Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

Li Ping stood at the widest point of the roof ridge, letting the cold wind blowing in from outside the city brush against the hem of his clothes, his fingertips gently stroking the rough peanut shell.

The roof tiles of the Jiangning Guild Hall still retain the warmth of the sun during the day.

The streets beneath my feet were brightly lit, red lanterns hung high in front of the taverns, someone carried a money box out of the back door of the gambling den, and the night watchman struck his clapper, the sound echoing into the depths of the alley.

Just two weeks ago, people were still collecting money in these places.

The Green Wolf Gang guarded the docks, the Iron Fist Gang occupied the gambling dens, and Zhao Kun's men would grab any shop they saw.

Now all those signs have been changed. The guild hall's staff carry account books and go from street to street every day. If someone needs to borrow manpower, or if there's trouble in a certain alley, they first come to the guild hall to deliver a message.

Qian Duo came running up in the afternoon to share the good news, saying that twenty-seven shops in the south of the city had voluntarily given them money as a gift, and asked if they wanted to hold a celebratory banquet.

Li Ping did not agree.

Peanut shells slipped from between my fingers and landed in the ditch.

There was a soft sound behind me

Su Wan climbed over the wall, and as she landed, the sole of her shoe landed on a piece of loose tile.

She gripped her sword, her figure standing firm against the wind, and first glanced at Li Ping's waist.

"Your hands are shaking?"

Li Ping touched the short blade at his waist: "In case you sleepwalk, if your left-hand sword trembles even slightly, my neck won't be strong enough."

"You can't pull out the knife."

"Just to bolster your courage, in case one day you find me too talkative and decide to kill me with a sword?"

Su Wan walked to his side and looked down for a while.

The two lamps at the entrance of the guild hall burned steadily. The guards on night duty leaned against a pillar and talked. Across the street, an old man selling wontons had just packed up his stall, his wooden cart creaking as he pushed it.

"Don't you need to sleep during the Foundation Establishment stage? Coming to the roof to enjoy the cold wind."

Li Ping patted the tile next to him.

"Sword Cold"

Su Wan sat down beside him.

"As soon as the rules were established in the south of the city, there were always a few fools who wanted to test their skills."

Su Wan didn't respond to that, but instead stared at Cheng Nan: "Cheng Nan, now surnamed Li."

Li Ping tossed another peanut into his mouth.

With a crunch, the crispy shell crackled against my teeth, and the salty, astringent taste of coarse salt and the smoky aroma of roasted meat instantly spread across my tongue.

"When we left Jiangning, we had to carefully calculate our travel expenses to the capital. Once we arrived in the capital, we would first take over a street and then find our way to the docks. Now, the entire southern part of the city follows the rules of the guild hall."

Su Wan turned her head to the side: "We've taken over the territory, but you're not happy."

Li Ping pointed into the distance: "The larger the number in the ledger, the more people will be watching it. But the south of the city only occupies a corner of the capital. Those hiding behind it should eventually show themselves."

Su Wan looked in the direction he was pointing.

Outside the south side of the city, lights stretched as far as the eye could see.

Beyond the low-lying tiled houses, in the distance rises a towering vermilion gate and layered animal-shaped roof ridges, resembling silent behemoths in the night.

Occasionally, the wheels of an iron-clad vehicle would roll over the bluestone slabs, the dull rumble echoing through several streets, cold and devoid of any warmth or human touch.

"Is there some movement at Zuixianlou?"

Li Ping pulled the thin piece of paper out of his pocket.

This is coarse hemp paper that Old Cat bought from a general store in the south of the city. It absorbs water very poorly. He had previously hidden it in the sole of his shoe overnight to deliver intelligence, and now the edges are yellowed and frayed from sweat.

The paper had been folded several times, and the edges were frayed.

He lay sprawled on the roof tiles, weighing them down with stones.

The painting depicts streets and alleys throughout the capital, marked with seven or eight circles in ink, and accompanied by crooked, small characters.

The old cat may not know many words, but its drawings are exquisite.

"There are nine gangs that make a living in the underground in the capital."

Li Ping pointed to the map, "The Green Wolf Gang is gone. The Iron Fist Gang retreated to the north of the city. What remains are the Black Water Gang, White Tiger Gang, Golden Knife Gang, Canal Gang, Medicine King Hall, Eagle Claw Sect, and Iron Sword Sect."

Su Wan glanced at it: "Your teeth aren't good, you're prone to chipping your lip."

"The more people, the better. One net can save me the trouble of searching all over the capital."

Li Ping's fingertip hovered over the location of Zuixianlou.

