Chapter 210 Alliance Master Bonus
In late November, the temperature in Beijiang was already very low.

At 10:50 p.m., the cold wind carried fallen leaves, making rustling sounds as it rubbed against the ground in the alley.

In the dark alley, a small and dilapidated shop was as warm as spring.

Layers of mist covered the slightly old glass door, showing the temperature difference between inside and outside.

Two figures, one large and one small, stood in front of the door, looking at the small shop without a signboard.

"Here?" Jiang Xiao raised his head and looked at Er Wei.

"Yes." Er Wei strode forward and pushed the door open.

Jiang Xiao followed her in. Compared with the dilapidated exterior, the interior was simple and narrow, but it was exceptionally clean and tidy.

Aside from the unseen kitchen, the place was only about twenty square meters, with six small tables, all empty. It seemed to be closed.

An old aunt, over fifty, with a slightly plump figure and short, curly hair, was sitting behind the wooden bar, counting the day's earnings.

The small bell on the door made a crisp sound as the door opened. The aunt looked up and revealed a kind smile: "We're already clos..."

The aunt's expression froze. Looking at the tall figure, the smile on her face became even more sincere, and her slightly cloudy eyes seemed to gain some sparkle: "Child, are you on vacation?"

Er Wei nodded lightly, a smile appearing on her cold face: "Aunt Yu."

It was... a warm smile.

Jiang Xiao had long known that the woman beside him was capricious, but he had never seen her smile so warmly.

It was as if her cold aura had been dispelled by this old and warm little shop.

Her temperament would make anyone retreat, and no one would equate her with ordinary people.

But here, Jiang Xiao saw an ordinary young woman with human qualities.

"Old Yu, get to work." The aunt hurried towards the kitchen, muttering, "Is there any cod left at home? Hongying is here."

"Do you come here every time you're on vacation?" Jiang Xiao asked.

"Yes." Er Wei took off her dark red windbreaker and hung it on the rack.

As soon as she finished the simple movement, an uncle with slightly graying hair came over with an electric stove and a shabu-shabu pot, placing it on the small table the two had chosen.

"Good, good that you're here." The uncle smiled honestly, wiping his hands back and forth on the apron in front of him.

"Let me." Jiang Xiao took the plug and bent down.

"It's good, isn't it?" The uncle looked at Er Wei, wiping his hands on his apron.

"Good." Er Wei smiled slightly, her narrow, phoenix eyes curving into two crescent moons.

"That's good, that's good, turn it on quickly, wait a moment, it'll be right here." The uncle said hurriedly, turning and walking towards the kitchen.

A dozen minutes later, the shabu-shabu pot steamed with heat, making gurgling sounds.

A plate of salted peanuts, a plate of preserved eggs with aged vinegar, and a plate of pine nut spinach were placed on the table.

Er Wei looked at Jiang Xiao and said, "Liquor."

Jiang Xiao peeled a peanut, seemingly infected by her style, and replied, "Car."

Er Wei nodded and didn't respond, only stirring the shabu-shabu in the pot.

Since entering the old and warm little house, Jiang Xiao had no intention of starting a conversation. He didn't want to disturb Er Wei's rare state.

"You're going to the armory the day after tomorrow," Er Wei said.

"Yeah, the province seems dissatisfied with the students' performance in the National League, and has increased the difficulty of the training," Jiang Xiao said, eating a peanut.

"Heh." Er Wei smiled disdainfully, noncommittally.

"Come, come, child, what would you like to drink?" The aunt brought over two cups, one empty and one filled with wine, placed them in front of Er Wei, and said to Jiang Xiao, "Home-brewed liquor, you... you're still young, right?"

Jiang Xiao waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Just water is fine."

"Good boy, you have to drink less soda." The aunt muttered, turning to get the water bottle.

Er Wei picked up the glass in front of her, took a shallow sip, the spicy liquid spreading between her lips and tongue, going straight into her chest like a fire.

Er Wei slowly put down the glass, feeling the flame in her chest, and slowly exhaled a breath of cold air: "The Star Techniques carried by the creatures in the armory's other dimension are not suitable for you."

"It's okay," Jiang Xiao said casually, "I analyzed it carefully, and some Star Techniques are quite interesting."

Er Wei silently looked at Jiang Xiao and said, "You only have 9 star slots. You shouldn't waste empty slots on those Star Techniques."

"Are you giving me advice? Do you even control what I put in my star slots?" Jiang Xiao asked with a smile.

Er Wei nodded and said, "Yes, I will participate in every step of your future growth."

Jiang Xiao panicked and quickly changed the subject: "That 'Abomination' is still good."

Er Wei: "Bronze, useless."

Jiang Xiao picked up a shabu-shabu skewer and said, "That 'Attachment' is also good."

Er Wei shook her head: "Silver, the aura range is too small, the effect is too low."

Oh,

Jiang Xiao pouted.

This was very uncomfortable.

Looking at Jiang Xiao's expression, Er Wei said in a hoarse voice: "Don't pin your hopes on covering low-level Star Techniques with high-level Star Beads in the future to improve their quality. No one in this world will love you like they do, disregarding life and death."

Jiang Xiao was stunned for a moment. Uh... it seemed she had discussed it with Hai Tianqing, and their ideas were consistent.

