Chapter 45: The Gathering Attack
Chapter 45: The Gathering Attack
In the quiet of the night, the Black Crow Sect lost a regular follower without attracting any attention.
Or perhaps the entire Black Crow Sect's residence was just like any ordinary household. When Chen Mu returned, he still didn't notice anything unusual. It remained pitch-black, with no signs of candlelight or suspicious activity.
Chen Mu took another person out for questioning, but they too knew nothing. He realized that most of the people in this residence were probably like this. Even if he questioned them one by one, he might not find an informant, and those who did know might have already left.
However.
From the second person, Chen Mu learned a piece of news. In the eyes of these ordinary Black Crow Sect followers, the Gang Leader and even the Deputy Sect Leader often appeared and disappeared mysteriously.
This wasn't some supernatural world where people could suddenly appear and vanish. Chen Mu immediately suspected that there must be something significant beneath the Black Crow Sect's residence, likely hidden tunnels or secret chambers.
But the ordinary follower was completely clueless and unaware.
"No wonder the Crimson Gold Gang's investigators sent to the Black Crow Sect all disappeared without a trace."
Chen Mu's expression turned pensive.
At that moment, he made up his mind. He stopped running around aimlessly and quietly hid himself in the corner of a tall building, patiently waiting. Time passed, and the sky gradually lightened to a dawn pink hue.
Finally, on the west side of the Black Crow Sect's residence, in a secluded courtyard, there was movement. Several figures in the Black Crow Sect's black robes quietly emerged from the building.
Chen Mu had previously scouted this courtyard and was certain there was no one inside, but now over a dozen people appeared. They were clearly high-ranking members like the Gang Leader and Deputy Sect Leader, indicating something unusual was happening.
"..."
Chen Mu took a quick glance, memorized the courtyard's location, and then quietly withdrew. With the sky not yet fully bright, he leaped away several times and disappeared from the Black Crow Sect's residence.
Due to the distance and his caution, and without making any noise, the group of high-ranking members from the courtyard didn't notice him. They even talked in low voices as they walked.
"...Over at Second Lane, they caught an official's spy last night. It seems the City Guard is onto us. Be extra careful from now on. If we fall into the hands of the officials, you know what to do."
The Gang Leaders exchanged glances, their eyes all dull and empty.
The Deputy Sect Leader continued in a deep voice, "Make sure the Nine Streets are secure as well. If the officials make a big move, even if we have to abandon this place, we must not reveal the headquarters' location. With a little more time, the Guardian Deity will descend, and the entire Outer City will be ours. With the power of Utter Destruction, even the big shots in the Inner City won't be able to touch us."
"All for the Raven God..."
The Gang Leaders muttered mechanically and then dispersed from the courtyard.
...
There was indeed something beneath the Black Crow Sect's residence, and this intelligence was crucial. Chen Mu immediately reported it to Min Baoyi, who trusted Chen Mu's information and didn't question its source. Soon, Min Baoyi passed this intelligence on to Xu Hongyu at the City Guard Command Headquarters.
In the following days, Chen Mu didn't do much more. He had done all he could; it was impossible for him to personally explore the underground of the Black Crow Sect. By providing a clear direction and entrance, he had significantly reduced the difficulty for those above him.
Xu Hongyu also acted swiftly.
Just three days later.
An order from the Command Headquarters arrived.
The Nine Streets City Guard mobilized three squads, coordinating with two other districts to launch a joint attack on the Black Crow Sect's base.
...
The sky was dark, and a light drizzle fell.
The entire Nine Streets City Guard was on high alert, with nearly two hundred patrol officers gathered. Almost all of the third squad was present, and those who didn't know what was happening whispered to each other, their faces tense and grave.
Inside the main hall, Patrol Commander Min Baoyi, along with five senior patrol officers, including Chen Mu, were all present, standing around a square table with a crude map spread across it.
On the map, the Nine Streets, Second Lane, and Paulownia Lane were roughly sketched, with the locations of the Black Crow Sect's bases marked. These three bases were all situated at the edges of their respective districts, adjacent to each other.
"According to intelligence from the General Office, these three bases of the Black Crow Sect all have hidden underground areas," Min Baoyi said, pointing at the map. "But the underground areas are completely unknown to us. Based on the map, it's possible that these three bases are connected through secret tunnels. Therefore, this operation requires the combined forces of the three districts to ensure no one escapes from any of the bases."
Wang Gong stared at the map and scoffed, "A bunch of rats in the gutter, they sure know how to dig holes."
Despite the sarcasm, everyone, including Min Baoyi, knew that dealing with the Black Crow Sect wouldn't be easy, especially with the unknown underground areas.
The above-ground regions posed almost no threat, and the combined forces of the three districts could easily overwhelm them. The Black Crow Sect had no power to openly resist, as the General Office would send support at any time, and even Xu Hongyu might personally oversee the operation.
The real concern was the underground.
How vast was the underground network? Were the three bases independent or connected? Were there more entrances, and were they filled with traps and mechanisms? These were the serious questions.
If the underground structure was laced with traps like blood fog or poisoned water, even someone as skilled as Min Baoyi, who had achieved Perfect Muscle Mastery, would be at risk. One wrong step, and they could fall victim.
"The above-ground areas are not a problem, but the underground..." Qin Bei frowned. "As far as I know, the Black Crow Sect has existed for at least seven or eight years. If their lair is hidden underground, it could be a very tricky situation after years of preparation."
Zhong Chang nodded in agreement, "That's why our first move is to secure the above-ground bases."
In fact, Xu Hongyu's forces had tried to investigate further after discovering the hidden underground areas of the Black Crow Sect, but all informants who entered the tunnels lost contact.
Given this situation, sending more people to investigate was futile, prompting Xu Hongyu to order an immediate full-scale attack.
With missing personnel, the Gray-Furred Demon Rat, and the unknown underground structure, the threat was already significant. After it was exposed, not only the Outer City but even some high-ranking officials in the Inner City expressed dissatisfaction. As a result, this operation faced no opposition, not even from He Mingxuan, who merely watched with a cold gaze.
"If there are no objections, let's depart," said Min Baoyi.
"We'll discuss the underground issue after we take their above-ground bases," he added calmly.
The senior patrol officers responded in unison and then left the main hall, leading nearly two hundred patrol officers out of the City Guard headquarters towards the Black Crow Sect's base.
(End of Chapter)
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