Chapter 1110: J of the Block

The tavern was old. The air, in addition to the pungent smell of strong liquor, was mixed with the musty odor of decaying old wood and a long-un aired staleness, causing Jian Changsheng to instinctively frown.

The Tian Shu Domain had always impressed him as orderly and clean; he hadn't expected to find a place like this here.

In the dim interior, only the kerosene lamp on the bar burned silently. Noticing the new arrivals, the bartender, clearly over fifty, glanced at them, his eyes flickering with both doubt and wariness.

Jian Changsheng paid no attention to the bartender. He scanned the tavern and saw only one other person besides the bartender: a tall, thin figure, completely drunk, slumped in a corner as if dead.

"That's him," Jian Changsheng said with a slight nod.

Jian Changsheng recognized the man; they had seen him when traveling to the Boundless Domain, though they hadn't spoken. It was Jack of Diamonds from the Twilight Society.

"Why is he so incredibly drunk?"

"I don't know... Let's wake him up first."

Jian Changsheng walked directly towards Jack of Diamonds. Just then, the bartender, who had remained silent, suddenly appeared and blocked his path.

"Gentlemen, if you're not here to drink, please leave," the bartender said, his voice extremely low, his gaze at Jian Changsheng and his companions glinting with a faint chill.

"It's fine... A Duo."

The completely drunk Jack of Diamonds spoke lazily. His hand fumbled in the air for a moment before finally grasping a corner of the sofa. He then stumbled, attempting to rise... but his legs gave way, and he slumped back onto the sofa, his eyes blearily squinting.

Too drunk to stand, Jack of Diamonds stopped struggling. He simply lay back down and spoke slowly:

"These are my juniors... *hiccup*... Get them each a glass of whiskey... They'll pay themselves."

The bartender looked at Jian Changsheng and his companions with surprise for a few moments, then ceased his obstruction. He turned and went behind the bar, busying himself in the dim light.

Staring at the utterly drunk Jack of Diamonds, Jian Changsheng frowned deeply. He quietly leaned towards Sun Bumian's ear and whispered:

"Jack, are you sure this guy is reliable?"

"To be honest... probably not," Sun Bumian replied, spreading his hands. "But he's our only option right now."

Jian Changsheng sighed, preparing to sit on the sofa, but his peripheral vision caught sight of some unknown, dried liquid stains on its surface. His mouth twitched slightly, and he silently opted to stand by the table.

Jian Changsheng, Sun Bumian, and Jiang Xiaohua stood in a neat row, staring at Jack of Diamonds sprawled on the sofa, as if attending a wake, only missing white flowers in their hands and memorial music.

"...Can't you guys sit down?" Jack of Diamonds felt a shiver, his drunkenness mostly dissipating. "I'm drunk, not dead!"

In the end, it was Jiang Xiaohua who found three small stools from somewhere, allowing the trio to sit by the table. At this point, the bartender also served several glasses of strong liquor, then wisely retreated into the storage room.

The dim tavern immediately fell into a deathly silence. Jian Changsheng and Sun Bumian sat upright and formally, while only Jiang Xiaohua curiously poked at the spherical ice cubes in her glass, producing faint clinking sounds.

Jack of Diamonds sat up groggily, supporting his head with one hand. Instinctively, he picked up the glass in front of him and took a sip, then let out a pungent, foul-smelling burp.

"What? Have three renowned 'Generation 6' individuals come to find me... Is there something important?"

"We want to know the location of the Fusion Faction," Jian Changsheng stated directly.

"...Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Jack of Diamonds' eyes. "Why are you going to the Fusion Faction? Are we making a move on them? Didn't we just finish fighting the Flame Usurpers??"

"..." Sun Bumian was somewhat speechless. "We're going to the Fusion Faction to find someone."

"Find someone..."

Jack of Diamonds' gaze swept over the three 'Generation 6' individuals in front of him. As if realizing something, his expression became subtly nuanced. "Oh, so you're looking for Mocking Calamity."

Hearing the words "Mocking Calamity," the expressions of Jian Changsheng, Sun Bumian, and Jiang Xiaohua changed simultaneously.

All three abruptly stood up. The aura of the Soldier, Opera, and Shaman Divine Paths instantly permeated the entire tavern, causing the glasses on the table to tremble slightly!

Bang—!

"You said... who is Mocking Calamity?" Jian Changsheng slammed his fist onto the table, a chilling murderous aura surging from his eyes.

The Soldier Divine Path's murderous intent raged through the room; Sun Bumian stared coldly at Jack of Diamonds, concentric rings spreading in his pupils behind his small round sunglasses; Jiang Xiaohua silently pulled out a strand of Jack of Diamonds' hair from the sofa corner and skillfully tied a knot with it between her fingers...

Sun Bumian and the others had witnessed Chen Ling transform into Nuo and save everyone. They clearly understood that Mocking Calamity was one entity, and Chen Ling was another. For Jack of Diamonds to directly refer to Chen Ling as Mocking Calamity now was no different from a direct and highly offensive insult.

"Jack of Diamonds, though you are our senior, I must remind you... if it weren't for Chen Ling, you'd still be a corpse right now," Sun Bumian said, his tone somewhat unfriendly.

"Exactly," Jiang Xiaohua mumbled. "Your salary comes from him..."

Jack of Diamonds saw their reactions, his eyebrows arching slightly before he suddenly smiled.

"Alright, alright, my mistake. I was still half-asleep from drinking too much last night... However, rumors are everywhere now that Six of Hearts *is* Mocking Calamity. The public won't listen to explanations like that."

"You should mind your own business first."

Jian Changsheng had originally intended to turn and leave, but Sun Bumian's hand under the table stopped him. Although Jack of Diamonds' very first words were offensive, he was indeed their fastest way to find Six of Hearts. After a long internal struggle, Jian Changsheng grudgingly sat back down.

"Finding the Fusion Faction's location isn't that easy," Jack of Diamonds began slowly.

"Even if I tell you, you might not find it. The Grey Realm is vast, and there are no detailed maps to guide you. You'd most likely get lost near those disaster-stricken territories... Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless I take you there myself."

Jian Changsheng retorted irritably, "You'll lead the way yourself? Are you that benevolent?"

Jack of Diamonds had left a terrible first impression on Jian Changsheng and the others. Now that he was offering to lead them, they naturally distrusted him and felt an innate resistance.

"Anyway, I'm doing nothing here," Jack of Diamonds shrugged. "After returning from the Boundless Domain, Red King told me to stand by here, but I haven't received any assignments after all these days... He probably forgot all about me.

Instead of wasting time here, I might as well find something to do... However, I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"You have to drink with me."

Jack of Diamonds lay back on the sofa, spreading his hands. "Look, drinking is my only hobby. The only reason I don't want to be here is because it's too boring, drinking all alone... Since you want me to guide you, shouldn't someone be sent to drink with me? That would make it worth my while, wouldn't it?

This is my only condition. If you don't agree, then forget it..."