Love and passion, cutting up the wasteland

Chapter 3 Kiss of Holy Fire
Even during the day, the neon light sign was shining, showing the four characters "Xizhen Tavern".

Compared to the hub city in its heyday, the location of the West Town Tavern was just a suburb.

Nowadays, the bustling city center has long been turned into ruins and has become a hunting ground for scavengers to survive.

On the contrary, the suburbs did not suffer much damage.

With the investment from Liangshui Hongshang, the helpers pieced together the outer shell of steel and iron sheets purchased from scavengers, and built a new West Town Tavern on this vacant land.

A huge power turbine is violently embedded in the wall. The tavern owner pours liquid fuel into it once a week. The lighted bulbs make this the only building in the entire hub that can be lit all night long.

Lu Meng was stopped at the door by the bartender.

Zhang He let out a breath and then glared at the scavenger fiercely.

He has been working at the Xizhen Tavern for five or six years, and this is the first time he has seen a scavenger find the location of the Xizhen Tavern with such ease and ease, as if he had been a regular customer for many years.

In addition, he happened to be dozing off at the front desk. If he hadn't been wrapped in rags and clearly looked like a scavenger, with Lu Meng's temperament, he would have almost let him in.

"What are you here for?" Zhang He frowned, "Don't blame me for not reminding you. If you offend the adults inside, it's easy to break your legs and throw them out."

Although the tavern in the hub station has no explicit rules against allowing scavengers to enter.

But everyone knows that the chefs in Xizhen Tavern are considered to be top-notch in craftsmanship even in the outside world. With the fresh ingredients brought by merchants, the refined dishes are rarely affordable by ordinary hub station residents.

Not to mention the scavengers who are still struggling to survive every day.

Lu Meng did not answer, but took out nine 50-denomination coins from his pocket and lined them up in front of Zhang He.

Based on the memory in the game, Lu Meng knew where there were truly valuable relics in the ruins. Over the past six months, he had first been honing his life-saving skills while searching for relics.

After he had a certain ability to protect himself, he gradually sold the high-value items he collected to the black market in batches, and his reputation gradually grew uncontrollably.

This is why ordinary scavengers like Huo Buyang thought that Lu Meng had only appeared at the hub in the past three months.

Zhang He just sneered.

450 coins is already a huge amount of money for a scavenger, but the people who come to the Xizhen Tavern are either the district supervisor of Fang City or the big boss in charge of a certain street.

Has he seen the world, and you just want to show off in front of him with this little money?

All I can say is that he is worthy of being a scavenger, and his horizons are limited to this.

"With your family background..." Zhang He reached out and brushed away the row of coins.

Unexpectedly, Lu Meng collected the coins first, skillfully stacked them into first base in his hands, and then stuffed them into Zhang He's hands.

At some point, Lu Meng had a smile on his face:
"Brother Zhang, I just want to go in and have a drink, nothing else."

"Hey, you are still a very particular person." Zhang He felt the lines on the coins, "Our wine is indeed excellent..."

"Brother Zhang, don't worry, I will definitely not ruin the elegance of the gentlemen inside."

"Okay, come in the house, remember to keep your voice down."

The coins in Zhang He's hands had been rubbed so hard that they were stained with sweat, but he still squeezed them tightly.

After thinking about it, he felt something was wrong, and then told Lu Meng: "Don't go to the table when you get inside, find a cushion in the corner to sit on, and don't look for trouble..."

"Oh okay."

Seeing Lu Meng enter the bar, Zhang He spread his hands, counted the coins and stuffed them into his pocket, muttering: "I have never seen any scavengers be so generous before..."

"Hey, he seems to know me. I'm already so famous? Did he find out in advance somewhere?"

It does not violate the regulations and can earn half a month's salary. Zhang He will not refuse.
-
In the tavern, the light is dim.

There are people in groups of three or three hiding under the smoke and whispering, and there are also people of all kinds gathered here just looking for a little happiness and comfort.

The most eye-catching thing in the entire space is the woman wearing a black leather coat behind the bar.

She has dark blue eyes, fair skin, and a petite figure. She looks out of place in the environment here.

Wei Hong held her chin with one hand and leaned on the bar. It looked like she was a bartender in Xizhen, but she looked like she didn't want to work.

Because now she is the actual manager of the daily operations of the tavern.

Feeling the occasional peeks from everywhere, she sighed.

What did the boss think, let him manage the bar?

If you have this energy, you might as well kill a few more Holy Kingdom lackeys.

However, since Wei Hong took over the Xizhen Tavern, the turnover has increased sharply, which can be regarded as a contribution to raising funds.

Just when Wei Hong was wandering in the sky, a slender figure blocked the light at the bar.

Wei Hong frowned: "If you want to drink, go to the bartender. Don't get in my way."

Even though she was a bartender, she refused confidently.

The visitor showed no intention of moving.

He was Lu Meng who walked straight from the door.

Lu Meng said: "I want a cup of Holy Fire Kiss."

Wei Hong's expression suddenly changed: "What did you say?"

Although the Xizhen Tavern was not small, the conversation between the two was so low that other guests could not hear the conversation at the bar.

But the costume of Lu Meng Scavenger was really surprising and attracted the attention of many people.

Some people were very interested, and some were eager to try and deal with this bold boy who was harassing the pillars of the West Town in their eyes.

Lu Meng repeated it again, his tone unchanged at all, calm and firm: "One cup, kiss of the holy fire."

Someone grabbed Lu Meng.

It was Zhang He who came back to his senses.

After thinking about it, he still felt something was wrong. When he opened the door curtain and looked inside to see if the boy was okay, he happened to see this scene.

