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Chapter 281 The Veteran's Tavern! ~(Please vote with monthly tickets at the beginning of the month!~)

Fang Qingyu was stunned.

He then remained silent for a few seconds before calmly focusing his gaze on Jiang Wei's slightly lowered profile.

His voice was very soft, as if he were talking about something trivial: "How did they get here? Did they come from another dimension specifically for you, and then find you in this world? Or did they descend in some other form to attack you?"

There was no trace of fear or impatience in his tone, only an almost homely calmness.

Jiang Wei was taken aback by these words.

She slowly raised her head, her ruby-like eyes meeting Shang Qingyu's calm and serene gaze.

It clearly reflects an unwavering composure.

Seemingly infected by this calm, Jiang Wei's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and she responded softly, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty and confusion:
"I don't know exactly how they came to me. I only know that they always find me at a specific time, as if it were destiny."

"But I don't remember anything about the time before or after they came into my life. It's like part of my memory was erased, leaving only a sense of inescapable fate."

Upon hearing this, Fang Qingyu nodded thoughtfully.

There was no doubt or panic on his face, but instead he gave a reassuring smile: "Okay, I understand."

These few simple words contained a power far exceeding a thousand words, like an invisible mountain that instantly calmed the unease and confusion surging in Jiang Wei's heart.

Then, Fang Qingyu stood up and walked towards Jiang Wei.

He stretched out his hand, palm up, a gentle smile on his face: "Let's go back and rest. Your body has just adjusted, and your mind needs to relax too. Don't think too much, the sky isn't falling."

Jiang Wei raised her head and looked into Fang Qingyu's deep yet incredibly calm gaze, as if she had found an anchor point after a long period of wandering.

She gave a soft "hmm" and silently extended her long, slender, fair hand, which now seemed somewhat helpless.

Fang Qingyu held her firmly and slowly pulled her up from the bench.

The two left the empty underground training ground one after the other.

He escorted Jiang Wei back to her room and watched her close the door.

Fang Qingyu then turned around and went back to his room.

The moment the door closed, the reassuring composure on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a furrowed brow and an unyielding seriousness in his eyes.

"Gods."

Fang Qingyu leaned against the cold alloy door panel and whispered silently.

Every word carries a heavy burden of pressure.

In every lifetime Jiang Wei has lived, despite her extraordinary potential, she was never able to grow up properly and was nipped in the bud in the bud.

what does this mean?
This means that the being chasing her is at least at the fourth level!

It could even be an existence of the fourth rank or higher.

Otherwise, it's impossible to explain how they could repeatedly and accurately cross the world barrier to arrive and assassinate her before she even had enough power to protect herself.

This level of enemy is not a threat to Fang Qingyu at the moment.

They're definitely not on the same level.

The relaxed demeanor I displayed in front of Jiang Wei was merely to reassure her.

After all, this was a promise and responsibility made previously.

But I want to think about it.

How to achieve this is the biggest challenge we face.

Currently, there seem to be two paths.

Fang Qingyu walked to the window and looked at the ever-burning lights of the city outside.

The first way.

With balanced development, both martial arts and border patrolling abilities have broken through limits.

Both the Warrior System and the World Patrol System have advanced to the third tier.

At that time, relying on the powerful physical body of a peak third-tier Martial Grandmaster, coupled with the spatial control of a third-tier World Patrolman.

Furthermore, this is combined with the absolute control that the four-star divine office of Shenxiao Envoy has over thunder.

All three in one.

It is not impossible for them to unleash terrifying combat power that rivals or even suppresses ordinary early-stage fourth-tier fighters.

This path has a solid foundation and enormous potential, but it requires massive resource investment and time accumulation.

The second path is extreme enhancement, a desperate gamble on the Divine Firmament Envoy.

Try to get another main job slot as soon as possible.

The Divine Firmament Envoy will be designated as the primary profession.

