The day after the gathering at Mountains and Rivers Tower, Zhou Liangchen followed his usual routine and led the brothers of his Liang Character Altar out to patrol the streets.
Each branch altar of West Mountain Hall had its own responsibilities. The Shan, Yun, and Luan altars, for instance, were currently responsible primarily for overseeing work on the canal.
The Liang Character Altar was specifically responsible for public order and defense within the town.
But when Zhou Liangchen took more than twenty gang members onto the streets, his brows knitted tightly.
Of the 127 storefronts in the row of shops before him, forty-five had closed for business.
As a result, there were scarcely any pedestrians on several of the town's streets. At a glance, they looked empty, desolate, and oppressive.
Zhou Liangchen's heart sank, turning cold. He had a premonition that something might have happened.
He quickened his steps toward the intersection ahead and turned onto Northward Street.
Zhou Liangchen glanced at both sides of the street, and his face turned ashen.
Of Northward Street's 110 storefronts, forty-seven had closed.
Northward Street and Eastward Street ran lengthwise and crosswise, connecting all four town gates. They formed West Mountain Town's central axis and were its most prosperous, most central location!
He then noticed a great many carriages and people lined up at the distant town gate.
"Send a couple of sharp lads to ask around." Zhou Liangchen narrowed his eyes. "What's going on?"
Several of his subordinates hurried away and soon hurried back.
Every one of them wore a grave, grim expression.
The information they had gathered was much the same.
All the great clans and local magnates of West Mountain were withdrawing their clansmen from West Mountain Town.
All their shops had closed, and every long-term and temporary worker was