life or deal death to Liu Changsheng and his son now lay in her hands.
This was Great Yong's first snowfall of the winter. In a single morning, the swirling snow had painted the mountains and rivers white. Xue Zhenhai, the Beggar Gang's Enforcement Elder, and An Zhai, who had been promoted to Five-Bag Disciple for his contributions in the battle of Xingzhou, entered the Yong Capital through the wind and snow with sixteen Beggar Gang experts. They had come to eliminate the gang's traitors and reclaim control of its North of the River Branch.
To avoid attracting attention, they had all shed their ragged patchwork robes and changed into ordinary clothing, disguising themselves as a caravan transporting tea. Their first order of business upon arriving in the Yong Capital was to pay Hu Xiaotian a visit, and they took lodgings at the Eternal Blessing Inn.
When Xue Zhenhai and An Zhai arrived, Hu Xiaotian was just about to go out. He was delighted to see them. After all, he was facing a serious shortage of manpower. The arrival of the Beggar Gang experts would not only give him wings like a tiger, but also allow him to contact the disciples in the Yong Capital who remained loyal to the gang. Their strength was not to be underestimated.
Although Hu Xiaotian had appeared to hold his forces in place during this