Western Continent, as night falls over Chang’an City, the ancient city seems to have fallen into slumber, with only sporadic lights flickering in the darkness.
In a secluded corner of the city, a mansion stands majestically, and within the underground cellar of this mansion, the walls are densely packed with dusty bricks, exuding an ancient musty sll. A row of ranked bottles sits on the shelves, and several clumps of cobwebs hang near the ceiling, like faintly writhing white threads.
The dim light on the walls occasionally flickers with the flow of air, twisting the shadows of three people as if pulled by so grotesque force. Sofia, wrapped tightly in a black long cloak, only revealing a pair of gloomy, cold eyes, stands like a specter weathered by ti on one side of the round table, watching her two most loyal henchn, with a gaze full of deep scrutiny and expectation.
One of the henchn is the nominal owner of this mansion. He wears a simple brown robe, seemingly casual, but his eyes flash with a trace of secretive glimr. He has never openly contacted Sofia, burying himself deeply in the bustling city of Chang’an, and is Sofia’s most important planted agent on this land.
In daily life, he has no tasks or actions, appearing as an ordinary businessman, doing so inconspicuous small business, running a restaurant, with no records of tax evasion, as low-key as a drop of water blending into the sea.
The other henchman is a resolute desperado who followed her all the way from the Eastern Continent to the Western Continent, his tall and burly fra like a moving wall, giving an insurmountable oppressive feeling. This seemingly ferocious but infinitely loyal man is currently disguised as a tourist, circling the heavily guarded Forbidden City all day.
However, at this mont, facing Sofia, he can only shake his head helplessly, speaking in a deep, muffled voice: "No good thod, he rarely leaves the Forbidden City."
As the core of the Tang Empire’s power, the security of the Forbidden City has reached its pinnacle, surrounded by nurous guard posts, and the Imperial Guards eyeing fiercely. No one can approach there to stir trouble, and even getting near those red walls and green tiles gave him a distinct unease, as if so force of repulsion and caution is embedded in the air.
Each ti approaching that mysterious and majestic place, his heart feels gripped by invisible hands, and shivers and dread sweep over his body.
His tone carries an unmistakable fear and resignation: "The closer you get to that place, the more you feel that despairing force."
Every ti he recalls being scrutinized by those sharp-eyed Imperial Guards, he feels a discomfort all over, as if any conspiracy and disguise are laid bare under those ruthless eyes.
Frankly, he doesn’t dare to look those people in the eye, even for a mont, because even a brazen murderer like him, who frequently kills, feels as if he’d be seen through in a split second and pinned to the ground.
"That force, how should I put it?" The hulking man scratches his head, seemingly struggling to find the right words to describe that suffocating pressure: "It’s not sharp like a blade, nor heavy like a boulder, but it’s everywhere, like..."
He pauses, brow furrowing, seemingly recalling that eerie sensation: "Like air, but thick, air that makes it hard to breathe."
Having followed Sofia by ship to the Western Continent, he takes a deep breath, as if dispelling the lingering fear in his mind: "The closer you get to the Forbidden City, the clearer that feeling becos, like countless eyes watching from the shadows, rendering you defenseless."
He clenches his fist, his knuckles cracking: "If I were asked to assassinate a noble in Laines City, I certainly wouldn’t be as uneasy, I’d even feel sowhat excited."
After saying this, he shakes his head, continuing with a bitter smile: "But in Chang’an, near the Forbidden City, I feel like a rabbit strayed into a tiger’s den, ready to beco prey at any mont."
The intelligence agency of the Tang Country, Silver Fox, often makes him feel spied upon, and he detests those madn akin to a virulent plague.
So he fears Sofia misinterpreting his words and emphasizes to his boss: "Once those Silver Fox people catch a whiff of anything, they’ll surround us, and we have no chance in Chang’an."
"Honestly, I’m scared." He lowers his head, his tone tinged with reluctance and frustration. After saying this, he raises his head, his gaze carrying a hint of pleading: "Miss Sofia, are we really going through with this plan? It’s far too dangerous, I’m worried..."
He hesitates, not continuing, but his aning is clear.
"It seems we need to reconsider the plan, at least, the approach of infiltrating the Forbidden City appears unfeasible." Sofia understands the big man’s point, expressing her judgnt with so regret, but this statent makes the big man breathe a sigh of relief.
"I believe, if we have any chance, perhaps... Option 3 is our only opportunity to act." The henchman who has been lurking in Chang’an knows well what kind of environnt Chang’an is, and he has been opposed to Sofia’s plan from the start, thus always trying to persuade Sofia to give up.
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