He then awakened the unique talent of the Divine Envoy and poured all his resources into this divine profession.

They relentlessly refined core skills and ultimate techniques, upgraded their Divine Firmament authority, and forcibly raised their combat power to the fourth tier in the shortest possible time.

This approach might be more effective.

But that's a bit extreme.

"Or...all of them?"

A glint of madness flashed in Fang Qingyu's eyes.

Balance and extremes are not entirely opposites.

If there are enough resources to support it, it is entirely possible to ensure the progress of the Divine Firmament Envoy's core while also taking into account the breakthrough advancement of the martial artist system.

The two-pronged approach ultimately leads to the ultimate explosion of the three systems combined.

"The key lies in resources!"

Fang Qingyu's gaze became incredibly intense.

If only I could have the chance to rampage through the army of ghosts and collect skill points, just like when I was chasing Jiang Taixuan.
That massive amount of points was enough to support him in advancing two routes simultaneously.

But whether it will work or not remains to be seen.
We'll have to wait until we officially start our duties to find out.

the following few days.

Fang Qingyu's team of five settled down completely and honed their skills in the underground training ground of the courtyard.

Jiang Wei focused on adapting to her newborn body.

He repeatedly processed the surging yet slightly raw power within his body.

Fang Qingyu, on the other hand, was immersed in understanding the profession of Shenxiao Envoy and consolidating the martial arts system.

Integrate the newly enhanced power.

Occasionally, Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan would bring their respective team members over for a visit, exchanging training experiences and sharing frontline intelligence circulating within the Yuan Shou organization, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Until the morning of the sixth day.

An official notice bearing the seal of the Border Defense Army Headquarters was delivered to the small courtyard.

Medal transfer ceremony and awarding ceremony.

It will be held at the Peace Auditorium at 10:00 a.m. today.

Please be on time.

The Peace Auditorium is a landmark building located in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Garrison Command.

The entire piece is cast from a gray-black alloy and its shape resembles a giant diamond-shaped shield stuck upside down in the ground, symbolizing the indestructible Great Wall defense line.

When Fang Qingyu and his four companions changed into their crisp, dark blue garrison uniforms.

Wearing shoulder boards symbolizing their respective military ranks and the Candlelight Medal, as they stepped through the heavy and solemn doors of the Peace Hall, a solemn and dignified atmosphere immediately enveloped them.

The auditorium has an extremely spacious interior with a high dome.

Below, metal seats are neatly arranged, and many people have already taken their seats.

To Fang Qingyu and the others' slight surprise,

I saw many familiar faces here.

"Captain Fang! Miss Wei! Brother Chu! Brother Lu! Miss Jiang!"

A voice filled with excitement and boundless gratitude rang out.

Jiang Chengyue, dressed in a brand-new garrison colonel uniform with a brand-new Candlelight Medal on his chest, strode forward to greet them.

Behind him followed seven or eight men, all dressed in military uniforms and exuding a fierce aura.

It was his comrade-in-arms who fought alongside him to the death in front of the city lord's mansion that day.

Jiang Chengyue looked at Fang Qingyu with a complex expression, a mixture of admiration, gratitude, and a sense of relief.

Without saying anything extra, he simply stood at attention.

He bowed deeply to Fang Qingyu and to all the members of the team behind him.

His waist was bent at a perfect 90 degrees!

Thank you, everyone.

The men behind him also bowed in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized.

Fang Qingyu quickly stepped forward and supported him.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

Fang Qingyu also saw several grandmasters who had been trapped together in the stomach of the Taotie.

They also received corresponding commendations and promotions in military rank.

At this moment, everyone cast kind glances their way.

At 10:00 a.m. sharp, the loud sound of bugles echoed in the auditorium.

Marshal Hong Qitian, the commander-in-chief of the border garrison, did not attend in person.

But representing him was the deputy chief of staff of the garrison, a general with three stars on his shoulders, and the deputy commander of Yuan Shou.

Jiang Ying!

