The air hung heavy with anticipation, thick enough to chew on. The Ouyang elder, his theatrical monologue complete, raised the vial of purple liquid high. This was it – the trigger, the moment their meticulously crafted plan would spring into action.
Suddenly, a loud CRACK shattered the tense silence. A shimmering talisman, launched by Wang Li, exploded high above the plaza, showering the crowd with a burst of multicolored light. It was their prearranged signal, a silent message to the unsuspecting commanders they'd recruited in recent weeks.
"What in the flaming cauldrons?" Ouyang Ke bellowed, his voice a caricature of outrage. The crowd, confused and startled, began to murmur amongst themselves.
