Qin Siyang passed the Woman's stall without striking up a conversation this time.
The Woman also pretended not to recognize him, calmly quoting prices to customers buying cigarettes as she always did.
Once Qin Siyang was far away, the Woman murmured, "He finally made it back before trouble started."
Beside her, Liu Dao Wu asked, "Master, do you mean we got back in time after repairing the tunnel, or we'd have been in trouble?"
The Woman didn't answer. She merely said, "You have a customer. Go help them."
"Oh, okay."
Once Qin Siyang left the Underground City, his publicity campaign was more or less complete.
He concealed himself and headed for his villa halfway up the mountain, planning to rest and recover before deciding what to do next.
But as he passed the foot of the mountain, he couldn't help stopping.
He discovered that [Johnny's Tavern] was still open for business.
Qin Siyang thought back. Old Johnny had always run Johnny's Tavern alone, serving as owner, bartender, and waiter. That hadn't changed in years.
Now that Old Johnny had been transferred back to the Main Safe Zone, the tavern hadn't closed down. Business was actually better than ever. Who was running it now?
Curious, Qin Siyang pushed open the heavy oak door.
A wave of heat washed over him, and the familiar clamor filled his ears.
The patrons were still playing drinking games and boasting away, as lively as ever.
In the dim yellow light, Qin Siyang looked at the figure behind the bar.
It was a lean young man. Dressed in a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, he was wiping a glass with his head lowered.
The man raised his head. When his gaze swept over Qin Siyang, whose figure and features were concealed, he put on