The ceremony was solemn yet simple.

The host read out the achievements of each recipient of the medal in a calm and powerful voice.

Jiang Chengyue and his loyal followers were commended for their outstanding contributions during the upheaval in Liuli Guangcheng. They distinguished right from wrong, upheld justice, and used their own bodies to stop the spread of evil, thus buying precious time for the purge operation.

The collective was awarded a first-class merit.

Jiang Chengyue was promoted from captain to major and awarded the Order of the Morning Star.

The rest of the personnel were promoted one or two ranks and awarded the Order of the Candle or the Order of the Morning Star.

Shi Kong, Liu Hanyan, and their team members played an important role in the crisis in Liuli Guang City by "venturing into dangerous areas to gather intelligence and restrain powerful enemies."

Each was awarded a first-class merit and promoted one rank.

Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan were promoted to lieutenant colonel, while the team members were promoted to major or captain.

The medal has been upgraded from the Candlelight level to the Morning Star level.

When it was Fang Qingyu's team's turn, all eyes in the auditorium turned to them.

"Project Hidden Dragon, Jia Chen Year, Yuan Shou Official Servants, Fang Qingyu's Team!"

The host's voice suddenly rose, filled with passion.

"Captain Fang Qingyu, team members Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, Lu Jiuyuan, Jiang Wei!"

"During the support mission for Liuli City, uncovered a conspiracy and bravely ventured into a desperate situation!"

"At the heart of the gluttonous stomach, Fang Qingyu confronted the fallen Martial Saint Jiang Taixuan, engaging in a fierce battle against this formidable foe! Deep within the icy plains, he pursued Jiang Taixuan for thousands of miles, ultimately slaying him before the Cold Jade Nether Cart, turning the tide and saving the collapsing edifice! He restored order to the Glazed City and eradicated a major scourge on the Arctic front!!"

After the achievements were read out, the entire room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"With special approval from the Federal Supreme Military Council and the Great Wall Garrison Command!"

"Captain Fang Qingyu, for his outstanding achievements, is hereby promoted to the rank of Colonel! He is awarded the Moonlit Medal! And is officially appointed as the captain of the 7th Special Operations Team of 'Abyss Hunt'!"

"Team members Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan are each awarded a First-Class Merit! They are promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and awarded the Morning Star Medal. Jiang Wei is awarded a Special-Class Merit! She is promoted to Colonel and awarded the Radiant Moon Medal!"

Wow——!
After a brief silence, the auditorium erupted in enthusiastic and sustained applause.

Promotion beyond the usual procedures.

He skipped two grades.

He was promoted directly from major to colonel.

The medals span from the morning star to the radiant moon.

He was directly appointed as the powerful captain under Yuan Shou.

This honor is extremely rare in the history of the Arctic front.

Fang Qingyu remained calm, stepped forward, and saluted the general and Jiang Ying on the platform.

A three-star general personally pinned the Order of the Moon on him, a symbol of greater honor and responsibility.

The main element is a silver crescent moon surrounded by ice crystals.

It radiates a cool yet resilient light.

The single gold star on his epaulettes was replaced with three stars representing a colonel.

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, Lu Jiuyuan, and Jiang Wei also went on stage in turn to receive their medals and epaulets.

The ceremony is over.

The group walked out of the solemn Peace Hall.

The streets were quite crowded in the afternoon, and the lively sounds brought a touch of warmth.

Jiang Chengyue greeted Fang Qingyu and the others with a smile: "Captain Fang, gentlemen, congratulations on your awarding of medals! How about it, would you like to come and sit down at the Veterans' Tavern together?"

"The Veterans' Tavern?"

Fang Qingyu and the others looked puzzled.

“Yes,” Jiang Chengyue explained, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

"This is an old tradition since the establishment of our Arctic Great Wall; there is one in each major residential area."

"It was driven by veterans who had actually retired from the front lines amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood."

