Embers Ad Infinitum

The sky had turned dark by the time the Old Task Force settled down. The setting sun’s rays draped an orange-yellow veil over the entire city.

Jiang Baimian and the others changed their clothes, hid their Ice Mosses and United 202s, slowly left Ah Fu’s Gun Shop, and entered South Street.

Being in such a large settlement, they didn’t want to eat canned food, biscuits, or energy bars.

Long Yuehong looked around as he walked. “It’s much more lively than before.”

At this moment, people were coming and going on South Street. They were dressed in all kinds of clothes. Some seemed to come from the mountains and forests, and some effused the charm of the Old World.

Among them, the cars drove slowly as if they were breaking through the waves.

The noodle shops, food outlets, and restaurants on both sides were almost filled with people, be it good or bad.

Upon hearing Long Yuehong’s sigh, Bai Chen simply said, “Very few Ruin Hunters come during winter to begin with.”

After spring, a large number of Ruin Hunters would come from various settlements and different factions from the surroundings. They either sought opportunities or traded their harvests, restoring Weed City—which had been in turmoil—to its former state.

“How fragrant…” Shang Jianyao didn’t mind such matters. He sniffed the various fragrances of food drifting in the air and actively searched for a restaurant with empty seats.

As Jiang Baimian swept her gaze across the area, she realized that many people were gathered in corners and alleys near Central Square. It was unknown what they were doing, but they always acted as if nothing had happened whenever a patrol passed by.

Sensing that Jiang Baimian was watching those people, Bai Chen casually said, “Small-scale black markets.”

Upon seeing that Long Yuehong was a little confused, she further explained, “West Street’s underground market mainly deals with large goods, all kinds of contraband items, and currency exchanges. As for the items excavated by Ruin Hunters from the city ruins, many of them can’t be categorized. It’s difficult to directly trade with the corresponding major buyers, and it also costs a sum of supplies to enter the official market. Not everyone is willing to bear the cost.

“Some of them chose to walk the streets to peddle their wares, and some spontaneously form such small-scale black markets. There are many strange Old World items sold among them.”

Upon hearing this, Long Yuehong roughly understood and asked curiously, “Could there be anything valuable sold in such places? For example, an item that has solidified the aura of an Awakened at the Mind Corridor level?”

Just as he said that, Shang Jianyao laughed. “You’ve watched too much of the Old World’s entertainment.”

That’s true. Such items are closer to a curse or a disaster when they land in the hands of an ordinary person. There will definitely be problems once someone comes into contact with them for extended periods, allowing others to distinguish their abnormalities easily… Long Yuehong was too embarrassed to admit that he had been overthinking.

“Very few.” Bai Chen answered his previous question. “If you have the time and knowledge, you can also select some good stuff from these small-scale black markets. The price is often lower than their actual values.”

After taking a few more steps, Long Yuehong suddenly suppressed his voice and said, “There’s someone watching us over there. He looks elsewhere whenever I look over. There’s another one over there…”

Jiang Baimian smiled. “Not bad; you can graduate now. Those few should be the monitors that North Street hired. Ignore them.”

She, Shang Jianyao, and Bai Chen discovered this earlier than Long Yuehong. Peeping at handsome men and beautiful women was clearly different from paying close attention to their actions.

As they spoke, Shang Jianyao realized that two tables were empty in a shop called Delicious Food.

“Over there!” He touched his stomach and pointed in that direction.

Jiang Baimian had no objections. She led the Old Task Force and walked over, occupying a four-person table.

There were very few dishes in this fast-food restaurant. There were only seven to eight pots lined up, and different foods were stewed in each pot.

Under them was a platform with many simple stoves. The charcoal, coal, and other small fires kept the dishes in the pot at a minimum temperature.

Shang Jianyao looked over and recognized most of the food in the pot.

Tomato scrambled eggs, stewed pork belly with potatoes, small pieces of braised pork, and a few kinds of stewed vegetables…

Almost at the same time, Jiang Baimian figured out what this shop sold—Meat Vegetable Rice!

“I want potatoes stewed with meat.” Jiang Baimian looked at Long Yuehong and the others.

The Old Task Force still had some of their Oray, Drace, and Cass from before. There was no rush to exchange for currency.

“Me too.” Shang Jianyao wiped the corners of his mouth.

“I want braised pork.”

“I want tomato scrambled eggs.”

Long Yuehong and Bai Chen ordered separately.

After settling on dinner, they patiently waited.

The Ruin Hunters around the team sized them up from time to time. On the one hand, they were eye candy. On the other hand, they were confusing.

After all, it was relatively rare to see a team with such outstanding looks in Weed City.

Even the restaurant owner sneaked a few peeks.

He held a plate, scooped a spoonful of rice, and covered it with a layer of ingredients. In less than a minute, he had prepared four servings of the dish.

It could be described in one word—fast!

Shang Jianyao seriously mixed the gravy from the stewed potato pork belly into the rice and counted the pieces of meat.

“Three small pieces.” He sighed.

