At this ti, it was nearing dusk. Duan Rong first went to the clothing shop on the street to pick out a set of loose-fitting dark blue coarse cloth clothes for himself.
He also bought a dark-colored headscarf and a pair of black satin boots.
These boots were very similar in style to those worn by constables with their uniforms, which Duan Rong had chosen deliberately.
Next, Duan Rong went to the weapon shop to get a new dark blue scabbard for his Cow Tail Saber.
Then, he went to the grocery store and bought a deep red mask typically used during offerings to the gods!
Duan Rong returned to his dormitory and first used ink to paint the deep red mask black, then left it by the bed to dry.
Afterward, Duan Rong put the prepared items into a bundle and left the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, returning to his dilapidated ho.
Once Duan Rong entered the room, he removed his brown short-sleeve garnt and changed into the dark blue coarse cloth outfit!
He then exchanged the saber’s scabbard. The color of the new scabbard matched the clothes so closely that, without careful observation, one couldn’t even tell Duan Rong was carrying a saber.
Duan Rong put on the boots, and tucked the mask and headscarf into the spacious chest pocket.
As twilight descended, Duan Rong seed like a different person as he walked out of his courtyard at the silent alley entrance.
Duan Rong walked leisurely along the street, although the string in his heart was taut, there was no sign of tension in his movents.
Duan Rong arrived on the second floor of a tavern and sat by a window seat.
People were jittery these days, and the tavern’s business was not as good as usual. Even though it was alti, there were only a few people scattered around the second floor.
The waiter of the tavern wasn’t as busy as usual. Seeing Duan Rong seated, he walked over and asked with a smile, "Sir, what would you like to order?"
"A pot of strong tea, a plate of peanuts, a dish of braised beef, and two stead buns," Duan Rong said blandly, his eyes continuously gazing out the window.
"Alright, Sir, please wait a mont!" The waiter turned to go downstairs to prepare, slightly perplexed as he turned away. It’s almost night, and yet this man orders strong tea; it’s as if he doesn’t want to sleep?
Duan Rong chose this tavern because it was right on West Main Street, located between the County Governnt Office and the dungeon.
From this spot, looking down from the window offered a perfect view of the entrance to both the County Office and the dungeon.
Everything Duan Rong ordered wasn’t hot food, and soon the waiter placed the dishes in front of Duan Rong. "Sir, here are your dishes. Enjoy!"
Duan Rong poured himself a bowl of deep black strong tea, suppressing its bitterness as it went down his throat.
His gaze never once left the street below, continuously scanning the entrances of the County Office and dungeon.
The two-day citywide manhunt had ended!
The blanket investigation revealed nothing, and they still didn’t know who broke Xu Ruhu out of prison, not even having a single suspicious target.
Shen Yanliu had already returned to Xianggu County around 3 p.m.
On the way back, he had received the news of Xu Ruhu’s prison breakout.
Upon returning to the County Governnt Office and hearing that the two-day manhunt yielded no results, he flew into a rage, scolding Jie Daohan furiously on the spot!
Fan Yuanhai just stood aside with a faint smile, looking as if it had nothing to do with him. Although he was here for Xu Ruhu’s case, the fact that the escape happened even before he arrived ant the responsibility rested solely on the Xianggu County Office, not him in the slightest.
Shen Yanliu imdiately ordered the clerks at the County Office to gather all key personnel for an urgent overnight eting to discuss the next steps for solving the case!
Though injured, Yang Zhen was also invited as he was directly involved and had personally fought against those involved in the prison break!
Jie Lei, as the main person responsible for guarding Xu Ruhu and one of the leaders of the citywide manhunt, naturally had to attend the eting as well.
The eting continued until nearly midnight.
The Night Watchman had already beat his drum several tis!
The tavern had long since closed!
Duan Rong had no choice but to leave. He hid in the shadows of an alley, continuing to watch the entrances of the County Office and dungeon.
Despite drinking a large pot of strong tea, Duan Rong yawned repeatedly as it approached his usual bedti.
Just then, commotion erupted at the County Office gate, shadows flickered in the lamplight.
Duan Rong stood sideways in the shadows at the alley entrance, staring intently at the County Office gate.
A scattered group of people left separately, so yawning, others cursing!
Duan Rong also spotted Yang Zhen, dragging one leg without even a crutch, heading west...
After two days and nights of a thorough search, the constables and governnt officials hadn’t rested for a mont, exhausted to the point of seeing spots before their eyes!
No matter what the next steps were, they needed sleep before persisting. Furthermore, the hours-long eting concluded without a settled action plan, just Shen Yanliu’s continuous cursing!
Everyone felt the case was strange, and rumors had started to spread...
Hiding in the shadows, Duan Rong kept his eyes fixed on one person in the crowd, not letting his guard down for a mont!
Jie Lei greeted a few people at the County Office gate, patted Yang Zhen on the shoulder, then turned east and walked down an alley.
Hidden in the shadows at the alley entrance, Duan Rong quickly took out the headscarf and put it on, then donned the mask, blending instantly with the night!
He employed the Cloud Serpent Step, tracking in the direction where Jie Lei headed...
It was already midnight, silent and dark all around.
Duan Rong could follow just by the sound of footsteps, glued to the wall in darkness, distinguishing Jie Lei’s silhouette under the dim starlight and moonlight.
Duan Rong watched as Jie Lei entered a courtyard.
The courtyard was located within a small alley, quite secluded!
"The Chief Constable’s nephew, living in such a remote and rundown place. It’s hard to believe you have no secrets," Duan Rong thought to himself.
After giving Jie Lei a few monts to enter, Duan Rong moved like a phantom, silently stopping by a sycamore tree at the corner of the courtyard.
The tree was tall and lush, with a smoothed stone at its base, seemingly a spot for nearby villagers to relax.
With a light touch on the stone, Duan Rong scaled the tree like a wildcat, perching at a branch joint, peering through the foliage at Jie Lei’s courtyard.
The sycamore’s lush leaves began to conceal Duan Rong, already nearly rging with the night.
Through the eyes of his mask, Duan Rong watched the courtyard.
In the dim starlight and moonlight, the courtyard was clean, nearly empty of clutter.
The main house and side rooms, three units made of blue brick and tiles, faced south.
Two additional rooms on the east were likely storerooms and a kitchen.
At this mont, the main room was dark, but the east window shone yellow, shadows cast upon it.
No one spoke, and no other sounds erged.
"Could it be that he lives alone?" Duan Rong mused. "For soone like Yang Zhen or to live alone is understandable. But for soone like you, wouldn’t you hire a servant for chores? Or are you too afraid of secrets leaking out?"
Just then, the shadow on the window shifted, and Jie Lei walked out into the courtyard, staring directly at the sycamore where Duan Rong was hiding!
Duan Rong’s heart leaped, muscles tightening in an instant. "Am I exposed?"
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