54: Chapter 54 Night Visit to the Escort Agency

Yun Song rose and went to the table, undoing the knot of the herbal medicine bundle.

Five small cloth pouches were revealed before his eyes.

A medicinal fragrance, interwoven with richness and bitterness, drifted out like a thin veil.

He untied the cloth pouches one by one, leaning over slightly, his nostrils twitching.

He carefully sniffed the unique scent of each herb.

Then, he pinched a small amount and placed it on his palm. Under the dim, yellowish light, he narrowed his eyes to carefully examine its color and texture.

In his mind, he repeatedly compared it with the records in the "chronicles of miraculous healing".

After confirming everything was correct, Yun Song poured all five bags of herbs onto the old wooden table.

His hands moved swiftly and deftly through the herbs, mixing them with practiced ease.

Once mixed, he carefully portioned the herbs back into the cloth pouches.

As he filled each bag, he carefully tightened the opening to ensure it was secure and leak-proof.

After portioning was complete, the five small cloth pouches were solemnly placed back into the large bundle.

Just then, the familiar sound of the night watchman came from outside the window: "Dong, dong, dong! The third watch has arrived. Extinguish the lamps and fires; leave no kitchen fires to cause trouble!"

The voice was exceptionally clear in the silent night, as if reminding him of the urgency of time.

At this moment, all was silent, save for the wailing wind outside the window, whispering in the darkness.

Yun Song walked quickly to the bedside, crouched down, and took out ten spirit talismans from his bundle, carefully tucking them into his robe and pressing them down gently.

He grabbed the mining hoe, shouldered it, picked up the bundle containing the herbal powder, and strode toward Ye Hua's room.

Arriving at the door, he paused for a moment and knocked lightly.

Inside the room, the siblings Ye Hua and Ye Rong were sitting opposite each other, filled with worry.

When the knocking sounded, the two rose simultaneously, like startled birds.

Ye Hua asked vigilantly: "Who is it?"

"It's me." Yun Song replied steadily in a low voice.

Recognizing Yun Song, Ye Hua hurriedly pulled open the door: "Oh, Young Master Yun, you are awake."

Yun Song's expression was grave as his gaze swept over the siblings: "There is no time to lose; we must act immediately! Face masks are essential for this operation. Do you two have any?"

Ye Hua and Ye Rong exchanged a look and shook their heads.

Ye Hua made a prompt decision, tearing off the hem of his garment with a "rip".

He quickly tore the fabric into three pieces, rubbed and shaped them into three simple face masks, and handed them to Yun Song and Ye Rong: "Make do with these!"

The three quickly covered their faces, revealing only their determined eyes, then stepped out and plunged into the deep night.

The ink-colored sky seemed ready to swallow everything, and the howling wind roared like a beast.

The biting cold air poured in through their collars and cuffs, making them shiver all over.

Everything around them was deadly silent; even the usual faint sounds were swallowed by the darkness and the gale.

Only the "crunching" sound of their footsteps on the snow was jarringly prominent in the quiet night, setting the rhythm for this unknown operation.

Before long, the three arrived at the hole at the base of the wall they had scouted during the day and filed inside.

Their steps were light and slow, making not a single sound as they successfully reached the outside of the main hall.

The scene at this moment was completely different from the daytime:

The guards who had been patrolling separately during the day were now more than a dozen strong, gathered tightly in the open space outside the main hall.

The bonfire in the center burned wantonly in the cold wind, its tongues of flame dancing wildly.

The flickering firelight shone on their faces, making them look like ghosts.

"Crackle, crackle," a burly man with a full beard added a piece of firewood to the fire, sending sparks flying.

He couldn't help but complain: "This damn weather, it's so cold my bones ache. I don't know when this will be over; I'm nearly frozen stiff."

Beside him, a tall, thin man gripped a wine flask and took a deep gulp. As the wine ran down the corner of his mouth, he wiped it away: "What's the rush? The Boss has already spoken; it's bound to be soon."

The bearded man glared at him and spat: "Soon, my ass. How long have we been guarding this place?"

The tall, thin man lowered his voice: "You don't know a damn thing. The Boss came up with a brilliant plan this time. That fellow will definitely crack."

Ye Hua's brows were tightly locked as he scanned the crowd vigilantly;

Ye Rong clenched her fists, her breathing involuntarily quickening;

Yun Song narrowed his eyes, calmly observing the situation, his brain racing to think of a countermeasure.

The three hid in the darkness, holding their breath and waiting for an opportunity.

Suddenly, the lean man sitting by the bonfire, Lao Jiu, stood up and stretched.

He bent down, picked up a torch from the fire, and was about to leave.

After taking just two steps, the burly bearded man looked up and asked: "Lao Jiu, where are you going?"

Lao Jiu rolled his eyes at him irritably: "My stomach feels bad; I'm going to the latrine. Do I need to report to you?"

"Hey, your temper is growing, kid. Bring back some firewood on your way."

Lao Jiu waved his hand impatiently: "Got it, got it."

Having said that, he walked toward the latrine, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.

Yun Song took it all in. Seeing Lao Jiu walking away alone, he thought to himself that the opportunity had arrived.

He turned slightly and lowered his voice: "Brother Ye, the moment has arrived. Let's go!"

Although his voice was soft, it carried an unquestionable decisiveness.

Ye Hua and Ye Rong's eyes instantly sharpened. Like ghosts, the three moved silently toward Lao Jiu.

Yun Song lunged forward, his hand-blade striking Lao Jiu precisely on the back of his neck.

Lao Jiu let out a muffled grunt and collapsed. Ye Hua caught him steadily, and Ye Rong was quick-witted enough to catch the torch.

The two worked together to drag Lao Jiu to a hidden corner. The entire process was smooth and fluid, without causing the slightest ripple.

Ye Hua frowned slightly, his eyes full of doubt, and asked in a low voice: "Although we've taken out one, they still have the numbers. What about the rest?"

His tone could not hide his anxiety and worry.