Fortunately, you didn’t say it out loud… As Jiang Baimian mixed the rice, she smiled and said, “How much meat can such a small shop get? Besides, if there’s more meat, it’ll become more expensive. Many Ruin Hunters won’t be able to afford it.”

Shang Jianyao tersely acknowledged it and focused on eating the rice that had been infused with gravy.

At this moment, a car stopped outside the door. It was a sedan with dark bulletproof glass and thick armor.

Zhao Yide pushed open the door and alighted. He pretended to be surprised and shouted, “Qubing? You guys are back?”

His voice echoed in Delicious Food Shop, attracting the attention of Ruin Hunters.

After recognizing him, the Ruin Hunters’ pupils dilated.

This gentleman clearly had a high status! The vehicle behind him was something most Ruin Hunters couldn’t afford to modify, and several suspected bodyguards were around him in scattered positions. His black, tight pants and the same-colored top with golden buttons were neat, clean, and very new. He was slightly obese, and his face was ruddy. He looked different from the generally malnourished people of the Ashlands…

The Ruin Hunters at the door had sharp eyes and saw the pass under the sedan’s windshield—it was a permit to enter and leave North Street!

This is probably an aristocrat… Ruin Hunters—who knew Weed City well—lowered their heads.

Upon hearing Zhao Yide’s greeting, Shang Jianyao stood up and shouted in surprise, “So you didn’t recognize us previously. I thought you are no longer acknowledging me as your brother!”

Brother… Ruin Hunters—who were engrossed in eating—simultaneously chewed on this Ashlandic term.

This team is indeed not simple! They sighed inwardly.

Zhao Yide’s expression stiffened for a few seconds as he tried his best to appear surprised. “Did we bump into each other this afternoon?”

Without giving Shang Jianyao a chance to answer, he forcefully changed the topic. “Come, let’s go to my house! I won’t allow you to eat such things in Weed City.”

Shang Jianyao’s expression suddenly turned serious, making Zhao Yide’s heart skip a beat.

“No, we’ve already begun eating. We can’t waste food,” Shang Jianyao explained seriously.

“Yes, yes, yes.” Zhao Yide didn’t dare retort.

Shang Jianyao then pointed to the side and said to the fast-food restaurant owner, “My friend is here. Add a stool.”

Normally speaking, such matters were usually handled by customers themselves. But after looking at the gentleman suspected to be an aristocrat at the door, the boss still walked out from behind the stove, took a square stool, and placed it by the side of Shang Jianyao’s table.

Zhao Yide sized up the greasy shop and forced a smile. “It’s not too safe here, right?”

“I’m here!” Shang Jianyao had an expression that said, “Do you not believe me?”

Long Yuehong, Jiang Baimian, and Bai Chen—who were beside him—lowered their heads and tried their best to hold in their laughter.

Zhao Yide silently took a deep breath, took out a white handkerchief, and wiped his forehead.

“We’re brothers. How can I not trust you?” He replied to Shang Jianyao first before saying to the bodyguards beside him, “Wait at the door.”

Shang Jianyao added, “Drive the car further away; don’t block the door to the shop. It’ll affect their business.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Zhao Yide readily agreed.

After the driver drove away, Zhao Yide slowly walked to Shang Jianyao and the others. Looking at the slightly greasy square stool’s surface, he mustered his courage for a few seconds before finally sitting down.

Shang Jianyao happily patted his shoulder and asked in a friendly manner, “Have you had dinner?”

“Not yet,” Zhao Yide replied reflexively.

The next second, he regretted it because Shang Jianyao turned around and said to the boss, “Another serving of potato stew meat. My treat!”

Whoa, how generous… That’s coming from the team’s common funds… Jiang Baimian didn’t object.

When the Meat Vegetable Rice that was dotted with a few pieces of pork belly was served to Zhao Yide, he almost frowned. Just the sight of the fat made him feel nauseous.

He remembered that his father, Zhao Zhengqi, had a penchant for these. It seemed to be a habit his father had developed when he was young, but he didn’t share the same habits. He had only tried it during his childhood out of curiosity and never wanted to come into contact with it again.

Besides, this restaurant was dirty and messy. How could the food it made be edible?

Upon seeing him stunned, Shang Jianyao said with bright eyes, “Make sure not to waste food.”

“…” Zhao Yide picked up the cutlery, picked out the parts that weren’t contaminated by the fat, and scooped a spoonful of rice into his mouth.

He soon choked to the point of having tears flow out.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Baimian couldn’t help but wonder if Shang Jianyao’s ‘brotherly love ran deep’ or if he was doing this on purpose.

After finishing the spoonful of rice, Zhao Yide couldn’t help but retch twice.

“You’re pregnant?” Shang Jianyao was surprised.

Zhao Yide didn’t know how to respond—both verbally and expression-wise.

Jiang Baimian cleared her throat. “He’s joking.”

“Oh, I just ate too quickly,” Zhao Yide quickly explained.

Jiang Baimian revealed a friendly smile. “Eat slowly then.”

Zhao Yide nodded with a complicated expression. “Alright.”

After forcing himself to eat a small spoonful, he finally couldn’t help but say, “My father wants to see you.”