Embers Ad Infinitum

In the evening, the idle Old Task Force decided to visit Tarnan’s bar.

On the one hand, they wanted to see if they could obtain any information. On the other hand, they didn’t want to eat the canned food, biscuits, and energy bars that they had with them.

As long as there was normal food in the bar, they were willing to pay a premium. After all, the many latest portable computers in the car were practically free. It was equivalent to exchanging for them using a small amount of ammunition.

If they couldn’t even get any food from the bar, they could still choose canned food, biscuits, and energy bars of other flavors. In short, they were tired of eating them.

There were two bars in Tarnan. Their entrances were diagonally opposite each other and were very close to each other.

Shang Jianyao stood between them and looked around before asking Long Yuehong, “Which one?”

Although Long Yuehong had passed by this area a few times, he had never observed it carefully. Upon hearing this, he swept his gaze between the two signboards—Wild Pigeon and Green Grapes. “Let’s go to Green Grapes. It feels pretty fresh.”

“Alright, let’s go to Wild Pigeon then!” said Shang Jianyao as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

“You’re bullying Little Red again!” Jiang Baimian scolded jokingly. Just as Long Yuehong was feeling consoled, she tersely grunted. “I choose Wild Pigeon. This name stirs up my gastric juices.”

The first time they went out for training, apart from catching rabbits, the Old Task Force had also caught birds and roasted them for food.

Upon hearing Jiang Baimian’s words, Long Yuehong immediately recalled his previous experience and salivated. “Alright.”

Just as he said that, he heard Shang Jianyao mutter, “There’s a way when it comes to bullying…”

Before Shang Jianyao could finish speaking, Jiang Baimian placed her left hand on his shoulder and smiled. “Go on in.”

“Alright.” Shang Jianyao readily agreed.

Long Yuehong speechlessly followed behind the team.

Wild Pigeon’s door had two levels. One was open, and the other only existed in the midsection level. It was brownish-yellow and made of pure wood.

After passing through the half-open door, the scene inside reflected in Jiang Baimian’s eyes.

In the middle was the dance floor. Around it were round tables and chairs. At this moment, there was no music playing. Many people were sitting together, playing cards, dice, and mahjong.

After crossing the dance floor and walking to the bar counter, they saw billiards tables, ping pong tables, and other entertainment facilities on both sides.

As a bar, apart from not having much alcohol, Wild Pigeon was pretty well equipped with everything else.

Jiang Baimian looked around and smiled. “It’s really like what Little White said. This is more like the Rec Center.”

Shang Jianyao then hummed a song. “You’re my…”

“Stop!” Jiang Baimian stopped him. “Let’s first ask if the Ruin Hunter team has returned.”

She was referring to the team that had entered the mountains to investigate the Superior Heartless.

Without waiting for Jiang Baimian’s instructions, Shang Jianyao walked straight to a table of people playing cards. He then patted a young man—who had shaved both his sideburns—and inquired like he were a good old pal. “How’s it going? Did you win?”

The young man turned his head and realized that it was an unfamiliar face. However, the other party appeared very enthusiastic as if they were very familiar with each other. He couldn’t figure out if he had met him before.

As the question wasn’t sensitive, he casually replied, “Don’t mention it. I’ve almost lost everything from my previous discovery.”

“All the best.” Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and twitched his body, performing a scalding dance. “May the divine aura bathe you.”

Tarnan had many Furnace Church believers, so the card players weren’t surprised.

Shang Jianyao casually asked, “Have the hunters who entered the mountain returned?”

“Nope.” The young man shook his head. “I guess something bad happened to them.”

Shang Jianyao—who had obtained an answer—nodded. He watched the card game for another minute or two before slowly walking back to Jiang Baimian and the others.

At this moment, one of the gamblers at the table asked the young man—who had been patted on the shoulder by Shang Jianyao, “Shava, who is he? Why don’t I know him?”

The young man named Shava thought for a few seconds and said, “I don’t know him either…”

“Aren’t you very familiar with him?” The other gamblers were surprised.

The two of them were like sworn brothers that had already made the oath of brotherhood.

Shava was confused and suspected his memory again. However, they quickly threw this matter to the back of their minds in the face of their card game.

As they crossed the dance floor and walked to the bar counter, Jiang Baimian swept her gaze around and suddenly asked Long Yuehong, “Do those people know you? Why do they look like they want to flay you?”

Long Yuehong looked over according to Jiang Baimian’s indications and realized that three men at a table were staring at him with resentment and hatred.

“Uh, didn’t I mention it? I beat up a few locals who tried to scam me.” This was the result of Long Yuehong’s first solo operation, so it was still fresh in his mind.

“They look quite pissed.” Shang Jianyao made a sarcastic remark; he looked like he was egging Long Yuehong on to fight again.

“It’s normal for them to be pissed. After all, they aren’t coming over to provoke me.” Long Yuehong had always been a nice guy.

Shang Jianyao immediately found a reason. “They looked at you and glared at you!”

