Following Mo Yungao's instructions, Zhang Haixia led an advance party of four warlord soldiers to scout a roadside inn, which served as the primary gateway to Bailejing. Unbeknownst to them, the inn was run by the local bandits of Phoenix Fortress. Spotting the heavily armed soldiers arriving late at night, the proprietor and his son, Xiao'er, quickly hid their guests and prepared for a potential confrontation.