North Wind Town.
Liu Wei led seven or eight old comrades from the Mess Hall Army at a sprint, avoiding the chaotic ranks of Monk Soldiers in town. After passing through several quiet, deserted streets, they hurried to the gates of the Garrison Prefecture.
After returning from Southern Mountain, they had kept their disguises and done everything possible to avoid strangers along the way, exercising extreme caution.
Soon, they reached the Garrison Prefecture gates. Liu Wei first glanced left and right several times. Only after confirming that no one was around did he quickly pull a crumpled slip of paper from his sleeve and flick it into a crack beneath the stone lion to the left of the entrance.
Once that was done, he dusted off his hands and called, "Come on. Let's go to the Warrior Monk Prefecture and join Lord Zhenyi and our brothers."
With that, they left, hurrying toward the Warrior Monk Prefecture.
Along the way, they saw many routed Monk Soldiers from the Personal Guard Battalion. Every one of them looked wretched, with shattered armor and wounds all over. They did not even question strangers, merely scurrying around like headless flies or looking for empty houses to hide in.
Thud, thud, thud...!
They cautiously traveled a long way farther. Just as they were about to reach the Warrior Monk Prefecture, heavy footsteps suddenly sounded ahead. Several hundred men in bloodstained armor were charging toward the prefecture, their murderous presence oppressive.
Their leader was Wu Batian. His armor was covered in blood and scraps of flesh, and he carried two sledgehammers over his shoulder, walking like an underdeveloped goose.
Liu Wei glanced around before waving and calling to Wu Batian, "Stop right there!"
Not far away, Wu Batian reflexively turned, raised his brows, and barked, "Who the