What on earth did I do?

Just as Huai Shi grappled with the Book of Fate, unable to comprehend it, he heard a knock on the art museum's door.

Although the distance was great, the knocking sounded as if it echoed next to his ear.

Only now did he realize that the entire art museum seemed to be within his perception. Every detail and change was vividly before his eyes. With a mere thought, anything stored in the various rooms would appear at his hand, and the main door could easily be opened and locked, like a fortress.

The Old Skeleton had handed over control of the art museum to him before dying. Unfortunately, pretty much everything had been carted away by the stingy Music Association...

All that was left were some bits and pieces of daily necessities and an exchange list.

The list was filled with the dazzling names of musicians, their essential manuscripts, various Border Relic level instruments... and the equally dazzling exchange prices on the back.

Source Crystals, starting at ten or more.

In other words, if one wanted to exchange them for Dongxia Yuan, even at the lowest exchange rate, the cheapest would cost over twenty million!

"Twenty million? Have I gone mad, exchanging twenty million for a manuscript, and I can only look at it once..."

Huai Shi casually kicked the exchange list into his pocket and headed towards the door. As he opened it, he saw the backpacker waiting outside.

A face mask, hood, gloves, and sunglasses, completely shrouded in a long robe, not a bit of skin exposed, looking mysteriously ominous.

"YO!"

The visitor waved at him rather familiarly. "Excuse me, are you Huai Shi?"

"...Uh."

Huai Shi thought for a long time but couldn't remember where he had seen such a mysterious person. "Who might you be?"

"NO.2. I thought you'd heard of me from someone else."

The mysterious person shrugged. This finally made Huai Shi remember the mysterious individual who ranked above him. Seemingly a member of the Astronomical Society, they had never revealed their identity since the start of the competition.

This sudden visit left Huai Shi somewhat bewildered.

"May I ask what brings you here?"

The mysterious person shrugged and pointed behind the door. "Can we talk inside? I crossed the entire district to find this place. It'd be great if you could let me rest for a while."

You certainly don't stand on ceremony.

Huai Shi hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and stepped aside. "Although this isn't my place, please come in..."

The mysterious person swaggered in, seemingly unworried that Huai Shi might have laid a trap. He passed through the opulent hall, marveling at the lavish decorations on the corridor walls.

"It's really the Hell Music Association, eh! The place is big, and they're so wealthy and extravagant. Too impressive."

The mysterious person sighed deeply. "We just can't compare at all. They don't even provide food, and we have to sleep on the chairs used for washing customers' hair. It's beyond miserable."

"Is it that difficult?" Huai Shi was taken aback, then curious. "You're at...?"

The mysterious person chuckled, pulling a rolled-up leather strap from his pocket. With a flick of his hand, a row of various colored scissors and combs was revealed, carrying the faint scent of hair clippings and pomade.

"—The Abyss Styling Association."

The mysterious person shrugged. "Simply put, it's haircutting, with a bit of bloodletting treatment... Ah, right, just call me Tony."

Huai Shi's expression twitched.

Hell really did have everything! There's even a Hairdressers Association, and they even copied Teacher Tony's name wholesale—isn't that a bit lazy?

"After all, a name is just a name." Tony waved his hand nonchalantly. "If you prefer, you can call me Kevin or Allen."

"Tony is fine."

Huai Shi led the way. A bold idea suddenly came to him. He looked back at Tony's tool-laden backpack and stroked his chin. "That would mean..."

As if knowing what he was thinking, Tony gestured his refusal. "Your hairstyle is quite good. No need to cut it; there's nothing much to cut."

"..."

Huai Shi was at a loss for words.

He had thought that a hairdresser from Hell might be able to trim his excessively long hair. Even if not styling it, just cutting it back to how it was before would have been fine.

"I could do a simple haircut, but there's no need."

Tony explained, "Haircutting and styling are meant to enhance beauty to the fullest. Your current appearance is a pure Stigma extension, a perfect reflection of a miracle in human form, requiring no changes. If I forcefully cut your hair, it could actually affect the Stigma's functioning."

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Huai Shi questioned. "It's just a haircut, right?"

Tony looked at him oddly.

"What's the matter?"

"No, you probably don't quite understand yet."

After settling into a chair in the lounge, Tony dropped his backpack and slumped down. "Honestly, for a newcomer like you, who's still somewhat clueless yet became a Disastrous Musician and an Official Chef Demon, it's quite impressive. Were you always grinding levels at Ten Li Slope before this?"

"What's Ten Li Slope?"