As the two of them chatted, the three people—who had been beaten—originally thought that there were many neighbors here and many mahjong friends. They wondered if they should take the opportunity to get back at Long Yuehong. But after seeing Shang Jianyao’s height, looks, and his female companion, they gave up on the idea.

It was obvious that they weren’t people to be trifled with.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian and the others had already walked to the bar counter and saw the bartender in a daze.

There was no alcohol, nor was there anyone drinking. This meant that he didn’t have to do much.

“Where’s your boss?” Jiang Baimian knocked on the bar counter.

The bartender looked up at her, and his expression instantly changed. “I am. Think about it; who would hire an assistant who has nothing to do?”

The bartender was in his thirties and wore a thick, navy-blue cotton coat. His hair was combed in a 7-3 split, and there were signs of the elements on his face.

“How should I address you?” Shang Jianyao asked politely on Jiang Baimian’s behalf.

“Just call me Ah Yi, Cai Yi,” said the bar owner with a smile. “How may I help you?”

“Is there any normal food?” Jiang Baimian didn’t hide her needs.

Cai Yi shook his head. “I hired two helpers to farm—one to raise chickens and one to raise pigs. It barely suffices for a large family. How can there be excess?”

At this point, he smiled. “Are you Ruin Hunters? I have regular combat competitions here. Whoever wins the championship will receive an additional sumptuous dinner apart from the reward they deserve. It’s a normal meal.”

Shang Jianyao shook his head before Jiang Baimian could. “This is too troublesome. I have a simpler solution.”

“What solution?” Cai Yi was a little curious.

Shang Jianyao smiled brightly and said, “Kidnap you and get your family to redeem you with a bag of flour, a bag of rice, a pig, four chickens, and a basket of cabbage.”

Cai Yi instinctively touched his waist and smiled. “There are two problems with this idea. First, can you defeat the robot guards? Second, can you capture me?”

He took the opportunity to brag. “Back in my day, I was also an Intermediate Hunter. If not for the fact that I married a local lady and used my savings to open this bar—where I gathered all the means of entertainment in the Ashlands—I might’ve already become a Senior Hunter. Which level are you at?”

“Official.” Jiang Baimian wasn’t embarrassed at all.

Cai Yi didn’t continue the topic and asked, “What do you want to eat or play?”

Shang Jianyao took out a portable computer from his tactical backpack and said with a pained expression, “You can decide for us.”

Jiang Baimian quickly added, “It’s best if it’s a relatively rare flavor. We’ll pack the excess to go. We’ll play billiards.”

Cai Yi took the portable computer and smiled. “You guys sure have your means. No problem; I don’t have much here except for a variety of canned food.”

After completing the transaction, Long Yuehong asked curiously, “Where do you raise livestock? I didn’t see any.”

Cai Yi smiled. “In the houses in no man’s land, everyone occupies their own buildings. After all, the most worthless thing in Tarnan is houses.”

No man’s land referred to the uninhabited area.

Long Yuehong sighed when he thought about how he had to rack his brains and pay an additional price to ensure that his family lived better in Pangu Biology.

Just as the Old Task Force walked to the billiard tables, Cai Yi suddenly stood up and looked at the bar entrance solemnly.

A group of people had entered. There were a total of 14 of them, and the leader had blond hair and wore a bull-horned helmet.

They were the Mountain Fox bandits.

Cai Yi went forward and smiled. “Yo, you haven’t left yet?”

Although he was in Tarnan and wasn’t worried that he would be robbed by the Mountain Fox bandits, such a large group of people was enough to mess up the bar without running afoul of the regulations. Therefore, he had to be careful.

Having the numbers was always terrifying.

The Mountain Fox bandit leader, Panania, smiled and said, “You have to let our brothers vent their pent-up feelings first.”

He then cast his gaze at the stairwell of the bar. There were a few old sofas nearby, and many women of different races sat there.

A place like a bar was often associated with such businesses.

“No problem. Payment makes you a customer,” said Cai Yi with a smile.

Panania was just about to take the lead in choosing when his sleeve was suddenly tugged by a subordinate.

“Boss, over there…” The subordinate’s tone was abnormally solemn.

Panania looked over and saw the beautiful woman, the tall young man, the powerhouse who had almost destroyed his band of bandits, and their inconspicuous companion.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and the others were smiling as they looked over.

The corners of Panania’s mouth twitched as he turned his head to Cai Yi and said, “My stomach suddenly doesn’t feel well. Let’s talk another time.”

With that said, he immediately turned around and prepared to lead the bandits to the opposite bar.

At this moment, he saw Shang Jianyao still staring at them from the corner of his eye.

Phew. Panania exhaled and waved his right hand. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye,” Shang Jianyao replied in satisfaction.

Their interaction stunned the bar owner, Cai Yi.

Just as the Mountain Fox bandits were about to reach the door, a strong wind suddenly blew outside. The wind produced howling sounds that made one feel a little uneasy.

Is there such a strong wind on this side of the mountain? Jiang Baimian frowned in confusion.

Amidst the strong winds, a loud knocking sound suddenly came from the door.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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