Under Li Tao's watchful eye, Chen Tang was roaming aimlessly around the streets, looking here and there, making a big circle in the county town, seeming quite leisurely.
After wandering for half a day, perhaps feeling hungry, Chen Tang ducked into a nearby restaurant.
Li Tao didn't follow him inside.
After all, he was a Protector of the Evil Wolf Gang, and not many didn't recognize him in Changze County.
If he walked into the restaurant, his identity would certainly be exposed, which could draw Chen Tang's attention and make him cautious.
Li Tao stayed in a corner outside, observing Chen Tang inside the restaurant.
He saw Chen Tang order a pot of wine, a few dishes to go with it, and a fragrant roast chicken, then started eating and drinking.
Li Tao waited for half the day, and Chen Tang still hadn't finished eating.
He drank one pot of wine and then ordered another, eating slowly.
Li Tao was getting hungry just watching him.
Even so, he didn't leave, worried that in the blink of an eye, he might lose him again.
A little stomach hunger was nothing.
Once he dealt with this person, he planned to find a brothel for enjoyment tonight—pretty women, fine delicacies, what wouldn't be available.
In the blink of an eye, an entire hour had passed like this.
Night had deepened.
Chen Tang was still inside, leaning against a warm stove, sipping wine, nibbling at dishes, shaking his head, bobbing about, quite at ease and very merry.
Outside, Li Tao was shivering in the cold wind, with a hungry stomach and an ashen face, staring venomously at the figure inside the restaurant, wishing he could rush in now and chop him down with one stroke!
"You're inside feasting, while I'm out here drinking the northwest wind!"
Li Tao cursed inwardly, stamping his feet in circles to warm up, rubbing his frostbitten hands, and blowing on his palms.
He had waited so long, he couldn't give up now.
Not far behind Li Tao, two figures stood in the shadows.
The two had also been standing in the cold wind for an hour.
However, as both practices Inner Strength, they didn't feel too cold.
But after watching Chen Tang eat in the restaurant for an hour, both were hungry and constantly swallowing their saliva.
No matter how skilled in martial arts, you can't withstand hunger.
"Look at him, carefree, eating and drinking like that, not a care in the world," the fat old man said enviously, full of resentment, growing angrier the more he thought about it.
He had a gluttonous nature, otherwise, he wouldn't have such a physique.
Now, watching others wolf down food while he had an empty stomach was the greatest torture of his life.
And so, the three continued their bitter wait outside for another half an hour.
The restaurant was long empty, with only Chen Tang left, who was on his third pot of wine, appearing a bit drunk and somewhat inebriated.
The three outside were growing weary.
Luckily, the restaurant's owner and staff couldn't endure much longer either.
"Honored guest, our humble establishment has passed the closing time, you see…"
The restaurant owner approached, bowing and smiling apologetically.
"Closed?"
Chen Tang squinting his sleepy, drunken eyes, stood up swaying, and said, "Alright then, check please!"
At hearing those words, the three in the cold wind breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief.
Thank the owner, thank the closing time.
Chen Tang settled the bill, took a few steps, then turned back to say, "Boss, pack me two more pots of good wine to take away!"
"Certainly!"
The waiter quickly brought over two pots of wine.
Chen Tang searched in his pocket for a long time, and only managed to come up with a few coins.
"Honored guest, it's not enough to cover the wine money."
The waiter said with a smile.
Chen Tang seemed rather disappointed, mumbling curses and said, "Then change it to a few buns, and wrap up the roasted chicken for me."
The previously ordered half roast chicken wasn't much touched, with more than half left.
The waiter quickly wrapped the chicken and buns in greasy paper.
Chen Tang took them, stuffed them into his arms, and staggered out of the restaurant.
By this time, it was nearly the third watch, and there weren't many pedestrians left on the streets.
Chen Tang arrived at the entrance of an alley, stopped, then turned into a side alley.
Li Tao quickly followed in, arriving at the alley entrance, taking a glance inside.
Chen Tang was relieving himself.
It was a perfect opportunity!
The alley was remote and dark, just right for action!
Li Tao was about to act when he saw Chen Tang fasten his belt, look around suspiciously, and sneak towards a courtyard in the alley.
"What is he going to do?"
Li Tao was curious, not rushing to take action.
In his mind, Chen Tang was already a dead man.
He saw Chen Tang pull out a thin wooden chip, cautiously inserting it into the gate gap of that courtyard, seemingly trying to move the latch behind the gate.
But after trying for a while, there was no movement.
Chen Tang seemed a bit dejected, moving to the sidewall, attempting to climb over.
The wall looked about six feet high, and Li Tao estimated that with his skills, a full leap would be enough to reach the top of the wall.
But Chen Tang was extremely awkward, fumbling for a long time, panting heavily before finally climbing into the courtyard.
What is this person sneaking around attempting to do?
Li Tao was even more puzzled, silently following and observing over the wall.
Chen Tang tiptoed to the door.
Listening for a moment, he slipped inside.
Li Tao felt a realization dawn upon remembering the scene in the restaurant.
So that's it.
This young man ran out of money earlier and wanted to take advantage of the night to steal a few silver taels from this house!
He's young, but quite bold.
Presumably, those drinks made him daring.
Li Tao's eyes flickered, and he devised a plan.
Now he could rush in and kill the family and Chen Tang.
To outsiders, it would appear that Chen Tang broke in to steal, was caught, panicked, and went on a rampage, and the owner fought back desperately, resulting in both being mortally wounded.
Nobody would ever think of linking Chen Tang's death to the Evil Wolf Gang!
This move was called 'Deceiving the Sky, Using Another's Blade'!
Thinking of this, Li Tao climbed over the wall, drew a dagger from his waist, and quietly moved towards the door.
On the roof of this house, two figures lay flatly, seemingly merging with the night, leaving no trace.
The scene was fully visible to the two.
"I see it!"
The fat old man whispered, "What a trick of 'Deceiving the Sky, Using Another's Blade'!"
Qingmu also guessed Chen Tang's intent, smiling with her lips, "He finally arrived."
"This little fellow is deep, he even tricked me!"
The fat old man said, "His move not only rescues the man, deals with the Evil Wolf Gang, but also cleanly gets himself out of it. It's killing multiple birds with one stone."
Qingmu seemed to think of something, and suddenly chuckled, "Earlier in the restaurant, he stayed so long, partly to wait for the third watch when it's easier to act. On the other hand, he likely discovered the Evil Wolf Gang's tail, intentionally leaving him outside."
"My brother is really quite wily."
The fat old man gently lifted a tile, sweeping his gaze over the shadow hiding in the corner inside the house.
At that moment, Li Tao also entered the room.
The room was silent, the air seemed to solidify, filled with a murderous atmosphere!
Slaughter was on the brink of erupting!