He rushed over in a few steps, pulling Lu Meng to go outside.While he apologized to Wei Hong, saying that it was Lu Meng who broke in on his own, he said to Lu Meng in a low and vicious voice: "Good boy! You are my brother, right? I told you not to cause trouble, but if I do, I will If you mess with this big Buddha, come out with me."

Zhang He also secretly regretted it.

He thought that the most Lu Meng could do was drink a high-strength drink that was not available outside to numb the scavenger's tense nerves.

But he didn't expect that this ignorant scavenger would come directly to Wei Hong.

Not to mention whether he could afford to drink the wine. If he annoyed his aunt, it would be considered a minor offense to be beaten out. He might even be punished for it.

"stop."

It's over, it's over, Zhang He broke out in a cold sweat.

My aunt wants to keep someone, and it seems things are going to get worse.

For the sake of the 450 coins, Zhang He was ready to offer some words of advice. Of course, the more important thing was not to let this person spill the beans -

"Zhang He, go and move a chair and let this guest sit down." Wei Hong didn't even look at Zhang He, but just looked at Lu Meng with a dim light in her eyes, "The Kiss of the Holy Fire, right... …

"Please wait."

Zhang He was stunned. He had never seen Wei Hong have such an attitude towards guests.

And what is the "Kiss of the Holy Fire"?This wine is not on their menu.

Lu Meng, feeling the presence of the old god, sat down calmly and enjoyed Wei Hong's performance.

Wei Hong's eyes were calm and focused. She was holding an iron-colored shaker in her hand. She poured the agave juice and mint syrup into the shaker with skillful and agile movements, and then shook vigorously to make them fully mix.

Her movements were clean and neat, and every shake was rhythmic. The shaker was like a flexible instrument in her hands, making a crisp sound.

Finally, Wei Hong poured the shaken wine into a wine glass and took out some viscous liquid from a jar behind her. Then she lit the wine at the rim of the glass, and as she stirred, the flames rotated in the glass.

——Like an eternal holy fire.

Lu Meng knew that the viscous liquid was actually the fuel used by the bar to generate electricity.

That's right, the so-called "Kiss of the Holy Fire" is not a drink that is usually sold in Xizhen Tavern, and it is not even something that normal people can drink.

Ordering the "Kiss of the Holy Fire" at the West Town Tavern has only one meaning, it's a code.

"I need your help."

Only Wei Hong and Lu Meng were left sitting opposite each other at the bar. Looking at the cup of "holy fire" pushed in front of them, Lu Meng whispered.

Wei Hong didn't respond immediately. She poured herself a glass of ordinary ale and drank it sip after sip.

Lu Meng did not rush, and for a moment there was only the sound of wine churning under the burning of the "holy fire" in the air.

Finally, Wei Hong spoke softly: "Do you want a piece of lemon?"

Lu Meng also replied softly: "Add a sunflower."

"Did you run away from Rebirth Town?" Wei Hong's expression changed for the second time, but this time it was more of surprise.

Match the secret code, there is no insider, and start trading.

Lu Meng cursed and nodded at the same time.

The Liangshui merchant who built the Xizhen Tavern is different from other merchants who come to the hub. He has a great background.

The Holy Empire is the most powerful country among the three major countries on the entire continent. They have the largest population and occupy the most fertile land.

Hub Station was once the southern center of the Holy Empire.

But the Holy Empire was founded on the Holy Church of Auckland. They were fanatical and oppressed all heretics, non-human races and women. They were also very opposed to technology.

Sinners who violate the doctrine will be sent to the "Rebirth Town" to work day and night until they die, waiting for reincarnation to eliminate their sins, which is euphemistically called "rebirth."

The Liangshui Traders, or the Lang Ninja Group, were composed of a group of people who could not bear the oppression of the Holy Kingdom and fled. They were also the largest resistance organization faced by the Holy Kingdom.

The West Town Tavern is an outpost opened by the Lang Ninja Group disguised as merchants to help the organization collect intelligence and raise funds.

In order to stay hidden, when the Lang Ninja Group and the envoy met at the West Town Tavern, they conveyed information through unique cocktails.

"Kiss of the Holy Fire" is the highest-level code, representing the messenger from the northern headquarters. "Sunflower" is a specialty near Rebirth Town. Lu Meng said this is to indicate his origin.

Of course, that part about himself was false.

This information was summed up in a certain game after spending several months in the Xizhen Tavern, and he even wrote it as a guide on the forum.

"My name is Wei Hong." Wei Hong introduced herself.

Under the influence of alcohol, her face was a little blushing, and her tone was excited, "Rebirth Town...it's not easy for people to come out of there alive."

She has never been to Rebirth Town, but she knows that anyone who can escape from Rebirth Town is a legendary figure in the Lang Ninja Group.

Except for my boss...well, personal grudges also count.

In short, he is worthy of being the messenger from the headquarters!
"Well, a narrow escape from death..." Lu Meng met Wei Hong's eyes with admiration for some reason, and could only speak vaguely, pretending that the past was too painful to look back on.

Although Lu Meng claims to know all the NPCs in the game, he has never met Wei Hong in the game.

Whether it's at the hub or in the entire Lang Ninja group.

When he walked into the pub and found that the bartender was a beautiful girl he didn't recognize, instead of the familiar uncle in the game, he thought he was about to overturn.

But fortunately, Wei Hong is not as difficult to fool as that old fritter, but it is easier to get through.

What a shame, she's a good girl.

The time that Lu Meng traveled through was ten years before the start of the game, but Wei Hong was not seen in the game. This can only mean one thing:
In these ten years, Wei Hong no longer exists.

"By the way, let's get down to business." Wei Hong calmed down her excitement. She hadn't seen her brothers and sisters in the Lang Nin Group for a long time since she came to the hub to fight guerrillas.

"What do you need me to do?"

(End of this chapter)