At dusk, Yi Yang changed into a fresh set of clothes in the rear courtyard.
He did not wear the Heaven Patrol Office's black uniform with gold embroidery. Instead, he chose a clean blue everyday robe. The fabric lay smooth, but it could hardly be called luxurious. The seventy-two-jin Tiger Roar heavy saber was simply strapped to his back.
Xu Pei waited outside the courtyard gate with six Patrol Guards.
The strongest of the six was at qi-blood fifth level, the weakest at qi-blood third level. Standing in a row, they were the last of the White Fish City Heaven Patrol Office's old hands who had not been lured away by outside powers.
When Xu Pei saw Yi Yang emerge in that outfit, he opened his mouth, wanting to advise him against it but not daring to.
The six men behind him, however, looked far less composed.
The youngest Patrol Guard was Chen Ming, a man in his early twenties at qi-blood third level. Looking at Yi Yang's attire, he swallowed and exchanged a glance with the man beside him.
The same words were written in both their eyes-We're finished tonight.
How was attending the banquet dressed like this any different from sticking a notice on his forehead that read "easy prey"?
Yi Yang noticed their little gestures but made no comment. He merely patted Chen Ming's shoulder as he passed and said, "Come on. Let's have a good meal."
His tone made it sound as though they really were going out for an ordinary dinner tonight.
Chen Ming gritted his teeth and followed.
The Abundant Source Restaurant stood in the middle of White Fish City's West Street.
It was three stories tall, with sweeping eaves and upturned corners. Four large red lanterns hung outside its entrance.
The lanterns looked