This could be described as normal, yet abnormal, but overall, it was somewhat abnormal.
Seeing Zhu Ting pacing restlessly, a man beside him cupped his fist and said, "General, why are you suddenly so agitated?"
Zhu Ting looked up at the sky. "It must be close to the second watch, hasn't it? The sentries have been out for so long, and no one has returned. It seems a bit strange."
The man suddenly chuckled. "General, you worry too much. They are just a few dozen villagers. What is there to be concerned about? Perhaps the villagers had no plans, so the sentries felt there was nothing worth reporting, and that's why they haven't returned."
Hearing this, Zhu Ting nodded. "I hope so. Let's wait another night. If there's no news by tomorrow, we'll have to go and see."
After the second watch passed, Ma Han and his companions had been drinking in the small tavern for over an hour.
They were patiently waiting for the third watch to arrive, but the tavern keeper couldn't hold on any longer. "Gentlemen, there will be a curfew after the third watch. You should all go home and sleep early."
Ma Han smiled faintly and placed a piece of broken silver on the table. "With the current situation, we're alive today and our fate is uncertain tomorrow. What's the point of sleeping? We intend to drink all night. Just close the door, and we'll drink inside."
The tavern keeper could only shake his head helplessly and retreated. The curfew wouldn't start until the third watch anyway.
At this moment, there was movement outside the south gate.
On the city wall, the guards on duty suddenly spotted dark shadows moving in the distance.
"Brothers, look at those dark shadows over there. Are they moving?"
Several guards peered intently. "Yes, they are moving. They look like figures!"
One soldier immediately fetched a bow and arrows wrapped with flammable material. After lighting them, he shot them towards the distance.
With the faint light, they could see clearly. They were indeed figures, their armor gleaming with a dark sheen.
"Quick, there are enemy troops outside."
With this shout, someone nearby immediately sprinted towards the county office to report to Wang Heng.
Soon, Wang Heng arrived with his men. Seeing the dark shadows flickering outside, he frowned.
"Gather more archers to prepare for battle. Also, go check the other gates to see if there's any activity."
Before long, the soldiers sent to the other gates returned. The other three gates were quiet, with no movement whatsoever.
Wang Heng stroked his chin, his brow furrowed.
Logically, with an army of a hundred thousand outside and only fifty thousand under his command, they should be attacking from all sides to capture the city. Attacking only one side was clearly not right.
"Yes, it must be a probing attack."
With this thought, Wang Heng had an idea. "Light more bonfires. Make a big show of it, the bigger the better. If they approach, fire arrows. If they stay far away, ignore them."
After speaking, Wang Heng turned and left.
In his opinion, this was Prince Xiao Jingyun's harassment tactic, designed to keep him from resting. So, he decided to return and act as if nothing was wrong, eat and sleep as usual.
Back at the county office, Wang Heng took off his armor and sank wearily into a chair.
Although he had seen through Prince Xiao Jingyun's plan, if this continued, it would undoubtedly exhaust the city's defenders.
As he was worrying about this, he heard the distant sound of the third watch drum.
It was the third watch. Time to sleep. Wang Heng yawned and lay down on the bed, pulling the quilt over himself.
In the small tavern, Ma Han and the others stood up with smiles upon hearing the third watch drum.
"Innkeeper, the curfew is in effect. We must leave now."
The innkeeper stared in disbelief. "Gentlemen, if you go out now and are caught by the patrol soldiers, you'll be arrested and imprisoned."
Ma Han patted his shoulder. "Thank you for your concern. We're leaving now."
Watching them stagger out, the innkeeper deliberately sighed.
"Drinking leads to trouble. Another few souls lost."
In reality, Ma Han and his companions were feigning drunkenness.
As soon as they left the small tavern, they became energetic and full of vigor, hiding in the nearby darkness to wait quietly.
Outside the city, the Lotus Cult Master had been waiting in the darkness outside the north gate. Hearing the drumbeat, she took out two daggers from her waist.
She suddenly leaped, rising over a zhang high. Aiming at the gaps between the bricks on the city wall, she swung her hand, and the daggers accurately embedded themselves in the cracks. Then, with a heave, she leaped again, stepping on the daggers to climb another zhang.
She then used the other dagger in the same manner, embedding it at the base of the city wall, stepping on it again, and with a light jump, she directly landed on the parapet.
On the city wall, the guards on duty had already dozed off, as there had been no activity.
The Lotus Cult Master's eyes swept across the scene. There were only five people present: three were asleep, and two were awake. She raised her hand, and the two awake individuals were hit by fine needles, collapsing to the ground.
Immediately after, the three sleeping soldiers were also sent to their deaths.
After dealing with the guards on the city wall, the Lotus Cult Master crept down the steps, killing every soldier she encountered along the way.
Once everything was done, Liu Rumei then placed her little finger in her mouth and let out a whistle.
Upon hearing the signal, Ma Han and the others immediately rushed out from the darkness.
The Lotus Cult Master beckoned to everyone and pointed at the city wall.
Ma Han was the first to charge forward, tearing open his robe as he did. It turned out that a thin rope had been coiled around his waist.
Untying the rope, he tied it to the battlement. Ma Han waved his hand, and the men behind him descended one by one.
Ma Han's subordinates were all martial artists and moved swiftly, quickly descending to the bottom of the city wall.
Seeing Ma Han descend as well, the Lotus Cult Master smiled faintly, picked up a torch from the battlement, walked to the beacon tower, and set it ablaze. Then she gracefully leaped down.
The so-called beacon smoke was a pile of damp wood that produced a lot of smoke when lit. Even at night, it could be seen from a distance.
Soon, someone discovered the signal from this area and rushed to investigate.
The message was sent to the county office again. Wang Heng had not yet fallen asleep and was called out of bed.
Upon hearing that there was trouble at the north gate, Wang Heng slapped his head in frustration.
"How stupid I am! Yesterday it was the east and west gates, and today there was a feigned attack outside the south gate. It should have been obvious that we needed to strengthen defenses at the north gate.
Alas, I am such an idiot."
He arrived at the scene and saw the more than a dozen dead soldiers. Upon closer inspection, their deaths were exactly the same as those at the west gate yesterday: a small spot of blood on their temples, indicating they had been struck by hidden weapons.
Wang Heng became furious again.
"Investigate thoroughly tonight!"
But where were they to investigate? Everyone was bewildered again.
Someone nearby whispered, "General, why don't we bring out the women from the Hundred Flower Pavilion for another round of questioning?"
Wang Heng heard this and sighed deeply, throwing his curved saber aside. "Forget it. They are just women from the brothels; they probably wouldn't know much more."
"Pass down my order: starting tomorrow, the curfew will begin at dusk. Anyone found walking on the streets will be arrested."