Liáng Wei slipped quietly through the gates of Bing Ya fortress, her boots careful on the cold stone. Soldiers moved along the walls, their armor scratched and worn, eyes sharp and suspicious. A few looked at her for a moment, then looked away, trained to ignore what they didn't recognize. She felt their stares like tiny pricks along her back and tightened her hand around the sword.
The courtyard stretched out before her. The stones were cracked and uneven, and tall walls threw long shadows across the ground. Torches flickered, throwing soft, orange light that made the shadows move like they were alive. She walked along the edges, where a few thin trees leaned over the rough earth, their roots twisting over the stones. From here, she could see everything.
Her muscles ached, but she moved deliberately. Each step was deliberate, each pause thought through . The fortress was alive around her. Soldiers drilled, servants carried supplies, and banners swayed in the dim light. She noticed the details others might miss. The pattern of guard rotations, the way commanders moved through their men, the quiet rules hidden in gestures and glances.
At the far side of the courtyard, a figure paused. Zhou Yuliang. His presence was commanding even in silence. Soldiers straightened as if they had just remembered to stand tall, and whispers faded into silence. He moved with a calm authority, the kind of presence that made people notice him before he did anything at all.
Liang Wei froze, pressing herself into the shadows. She did not step back. She did not raise her sword. Still, every instinct she had learned shouted caution. This was a man who could handle both treasures and threats with the same careful, steady hands.
Wei Yunfeng watched from the shadows above, careful to stay unseen. He followed her every move, noting the way she shifted, the way her eyes took in everything. He remained silent, letting her actions speak.
Zhou Yuliang stepped closer, moving along the line of soldiers with a casual command. He stopped near her, not touching her, not speaking, but his gaze was sharp and steady.
Liáng Wei's fingers twitched against her sword. She held her breath and watched him closely, noticing the careful way he stood, the sharpness in his eyes, and the calm that hinted at experience and danger. He was not here by accident. He had been waiting, or at least ready, for someone like her.
A guard passed behind her, but she did not flinch. She did not break her stance. Every sense sharpened, every nerve alert, as though the fortress itself was watching.
Zhou Yuliang's gaze lingered for a little longer before he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the fortress hall. Liang Wei exhaled slowly, letting a small measure of tension leave her body, though the feeling of being watched did not leave.
Wei Yunfeng came down quietly from his perch and stayed hidden behind a column. He nodded slightly to himself. She was careful, aware of everything around her, and quick to read the fortress as she moved. This was not someone who could be caught off guard.