Ling Zhiwei nodded. As he turned over, he glanced at the ground by the doorway and noticed a fresh set of footprints leading out of the courtyard.
He mentally noted the interval between patrols and saw a half-collapsed mound of earth in a corner of the courtyard wall.
'If I can get around that, maybe I can avoid the guards.'
Plus, Shanshan could understand what small animals were saying.
A casual question revealed which nearby paths were easy to take and where the patrols were stationed—she learned everything.
When no one was looking, she tossed some bread crumbs out through a crack in the window, attracting a few sparrows.
As they chirped and squabbled over the food, she quietly questioned them.
An old crow landed on the eaves and told her in a raspy voice.
Deep in the woods to the west was a small path leading out of the mountains, but two men with a dog would patrol it in the evening.
