Xiao Yingtao looked up at Feng Jiu’er and asked, “Jiu’er, how did it go?”

“Everyone else has made it out of the city. Only the three hundred brothers who were detained remain.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and tapped Xiao Yingtao’s nose.

“Don’t worry too much! As long as their identities aren’t exposed, their lives shouldn’t be in danger.”

“So when are we planning to leave?” Xiao Yingtao smoothed down her clothes.

“They’re inspecting everyone leaving the city very strictly right now. We need to think of a way, but we can’t linger too long — the other brothers are still waiting.” Feng Jiu’er replied.

“Get dressed up. Let’s go out for a walk.”

Xiao Yingtao nodded and turned to open the wardrobe.

Before long, the two of them left the village and appeared in the small town.

They wound through several streets and stopped outside a small teahouse near the city gate.

“Sister-in-law, I’m hungry.” Xiao Yingtao pointed at the teahouse. “Let’s eat here today.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded, and the two of them walked into the teahouse together.

“What can I get you two?” A teahouse waiter came over and wiped down the table.

Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao sat down on either side of a low table.

Xiao Yingtao raised an eyebrow at the waiter and said, “A pot of tea, one basket of meat buns, one basket of vegetable buns.”

“Coming right up.” The waiter smiled and turned away.

Soon, he brought over the buns and tea.

“Waiter, the usual.” A burly man called out loudly.

Behind Xiao Yingtao, at the largest table, several burly men had taken their seats.

The men were dressed as soldiers — off-duty guards, by the look of it.

“Not even time to eat properly every day. Sooner or later we’ll collapse from exhaustion,” one of the men said.

“What else can we do? With things the way they are now, it’s even busier than when the city gates were sealed,” another man sighed.

“And who knows what the county magistrate is thinking? How long is he going to keep checking every single resident?”

“I heard someone came down from above,” the burly man behind Xiao Yingtao said in a low voice. “Maybe they’ll lift the restrictions soon.”

“Otherwise, three days in and already two thousand civilians are stranded — how much food is being wasted in the city every single day like this?”

“Who is it that’s come?” another asked.

“Don’t know.” The burly man shook his head. “Either way, word is that starting tomorrow, there’s going to be a city-wide search.”

“Eat up quickly — my information is never wrong. While we can still sit and eat, hurry and finish!”

Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao continued their meal, occasionally exchanging glances, but neither said a word.

Once the soldiers had left, the two of them finally rose and left at a leisurely pace.

At the third quarter of the hour of Chou, the four of them gathered together in the woods outside the town.

“Xing Zizhou, I heard there’s going to be a city-wide search tomorrow?” Xiao Yingtao looked at Xing Zizhou. “Is that really true?”

“Mm.” Xing Zizhou nodded slightly. “I found out — it’s Hanying’s army.”

“I heard she’s even brought along several craftsmen who specialize in making human-skin masks, just in case. To be safe, we should leave the city tonight.”

“With security tightest both inside and outside the city gates right now, how are we supposed to get out?” Xiao Yingtao frowned slightly.

“With just the four of us, it’s not entirely without a way.” Xing Zizhou took her small hand and looked toward Feng Jiu’er.

“To the right of the city gate, about a mile out, there’s a gap in the wall. We can leave through there.”

“But, Jiu’er — are we really going to leave the three hundred brothers behind? I’m worried about Hanying’s people…”

Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at the sun overhead, then lowered her gaze.

“There’s still some time. Let’s think a little more.”

“Jian Yi, do we have a fix on where the three hundred brothers are being held? Are they scattered, or gathered together?”