Chapter 94 The Thousand-Faced Lone Wolf
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the capital city was transformed into a dazzling, sleepless city.
"The fiery trees and silver flowers merge, the star bridge and iron locks open."
Countless large red lanterns were hung high, reflecting on the surface of the moat as if it were burning gold.
The area around Changsheng Bridge was packed with people, with 100,000 people flocking to the streets just to catch a glimpse of the upcoming imperial procession... no, the grand spectacle of the imperial procession.
However, beneath this jubilant atmosphere, a chilling undercurrent is quietly brewing.
...
[At dusk, in a dark alley in the western part of the city.]
It's only two streets away from Changsheng Bridge, and the sounds of bustling activity can be faintly heard, but they can't penetrate this desolate corner.
"Crunch."
A sewer manhole cover was silently pushed open.
A mud-covered hand reached out, followed by a hunched, dark figure—a huge rat—that quietly rolled onto the ground.
It was none other than Lone Wolf, the leader of the Northern Rong spies who had infiltrated the capital.
He reeked of the stench of the sewers, and his eyes were sinister and ghostly.
He didn't rush to leave, but hid in the shadows, his eyes fixed on an old man who happened to be passing by, carrying a bundle of straw and selling candied hawthorns.
"Uncle, I'd like to buy a candied hawthorn skewer."
The lone wolf spoke in a hoarse voice.
The old man stopped abruptly, caught off guard: "Alright! Sir, what would you like..."
Before he could finish speaking...
A flash of cold light.
The old man's throat had been cut, and he collapsed limply without even letting out a scream.
Fifteen minutes later.
The old man selling candied hawthorns picked up his straw bundle again and walked out of the dark alley.
He was hunched over, his face was full of wrinkles, and he even imitated the slight limp of his left foot when he walked perfectly.
Aside from those eyes hidden in his murky depths, occasionally flashing with a sharp glint, no one could tell that this was a top-tier assassin who had just killed someone.
The lone wolf blended into the crowd, feeling the enthusiastic atmosphere around him, and a cruel sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.
But that's not enough.
To be absolutely certain, he went into the backyard of an inn half an hour later.
When he reappeared, he had transformed into a down-on-his-luck scholar with a sallow complexion, holding a child in his arms (who was actually a prop).
This is his signature skill – the Thousand-Faced Bone-Shrinking Technique.
He can become an old man, a woman, or even a cripple.
In this crowded lantern festival, he was like a drop of water merging into the ocean, leaving no trace.
Lone Wolf stood at the head of the Bridge of Immortality, looking at the black-armored guards in the distance who were on high alert, with sentries every three or five steps, his eyes full of mockery.
“Pei Yunjing, you can defend against swords and assassins.”
"But can you defend against all the people in this city?"
He touched the cold tinderbox in his arms, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Even if you have the sharpest eyes, you won't be able to find me among these 100,000 people.
Tonight is your death day.
...
Meanwhile, in a teahouse in a tall building opposite Changsheng Bridge.
The private room on the third floor had its windows wide open.
Tang Li was sitting by the window, holding a cup of hot tea, looking down at the densely packed crowd that resembled an anthill.
Her face was somewhat pale, but her eyes were unusually sharp.
"Your Highness, there are too many people."
The guard standing behind her whispered, "Finding someone like this is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"Of course you can't find it by looking with your eyes."
Tang Li put down her teacup and took out a brocade pouch from her sleeve.
She opened the brocade pouch and took out a handful of slightly reddish rice grains.
That wasn't ordinary rice; it was a special bait that she had soaked in "soul-chasing incense" in the Prince's mansion.
This spice cannot be smelled by humans.
But in previous encounters, she had already used rats and stray dogs to transfer this extremely faint, special scent onto the spy leader.
No matter how he takes a bath, changes his clothes, or even changes his skin.
That flavor, so deeply ingrained, won't dissipate anytime soon!
"Go."
Tang Li raised her hand and scattered the handful of red rice into the night sky outside the window.
Then, she blew a very penetrating whistle.
"call out--!"
In the night sky, the dark shadow that had been hovering over the eaves suddenly moved.
That was the Sparrow Squadron, the "Number One Air Force in Beijing," which had already assembled.
The leader was none other than the chubby, round sparrow king.
It led hundreds of its minions, like a black bomber squadron, as it roared over the Changsheng Bridge.
[Chirp! Dinner's ready! It's fragrant rice!]
The sparrows circled excitedly in the air.
Tangli used her animal language to transmit the specific scent of "Soul-Chasing Incense" to each sparrow, as if issuing a quest:
Listen up, my men!
Tonight, we're not looking for bugs or rice!
Find that smell for me!
Whether he becomes an old man, a scholar, or even a young woman! As long as he smells like a dead rat...
【Keep a close eye on him!】
The Sparrow King circled in the air, its sharp bird eyes scanning the dense crowd below.
For humans, finding a face among 100,000 people is as difficult as climbing to heaven.
But for birds, they don't need to look at faces.
They smell the aroma.
Soon, in an inconspicuous corner, the Mahjong King smelled an extremely subtle yet unique odor.
That smell was a mixture of the stench of sewers, the stench of blood, and a faint, lingering fragrance.
[Chirp! Found it!]
The Sparrow King let out an excited shriek, flapped its wings, and pointed at the seemingly insignificant "down-on-his-luck scholar" in the crowd:
There he is! The scholar holding the fake doll!
He changed his skin! But the stench remains the same! It's him!
In the teahouse, Tang Li's lips curled into a cold smile.
Found it.
No matter how many faces you have, you can't escape this inescapable net.
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