Er Wei glanced at Jiang Xiao coldly, her voice still without any inflection: "You only have 6 star slots left. Your several Star Techniques that exceed quality are enough for your early growth. Wait until you reach the Star River stage, and then choose from the Gold Star Techniques."

"You're being a bit too bossy," Jiang Xiao said helplessly.

Er Wei picked up the glass, looked at Jiang Xiao, and took a shallow sip.

"Spicy ribs, mutton skewers, and your favorite grilled cod." The aunt came over with a plate, and while saying that, she placed the teapot in front of Jiang Xiao.

Not getting a response from Er Wei, the aunt didn't say anything else. She looked at Er Wei drinking, and then at Jiang Xiao peeling peanuts, and quietly left.

The boiling shabu-shabu pot emitted white mist.

Through the mist, Jiang Xiao looked at Er Wei's pair of phoenix eyes, made up his mind, and gathered his courage to say: "I don't want to join the army, I want to go to school."

Er Wei's eyes sharpened, looking at Jiang Xiao, silent.

Jiang Xiao pulled down the collar of his hoodie. His body was hot, but his heart was cold.

In this warm little shop, this more human Er Wei gave Jiang Xiao a bit of courage.

Jiang Xiao forced himself to calm down: "I want to be by my sister's side. Last time in the snowfield, I saw the real danger, and I know what kind of battles she will be involved in as an excellent Awakened in the future. I want to protect her as much as possible."

Er Wei's eyes dimmed, she picked up the glass she had just put down, and slowly brought it to her lips.

The small shop that was already closed was empty, although the white lights were bright, only Jiang Xiao's table was occupied.

There was no noise, only the ticking of the clock on the wall.

There was no commotion, only the sound of the boiling shabu-shabu pot.

Finally, Er Wei broke the silence, her voice hoarse, and said: "Then... eat."

"I won't eat." Jiang Xiao hurriedly stood up and said, "There's class tomorrow, and she's waiting for me to go back. It's too late, she'll worry."

Er Wei was silent, nodded lightly, raised her hand, took out a rolled-up map from the pocket of the windbreaker hanging on the wall, and handed it to Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao asked curiously: "What is this?"

Er Wei's voice was hoarse, her movements a little stiff: "Take it."

Jiang Xiao looked at the drawing in front of him, and then looked at Er Wei, but found that her eyes were lowered, and her eyes no longer had any aggression.

Jiang Xiao was not deceived by such eyes, he saw her stiff movements, thought about it, and Jiang Xiao still took the map, and said softly: "Go home early."

Saying that, Jiang Xiao turned and walked out of the warm and bright little shop, pushed open the glass door covered with mist, a gust of cold wind襲来, he pulled up his collar, and turned his head to look inside.

Er Wei sat alone behind the small table, the steaming mist from the small pot covered her face.

He could only see her picking up the glass again and taking a big gulp.

When she put down the glass again, only half a glass remained.

Jiang Xiao shook his head and closed the door. The slightly dark alley was quiet.

Looking into the distance, the lights of thousands of homes between the tall buildings lit up with warm light.

He remembered Hai Tianqing's instructions, perhaps, she was not as radical as Hai Tianqing said.

Or, this special environment increased Jiang Xiao's survival rate.

Jiang Xiao walked out of the dark alley and saw the black car parked at the entrance of the alley.

He helplessly supported his forehead, put one hand in his pocket, and sure enough, the car key was still with him.

No matter what Er Wei's personality was, Jiang Xiao didn't think that going back to send the car key would be a correct option.

Not knowing what to do, Jiang Xiao sat down on the steps. Should he put the key on the tire? Or go back and put it at the door of the shop? Or knock on the door? Under normal circumstances, the aunt would come out, right?

Jiang Xiao, who was sitting on the stone steps thinking, held the map in his left hand and the key in his right hand, feeling a little upset. Taking advantage of the dim street lights, he opened the map.

This is...

A topographic map of the armory?

Hand-drawn?

It had various terrains, symbols, restricted areas, monster distributions, supply points, guard soldiers, Night Watchers...

Dense, detailed to the extreme.

The words marked above, each stroke seemed to show the glint and flash of swords.

Dagger-head swallowtail, iron-painted silver hooks.

Just like her, not good at talking, sharp words; not good at caring, stiff movements.

Originally, this heartwarming act, this full of care and love, turned into bossiness and stubbornness, even clumsiness.

Jiang Xiao looked at the detailed hand-drawn map in his hand. In his mind, Er Wei's cold appearance also turned into silence and stubbornness.

Remembering her dim appearance behind the mist, Jiang Xiao couldn't help but stand up.

"Sigh..." Jiang Xiao sighed deeply and turned back.

Ding-a-ling-a-ling.

The sound of the door accompanied by the bell.

The aunt's voice came from the bar inside: "We're clos..."

The aunt's voice stopped abruptly. Jiang Xiao stepped in and came to the small table.

He saw the untouched bowls and plates in front of her, and the empty glass.

"You're back."

In her hoarse voice,

Finally, there was a hint of emotional fluctuation.

Through the steaming mist, Jiang Xiao seemed to see a hint of surprise on her cold face.

Perhaps,

He was wrong.