Embers Ad Infinitum

In Weed City, a car with dark bulletproof glass slowly drove into the street.

Zhao Yide sat on the left in the back row. He looked back at the grain shop behind him and nodded in satisfaction.

Ever since the nomad riot before the new year, he felt that his luck had turned for the better. As the number one successor of North Street’s Zhao Manor, he was bound to be glorious in the eyes of others. However, he knew very well that he was trembling with fear every day as if he were treading on thin ice.

He had his family, who wielded authority, backing him. As a member of Weed City’s Aristocratic Council, his father—Zhao Zhengqi—could handle anything. His ambitious younger brother, Zhao Yixue, was constantly watching him. Not only could he not make the decision on most matters, but he could only obtain a small portion of the resources available. Furthermore, he couldn’t make any mistakes.

After the riot, his ambitious younger brother, Zhao Yixue, was expelled to First City and completely left the center of the family’s power. His father, Zhao Zhengqi, suffered from poor health due to shock and gradually handed over a portion of his power and properties to him.

After living for more than 30 years, Zhao Yide finally understood how noble aristocrats were. For example, the lucrative grain shop he had just inspected was completely under his name from today onward. For example, the steward—who only listened to his father, Zhao Zhengqi, and treated him coldly—was now so eager to suck up to him that he yearned to grow a dog tail and wag it around him.

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Zhao Yide pressed the button to roll down the window, wanting to breathe in the sweet and intoxicating air outside.

At this moment, he saw a clearly modified, military-green jeep drive over.

This was not a rare situation in Weed City, so Zhao Yide didn’t think much of it.

Suddenly, the jeep slowed down. The driver rolled down the window, removed his sunglasses, and waved his left hand at Zhao Yide.

He looked excited and happy.

Zhao Yide’s eyes immediately reflected a handsome face with a healthy complexion. He was ever so familiar with this face.

He had such a deep impression of it that his mind went blank, and he felt like his heart and lungs had come to an abrupt halt.

It’s him! It’s the lunatic who held the explosives and threatened the entire Aristocratic Council! He’s the terrifying Hunter who wields the strange ability to make anyone unknowingly become friends with him and dance with him! Zhao Yide held his breath. His instinct was to roll up the window and pretend not to see anything.

The dark glass window slowly closed. From the corner of his eye, Zhao Yide saw the man—who called himself Zhang Qubing—retract his hand in disappointment.

He numbly turned his gaze forward and didn’t urge the driver to speed up lest he expose the fact that he had already seen the other party.

The two vehicles passed each other, and nothing happened.

Zhao Yide remained sitting upright, his body extremely stiff.

Only when the car circled around the municipal building, and he had the bridge that led to North Street in sight did he heave a sigh of relief.

In the jeep, Shang Jianyao turned the steering wheel and said with a regretful expression, “From the looks of it, Inference Clowning’s effects have already disappeared. Sigh, I haven’t had the time to attend his ball.”

Back then, Zhao Yide had issued an invitation to Shang Jianyao.

“It’s been so long. You aren’t a Kalendaria, so the effects will definitely be gone.” Jiang Baimian—who was sitting on the left in the backseat—wasn’t surprised at all.

In the passenger seat, Long Yuehong said worriedly, “He should’ve recognized us. Will he get someone to take revenge?”

Back in Weed City, the Old Task Force had made the Aristocratic Council’s councilors suffer heavy losses to appease the nomads. Furthermore, Shang Jianyao had also used Inference Clowning on them to form a Brotherhood and dance with them.

After the nobles came to their senses, this was undoubtedly an embarrassing, shameful memory that made them grit their teeth.

With the resources they had, Long Yuehong felt that it was illogical for them not to take revenge on the Old Task Force.

Jiang Baimian smiled and said, “Weed City and the company are now in a friendly partnership. As long as Castellan Xu doesn’t want to attack us, the few nobles won’t cause any trouble. They also won’t be able to find many Awakened and experienced Hunters just by hiring outsiders. Our current strength is more than double that of when we left Weed City. As long as we aren’t careless, would we need to be afraid of them?”

Without Xu Liyan’s permission, the aristocrats’ private armed forces couldn’t act too presumptuously in the city and act without any scruples.

Long Yuehong thought for a moment and actually felt that his team leader made sense.

Our team has really grown to a rather terrifying level… As he sighed inwardly, he tersely acknowledged it.

