After Leitao and his party successfully entered the city, they quickly spread out. They navigated the bustling streets, following Scarface Li toward the restaurant his mountain stronghold operated within the city. Along the way, Leitao observed the streets with a seemingly casual air, his eyes lingering momentarily on Japanese Army patrols, sentry posts, and suspicious buildings. He noted that the atmosphere in the county seat was more tense than usual; the Japanese Army had clearly tightened their security.
Scarface Li led the way, his expression one of cautious familiarity with the town. He skillfully steered the group away from areas under heavy Japanese surveillance, opting for narrow alleys and less conspicuous streets.
After winding through several deep, tortuous alleys, the noise of the crowd faded behind them. Ahead, a somewhat rustic restaurant stood quietly. On its sign, the three characters for "Yuelai Pavilion" had been eroded by time, the paint mottled, yet it retained an aura of steady composure. At the entrance, two men dressed in coarse linen clothes, disguised as waiters, were enthusiastically greeting passersby.
Chapter 399