Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 120: ‘Provocation’

Although the scene in front of them was normal in terms of logic, mood, and psychological expectations, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and the others couldn’t help but find it strange.

The words ‘If you drink, don’t drive. If you drive, don’t drink,’ shouldn’t appear in such an instance!

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao’s applause was never absent. He then asked, “Isn’t it problematic to see it if it’s tattooed on your back? How does it constantly warn you?”

The bearded man—who had just lowered his shirt—had a stunned expression. He was momentarily at a loss for an answer. However, he had traveled extensively and had experienced many things. He quickly composed himself and asked with a smile, “Then, where do you think it should be tattooed?”

Shang Jianyao seemed to have really considered such a question. “On the backs of both hands, one sentence on each side. You can see it whenever you raise your hand to drink.”

“...” The white-bearded man nodded and said, “Yes, it’s a good idea. I’ll add it to the choices in the future.”

Jiang Baimian could tell that he was just casually brushing Shang Jianyao off, so she changed the topic and asked with a smile, “How should I address you?”

“Ferlin,” replied the man with a large white beard. He didn’t care about their names and repeated his previous question. “Want something to drink? This is a specialty that’s brewed from the wild fruits here. You won’t find it elsewhere if you miss it.”

At this point, he stroked his short beard and chuckled. “We will take the time to come back here almost every summer to pick such wild fruits and use them to make wine.”

Jiang Baimian looked around and asked with a smile, “What can be used to exchange for the wine?”

Ferlin laughed. “What’s exchanged for the wine doesn’t depend on what we want, but what you have. In the Ashlands, people who are obsessed with the only answer often get nothing.”

“We have...” Amidst the rhythmic music coming from outside, Jiang Baimian seemed to be in a rather relaxed state. Her eyes darted around as she patted Long Yuehong on her right with a mischievous expression. “How about trading him? He knows how to drive, has a gentle personality, and is not short. He can barely be considered proficient in combat and knows a little about car maintenance. He’s suitable to be your son-in-law.”

“Team Leader...” Long Yuehong felt a little uncomfortable, having never expected the topic to be about him suddenly.

Ferlin laughed. “I appreciate your kindness. My daughter has no lack of suitors. She’s as good-looking as her mother, and her driving skills are almost comparable to mine. Although her skills at maintenance are a little lacking, she has a solid foundation and is still young.

“Besides, she has liked to watch and participate in my repairs since she was young. I don’t know when it happened, but the smell of gasoline, diesel, and lubricant on her can’t be washed away. Countless young lads in the convoy have always yearned for her.”

Long Yuehong imagined the scene as he listened to Ferlin’s description and subconsciously shrank back.

From the moment he boarded the RV, he could smell the faint smell of gasoline from Ferlin and the few customers beside him.

He was worried that the topic would come back to him again, so he looked at Jiang Baimian and pretended to complain. “Team Leader, why don’t you recommend Shang Jianyao?”

Jiang Baimian laughed. “I’m just afraid that Shang Jianyao will be chased out in less than a day. Then, would we be considered as having paid?”

Upon seeing Shang Jianyao seem like he was about to answer the question, Jiang Baimian immediately cast her gaze at Ferlin. “How about we trade using military canned food? There’s braised beef inside.”

“How heavy?” Ferlin asked skillfully.

“500 grams.” Jiang Baimian gave the number.

“Then, which type do you want?” Ferlin smiled and introduced the various assortments. “The first type is wine directly brewed from wild tree fruits. The alcohol content is very low and doesn’t get you drunk, about the same as grape wine. You know about grape wine, right?”

“Yes.” Jiang Baimian and the others nodded in unison.

Within Pangu Biology, one could still buy a little wine according to their quota during festive seasons.

As for Bai Chen, she had wandered countless places over the years and occasionally drank alcohol.

Ferlin continued, “For this, four glasses for a can.

“The other type is obtained from repeated distillation of this fruit wine. It has high alcohol content, so it’s very easy to get drunk on the first drink. It costs three cans for four glasses. You can put this on a tab and pay when you leave camp.”

Jiang Baimian naturally couldn’t let her team members get drunk in such an unfamiliar environment. She directly said, “Let’s drink the fruit wine with low alcohol content then.”

Long Yuehong and the others naturally had no objections.

“Alright.” Ferlin flipped out four glasses that were hanging upside down on the milky-white platform.

At this moment, a burly man—at a table by the window beside the Old Task Force—laughed. “It’s indeed a team of women and children. They only dare to drink fruit wine that’s no different from water!”

Shang Jianyao—who was sitting near them—turned his head and looked over.

The muscular man in black clothes flexed his arm, bulging his muscles. He looked at Shang Jianyao without backing down.

One second, two seconds... ten seconds... Shang Jianyao maintained his posture and didn’t move.

Jiang Baimian looked at Long Yuehong and Bai Chen and read the same meaning in their eyes:

Great. Shang Jianyao was now competing to see who would look away first or who would speak first. Of course, this was only a game that he unilaterally decided on.

After about ten seconds, the burly man finally couldn’t control himself and abruptly stood up. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“You lost.” Shang Jianyao laughed.

“You’re nuts!” The burly man cursed. “Are you still a child? Do you not have any hair growing down under?”

