Springshine City

This city is nestled in one of the relatively mild valleys of Spring Source Star, surrounded by dozens of natural hot springs. The city's buildings are arranged around these spring vents, and at night, the steam from the hot springs mingles with the lights, casting a warm golden glow.

The "Boiling Spring Tavern" is bustling, filled with the crisp clinking of glasses and the boisterous laughter of patrons.

Jingle jingle

The clear sound of wind chimes echoed in the tavern as the door opened, and many eyes involuntarily turned toward the entrance—three distinct figures were crossing the threshold.

The most striking was a towering presence over three meters tall, his broad brown-gray travel cloak nearly bursting at the seams from his massive frame. As he ducked through the doorframe, the wooden beams groaned under the strain. A rugged face, as rough as stone, could be glimpsed under the cloak's shadow, and his large, calloused hands hung by his sides, making it easy to imagine him crushing steel with his bare hands.

The man in the middle was tall and lean, his black trench coat outlining a sharp silhouette. His face was stern, and a sheathed black knife hung from his waist.

The woman at the end seemed ordinary, wrapped in a simple, elegant pale-blue robe with a sheer white veil covering her face. However, her eyes, exposed beneath the veil, were as enchanting as an autumn pool, carrying a soul-stirring magic with every glance they cast.

Even in plain attire, her graceful figure attracted many gazes as she walked—her slender waist swayed naturally with her steps, each one seeming to walk on the edge of a heart, tempting people to lift the veil for a glimpse of her true face.

The three stood at the entrance, took a look around, and then found an empty booth to sit. Even though the booth was shielded by screens, many couldn't help but secretly observe this peculiar trio.

Qin Tian activated the electronic menu at the table and said with a smile:

"Take a look, order whatever you want to eat or drink, someone else is paying."

The Poisonous Widow lightly tapped her finger, selecting two special cocktails and a snack.

Xiong, on the other hand, was not polite. Hearing Qin Tian say to order freely, he promptly ordered every single dish on the menu.

But after all, this was a tavern, not a restaurant, so there were only about twenty dishes in total. In no time, the drinks and food were all served at their table.

Qin Tian raised a cocktail named "Blue Enchantress," first looking at Xiong, and said:

"Da Xiong, you've worked hard during this time, eat your fill tonight."

Then he turned to the Black Widow, smiled, and said:

"And wish you a rebirth, a new chapter in life."

"Thank you... boss!"

The Poisonous Widow clinked glasses gently with Qin Tian, the crimson drink swaying within the glass, reflecting her soul-stirring eyes.

She lifted her veil, her red lips brushing the rim of the glass as the liquid slid into her mouth, leaving a sweet fruit aroma and a hint of spicy aftertaste, akin to her complex emotions at that moment.

Once, she was trapped in the mire of the Hundred Hunt Star Thieves, her hands stained with blood, her soul soaked in darkness.

But today, she sat in a warm tavern, faced with a brand-new future.

"This drink, to freedom," she said softly, her voice carrying a barely detectable tremor.

Xiong tore at a roasted, fragrant animal leg, the grease dripping along his beard, and he echoed through his chewing, "To freedom!"

Qin Tian smiled slightly, a gentle light flickering in his eyes: "And to our new journey."

The Poisonous Widow gazed at the rippling liquid in her glass, in a daze, as if seeing her past self—the woman struggling to survive in the dark, now finally emerging into a moment of rebirth.

From today onward, she was no longer "The Poisonous Widow" of the Hundred Hunt Star Thieves, but a free person with a new identity and a new life.

She raised her head and downed the remaining drink, a smile of relief tugging at her red lips.

The cocktail tasted good, with a faint fruity aroma. Qin Tian sipped it, listening to the conversations around him.

This "Boiling Spring Tavern" was one of the liveliest taverns in Springshine City, frequented by many Spiritualists and off-duty officers seeking leisure. From the idle chats of these patrons, one could glean some valuable information.

In a corner of the tavern, the conversation between two men caught his attention.

"Springshine City is still too backward, not much in terms of entertainment, it's either drinking or soaking in hot springs every day, really boring."

"That's not the main thing, there's no women here, every day it's just me handling things myself, driving me insane."

"Haha, that chick over there looks pretty nice, why don't you try hitting on her?"

"Forget it, look at the giant next to her, you can tell just from his size that he's a tough guy, I'm not going to make a fool of myself."

"Not bad, it seems you haven't had too much to drink."

"Hey, we came too late, all the surface Spiritual Springs have been scavenged, and the underground ones are either hidden deep or guarded by high-tier Mining Beasts. Just the two of us, unless we get incredibly lucky, otherwise... Forget it, I think we should just head home."

"Let's wait a couple more days, I feel there's still a glimmer of hope."

"Oh, you mean..."

"Yes, I'm talking about that kid with the bounty from the Black Cloud Commerce Association."

"I've heard, it's not right what Black Cloud Commerce Association did; sold him the location of the Spiritual Spring, then reneged on the payout and even tried to detain him, totally without integrity."

"Well, this is Spring Source Star, management is lax, and the 27th Army doesn't bother with such things. Look at how those big Mercenary Corps and associations operate, killing over disagreements, and in the end, nobody pursues them."

"Be that as it may, are you planning to find that kid and get the underground Spiritual Spring information from him? But didn't he already sell his intelligence to the Black Cloud Commerce Association, just without getting paid."

"I think that's just a smokescreen by the Black Cloud Commerce Association. If they truly had complete intelligence, why would they offer a bounty of millions to find that kid."

"Hmm, that makes sense~"

"I've heard that the kid's companion is seriously injured, and he's surely trying all sorts of ways to save their life. If we can find him, maybe we can get a share of the pie too."

"Alright, then we should keep a closer eye on our surroundings recently, I'll take another look at the bounty to deepen my impression."

On the holographic display, the picture of a young man slowly emerged. He wore a brown cowboy hat, under which a pair of bright amber eyes shone, seemingly filled with sunlight. His slightly curly chestnut bangs hung casually over his brows, adding a bit of boyish charm. In the photo, he was grinning, flashing a set of neat white teeth, his smile so bright it felt like it could dispel all gloom, making people unable to resist smiling along.

The photo showed a very ordinary name—Allen

In the booth, Qin Tian downed his drink, a faint smile playing on his lips.

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