Fusion III

After Jiang Jingnian came out of the restroom.

He continued wandering around the department store.

"I really want this piano..."

As he passed through the luxury furniture section, Jiang Jingnian spotted a grand piano enclosed by a railing in the corner. His eyes widened involuntarily.

The piano exuded a Western classical style. Time had left mottled marks upon it, and its jet-black lacquer bore shattered, crackling lines.

Yet none of that diminished the piano's attraction to Jiang Jingnian.

[Flame Demon Netherflower Grand Piano: One of the heirlooms of the Barlo Lineage of the Kingdom of Migallon. Carved from the core of a Great Flame Demon, it possesses the effect of a blazing flame aura and can elevate the performer's spiritual sight. It was placed in Barlow Department Store by Viscount Barlo's second son to guard against petty thieves and drive away Demon Wraiths. Contains the Flame Lure trait; after devouring it, related entries may be derived.]

[Note: This item possesses a degree of spirituality and can retaliate on its own. One must burn incense, bathe, fast and calm one's mind for three days, then feed it with fingertip blood to dispel its fiery aura before it can be devoured and refined.]

"A special item with spirituality?"

This was the first time Jiang Jingnian had seen such explanatory information, and he instinctively wanted to move closer for a better look.

However, a burly male clerk was guarding the railing near the piano. Seeing Jiang Jingnian approach, he merely raised a hand to stop him and reminded him, "Sir, this piano is an antique used for decoration. It is not for sale. Please do not approach."

His everyday duty was not to introduce or sell the nearby furniture, but to guard this single antique piano.

If some blind fool of a robber truly showed up, he would not need to put up any fierce resistance. He only had to press the alarm device at hand, and foreign experts would naturally appear.

Of course, the male clerk had worked at the department store for nearly ten years and had never seen anyone dare to cause trouble at Barlow Department Store. Even top experts among martial artists had to shop here obediently.

"I'm just looking, just looking. To be honest, I'm also someone who loves music."

Jiang Jingnian stopped where he was and merely nodded with a genial smile.

He had no intention of clashing with anyone here.

Any fool knew it.

A foreign noble capable of opening such an enormous department store in the heart of Nanpu Bund could not possibly have a weak power behind him. Even the local top aristocratic families likely did not dare offend him.

The male clerk nodded slightly without responding, remaining beside the railing.

"These foreign nobles really do have quite a few fine things in their hands!"

"What a pity, what a pity. I'm still too weak."

The swelling pride Jiang Jingnian had felt after growing somewhat stronger sobered up by several degrees.

In such chaotic times.

He was still not strong enough.

There were still many whose voices carried farther than his.

"Perhaps one day, the voice I raise will drown out every last bit of noise."

Jiang Jingnian examined the grand piano for a long while as though admiring a work of art, then finally turned and left.

While he looked at it, his gaze brimmed with reluctance.

But when he departed, he did not drag his feet in the slightest. Even his eyes became utterly indifferent, as though he had never seen that trait-bearing grand piano at all.

Things he could not obtain for the time being.

Were not worth dwelling upon or thinking over, lest they only add to his troubles.

As long as he became stronger in the future, this item he had already set his sights on would sooner or later be devoured and refined by him.

Jiang Jingnian then continued strolling through the department store. It was nearly eleven at night before he found an item containing Metal Nature in the jewelry section.

"I think I missed this display case in the corner earlier. I didn't expect there really would be jewelry with Metal Nature."

For Jiang Jingnian, this was an unexpected delight.

Then again, he had only given the place a rough once-over earlier. He had not examined many of the inner display cases closely, so missing plenty of goods was only natural.

"This sapphire Xiang necklace, I..."

Jiang Jingnian pointed at the jewelry inside the display case while speaking to the female clerk behind it. After glancing at the marked price, he estimated that the silver dollars he carried should be enough.

"I'll take this Xiang necklace!"

Before he could finish, a young woman's voice sounded from behind him.

Jiang Jingnian could not be bothered with a customer who suddenly tried to cut in line. Without even turning his head, he said to the female clerk, "First come, first served. That should be your department store's rule, shouldn't it?"

"Yes, sir. This is the item you selected first, so you naturally have priority."

The female clerk maintained her professional smile as she took the sapphire Xiang necklace from the display case and presented it before Jiang Jingnian with both hands. "Sir, may I ask if you are confirming this purchase? If not, this Xiang necklace will be given to that lady."

"Of course I'm confirming it."

Jiang Jingnian nodded. Ignoring the protesting voice of the female customer behind him, he directly pulled banknotes and silver dollars from his coat. "Please count them."

He had originally carried several hundred silver dollars given to him by his master, but he had nearly spent them all in this one night.

But it did not matter.

If money was gone, he could earn more. If earning it was too slow, he could borrow more.

His status as an escort master now gave him the threshold qualification to borrow from banks and money houses.

"The total is two hundred and thirteen silver dollars. Sir, please keep these safe."

After counting the banknotes and silver dollars, the female clerk gave Jiang Jingnian a handwritten receipt. She then wrapped the Xiang necklace in a paper bag before his eyes and handed it over.

Jiang Jingnian took the bag. The goods and payment were settled.

The entire process was so swift that it seemed less like buying an expensive Xiang necklace and more like buying vegetables at a market.

"Brother Shiming, this man is a grown man, yet he's competing with a woman like me for jewelry!"

The female customer who had tried to cut in line earlier was a flamboyantly dressed dancer. She had not even had time to change out of her dance costume before rushing to the department store to shop.

Seeing Jiang Jingnian holding the bag and ignoring her throughout, she could not help tugging Tang Shiming's sleeve beside her, pouting in displeasure as she coquettishly complained.

Inside Barlow Department Store, Jiang Jingnian was not worried that any conflict would arise. Without even glancing at the man and woman, he prepared to turn and leave.

"...You brat from Tongda Escort Agency, you're actually still alive?"

Tang Shiming had initially intended to casually comfort the female companion beside him. After all, it was only a piece of jewelry. But when he caught sight of the youth's profile from the corner of his eye, surprise also appeared on his face.

He was not familiar with this youth wearing an escort master's uniform.

But neither was he unfamiliar with him.

After all, there had only been so many people from escort agencies summoned that night to encircle the Demon Wraiths. Their group of martial artists had secretly observed and guarded against one another for a while, so they naturally had some impression of him.

It was only that the situation with the Demon Wraiths later exceeded everyone's imagination. Many people died, and in the end, they all scattered and fled in different directions. Even so, most had failed to make it out alive.

Hearing those words, Jiang Jingnian halted. He turned his head to glance at the tall man in the distance and discovered that he was Tang Shiming of the Flying Feather Fist, the Marrow Tempering Stage Martial Master who had stood with Huo Qi back then.

"Just luck."

Jiang Jingnian tossed out those words without engaging in further pleasantries, then turned and left the display case area.

After all, he and this Tang Shiming had met only once.

As he walked outside, one hand slipped into the paper bag. From an angle no one else could see, he directly refined the Xiang necklace inside.

[Cultivation method fusion requires Metal Nature (2/2).]

[Fuse.]

Jiang Jingnian's eyes flashed. He tucked the small paper bag into his coat, and his steps became incomparably light.