“We won’t be staying in Weed City for long anyway. We’ll leave as soon as Genava arrives.”

As the Underground Ark’s situation was relatively delicate and it had a competitive relationship with the other factions in Redstone Collection, Genava spent more time than expected to establish order. He would take another two days to reach Weed City.

Jiang Baimian propped her elbow on the door and held her cheek with one hand. She smiled and said, “Besides, they should be able to guess that we have a considerable faction backing us. As long as we don’t go to North Street to agitate them, they will at most monitor us.”

At this point, Jiang Baimian swept her gaze and realized that Bai Chen’s gaze had passed her and was looking out the window.

“What are you looking at?” She curiously turned her head and looked down the street.

The original Time-Honored Noodle Restaurant had become Wang’s Noodle Restaurant.

Jiang Baimian fell silent.

Shang Jianyao also didn’t say a word. He drove the jeep around until he was sure that nobody was following them before driving into the alley where Ah Fu’s Gun Shop was.

After the car stopped in a courtyard surrounded by buildings, Long Yuehong pushed open the door and walked out. He sized up this familiar yet unfamiliar place.

The familiarity came from the fact that he had lived and fought here. The unfamiliarity came from the fact that this place had been modified to a certain extent. The clothes that were hung out to dry had also become thin.

“You guys are here again?”

“You even changed cars? I really didn’t dare to believe my eyes!”

“Wanna have a seat inside?”

The residents coming and going recognized the Old Task Force that had fought alongside them and greeted them politely and enthusiastically.

There were also many strangers here; they were likely Ruin Hunters that had just arrived after the New Year. They sized up the Old Task Force with curious and scrutinizing gazes.

After a simple response, Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Long Yuehong followed Bai Chen and entered Ah Fu’s Gun Shop’s back door.

Auntie Nan—who was wearing an old dress and a thin scarf and had her hair tied into a high bun—was already waiting at the stairwell. As she threw out the two keys in her hand, she smiled and said, “The same two rooms as before.”

Bai Chen originally wanted to reach out and catch the two keys, but Shang Jianyao had already finished the job happily before her.

She could only nod and make a simple acknowledgment.

Jiang Baimian smiled and said, “You’ve been doing well recently.”

“Same old,” Auntie Nan replied with a smile.

Jiang Baimian looked around and said, “Does Teacher An still teach?”

“Yes, the usual time,” Auntie Nan said as she turned her body and made way.

The four people from the Old Task Force carried their tactical backpacks. They followed the same staircase that didn’t change much except for the many bullet holes until they entered a cold aisle.

…

North Street, Zhao Manor.

Zhao Yide rushed into the study.

The fat, chubby, and grizzled Zhao Zhengqi held a teacup and glanced at his eldest son. He said in dissatisfaction, “Why are you panicking? You’re already in your thirties! You must stay calm in every major event!”

Zhao Yide panted and hurriedly said, “Dad, those people are back! The ones who threatened us with bombs!”

With a crash, the teacup in Zhao Zhengqi’s hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

“Where are they?” Zhao Zhengqi jumped up, displaying agility that didn’t match his figure.

“S-south Street!” Zhao Yide replied truthfully.

Zhao Zhengqi calmed down a little. “What are they doing?”

“We met on the way. That lunatic even happily greeted me, but I pretended not to see him.” Zhao Yide didn’t hide any details.

Zhao Zhengqi asked, “And you came back just like that?”

“Yes!” Zhao Yide nodded heavily. “Dad, what should we do now?”

Zhao Zhengqi regained his composure and paced around. “Let’s report this matter to the Castellan and the others first and raise everyone’s guard. After that, don’t do anything. Just pay close attention to those people’s actions.”

“Nothing?” Zhao Yide was rather surprised.

Zhao Zhengqi sneered. “You still want revenge? If that lunatic doesn’t die on the spot, you and I won’t be able to sleep well for the rest of our lives. Which normal person isn’t afraid of a proactive and capable lunatic?”

At this point, Zhao Zhengqi paused. “It’s not like they have no background either. Our losses last time weren’t great either.”

Zhao Yide exhaled and said, “Guess that’s the only way…”

Just as he said that, he suddenly recalled something and blurted out, “Dad, haven’t we failed to find a suitable person to do that matter? Should we hire them?”

“Are you nuts?” Zhao Zhengqi cursed reflexively. He then fell silent for a few seconds before saying, “It’s not impossible…”