May 9th, 1:45 AM. The night watchman of the Capital had just struck the bamboo clapper. Outside the Shadow Pavilion’s secret den in the birch forest in West City, Lu Jingyuan held the terrain map hand-drawn by Jiang Wan, his fingertips tracing the pine tree marked as the "secret entrance." Afu lay in ambush on both sides with the Garrison Army; their armor gleamed coldly in the moonlight, yet they had wrapped the joints of their plates in soft cloth, fearful of making even the slightest sound.
"We strike at 2:00 AM," Lu Jingyuan whispered his command, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Rou in the crowd—she was dressed in dark, athletic attire, and tucked into her waistband was the fake jade pendant used as bait just two days prior.
Inside the den, the leader of the Shadow Pavilion was wiping down his long sword when he suddenly heard light footsteps overhead. His pupils constricted. Just as he moved to snuff out the candle, the stone door of the den was smashed open. Lu Jingyuan strode in holding a torch, followed by the Garrison Army with their crossbows raised.
Chapter 175