Green Mountain

In the narrow alley under the cover of night, a masked man cautiously led the way, with Brother Pao and Er Dao following behind.

Outside the alley, hurried footsteps could occasionally be heard, as ruffians from the fighting profession searched the entire city, seemingly turning the outer city inside out.

Er Dao slowed his pace, speaking in a gruff voice: "Brother, isn’t a ten percent share a bit too little for us?"

Brother Pao glanced at the back of the masked man: "It’s not about being little, it’s about getting none at all. This man doesn’t even recognize the roads in the outer city, whether we can trust him is still a question."

Er Dao whispered: "Is there something wrong with him?"

Brother Pao grunted: "If he hadn’t said ’Draw swords to help when injustice is seen,’ I might believe a little. But you’ve seen it yourself, on this entire journey, where have you seen anyone drawing swords to help? It’s good enough if they don’t sell you by the pound."

Er Dao looked serious: "What should we do then?"

Brother Pao scratched his head with his pinky: "Run? No, we can’t be unprincipled."

At that moment, another fourteen or fifteen Heji ruffians passed by the mouth of the alley, carrying torches.

Someone shouted instructions: "You go to the Fulai Inn in the east, Wang Dong, you go to Zhuangyuan Inn, remember to be polite to scholars coming to the capital for examinations, don’t you dare mess with future officials."

The masked man pulled Brother Pao and Er Dao to hide in the shadows of the grey brick and grey tile, waiting for the Heji ruffians to leave.