Chapter 3, Bar

Ten steps

In a dimly lit corner, three middle-aged men dressed in loose robes were engaged in a card game, which was the only table occupied in the bar. However, they were not like other gamblers who shouted profanities and boasted loudly. Instead, they quietly lowered their heads, meticulously focused on their cards, contemplating what to play next and which card to draw. Their movements were unhurried, and they paid no attention to the unexpected intruder who had suddenly barged in.

The sound is not loud, but it is sufficient to spread throughout the entire bar

Not yet, but it will be soon, come in! The female boss smiled, and she suddenly felt that the other party must be a very interesting person

The bartender is a young man in his mid-twenties, dressed in a black and white interwoven vest. His face appears quite youthful, yet there is always a sense that something is concealed behind this youthfulness. Upon hearing the words of the female boss, the bartender smiled politely, picked up an aluminum cocktail shaker from the table, and then twirled the shaker around his arm before steadily resting it in his palm. He then poured some Sprite into it, raised his hand with the bottle upside down, and the liquid slowly flowed into the glass, emitting a delicate shimmer, like stars falling into the sea. Bubbles rose, filling the drink with allure

Although the bar is not large, the only chandelier cannot illuminate the entire space. The gramophone plays Zhou Xuan's "The Songstress of the End of the World." Her delicate and petite voice floats in the air, making one feel as if they are in old Shanghai of the 1990s

Well then! Yin Huan displayed a look of indecision on her face, extending a finger to point left for a moment, then right for another, swaying uncertainly until the two individuals nearly became dizzy from her gestures, only to retract her finger: "Forget it, just bring me a glass of plain water!"

However, as he put down the wine glass, the bartender's expression darkened, for he realized that all along, this guy had not even glanced at him once. Could it be that his impressively cool skills failed to attract even the slightest bit of attention? The bartender felt a sense of being overlooked.

Boiled water? The female boss suddenly realized that there are indeed such exquisite things in this world. Yes, it lacks taste, but it is quite interesting

In the moment her gaze was fixed, the female boss's eyes lit up. To her surprise, the visitor this time was a new customer, with distinct features, sharp eyebrows, and bright teeth. The slender, pointed chin appeared almost like a work of art under the dim light, compelling her to steal a few more glances.

Oh dear... why is this a child's drink... Nutritional Express is a good product suitable for all ages!" After hearing this, the boss's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. It is said that there have been many salespeople in the city recently; could this person be one of them? However, before confirming, driven by her instinct as a businessperson, she still maintained a smile on her face as she looked at Yin Huan, showing no signs of anger at all

Passerby, I would like to come in for a drink, but I am not sure if you are closed for the day

As the wooden door was pushed to its limit, time seemed to come to a standstill. Then, in the eerie silence, a sound reminiscent of a painful collision echoed, and a chilling gust, mixed with fine raindrops, mercilessly blew in through the crack of the door. The sudden chill made the owner shiver violently, nearly causing him to shatter the glass wine cup he was wiping.

I am sorry, we truly do not have the beverage you need

She murmured softly and then went to wipe other wine glasses

The murderous intent suddenly vanished, and the entire space fell silent once more, with only the sound of heavy breathing remaining

It was only when the gust of wind from outside rushed in that the female boss came to her senses and shouted at the person, "Hey, friend, could you please close the door? It's very cold."

thirty steps

"Who?" The female boss paused her hand as she was wiping the glass, casually lifting her head to reveal a rather attractive face. The light shone on her face, revealing a hint of the uncanny.

Yin Huan remained silent, gazing at the liquid in his cup, until one of the three individuals at the card table behind him seemed to have won and began to laugh maniacally. The unpleasant laughter filled his ears, prompting him to speak to the female boss, articulating his words slowly and deliberately.

Boss, do you know that the decor of this bar is quite poor and tends to attract some unclean entities, for example—Japanese yokai

Twenty steps

"Hello... boss, do you have Nutritional Express?" After saying this, he tapped his fingers on the counter a few times.

The female boss was clearly taken aback by the man's unexpected request. After a few seconds of surprise, she shrugged her shoulders and displayed an expression of helplessness, saying, "I'm sorry, sir, but we do not sell children's drinks here"

As the wooden door closed tightly, the female boss's eyes twitched sharply, and the hanging chandelier also shook a few times, causing the light in the bar to dim significantly. The halo refracted on the wine glass was inexplicably shrouded in a Gothic hue

Knock knock knock ... ... Under the dim neon lights, a series of knocking sounds echoed, bouncing around the end of the alley, filled with a chilling ghostly atmosphere

After speaking, she turned around and pointed to the wine cabinet behind her: "You might as well try this bottle of French red wine from 1993; of course, Portuguese champagne is also a very tasteful choice. Whether chilled or paired, I believe our bartender will ensure you leave satisfied"

This is a bar located deep within an alley! The decor is outdated, and even the sign has fallen apart. Coupled with the frequent urban renovations in recent years, the once-thriving establishment has gradually become a thing of the past. Development and aspirations for future achievements have buried the beauty of the past. The saying "the clouds change and the dogs grow old" reflects this principle of constant change.

Yin Huan nodded expressionlessly, extended his right hand, and gently pushed against the old wooden door, which once again emitted a series of creaking sounds.

The voices of the three people playing cards behind him suddenly quieted down, replaced by a brief silence. Yin Huan could clearly hear their heavy breathing and the ever-approaching intent to kill

"Do as instructed!" The female boss snapped her fingers at the bartender behind her. This time, the bartender did not say much and directly placed a glass of white liquid in front of Yin Huan

Placing the removed sunglasses on the table, Yin Huan casually glanced at the three men, a fleeting look of surprise in her eyes, which was quickly replaced by a playful, doll-like expression.