"Before each expedition or after each triumphant return, everyone likes to sit there, have a drink, listen to stories, and share their own. It's a place for reflection and remembrance. Now that you've officially joined the Abyss Hunters and taken on real positions, you might receive orders to attack at any time. Going there to experience the atmosphere is a good idea."

Fang Qingyu and his teammates exchanged glances, all seeing the interest in each other's eyes.

Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan's team also gladly went along.

Led by Jiang Chengyue, the group walked through several relatively quiet streets and arrived at a two-story stone building that looked quite old and bore the marks of time.

A weathered wooden sign hangs above the door, with four large characters carved in vigorous script.

Veteran's Tavern

As you push open the door, a blend of aromas—malt liquor, roasted meat fat, a hint of tobacco, and the warmth of wood—immediately dispels the chill outside.

The tavern has a fairly large interior space, but it is decorated with an unusually warm atmosphere.

The wooden tables and chairs were polished smooth, and the walls were covered with mottled weapons, yellowed old photos, and specimens of various grotesque parts of the dead.

Real firewood crackled and popped in the fireplace, its orange flames dancing and illuminating the faces of the tavern, some weathered, some young.

The tavern was quite crowded at the moment, with people gathered in twos and threes.

There were old soldiers wearing old military uniforms, missing limbs but with bright eyes, slowly drinking their wine.

Soldiers, fresh off the front lines and weary from their journey, were laughing and talking loudly.

There were also newly promoted officers like Fang Qingyu, wearing brand-new military uniforms.

The atmosphere was lively but not noisy.

As soon as Fang Qingyu and his dozen or so people entered, they immediately attracted the attention of many people.

Their medals and brand-new epaulets, in particular, were eye-catching.

A middle-aged man wearing a faded apron, with a hideous scar on his face but a hearty smile, immediately came forward.

"Hey! New faces! And all of them are young and promising! Welcome, welcome!"

The boss's gaze swept over the epaulets and medals on everyone's shoulders, a hint of understanding and respect flashing in his eyes. He warmly greeted them, "Come, come, this way! Let me share a big table with you!"

Without saying a word, he led everyone to the largest long wooden table next to the fireplace.

They quickly assembled the table and chairs.

"Boss, let's order first." Chu Kuanglan was about to speak.

"Hey! What are you ordering!" The boss waved his hand, his smile hearty. "Once you're here, what you eat and drink is entirely up to me, Old Scar! I guarantee you'll taste the real flavors of the front lines! Just you wait!"

After saying that, he turned around and rushed to the kitchen, not giving anyone a chance to order.

Seeing everyone's astonished expressions, Jiang Chengyue smiled and explained, "That's the rule here. You eat whatever the boss arranges. It's said that the ingredients we eat every day are brought back from the front-line patrol teams or hunting teams, and are meat from beasts that have undergone strict quarantine and are confirmed to be edible."

"You can hardly find this anywhere else, so it's quite a specialty. You can try it later, and if you really can't get used to it, I'll go out and buy you something else."

"Eating the flesh of a demon?"

Liu Qingyan covered her mouth in surprise.

The others also showed strange expressions.

Although I've fought countless battles with the demons of fate, do I really want to eat their flesh?
This still feels a little strange.

"Modifying martial artists involves using materials from spirit beasts, but eating their flesh directly is something I've never heard of before."

Shi Kong also touched his bald head.

However, since everyone had fought their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, they only harbored deep hatred for the Ghost of Fate. After the initial surprise, no one resisted them; instead, they became somewhat curious.

Soon, the atmosphere of casual conversation warmed up again.

Jiang Chengyue recounted the subsequent rectification and prosperity of Liuli Guangcheng, Shi Kong shared interesting anecdotes he had heard from within Yuan Shou, while Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan engaged in a quiet banter.

About half an hour later, a strong, fragrant aroma of meat suddenly swept through the entire tavern from the direction of the kitchen.

