The Strange Bar and the Handsome Bartender

The key reasons Card Spirits rank up

1. The Card Spirit must be smart. The higher its spirituality, the faster it ranks up.

2. Let the Card Spirit act according to its nature and do what it naturally enjoys.

3. In battle, it was best to let the Card Spirit take the initiative and make its own decisions.

Chen Xiao Diao snapped her fingers. "Got it. It's about letting the Card Spirit be itself!"

Lin Chen nodded in agreement. A simple-minded person could sometimes sum things up far more concisely.

"You can even add a fourth rule: 'Cater to its preferences. The Card Master should take the initiative to provide the Card Spirit with the things it likes.'"

The more Lin Chen thought about it, the more convinced he became, and the louder he spoke:

"Who says Card Masters have to be aloof commanders controlling their cards? Who says the Card Spirits must serve the Card Masters?

"We can also nurture Card Spirits like loving parents or comrades bound by a brotherly bond—feeding them well and treating them well. Command-style card control, feeding-style card nurturing!

"Others train their cards like dogs, but I treat my Card Spirits like brothers!

"'Who says I have no clothes? I'll share my robes with my cards. I'll mend my weapons and march alongside my cards!'"

After hearing Lin Chen's speech, Chen Xiao Diao grabbed his belt and shook him furiously, as if beating gongs and drums for him.

"Ahhhhh! That's so impassioned and moving! Brother Chen, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. You've spoken straight to my heart!"

Chen Xiao Diao was an orphan who had grown up with nothing but cards for company. She truly had deep feelings for Card Spirits and wholeheartedly agreed with Lin Chen's philosophy.

The card-control philosophy Lin Chen had proposed was indeed an extremely novel perspective.

Nowadays, most Card Masters treated cards as tools, technological products, or servants.

It was an extremely utilitarian attitude from those in a position of power, and with such an attitude, it was indeed difficult to liberate a Card Spirit's nature.

Their train of thought had wandered too far, so they returned to practical matters.

Following this method of nurturing cards, how could Lin Chen let his own Card Spirits act according to their natures?

The Door Gods' nature was to be Loyal to Lord, Protect Master, bless and protect the household, and drive away evil and punish wickedness.

There were no supernatural monsters for the Door Gods to fight at the moment, so he would first let the two Door Gods stand guard outside his door at night and enjoy themselves.

His other card, Qinghe County Exile Fighter Wu Song, was still relatively low-ranked and had plenty of room to grow. He was worth investing in and nurturing properly.

Catering to Wu Song's preferences was simple: let him drink to his heart's content!

Drinking was Wu Song's greatest passion in life.

In the original text of Water Margin, Wu Song had said of himself: "For every measure of wine I drink, I gain a measure of strength. If I drink ten measures, I don't know where that strength comes from!"

To Wu Song, alcohol was the essence of grain—the more he drank, the more vigorous he became!

So, finding a material or Item Card with a wine attribute and using it to advance or equip Wu Song would help enhance his spirituality.

Lin Chen turned to Chen Xiao Diao, and as it happened, Lu Zhishen was also wildly fond of alcohol.

Lin Chen's plan was already crystal clear.

"Chen Xiao Diao, we're going to buy some wine!"

As heroes and brave men, how could they go without wine for company?

The author had come in person to ask for votes and follows!

To the author, votes were the essence of grain—the more readers cast, the more vigorous he became!

Happy Qingming Festival, everyone! My family even performed a ritual for the Door Gods today. It just so happens that this book begins with summoning Door Gods. Traditional culture was no longer something rotten and boring at this moment; through my writing, it had instead gained a different kind of charm. This must be the purpose of writing, I suppose. Let's encourage one another~

Thanks to Happy Hammer, book friend 20210301104144344050, Qingjing Wuai, Red Black Blue Gold, and Strongest Dragon for the monthly votes!

Chapter 23: The Strange Bar and the Handsome Bartender

Lin Chen first searched the card shop for wine-attribute card materials, but he found nothing.

He looked at Chen Xiao Diao and told her to find a source quickly. As a Card Master from the official Security Bureau, she ought to be of some use.

Chen Xiao Diao thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "I've got it!"

"While I was patrolling before, I found a bar whose owner is also a Card Master. He even knows how to brew wine!"

"He should be able to brew wine-attribute materials at his shop. Even if he can't, he probably knows quite a bit about wine, so we can go ask him!"

Chen Xiao Diao was swift and decisive, and she immediately began dragging Lin Chen along.

Lin Chen was puzzled. "Wait, wait. It's so early in the morning. Is the bar even open now?"

Chen Xiao Diao countered, "If bars don't open during the day, do they open at night instead? Where would they find any customers at night?"

Only then did Lin Chen realize that, in this world, supernatural oddities ran rampant. Ordinary people generally did not go outside at night, so there was no such thing as nightlife. Bars, therefore, opened during the day.

Before they left, Chen Xiao Diao also transferred the reward the Security Bureau had approved for Lin Chen—an even fifty thousand yuan—along with an officially certified "Brave and Righteous" medal.

With this medal, if Lin Chen encountered people from the Security Bureau in the future, they would know that he was an orderly Card Master who had assisted and cooperated with the authorities. Simply showing it would at least earn him some goodwill.

Moreover, most Card Masters who received this kind of medal would eventually be recruited by the Security Bureau. It was practically an "invitation to join."

With his wallet bulging, he was even more motivated to go out and spend!

Chen Xiao Diao had come on a motorcycle provided by the Security Bureau, while Lin Chen had no means of transportation.

