Chapter 83 The "Gang Leader" in the Dilapidated Temple South of the City

Chapter 83 The "Gang Leader" in the Dilapidated Temple South of the City

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

An inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage silently drove into the dirtiest and most chaotic slum in the southern part of the capital.

This is the dark side of the bustling capital, a place where sewage flows freely and the stench is overwhelming.

The people living here are mostly beggars, vagrants, and... countless stray dogs.

The carriage stopped in front of a dilapidated earth temple that had long since ceased to be used for worship.

"Madam Wang, we've arrived."

The guard, disguised as a coachman, whispered a reminder, his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, warily surveying his surroundings.

This place is a mixed bag, not a place for a princess of noble birth.

The carriage curtain was lifted.

Tang Li, wearing a white veiled hat that covered her face and a neat coarse cloth dress, jumped off the car.

She wasn't holding a handkerchief or a fan; instead, she was carrying two enormous, steaming red lacquered food boxes.

Before the lid was even lifted, a domineering and rich aroma of meat wafted out through the cracks, seemingly out of place in front of this musty, dilapidated temple, yet irresistibly tempting.

"You guard the door and don't let anyone get close."

Tang Li gave an instruction, then took a deep breath, picked up the food box, and strode into the half-collapsed dilapidated temple.

The temple was dimly lit and filled with cobwebs and broken tiles.

It looked completely deserted.

But Tangli knew that it was crowded here.

She walked to the center of the main hall, placed the food box heavily on the offering table, and reached out to lift the lid.

"call--"

Steam rose.

Two whole steamers, containing sixty large, thin-skinned, generously filled, and juicy meat buns, were thus exposed to the air without reservation.

The next second.

"Shh..."

In the once desolate corner, countless pairs of bright green eyes suddenly lit up.

In the pile of rags, behind the Buddha statue, on the roof beams... one after another, emaciated stray dogs covered in sores slowly surrounded the area, like sharks that had smelled blood.

And on the tattered futon directly opposite the pear tree.

An old yellow dog, missing its left ear, covered in scars, and as large as a wolf, slowly stood up.

Unlike other dogs that would rush forward barking, it stared intently at the uninvited guest with a scrutinizing, wary, and even somewhat shrewd gaze.

This is the "leader of the beggars' gang" here, and also the king of the stray dogs in this area—Big Yellow.

Woof!

Big Yellow bared its teeth, letting out a low, threatening growl, full of the shrewdness of a seasoned veteran:

Where did these two-legged creatures come from?

[Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious! Bringing so many meat buns... are you trying to poison us, then skin us alive and eat us?]

Although the henchmen around him were drooling with envy, they all stopped in their tracks upon hearing their boss's words and barked wildly at Tangli.

Even the crabapple tree isn't afraid.

Through her veil, she looked at the wary old yellow dog and immediately activated her max-level beast language magnetic field, transmitting her thoughts to it:

Don't panic, it's not poisonous.

She reached out and picked up a piping hot meat bun, broke it open in front of the pack of dogs, revealing the plump meatball and flowing broth inside, then took a bite and swallowed it.

Look, it really is meat, a very fragrant pork and scallion filling.

Tangli wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth and tossed the remaining half of the bun to Dahuang's feet:

I'm here to make a deal with you.

Big Yellow lowered its head and sniffed the steamed bun.

It smells so good.

It smelled so good that even its broken tail wanted to wag.

It raised its head, its gaze softening slightly, but it remained wary.

[Woof? A deal? You humans are the most cunning of all! What do you want us to do? Guard the house? Or bite people? I'm a dog with dignity, I won't be a lackey!]

Tang Li smiled, squatted down, and lowered herself to its level:

[We're not asking you to be lackeys, we're asking you to be scouts.]

She pointed to the seemingly calm but actually turbulent capital city outside, her tone becoming serious:

A lot of bad people have come to the city these past few days.

Although they wear the clothes of ordinary people from our Great Sheng Dynasty, speak our official language, and look just like ordinary people... some things cannot be washed away.

Tang Li stared into Da Huang's eyes and stated her search criteria:

I need you to help me find a certain type of person.

First, they had a metallic smell on them, a lingering odor from years of handling weapons.

[Secondly, and most importantly... they had a strong, muttony smell from the northern grasslands.]

The people of Beirong have been eating beef and mutton for many years, and that flavor has long been ingrained in their bones and sweat.

Even if they bathed every day in the capital and even used perfumes to mask the smell, humans might not be able to detect it, but dogs would...

That's a lighthouse in the darkness, impossible to hide!

After hearing this, Da Huang's previously wary gaze suddenly turned strange.

It didn't answer immediately, but lowered its head, gulped down half a bun on the ground, and swallowed it without even chewing.

It smells so good!

After finishing its meal, it licked its lips, glanced at Tang Li with disdain, and let out a utterly contemptuous sneer:

[Pshaw! That's all?]

I thought it was something serious!

Big Yellow plopped down on the ground, scratched the itch on its neck with its hind legs, and while savoring the taste of the meat bun, said casually:

You mean those guys who stay up all night and like to scurry around in the sewers and cellars like big rats?

Tang Li's eyes lit up: "You've seen it before?"

[Nonsense!]

Big Yellow rolled its eyes:

[The stench from those people was unbearable! A mixture of dead sheep and gutter oil! Last night, when I was rummaging through trash cans on West Street, I accidentally stepped on someone's foot. That bastard tried to kick me, but I bit his thigh!]

It proudly shook its head:

Ugh, that meat was sour!

[Right on West Street! In the backyard of Wang Ermazi's tofu shop! There's a cellar there, and every night a lot of these smelly people crawl in and out!]

[And at Old Li's house, the night watchman, there are many bloodstained knives hidden under the bed!]

Tang Li's heart began to pound.

West Street Tofu Shop!

Old Li, the night watchman!

The Black Armor Guards had searched these places countless times, but since they were all long-time residents, nobody paid any attention.

Who would have thought that the darkest place under the lamp was actually the spy's stronghold!

"marvelous!"

Tangli excitedly pushed both large food boxes of steamed buns in front of Dahuang:

"These are all yours! And there's more if you need more!"

"Boss, please have the brothers spread out! Make a note of anyone who smells this scent!"

Looking at the pile of meat buns, Da Huang finally let go of all his reserve.

[Woof! Brothers! Dinner's ready!]

[Time to work! Drag out those stinking, sheep-smelling two-legged beasts!]

[For the meat buns! Charge!]

In an instant, the dogs in the dilapidated temple erupted in chaos.

Tang Li stood up, looked at the group of "informants" wolfing down their food, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

Pei Yunjing, you don't need to worry anymore.

What your Black Armor Guards can't see, my Dog Gang... can see clearly!