Ferlin—who was pouring the drinks—looked up and shouted, “Zhao Tie, stop fooling around! You forgot your name after drinking a few cups of horse piss?”

Zhao Tie didn’t dare disobey his leader and sat down while cursing under his breath.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao suddenly left the high stool and walked in front of Zhao Tie. He then began unbuckling his belt.

“W-what are you doing?” Zhao Tie and his companions were a little confused.

Shang Jianyao said seriously, “Mine is definitely bigger than yours.”

At this moment, it was not only Zhao Tie. Even Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and the others suspected their ears.

When he reacted, a violent rage suddenly rushed from the bottom of Zhao Tie’s heart to his mind. Not only was this because he felt that the other party was humiliating him, but also because he didn’t know how to respond.

It was impossible for him to actually stand up and take off his pants in front of everyone to compete with the other party, right?

Shang Jianyao was shameless, but Zhao Tie still cared about his reputation.

Besides, it was fine if he won, but what if he lost? If that happened, Zhao Tie felt that he might not have the nerve to stay in the convoy.

No, I can’t let him lead me by the nose... Zhao Tie narrowed his eyes and pointed outside. “Not bad. Dare to spar?”

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao buckled his belt and agreed readily.

Jiang Baimian frowned slightly and felt that she couldn’t figure out what was happening. She was not worried that Shang Jianyao would lose. She was still very confident in her combat abilities, and Shang Jianyao was only second to her in the Old Task Force.

She just couldn’t figure out what Shang Jianyao wanted to do.

Jiang Baimian stopped Long Yuehong from saying anything, with the hope that conversations would be easier after Shang Jianyao displayed his strength during the fight.

Upon seeing that Shang Jianyao’s companions didn’t mind, the Rootless merchants’ Caravan Leader, Ferlin, decided to watch the show. He raised his voice and shouted to the outside, “Cut the music! Someone wants to perform!”

The sound system on the two RVs quickly died down. The group of men and women gyrating in the empty area demarcated by tables and chairs retreated outside.

Zhao Tie aggressively jumped off the Caravan Leader’s RV and entered the clearing that was constantly being illuminated with changing lights.

Shang Jianyao was in no rush to leave. He first took off his tactical backpack and took out his beloved small black speaker with a blue bottom.

It could be plugged in, and it could also use one of the Old World’s long-lasting batteries. Currently, factions were also producing them.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Baimian’s thick and beautiful eyebrows twitched slightly.

Shang Jianyao then placed the small speaker at the door and pressed a button.

Amidst the sizzling sound of static, he entered the clearing.

The next second, a high-pitched female voice sounded from the small speaker.

“I’m looking above the moon[1]...”

Shang Jianyao’s body swayed with the song. His feet constantly alternated from front to back, appearing very rhythmic. He then curled his finger at Zhao Tie. “Come on!”

“Forgetting yesterday dried out my pain...”

Amidst such singing and facing such an opponent, Zhao Tie suddenly felt like he would lose if he really attacked. It would make him appear as if someone had taken off his pants to streak him in public.

But at this point, he had no choice but to attack. He couldn’t cower back, right?

Zhao Tie mentally steeled himself. He took a deep breath and strode over. During this process, he kept staring at Shang Jianyao’s feet and shoulders.

This was because, of the few combat techniques he knew, footwork was relatively important. Furthermore, the condition of one’s shoulders allowed him to determine which hand the other party would be using.

As a Rootless, he had undergone strict training since he was young. Back in First City, he had even been trained by a powerful boxer. He was not someone who relied on his size to bully others.

After adjusting his pace, Zhao Tie took a step forward.

Almost at the same time, Shang Jianyao took a step back.

Zhao Tie advanced again, and Shang Jianyao retreated again, maintaining a sufficient distance.

Suddenly, Shang Jianyao rushed forward by taking a step forward.

Zhao Tie reflexively dodged.

One retreated and the other advanced—this alternated as the two of them perfectly followed the song’s invisible rhythm.

The onlookers immediately clapped.

“Sick moves!”

They finally understood what their Caravan Leader meant by performance.

Upon hearing such ‘compliments,’ Zhao Tie’s face flushed red. He couldn’t control himself any longer and pounced forward.

Shang Jianyao easily dodged Zhao Tie and stretched out his foot to trip him. Stretching out his hand, Shang Jianyao gripped Zhao Tie and threw him to the ground with a loud thud. It left him seeing stars.

Shang Jianyao then bent down and completely restrained the other party.

Zhao Tie was straightforward. Upon seeing that there was no way to salvage the situation, he didn’t put on a brave front. He lowered his head and gruffed. “I lost.”

Shang Jianyao stood up and walked back reluctantly. He put away the small speaker and switched it off.

Jiang Baimian looked at Shang Jianyao and asked with a frown, “Don’t tell me you went through all that just to dance outside?”

Shang Jianyao nodded sincerely. “Yes. You forbade me from going out directly.”

Jiang Baimian laughed. “Aren’t you too persistent? Woah, you even know how to make a feint. You’re pretty smart.”

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and replied, “Maybe my condition has worsened.”

[1] Phoenix Legend’s Above The Moon