A Bustling Capital

The Imperial Capital, lively in the past, became even livelier than usual today. Early in the morning, when people got up, they discovered strange sheets of paper appearing beside them.

Some had been slipped through the cracks of their doors, while others appeared on street stalls. Some people saw such things when they went to eat at inns in the morning. Written on the papers were things no one usually dared to look at, much less discuss. At first, those who saw them remained as silent as cicadas in winter.

But later, when they realized that more and more people had seen them, things gradually began to change. People tended to follow the crowd. No matter what it was, once enough people joined in, everyone became less afraid.

"Hey, Old Li, still taking it easy? Do you know what happened? There's huge news today—people from many great families have been put under bounty." On the road, one old man called out to another. The two appeared to be men of no ordinary status.

Old Li turned around with a smile on his face. "Haha, so it's Old Zhang. I know about it too. Isn't it just some people who were previously put under assassination bounties? It's nothing; it has nothing to do with me anyway. But just who did the Underground Mercenary Guild offend to be targeted like this? They must have quite the headache on their hands now."

Hearing this, Old Zhang's face filled with disdain. "Old Li, that's not right. Who says it has nothing to do with you? Look, isn't this a list of deceased members of your Li Family?" Old Zhang suddenly pulled out a sheet of paper and showed it to him.

Old Li's expression changed on the spot. "Where did you get that?" His