The assault on the mountain did indeed begin, and there was no suspense whatsoever.
At dusk, the Brocade-Clad dogs, the court's hunting hawks and hounds, launched a surprise attack, easily rushing through the mountain gates while the valley was unprepared. Meanwhile, the female inspector lying hidden in the valley Mountain Stronghold displayed her formidable might. With one stroke, she cut down the Righteousness Banner, kicked over four or five brave fellows who were clearly leaders or minor chieftains, and then the entire Mountain Stronghold collapsed like a torrent plunging a thousand miles.
But this was enough to raise suspicions, because there were none of the military experts they had imagined, no bitter fighting, not even a chaotic melee. There were hardly even any decent weapons. The whole place fell in a single rush and very quickly surrendered.
To insist on making an ill-fitting comparison, it was like putting all your strength into a blow, hitting nothing but air, and then instinctively seeing ghosts and demons everywhere.
However, only Zhang Xing and Bai Yousi felt these misgivings, and neither showed them.
"They aren't here, but they certainly came through."
Barely a moment later, Li Qingchen came to report in the Mountain Stronghold's chaotic Hall of Righteous Gathering, looking somewhat exhilarated. "I questioned a few who could speak reasonably clearly. They said that three or four days ago, a fair, plump middle-aged man wearing brocade clothes, but looking utterly bedraggled, suddenly arrived from the northwest. He knew their chief, a man surnamed Xu, and Chief Xu treated him very courteously. After resting for a day, the two changed clothes yesterday at noon, left a few instructions, and went straight off, saying they were going to Nanyang Commandery to find someone... Then yesterday evening, another tall, middle-aged man with dark circles under his