Not long afterward, another group of patrolling guards entered the dark alley and dragged several women away.
The women carried empty bamboo baskets and waterskins as they left. Several hours later, they returned with moldy steamed cakes inside the baskets.
Their clothes were disheveled, and bruises covered their faces and bodies.
Just by looking at the way they walked, everyone understood exactly what they had gone through. Yet no one said a single word.
Fu Chen'an and his team waited until the sky was completely dark before sneaking toward the southern area of the city. Following the same route as before, they eventually arrived at the cliff.
Tonight, there was faint moonlight.
To avoid being discovered by the patrolling guards, they hid beneath the city wall, staying within the blind spot of the watchtower guards above.