"AHEM, just an inside joke in the archaeological team. Please don't mind it."

After a moment of contemplation, Tony said earnestly, "The so-called stylist aims to enhance a client's features and beauty to the greatest extent. Whether it's haircutting or dyeing, those are just minor details. In the end, everything is to showcase 'beauty' in the most direct way. Can you understand that?"

"Are you trying to say effeminacy is also beauty?"

Huai Shi's expression twitched.

"Doesn't the Mountain Ghost embody a kind of dark beauty?"

Tony's words made Huai Shi pause. Why does everyone damn well know I'm from the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy?

How am I supposed to happily be a second fifth at this rate!

Tony spread out his hand. Frost instantly coalesced and rose up, forming a strikingly lifelike bust of Huai Shi.

Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy·Path of Dusk—Third Stage·Frost Giant.

"Honestly, there aren't many Sublimators from the Current Circumstances Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy left now. I was quite shocked when I saw you. You haven't been conned by the archaeological team's interest-free loans, have you? That bunch is always thinking of ways to draw new people into the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy for Abyss development..."

"Uh... I guess I was tricked and lured onto this pirate ship."

Huai Shi shrugged helplessly, then his eyes brightened. "Wait, the archaeological team has interest-free loans? Is it too late to apply now?"

"It's only available for new Sublimators before the First Stage. You're too late to take advantage of that now."

Tony gave a knowing chuckle, seemingly scrutinizing Huai Shi. Soon, the gaze behind his sunglasses softened a bit. "What were we talking about just now?"

"Hairdressers."

"Right, hairdressers." Tony spread his hands and continued, "Simply put, this job is about better reflecting the beauty of miracles on Sublimators. It also involves correcting phenomena caused by low compatibility between Sublimators and their Stigma, like beastification or pathological mutations, that sort of thing."

Huai Shi was stunned for a long moment, then inhaled sharply.

The styling parlors in the Abyss can actually correct and transform Stigma?

That's way too freaky!

"After all, since ancient times, hairdressers from Rome were known for bloodletting therapy and surgery. Those are all quite profound techniques. My ability, at best, is only enough to remove some superficial mutations."

Tony said leisurely, "Now you understand, right? The guilds registered at the Homeless Cemetery are all known for their unique techniques and abilities."

"For example, the Hell Music Association's Soul Adjustment and healing music; the Muse Club's portrait inheritance scrolls and Stand-painted Summoning Technique. And the Chef Demon competition? Don't even get me started. From concocting poisons and smelting Dark Basicity to various magical recipes akin to Alchemy, the secret formulas are endless... In this regard, the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy has a natural advantage and is more likely to gain their recognition. If you still have the energy, you can try more things in this area. The Astronomical Society won't stop you."

Huai Shi nodded. Although he didn't fully grasp it, he figured it was good news anyway.

It was unclear whether the mysterious man calling himself Tony was trying to prove his sincerity or simply didn't care, but after he dished out so much information, Huai Shi felt awkward maintaining his initial guard.

The sound of boiling water broke the awkward silence between them.

Huai Shi fished out a teapot and two teacups. After his mind rummaged through the storeroom for a while, he looked up and asked, "Is black tea all you have?"

"No problem."

So, the tea leaves fell precisely into the pot, and boiling water was poured in. After Huai Shi added sugar and milk—quite rare in Hell—he poured Tony a full cup and placed it before him.

Then, he stared at Tony's completely covered face.

He just wanted to see how this guy would drink.

Immediately, he saw Tony remove his sunglasses and mask. A huge horse face suddenly popped out from under the mask, giving Huai Shi quite a fright.

This bastard was wearing a rather large plastic headpiece under the mask!

Right in front of Huai Shi, he tilted his head back and poured the tea into the horse's mouth. He didn't mind the tea spilling all over him. After putting down the cup, he shook his floppy horse face, as if he had finished drinking.

"Thanks for the hospitality."

For some reason, Huai Shi had the distinct impression that the horse face wore a smug, sly smirk.

They had drunk tea and sat for a while. Huai Shi didn't want to beat around the bush with this mysterious fellow any longer and asked directly, "So, are you here on behalf of the Astronomical Society?"

"Who said I was from the Astronomical Society? Don't talk nonsense," Tony lied shamelessly, refusing to admit it. "I'm just a contestant who happened to be passing by."

"...Alright then."

Huai Shi's expression twitched again. "Is there something you need?"

"Alright, I'll get straight to the point then," Tony said directly. "I'm planning to retire."

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