Following his spy wasn't a surprise; sending someone to scout the area and gather intelligence before handling a case was a perfectly normal procedure. So he too spent money in the tavern, drinking tea and listening to music, taking turns watching people.
But as Li Fan sat in the tavern and observed the West Market for a while, he realized something was amiss. He couldn't bother with pretense any longer and threw out several gold coins, starting to inquire about the situation.
He wasn't asking about immortal thieves or assassins, nor about the whereabouts of the Heilian Sect's demon path. He was asking about the population of Changsi City—why had it declined so sharply?
The last time Li Fan visited Changsi City was, cough cough, five or six years ago.
