228 The Rescue (1/2)

Hidden within the thicket of the forest, a head peeked from behind a tree.

”Three men are patrolling the front of the camp. So far, they haven't changed shifts.” Yin Changpu jerked his head back to the men behind him. ”We need to take all three of them out if we want to get in.”

Fan Mingli stood beside him and snuck a glance at the Tuhan men. As Yin Changpu said, there were three of them. Three big, tall men with bristling beards, copper skin, and bulging muscles.

To someone of Fan Mingli's stature, they were terrifying.

Swallowing the bile at the back of his throat, Fan Mingli took one hand and leaned against the ancient oak, his fingertips gripping into the crevices that ran through the bark. Under his boots, the golden leaves were as noisy as the static in his head.

Why did he come here?

He couldn't fight those men. He didn't have the strength like the rest of his comrades. Not like An Sun.

Remember what you're fighting for…who are you fighting for?

These words, Fan Mingli could not help but remind himself. Taking a deep breath, he turned toward the rest of the men.

”There are thousands of them there. We'll wait till dark…and then we'll find Captain Sun's friend.”

”How will we get past the guards out front?” A comrade man with small black eyes asked.

”It'll be night, so they won't see us sneaking around. However, someone strong will need to take them out.” Fan Mingli replied.

”You count on me for that!” Yin Changpu raised his hand, his mouth spread in a big, toothy grin.

Twitching his brows, Fan Mingli continued. ”Like what we did in back in the village, we'll disguise ourselves. Three out front, two inside the camp. Based on what I've investigated on the An Clan, they'd keep their prisoners close to the main tent.”

”Why?” A man couldn't help but ask.

”Easy access for torture.” Fan Mingli answered simply.

Everyone fell silent; some swallowed nervously.

”But there will most likely be a guard or two in the front, so we'll have to be quiet when we're issuing our escape.”

Nodding their heads, everyone stared at Fan Mingli with commendable smiles.

”Then it's settled.” Fan Mingli peeked behind the tree and smirked. ”Now we wait.”

…

Before long, night came. The sky was black, not a single star in the sky. Just clouds and the glaring moon to shine down on the land.

Slipping within the shadows, Fan Mingli and the others moved. They leaned against the camp's wooden walls and made their way close to the guards. Fan Mingli glanced at Yin Changpu, who nodded at his signal.

It was then he moved in and stepped toward the guards, his body still wrapped in the shadows.

Both men fell unconscious. Still holding the bloody bolder in his hand, Yin Changpu hovered over the unconscious men's bodies and struck it down against each of their heads, blood pooling from their bodies like thick, red wine.

Having finished the deed, Yin Changpu turned around with a grin, only to meet Fan Mingli's glare.

”What?” He cocked his head to the side.

”What do you mean what? I said knock them out silently!” Fan Mingli hissed.

Yin Changpu rolled his eyes. ”Do you want them to wake up and alert everyone?”

Unable to refute, Fan Mingli just huffed and began stripping the clothes off the bodies of the corpses. Shrugging on a sheepskin vest, Yin Changpu glanced up only to halt. Unaware of his stare, Fan Mingli continued to put on the oversized Tuhan clothing.

When he was done, he glanced up to notice Yin Changpu watching at him.

”What is it?”

Walking up to him, Yin Changpu tilted his head and looked Fan Mingli up and down. Fan Mingli was a short man. A scrawny one as well. With less muscle on his limbs and such small stature, the Tuhan's large clothing was much excessively large on him.

He looked nothing like a Tuhan man.

Yin Changpu glanced at the young man's face, and his eyes lit up. Scraping some dirt on his hands from the ground, he stared back at Fan Mingli.

”Why are you—” Before he could finish his sentence, Yin Changpu was smearing wet dirt left and right on his face. It took every inch of restraint for him not to shout.

As if he hadn't done enough, Fan Mingli felt the man run his hands through his shaggy hair and tussled it about. He could feel the soil scratching his scalp.

”There, now you look like a Tuhan.” Yin Changpu smiled with his hands on his hips.

Opening his eyes, Fan Mingli glared ferociously at him.

”You...!”

”Come on, we don't have time.” Yin Changpu carelessly patted him on the back and turned to the other three. ”Fan Mingli and I will search for Manchu, you all stay here.”

”Got it.” They gave a thumbs up and stood in their places.