Rain began to fall over Jiu'an Town. Dark clouds gathered, the sky grew dim, and households retreated indoors. The faint rumble of thunder echoed, rolling on and on in muffled roars.
Amid the steady sound of rainfall, a group of three followed the directions they had gathered earlier, quickly turning into an alley.
Rainwater permeated the streets, so even as they walked, muddy splashes dirtied their feet. This alley, resembling any ordinary one, had narrow corridors, uneven pathways, and one wooden doorstep after another. The only difference was that the houses in this alley were all tightly closed, appearing abandoned.
These abandoned houses were thanks to Wan Xifeng. This man, seeking peace for his mother and fearing she might be abducted for ransom, drove the surrounding households away. Those who refused were dealt with personally, and if they still resisted, heads would roll.
