Stronger with More Jobs

Chapter 638 - 280: Veterans’ Tavern

"Mmm! This taste... it’s incredible!!!"

Shikong took a bite, his eyes widening, and mumbled in admiration.

Chu Kuanglan curiously muttered at the sight.

"Shixiong, can monks like you eat meat?"

Shikong rolled his eyes and, with a mouth full, said, "Wine and meat pass through the intestines..."

"The texture of the meat is so peculiar..."

Liu Hanyan savored it carefully, a trace of surprise appearing on her cool face.

Wei Banmeng and Jiang Wei couldn’t even spare a moment to speak, eating rapidly.

Especially Jiang Wei, although she had grown, her love for gourmet food seemed unabated, matching Speed’s pace, her cheeks bulging, with ruby-like eyes contentedly narrowed.

For a moment, the long table was filled only with the sounds of voracious chewing and satisfied sighs.

Life Ghost?

At this moment, in front of the ultimate delicacy, only the words "truly delicious" remained.

After a few rounds of drinks and five courses of dishes.

Shikong and Liu Hanyan’s Team had other matters to attend to, so they bid their farewells and left first.

Speed noticed Jiang Wei was still enjoying her meal, so he continued to sit and chat casually with Jiang Chengyue.

Chu Kuanglan patted his full belly, burping and marveling, "Damn, this Life Ghost meat... it’s amazing! Next mission, I gotta hunt more and bring it back!"

Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan nodded with smiles.

Evidently, they were extremely satisfied with this ’flavorful’ feast.

Jiang Wei sat quietly beside Speed, sipping a sweet iceberry juice, her red eyes looking particularly gentle in the firelight from the fireplace.

Speed leaned back in his chair, holding a cup of rich barley beer, casually observing the bustling yet cozy scene of the tavern.

This kind of vibrant and warm air belonging to the frontline.

It was very relaxing.

Just then, the tavern’s heavy wooden door was pushed open again, letting in a wave of cold air from outside.

An elderly man with a slightly stooped figure ambled in.

His hair was gray and sparse, his face lined with deep wrinkles, looking just like any ordinary veteran weathered by time in Spine City.

However, when Speed’s gaze inadvertently swept over the top of the old man’s head.

His pupils slightly contracted...

Three scarlet, glaring question marks [???] were prominently hovering there.

Speed instantly sat up straight, suppressing the shock in his heart, his face calm and composed.

The old man’s cloudy eyes casually scanned the tavern.

Finally, he walked directly toward Speed’s table.

With a cheerful smile, he approached Speed and naturally started speaking, his voice hoarse yet clear:

"Young man, mind treating an old fellow to a drink?"

Chu Kuanglan and Wei Banmeng both paused their conversation, puzzled, and looked at the sudden stranger.

Jiang Chengyue also frowned slightly, scrutinizing the uninvited elderly man.

Speed had already quickly concealed the amazement in his eyes.

He displayed a calm and polite smile, even standing to pull out an empty chair beside him: "Of course, please sit down, sir. What would you like to drink?"

"Hehe, anything will do, the cheapest barley beer will suffice, just to satisfy a craving."

The old man didn’t stand on ceremony, he sat down with a cheerful smile, his gaze swept over Jiang Wei, who was still battling the last piece of roasted tuber, pausing for a moment on her face, which closely resembled a Drought Fiend, and his smile deepened, as if remembering something amusing.

Old Scar, the tavern owner, quickly brought over a bottle of the most ordinary barley beer and a cup.

The old man poured himself a glass, sipping slowly, savoring the taste, and didn’t speak much.

Seeing Speed’s friendly attitude towards the stranger, Chu Kuanglan and the others, despite their curiosity, didn’t press further, continuing to chat quietly with Jiang Chengyue.

The tavern remained noisy, the firelight from the fireplace dancing.

Jiang Wei finally set down her chopsticks with satisfaction and picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth.

It seemed she hadn’t noticed the additional person beside her, or if she had, she didn’t care, simply sitting quietly, her red eyes gazing at the flickering flames, appearing a bit lost.

At that moment, a clear voice, audible only to Speed, like a fine thread, penetrated directly into the depths of his mind:

"It’s good that the Nvba has suddenly grown, a sign of the Origin’s revival, nothing to worry about..."

The old man’s voice rang in Speed’s head, carrying a sense of age.

Speed’s heart was stirred.

But his expression remained calm as usual, as if he was attentively listening to Jiang Chengyue.

The voice paused slightly, its tone seeming a bit heavier:

"However... her trial... is also approaching. Some tribulations are destined, tests of the Origin, she can only face them alone... external interference will only backfire, possibly causing even more dreadful consequences..."

Speed’s fingers holding the beer cup tensed minutely.

The old man’s voice sounded one last time, carrying a hint of admonition, and a trace of... expectation.

"But if you wish to help... it’s not impossible. When you achieve Tier Three in Martial Arts, seek Old Hong; I can provide some advice then."

The voice in his mind faded.

The old man finished the last bit of barley beer in his cup.

Satisfied, he smack his lips, placed the empty cup down, stood with a jovial smile, waved unceremoniously at Speed, and the others at the table:

"Good wine, thanks young man! I’ll be on my way, you young folks keep on enjoying yourselves!"

With that, he didn’t wait for a response, humped his back, and ambled out of the soldier’s tavern, soon disappearing into the crowd outside on the street, as if he had never been there.

"That old guy... pretty interesting, just left after scoring a free drink?"

Chu Kuanglan scratched his head, looking puzzled.

"Maybe he’s a retired veteran, think Speed seems familiar,"

Jiang Chengyue speculated.

Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan exchanged a glance, also finding it a bit odd, but they didn’t dwell on it, dismissing it as a common little episode in the tavern.

Only Speed remained sitting there quietly.

Watching the old man’s departure...

Calmly contemplating something.

Jiang Wei finally seemed to return to her senses.

She turned to Speed, her clear red eyes carrying a trace of inquiry.

Speed withdrew his gaze, gave her a gentle smile, as if nothing had happened: "Finished eating? Let’s go."

He downed his barely-touched beer in one go.

Tier Three Martial Saint huh...

Not far off.