The sun had risen well past midmorning. Though it was a little fierce overhead, the streets and alleys of Xujing were still as lively as ever, with crowds and merchants coming and going in an endless stream. It was a prosperous, bustling scene.
Han Li had been in Xujing for two full days. Today, seeing that nothing was amiss at the Qin residence and that Master Qin didn't seem to have any plans to go out, he figured the man was in no danger and didn't need him standing guard at all times. So he asked for leave and took the chance to wander around the streets by himself.
"Come on over."
"I bet you all haven't heard yet, have you?"
"Let me tell you!"
"The night before last, right here—see this corner? The young heir of Prince Xin's household got beaten up!"
"He was left there all bruised and swollen, right next to that pile of manure buckets. Poor thing..."
As Han Li wandered aimlessly, taking in Xujing's streets and customs, he noticed a loafer who looked like some down-and-out hooligan rambling animatedly to a few people at a foul-smelling street corner.
The people gathering around didn't seem to mind the filth at all. They crowded right in and listened with rapt attention.
"?"
"The heir of Prince Xin?"
After catching a few words as he passed, Han Li glanced over.
He had heard about the young heir of Prince Xin being badly beaten the previous morning from Qin Gui, the gatekeeper at the Qin residence, who claimed to know all the gossip in the capital. Even he hadn't expected the people of Xujing to still be so gossipy on the second day, or for the story to remain such a hot topic.
"Heh!"
"Bored mortals."
Seeing all those