The conversation at Fang Qingyu's large table immediately quieted down, and everyone turned towards the source of the aroma.

Even the veterans who were drinking by themselves couldn't help but sniffle.

The boss, Old Scar, came out with a few employees, carrying several huge metal trays that were still bubbling with oil.

The tray was piled high with large chunks of roasted meat, golden brown and crispy, glistening with oil, accompanied by fragrant roasted tubers and a vibrant green wild vegetable from the icefield.

"Here it comes! The hind leg meat of the Icefield Hou! Freshly delivered today! Everyone, enjoy it while it's hot!"

Old Scar shouted boldly, piling the fragrant roasted meat all over the long table.

The meat chunks had distinct textures and were roasted to perfection. Beneath the golden-brown, crispy skin lay tender, juicy meat, and the fat glistened enticingly under the light, mingling with the aroma of spices.

The dozen or so people at the large table looked at each other.

In the end, Fang Qingyu was the first to pick up his chopsticks.

He picked up a piece of still-hot meat, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.

Fang Qingyu's eyes lit up instantly.

Without saying a word, he directly used his chopsticks to pick up the second and third pieces.
Chu Kuanglan, who had been watching Fang Qingyu's expression closely, immediately understood what was going on. He exclaimed, "My god! Is it really that delicious?! Leave some for me!"

Instantly transforming into a gluttonous beast, its chopsticks danced in afterimages as it joined the sweeping army.

The aroma and the way Fang Qingyu and Chu Kuanglan ate also whetted the appetites of the others, who all picked up their chopsticks.

"Wow! This tastes amazing!!!"

Shi Kong took a bite, his eyes widened, and he mumbled a praise.

Seeing this, Chu Kuanglan curiously mumbled something.

"Brother Shi, can monks eat meat?"

Seeing this, Shi Kong rolled his eyes and said with pouting lips, "Wine and meat pass through the intestines."

"The meat has a very unique texture"

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

Wei Banmeng and Jiang Wei didn't even have time to talk, they ate very quickly.

Jiang Wei, in particular, although she has grown up, seems to have only grown more fond of food. She is just as fast as Fang Qingyu, her cheeks are bulging, and her ruby-like eyes are squinting with satisfaction.

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

A ghost of fate?

Faced with such exquisite deliciousness, all that remains is the word "truly fragrant".

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan's team had other matters to attend to, so they took their leave first.

Seeing that Jiang Wei seemed to be enjoying herself and was still eating in small bites, Fang Qingyu continued to sit and chat with Jiang Chengyue.

Chu Kuanglan patted his bulging belly and burped, exclaiming, "Damn, this Ghost Meat is amazing! Next time I go on a mission, I'll slaughter a few more and bring them back!"

Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan nodded with smiles.

He was clearly very satisfied with this "flavorful" meal.

Jiang Wei sat quietly next to Fang Qingyu, sipping a sweet, refreshing ice-cold juice. Her red eyes looked particularly warm in the firelight of the fireplace.

Fang Qingyu leaned back in his chair, holding a glass of mellow ale in his hand, his gaze casually sweeping over the lively and cozy scene in the tavern.

This is the raw yet warm atmosphere of life that belongs to the front lines.

It's still very relaxing.

Just then, the heavy wooden door of the tavern was pushed open again, bringing in a blast of cold air from outside.

An elderly man with a slightly hunched posture slowly strolled in.

His hair was gray and sparse, and his face was covered with deep wrinkles. He looked like an ordinary veteran who had weathered many storms and was just another one of many in Jicheng.

However, when Fang Qingyu's gaze inadvertently swept over the top of the old man's head...

Pupils contracted slightly
Three glaring scarlet question marks [? ? ? ] were prominently displayed there.

Fang Qingyu sat up straight instantly, suppressing his shock and keeping a calm expression.

The old man's cloudy eyes swept casually around the tavern.

Finally, he walked straight towards Fang Qingyu's table.

