In mid-September, in a tavern near the center of Suyang City, several Demon Hunters who looked like rogue cultivators sat chatting, pleasantly tipsy.
The cries of people playing Tile Treasure drifted over from nearby, mingling with the calls of street vendors. The sounds of everyday city life filled their ears.
After discussing the demons and nature spirits in the surrounding regions, along with various ways to strike it rich, someone asked about the latest happenings in the city.
For people who scraped a living in the wilds, information was money. Even local curiosities and amusing tales might conceal opportunities for profit.
Naturally, the person they asked was the waiter serving them.
With nothing else demanding his attention, the waiter slung his towel over his shoulder and sat down beside them to spin his tales.
"Gentlemen, if you want to hear the latest news in the city, you've asked the right person. Around here, everyone calls me the All-Knowing Informant. How many lovers the widow on West Street has taken up with lately, what high-grade goods the trading houses in the eastern market have brought in-I know it all."
One customer laughed and swore. "Who the hell asked you about that chicken-feather-and-garlic-skin nonsense?"
Another customer said, "Not necessarily. Some little things have hidden angles to them. But wasting time on useless bullshit really is pointless. Pick out some stories about the aristocratic clans, the powerful, and the rich."
The waiter slapped his forehead. "Oh, what a coincidence! Just yesterday, I heard something extraordinary. Our city lord's wife here in Suyang City... her appearance really has been transformed!"
One customer who was drinking nearly spat out his wine. "What? You mean that Madam Liu who was as ugly as a yaksha? Even she could be fixed?"
The waiter chuckled. "You know Madam