Chapter 455: Empty City

A dark, windy night is the time for killing and arson.

After the group finalized the plan, they didn't hesitate, immediately leaving the city and traveling rapidly, arriving outside the walls of the Dengzhou Garrison before the *Zi* hour ended.

The group leaned against the city wall, changed into night-traveling clothes, tied their bindings, secured their weapons, hid their silver and food behind a rock, and after confirming their preparations with each other, continued to circle along the wall.

After walking for a while, the sound of water came from ahead.

A small river called the "Painting River" entered the city through a water gate, cutting the entire Dengzhou Garrison in half.

The Huanhua Sword Sect youth nodded to the group and leaped into the water.

The others followed one after another.

Li Miao looked at them, but flashed and disappeared.

As for this group of *Jianghu* people, they moved along under the water until they reached the water gate. One *Jianghu* person took out a weapon to grind away at it bit by bit, while the others sank to the bottom, using the turtle-breathing method to reduce consumption. When that person couldn't hold on, others took turns until they finally cut the bars.

Repeating the process, they passed through three water gates. The youth swam from under the water into a water channel one person wide, and after swimming for a while, finally poked his head out slowly from the water surface under a bridge.

After confirming no one was around, he climbed onto the bank cautiously, stuck to the underside of the bridge, and prepared to open his mouth to breathe.

"You're slow enough."

The youth's hair stood on end. He turned abruptly, and only after seeing the face of the person speaking did he let out a long breath.

"Brother Li... you didn't take the waterway?"

Li Miao was leaning against the bridge with his arms crossed, saying.

"Soaking wet in the middle of the night, it's uncomfortable."

The youth nodded.

"Oh, that's true, Brother Li's skills are superb."

Through the sparring just now, the youth was already convinced that Li Miao's *Wu Gong* was definitely not below the supreme level, and he had already regarded him as the backbone of this operation. Even if he were a bit eccentric, the youth wouldn't say anything.

While the two were talking, the others climbed up from under the water.

Using *Qi* to steam the moisture off their bodies, the group hid their figures and, borrowing the cover of surrounding buildings, headed toward the Dengzhou Garrison prison.

A moment later, the group stopped under a high wall.

The youth scanned the group and said in a deep voice.

"Everyone, once we cross this wall, we'll have to risk our lives."

"If you want to leave, do it now."

"As long as you've followed us this far, we'll be friends when we meet in the *Jianghu* again. But if you regret it or turn traitor after getting inside, we'll have to resort to blades... Have you all thought it through?"

No one answered.

The youth nodded, said no more, kicked off the wall, leaped several feet, scanned the area in mid-air, rolled several times after flipping inside, and hid behind a weapon rack.

*Swish, swish, swish—*

The *Jianghu* people flipped in one after another, all hiding their figures upon landing without making a sound.

After everyone was hidden, the youth poked his head out quietly to check the situation. One glance, and his face turned pale instantly.

Right in the middle of the courtyard ahead, Li Miao was standing there brazenly, arms crossed, squinting and scanning around, looking like he was here for sightseeing! The firelight all around reflected on him, making him exceptionally conspicuous!

The youth was anxious, shouting in a low voice.

"Brother Li, Brother Li!"

"Hurry over here!"

While feeling that Li Miao was too arrogant, relying on his profound *Wu Gong* to treat the thousands of soldiers in the Dengzhou Garrison as nothing, he had no choice but to clench his sword hilt, intending to support Li Miao the moment he was discovered.

But he didn't expect Li Miao to look toward him with a smile and say loudly.

"Come out, there's no one here."

"No one?"