With a cheerful smile on his face, he walked to Fang Qingyu's side and spoke naturally, his voice hoarse but clear:
"Young man, would you like to buy this old man a bottle of wine?"

Chu Kuanglan, Wei Banmeng, and the others were taken aback by the sudden appearance of the strange old man. They stopped talking and looked at him with suspicion.

Jiang Chengyue also frowned slightly, sizing up the uninvited old man.

Fang Qingyu quickly concealed the surprise in his eyes.

He gave a gentle and polite smile, and even stood up to pull out an empty chair next to him: "Of course, please sit down, sir. What would you like to drink?"

"Hehe, whatever, the cheapest kind of ale will do, just to satisfy my craving."

The old man didn't stand on ceremony and sat down with a cheerful smile. His gaze swept over Jiang Wei, who was still engrossed in battling the last piece of roasted tuber on the table. His eyes lingered for a moment on her profile, which resembled a drought demon, and his smile deepened, as if he had remembered something interesting.

The owner, Old Scar, quickly brought over a bottle of the most ordinary ale and a glass.

The old man poured himself a glass, sipped it slowly, savoring the taste, and said nothing more.

Seeing that Fang Qingyu was kind to the unfamiliar old man, Chu Kuanglan and the others were curious but didn't ask any questions and continued to chat quietly with Jiang Chengyue.

The tavern remained noisy, with the firelight flickering in the fireplace.

Jiang Wei finally put down her chopsticks with satisfaction and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

She seemed completely unaware that there was another person beside her, or perhaps she was aware but didn't care. She simply sat quietly, her red eyes gazing absently at the flickering flames in the fireplace.

Just then, a voice, crystal clear but audible only to Fang Qingyu, pierced the depths of his mind like a thin thread:

"It's a good thing that Lady Nuba has suddenly grown up. It's a natural progression, a sign of her primordial energy reviving. There's nothing to worry about."

The old man's voice echoed in Fang Qingyu's mind, carrying a sense of vicissitude.

Fang Qingyu's heart stirred.

But his expression remained calm and composed, as if he were listening attentively to Jiang Chengyue.

The voice paused slightly, its tone becoming somewhat more serious:
"However, her tribulation is also approaching. Some tribulations are predestined, tests of one's very essence, and can only be overcome by her alone. External interference will only backfire and may even trigger a more terrible backlash."

Fang Qingyu's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly as he held the wine glass.

The old man's voice rang out last, carrying a hint of warning and a hint of expectation.

"But if you want to help, it's not impossible. Once you break through to the third level of martial arts, go find Old Hong. I can give you some advice then."

The words fell into my mind.

The old man had just finished the last bit of ale in his glass.

He smacked his lips contentedly, put down his empty cup, stood up cheerfully, and casually waved to Fang Qingyu and the others at the table:

"The wine is good, thanks young man! I'm off now, you young folks keep having fun!"

After saying that, without waiting for anyone's response, he hunched over and slowly strolled out of the Veteran's Tavern. His figure quickly disappeared into the crowd on the street outside, as if he had never been there.

"That old man is quite interesting. He just left after getting a free drink?"

Chu Kuanglan scratched his head, looking completely bewildered.

"He's probably a retired veteran. Captain Fang looks kind."

Jiang Chengyue guessed.

Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan exchanged a glance, also finding it somewhat strange, but they didn't delve into it, treating it as just a common little incident in the tavern.

Only Fang Qingyu remained sitting there quietly.

Watching the old man's departing figure.
His expression was calm, as if he were deep in thought.

Jiang Wei seemed to finally snap out of her daze.

She turned her head to look at Fang Qingyu, her clear red eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.

Fang Qingyu withdrew his gaze, gave her a gentle smile, as if nothing had happened: "Have you finished eating? Let's go then."

He picked up his almost untouched glass of ale and drank it all in one gulp.

A third-tier Martial Saint, huh?
almost.

(End of this chapter)