At daybreak, the mountains were shrouded in thick fog. Leitao, who had been sleeping on the window ledge of a dilapidated temple, was suddenly jolted awake by the sound of footsteps. Sensing several people approaching the temple, he couldn't tell if they were friend or foe. Leitao quickly retrieved two Skorpion submachine pistols from the Bagua Spinning Top Space, checked their condition, loaded the magazines, and chambered rounds. He then pressed himself close to the rooftop skylight, ensuring he remained hidden. Moments later, a small stone he had tied to his perimeter alarm string began to jitter—he knew they were getting closer.
Suddenly, the long-standing silence of the temple was broken by a soft rustle of footsteps. Two figures in Taoist robes slowly stepped through the temple gate: one older, one younger.
They carried bulging packs on their backs and gripped wooden staves firmly in their hands. The staves looked quite weathered, yet the two held them with steady, practiced hands.
Chapter 70