Chunming City, the "Useless" Tavern.
Sun Hang was still sitting in his usual seat. Across from him sat Candle Dragon, who had only recently gotten off the plane.
Candle Dragon lifted his glass and took a small sip. "Whew... still that familiar taste. It really brings back memories."
"You're not attending the victory banquet in Tianfu City either?" Sun Hang asked.
"Did you forget that I gave up my vacation to help you?" Candle Dragon smiled gently. "Now that Tianfu City's predicament has been resolved, of course I have to come back and enjoy what little vacation I have left... But you called me here so urgently. Is something wrong?"
"If I told you Pei Zongjun was dead, would you believe me?" Sun Hang said calmly.
The smile on Candle Dragon's face instantly froze. A suffocating chill erupted from him, drawing the attention of the tavern's other patrons. It was the height of summer, and the air-conditioning panel displayed twenty-two degrees, yet a thin layer of white frost had already coated the tables, chairs, floor, and bookshelves around Candle Dragon.
Some of the more timid customers quietly rose to their feet and edged toward the tavern entrance, detouring around Sun Hang's table. More customers, however, watched the two of them with excited expressions, as though afraid of missing the show that was about to unfold.
Candle Dragon stared at Sun Hang for a full twenty seconds before abruptly standing. "This isn't the place to talk. Follow me."
The frost instantly melted away, and the temperature inside the tavern gradually began to rise again.
Candle Dragon turned and strode straight toward the tavern entrance, scaring the few customers who had been planning to slip away into scrambling back to their seats.
"Sorry for the trouble, boss," Candle Dragon said to the