Part 1: The Raven's Standard Procedure
The moment Princess Mont Angelina and Jade plunged into the trap, a swift figure vanished instantly before the Black Sheep Lord and everyone present.
Mont Angelina's maid, Xiaochan, immediately sensed the shift in the situation. She adopted the Ravens' standard procedure: conceal herself and wait for the situation to develop.
After all, Xiaochan was one of the Ravens, albeit one operating openly.
Xiaochan's figure swiftly headed outside to rendezvous with the standby Ravens. The Ravens immediately set off at top speed to deliver the message back to the Raven Lord's residence for Mont Mentiel to make a judgment.
Xiaochan calculated that even if the Ravens ran at their fastest, the Prime Lake City gates were already closed. They would have to detour and sneak in via the northern city docks. Mont Mentiel would receive the alert about Mont Angelina's danger closest to midnight, and reinforcements could not possibly arrive until dawn at the earliest.
So, after parting with the Ravens, Xiaochan turned and headed toward another man waiting outdoors.
"Lord Li, something is wrong!"
Xiaochan was able to locate Li Junce so quickly because his position was constantly monitored by the Ravens. Thus, Xiaochan could find Li Junce rapidly through the network.
Part 2: Swift Entry and Interrogation
The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the Black Sheep villa in an ominous silence. However, the silence did not last long.
Just as the villa's heavy main gates were about to fully close, sealing off the inside from the outside, a carefully orchestrated disturbance abruptly erupted!
A startled horse, with a fiercely burning torch tied to its tail, charged in like a demon from hell, whinnying as it knocked aside the guards attempting to block it, wildly rushing into the courtyard. Sparks flew, and hooves thundered. Chaos instantly became the best curtain.
Seizing this opportunity, a figure as agile as a cheetah, Li Junce, silently leaped from the shadows. He used a single hand to vault over the cold stone wall and stealthily slipped into the villa grounds. He knew this journey would be anything but smooth, and reality immediately confirmed his prediction.
Just as he slipped past a clump of wall-side bushes, a sharp shout cut through the air:
"Who goes there?!"
Immediately followed by the arrival of a blade!
Li Junce reacted with lightning speed: he turned, twisted his wrist, and his long sword precisely parried the incoming weapon.
"CLANG!" The jarring clash of metal sent out scattered sparks.
Before the opponent could react, his second sword strike shot out like a venomous snake, its speed doubling. It not only knocked away the enemy's sword but also sent it flying high into the dark night sky. Before the soldier could recover from his shock, Li Junce's sword hilt heavily struck his chest, sending him silently slumping to the ground.
Li Junce quickly dragged the unconscious soldier into the shadow of the bushes. He had considered a disguise, but the size difference was too great, and every second counted now. He was a streak of wind, sweeping across the shadowy courtyard. The end of the month meant no moon, giving him natural camouflage.
From the shadow of a huge elm tree, a second guard materialized like a ghost, his heavy military mace flying straight toward Li Junce with a whistling sound. Li Junce swayed slightly, avoiding the fatal blow by a hair's breadth, and instantly closed the distance, cutting into the opponent's space! A flash of sword light, and the mace's wooden handle snapped. Before the opponent could change his posture, Li Junce's sword blade slapped the side of his neck, and the burly guard crashed to the ground.
Li Junce's sword point immediately pressed against the man's throat, his voice cold as ice:
"Where are the Princess and the child?"
"I… I don't know!"
Li Junce wasted no words, twisting his wrist slightly. The sword edge, like a pen, drew a thin line of blood across the soldier's throat, perfectly slicing the surface skin without damaging the artery or muscle.
"I'll ask one last time. Otherwise, the next cut will be three inches deep."
The terror of death instantly seized the soldier. His eyes rolled, and he struggled to breathe, finally using a trembling finger to point at the left of the two closely standing spires nearby.
Li Junce nodded slightly, then precisely kicked the man's temple with his heel, knocking him out completely. Without hesitation, he immediately began to sneak toward the target spire. Along the way, he encountered two more patrols, both quickly knocked unconscious with his masterful skill, their lives spared.
The thick door at the base of the spire was tightly shut, and the windows were fortified with sturdy iron bars. Li Junce sheathed his sword. Relying on his strong arms, supple muscles, and excellent balance, he climbed the rough tower wall like a gecko, easily reaching a half-open louvered iron window on the second floor and silently sliding into the tower.
Almost simultaneously with his infiltration, a commotion and the glow of torches rose from below—the knocked-out soldier had finally been discovered.
Time was even more pressing! Li Junce moved rapidly up the stone-cut corridor. If hostages were truly being held, the top floor was undoubtedly the most likely location.