He could only sit on the back of Chen Xiao Diao's motorcycle, which inevitably made him feel a little awkward.

Lin Chen mentally added another item to his list. I need to make another Vehicle Card too. Otherwise, it's far too inconvenient!

They sped along, taking countless twists and turns before arriving at their destination in a secluded alley.

It was an old, low-rise building. Although it was bright daylight, the place stood in a remote alley surrounded and blocked by high-rises, leaving the sunlight unable to reach it and creating a dark, nighttime atmosphere.

Clusters of ivy and grapevines climbed the bar's outer walls, with neon lights hanging from the vines and glittering with hypnotic fluorescence.

A lightbox hung above the storefront on the first floor, bearing the words: "When proud, revel to the fullest; buy drunkenness as though buying rebirth."

Even before entering, they could smell the rich, intoxicating aroma of grape wine.

Chen Xiao Diao pushed the door open and led Lin Chen inside.

The interior had the ordinary layout of a bar: dim yellow lighting, an ambiguous atmosphere, and a few scattered drinkers seated around.

The walls were hung with many oil paintings of bare women reclining against wine barrels, adding a somewhat lewd air to the place.

Lin Chen understood it well enough. Bars were originally places where men and women came to get drunk and go on dates, so putting up furnishings and paintings that enhanced the atmosphere could also be considered a way of stoking desire.

The bar counter stood at the very back. An extraordinarily handsome young man was mixing drinks there, a crown woven from grapevines resting on his head. Behind him, the liquor cabinet was filled with amphorae and all kinds of barware.

The young man noticed the two customers and nodded with a smile.

Chen Xiao Diao went over, climbed onto a high stool in front of the bar, and called out, "Amber, let me introduce you to a friend."

Only after approaching did Lin Chen discover that the young man had Western features: a high bridge of the nose, amber-colored eyes, and soft facial contours. He was so beautiful he looked almost like a woman!

He had been born with an androgynous appearance. Just one glance was enough to make desire stir uncontrollably in a person's heart.

Chen Xiao Diao continued her introduction. "This is Amber, the owner of this bar."

Then she pointed at Lin Chen. "And this is Lin Chen, my friend and a Card Master."

The handsome young man proactively extended a hand as white as mutton-fat jade. "Hello~"

Lin Chen finally came back to himself. He shook the hand and returned the greeting, but strangely, an involuntary flush spread across his face, as though his lust had been forcibly stirred.

Amber spoke first. "How has Chief Chen found the time to visit my shop? I remember you don't drink~"

Chen Xiao Diao said, "I don't drink, but Lin Chen and I need wine-attribute materials to advance cards, so we came to ask you about them."

Amber's brows relaxed slightly. "My wine cellar can indeed brew wine with relatively high spirituality.

"It's just unfortunate that every batch is highly sought after. The previous batch has already been reserved by regular customers."

Chen Xiao Diao stamped her foot. "Ah, I didn't realize your shop was doing so well! We came one step too late!"

Amber smiled. "I wouldn't say it's doing well. I just have a few regulars."

He then glanced at Lin Chen and continued, "But you can reserve the next batch. It's already brewing, and it should be ready in a few days."

Chen Xiao Diao happily stood on the stool. "That's wonderful! Thank goodness for you. Then we'll reserve two portions of spirit wine for now!"

She was about to pay a deposit, but when she saw the balance in her account, she awkwardly tugged at Lin Chen's sleeve and said:

"Brother Chen, my salary hasn't come in yet. Could you cover it for me first...?"

Lin Chen had plenty of savings and felt no pressure, so he immediately transferred Amber a deposit equivalent to the market price of two White Cards.

Amber took out a registration form and said, "Sorry to trouble you both, but please register your basic information."

Lin Chen was puzzled. "This needs to be registered too?"

Chen Xiao Diao explained, "According to Card Association Security Bureau regulations, any shop that trades in card materials with spirituality must register the order details and the buyer's identity and source channel, making it easier to supervise and track the card materials."

Since it was an official regulation, Lin Chen naturally complied. The two of them each wrote down their names and addresses.

"Mission accomplished! I didn't expect it to go so smoothly. Brother Chen, tell me—am I not your lucky star?"

Chen Xiao Diao immediately began taking credit.

Lin Chen, meanwhile, was extremely curious about the production of the spirit wine, so he asked, "Mr. Amber, forgive me for asking, but how are you able to consistently produce wine with such high spirituality here?"

Amber explained, "My Lineage has inherited centuries of brewing techniques. On top of that, the wine cellar beneath this shop is a century-old cellar, with plenty of accumulated heritage and spirituality.

"Most importantly, the 'raw materials' I use for brewing are good enough as well. With all these factors combined, the chances of producing spirit wine are very high."

Chen Xiao Diao chimed in, "That's true. Techniques and crafts passed down through many generations are especially likely to produce spiritual creations.

"Several members of the Card Creation Team in our Security Bureau also come from family traditions."

Lin Chen nodded, gaining some understanding of the logic behind it.

Crafts with long-standing traditions inevitably contained the blood, sweat, and convictions of several generations.

In his previous life, there had been many artisans who elevated their ancestral skills into art, viewing them as the Dao and even worshiping them as divine.

Artisans who brought the craftsman's spirit to its extreme were often respectfully called this or that Immortal—Sushi Immortal, Cooking Immortal, and the like. It was clear how deeply people revered those with profound mastery of their craft.

According to the laws of this world that Lin Chen had deduced, when the power of faith gathered, spirituality was born. Crafts with long-standing traditions were concentrations of conviction, and therefore could produce Spirit Item materials.

"Thank you for clearing that up!"