"Old Cat delivered the message this evening: the Blackwater Gang, the White Tiger Hall, the Golden Knife Society, and two other groups whose backgrounds are still unclear—the five gangs met at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant tonight. They sat down at one table, drank only a few cups of wine, but there were already three layers of people stationed at the entrance."

Su Wan asked, "Should we just charge straight in?"

"Who they're targeting, we'll have to wait for Old Cat to bring back the message."

"Damn, it's just a matter of one sword."

"No need. Your left-handed sword is too conspicuous. If you throw Old Cat's face into a crowd, no one will remember it."

Su Wan snorted, "Old fox, can you really trust him?"

"Give him enough money, and set the rules in stone. If he dares to capsize, I'll sink him myself."

A gust of wind swept in from the other side of the eaves, causing the edges of the intelligence map to curl up.

Li Ping pressed down on the paper, gazing in the direction of Zuixianlou.

He left very quickly after arriving in Beijing.

As they approached the south of the city, these people assumed that Li Ping was merely a regional prefect with a strong hand and a willingness to take drastic measures.

Once the various groups have been dealt with, and the guild hall's account books are collected, a few days of peaceful living will suffice, and that will be the end of it.

They haven't figured it out yet.

The Jiangning Guild Hall stood in the south of the city, where business was conducted and information was collected.

That plaque, once hung up, never seemed to be aimed at just one street.

Su Wan suddenly spoke up: "Senior Brother."

"Back in Jiangning, you taught me to leave room for maneuver."

"Should we keep it this time?"

Li Ping folded the blueprint and tucked it back into his pocket.

"Let's see if their necks are harder, or if my old dagger is sharper."

Su Wan lowered her eyelashes

Her right hand unconsciously touched the old wound on her right shoulder, her fingertips paused for a moment, then she switched to her left hand, gently placing it on the ebony hilt of the sword.

After a moment, she loosened her fingers and let her arms hang down at her sides.

The sound of a large ox snoring came from the backyard of the guild hall; it could be heard clearly even through two layers of courtyard walls.

Li Ping glanced down and couldn't help but laugh.

"Those people in the south of the city probably slept quite soundly tonight."

Aren't you going to sleep?

Su Wan did not come down from the roof.

She sat down at the other end of the roof ridge, her sword resting across her lap.

Neither of them spoke again, and the noise on the street gradually subsided.

About half an hour later, a short figure emerged from the alleyway.

The old cat ran fast, and when it reached the wall, it first imitated two night bird calls.

Li Ping poked his head out: "If we go through the back door, and Qian Duo wakes up, he'll be nagging me about the accounts again tomorrow morning."

Li Ping climbed down from the rooftop and landed in the courtyard.

Old Cat had already sneaked into the front hall through the back door, his forehead covered in sweat, and a few sunflower seed shells stuck to the hem of his clothes.

"My lord, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion has closed."

"Focus on the key points"

"The five gangs couldn't reach an agreement. The Blackwater Gang wants to pay for assassins, the White Tiger Hall wants to cut off our supply lines, and the Golden Knife Society says they want a fierce battle. The remaining two just need to listen to what's going on."

Old Cat took a breath. "They also mentioned that they don't need to rush things in the south of the city; someone will stand up for them first."

Li Ping asked, "Who will step forward?"

Old Cat shook his head: "There were guards in the private room, so I couldn't get any closer."

That's enough.

Su Wan jumped off the roof and landed right next to the old cat.

The old cat's neck fur stood on end instantly. He shrank back, quickly moved half a step to the side, and even softened his breathing.

"Who to kill tomorrow morning?"

她问

Li Ping walked to the entrance of the front hall and turned up the light hanging on the beam a little.

"Wash the signboard"

The old cat was stunned: "Sir, no matter how shiny the signboard is, it can't stop someone's knife."

"Send invitations to all the families in the south of the city. A banquet will be held at the guild hall tomorrow night. Those who want to come can sit down and discuss business. Those who don't want to come should not be forced to."

Su Wan understood: "The bait isn't big enough."

"If they want to see it, then let them see it."

Li Ping turned around. The streets outside the door were empty, but carriages were still passing by in the distance.

"Starting tomorrow, the capital city will need to know one thing."

The old cat perked up its ears.

"He came from Jiangning and had no intention of just being a law-abiding prefect."

The cold wind howled in from outside, making the lamp wick flicker violently and casting a twisted, dark shadow on the wall, sometimes long, sometimes short, like a strange hand lurking in the shadows.

Su Wan looked up and said, "It's getting windy."

Li Ping stepped across the threshold, his voice very soft.

"A strong wind is just as good. The wine at Zuixianlou is already warmed up. Let's see who can't hold back and raise the first cup first."