136. Preparations for the Siege

Led by the brothers Nie Zheng and Nie Rong, Zhang Xuan and his companions finally caught sight of the stronghold they had been talking about all day. As they drew closer, Zhang Xuan originally intended for Uncle Tong and Old Yang to wait at the front gate so they could burst in the moment it opened, but he could not dissuade the two men, who insisted on accompanying them to the cave near the cookhouse. Thus, he had no choice but to let them tag along.

The group followed the Nie brothers for quite some time. Having escaped in a panic, the brothers found that the perspective from inside the stronghold differed greatly from their initial vantage point outside. Furthermore, the area had been obscured with firewood, making it difficult for the brothers to recall the exact location of the cave. After a long search, they finally found it.

Once the location was secured, Zhang Xuan asked the Nie brothers, "Which of you can sketch the layout of this stronghold? After all, you are the most familiar with the interior."

The brothers then used the cookhouse as a reference point to draw the locations of various areas in the dirt, such as the cells, the human traffickers' quarters, and the front gate. Once the map was mostly complete, Zhang Xuan said, "You two should go hide, or perhaps just leave altogether. No one can predict what we might encounter inside. Honestly, I want to say that not getting in our way is the greatest help you could provide." With that, Zhang Xuan untied the leg and arm wraps he had just put on and handed them to Nie Zheng.

"Brother Xuan, I will keep these items safe until you return to collect them," Nie Zheng replied firmly as he accepted the belongings.

Zhang Xuan patted Nie Zheng on the head and then handed his hard-earned money pouch to Uncle Tong. "Uncle Tong, please hold onto this for me; I'll come back to get it in a while! If I find that any money is missing when we return, the debt you lent me for the knives will be considered paid in full! Why are you all looking at me like that? We guarantee we will finish the task of dispelling the darkness for these children. Don't forget, we are the ones who achieved a complete victory over forty or fifty bandits; these twenty or thirty traffickers will be no match for us. You need to have confidence in us, right, brothers?"

"That's right, Master (Uncle), Old Yang, you must have confidence in us. One against five? No problem," Yang Zaixing, Yuwen Chengdu, and Yang Hu echoed.

Uncle Tong and Old Yang recalled the outcome of the fight between Zhang Xuan, Yang Zaixing, Yang Hu, and the group of bandits. While they were not entirely clear on the details, the result could hardly be described as a "complete victory"—though Zhang Xuan was the only one who would call it that. Finally, telling the four of them to be careful and that they would be waiting at the front gate, the two elders prepared to leave. Knowing the capabilities of the four youths, they believed that as long as nothing went wrong, the operation should conclude successfully.

"Uncle Tong, Old Yang, wait. It’s still early! We won't move until at least the Hour of the Ox (1:00 AM to 3:00 AM). Everyone, let's rest for a bit!" Zhang Xuan found a flat patch of ground and lay down, followed by Yang Zaixing, Yuwen Chengdu, and Yang Hu, who found spots nearby.

Uncle Tong and Old Yang sat cross-legged, closing their eyes to conserve their energy. Nie Rong and Nie Zheng watched them, then sat to the side; they knew they couldn't help, and despite their desire to assist, they understood their own limitations and decided, as Zhang Xuan advised, not to be a hindrance.

As the Hour of the Ox approached, Uncle Tong and Old Yang were the first to stand. Looking at the four youths still asleep, they couldn't help but marvel at the strength of their composure—or perhaps their sheer audacity—to sleep so soundly under such circumstances. Comparing themselves to these youngsters, they couldn't help but admit they were getting old.

Perhaps sensing the movement, Yang Zaixing woke up and shook Zhang Xuan, Yuwen Chengdu, and Yang Hu awake. Zhang Xuan stirred slowly. "Is it almost time?"

Seeing Zhang Xuan sitting on the ground with sleepy eyes and the others stretching, Uncle Tong felt a momentary flicker of doubt about the success of the mission. He quickly dismissed the thought, however; while Zhang Xuan was usually mischievous, he was reliable when it mattered most. Besides, Yang Zaixing, Yuwen Chengdu, and Yang Hu were all quite steady, despite having recently been led astray by Zhang Xuan's influence. "Old Yang and I will head to the front gate first. You four, wake up fully, and once you're ready, head straight to the front gate to open it. Do you understand? Most importantly, watch your safety. If you sense anything wrong, retreat or hide immediately."

The four of them nodded, stood up, slapped their faces to wake up, and stretched their limbs. After saying goodbye to Uncle Tong and Old Yang, Zhang Xuan had the Nie brothers repeat the layout one last time. Once every one of the four had recited it back and memorized it, he signaled for the brothers to leave. Nie Zheng and Nie Rong wished them safety before running off to hide in a spot they deemed secure—a small hill where they could keep an eye on the stronghold's front gate.

Zhang Xuan pulled out his signature knife, and Yang Zaixing, Yuwen Chengdu, and Yang Hu did the same with their own. These blades had been forged at the blacksmith’s shop; none of them had expected to use them in earnest so soon. Previously, they had only been used for butchering game, making this their first formal engagement.

The four of them placed their hands together. "Brothers, let's go bring the dawn to those children trapped in the darkness!"