Bo Yi clicked his tongue softly.
This really did live up to its reputation as a high-difficulty Instance with no newcomers...
He surveyed the rear courtyard. Rows of rooms lined three sides, while walls far taller than the rooftops enclosed all four. Together with the heavy vermilion wooden gate, they sealed off the outside world completely, confining the courtyard within this square patch of space. The courtyard stood empty, with only a few scattered trees planted in its four corners and a large water vat set in the corner near the gate. Though it looked like a water vat, the faint smell drifting from that corner suggested it, too, was filled with wine.
There was practically nothing he could use for cover. Going by proximity, Bo Yi could only pick the best of a bad lot-he began edging toward the vat without drawing attention.
But before he had taken more than a few steps, the flowing sleeve around his neck tightened, transmitting a tremendous force.
Almost forgot about this... I need to get rid of this annoying sleeve fast. He simply went with the pull, pushing off a flagstone and springing into the air. Before the woman in the opera costume could react, he twisted, tapped the wall beside him with his toes, and used the opposing force to spin through the air in the direction opposite to the sleeve wrapped around his neck.
After several turns, Bo Yi landed easily and rubbed his finally freed neck.
"Aaaaaah-"
Bo Yi's actions had clearly enraged the woman in the opera costume. A shrill, piercing scream erupted from her tightly stitched mouth. Her scream seemed to serve as a signal: the other seventeen women, who had been swaying slowly toward him, all froze. A second later, as though some shackles had fallen