The electric van stopped in the stone alley of Lotus-Prince Street.
It was two in the morning. Freezing winter wind rustled the bare willow branches over grey courtyard walls.
Master Yan and five squads from the Special Ninth Bureau had sealed the auction garage. Grand Elder He and twelve bruised elders were locked in iron cells.
Tie Niu jumped down from the running board, his boots hitting the stones.
“Boss Lin, all fifty herb crates are in the inner yard,” Tie Niu said, wiping his brow. “The bronze cauldrons are under the pavilion roof. Not a single leaf was crushed.”
“Good work,” Lin Mo said, stepping out.
Beside him, Chu Lingxiao stepped down silently. Her sword was wrapped in black cloth across her back.
Little Guo’er hopped out behind them, holding Grandma Chen’s wrinkled hand. In her small hands, the Millennium Nine-Leaf Spirit Lotus rested.
