The roosters crowed thrice, and the night fog dissipated.
The horizon barely lit with a faint glow, and the heavy footsteps echoed on the long, stone-paved street of Taian City.
Li Yan led at the front, dressed in plain clothes cloaked in the chill wind, pressing his hand on the knife handle as he walked forward.
Behind him were Lin Yaosong, Zhao Bingzhong, and Zhou Xian, all tied up with Five Flowers binding.
The three were wealthy and influential individuals behind the scenes yesterday, but now their faces were ashen, mouths stuffed with cotton, only able to utter muffled sounds. They staggered forward, dragged by Sha Lifei, Fatty Lin, and others with tightly secured cowhide ropes.
Even more heart-wrenching was the scene within the group.
Ninety rescued boys and girls, the oldest just over ten, the youngest only five or six, resembling frightened little lambs, wearing tattered thin clothes, huddled in the middle of the group, carefully guarded by Kong Shangzhao and Lv San.
