When Huai Shi changed his clothes and stepped out of the bedroom, the old man running the music hall showed a puzzled expression. "Do you plan to go out dressed like that?"
"Hmm?"
Huai Shi was confused and looked down at himself. He wore a subdued, practical grey iron coat with defensive power, a pair of alchemically treated, durable work pants, boots that could handle trekking over mountains without issue, and an Artifact Sling Bag packed with various equipment, including the Sword of Virtue, for emergency use.
He was armed to the teeth, ready for any trouble. Flawless!
"Is there a problem?"
The old man's expression grew complicated. He set aside the towel in his hand. "Please wait a moment."
Within a few minutes, he brought out a brand-new suit preserved in a storage bag, along with a pair of leather shoes, a shirt, a tie, and a pocket square for Huai Shi. After setting them down, he took another good look at the young man before him and asked, "I wonder if you have the habit of using a tie clip?"
"Uh, is it really necessary?"
Huai Shi hesitated over whether to accept this kindness and waved his hand. "Honestly, I'm already quite content with the free lodging here; I don't need anything else."
"But these are all within the range of member services," the old man asked, confused. He then had a sudden realization. "If you feel these are unfit for your status, I can contact the tailor later to provide you with custom service."
"No, no, no. I just feel that taking things unilaterally isn't right for a normal relationship," Huai Shi gestured with his hands and said earnestly. "I would feel much better if I could pay for it."
The old man fell silent for a moment.
"I understand where the problem lies."
He suddenly laughed and asked seriously, "You are now a rather successful Sublimator, having achieved both fame and fortune. But would you consider giving up the time and love you invest in music?"
Huai Shi naturally shook his head.
"Then music will not give up on you either."
The old man placed the suit into his hands and spoke earnestly. "This hospitality comes from your sincere love of the arts, nothing else. It's a meager token of appreciation for your passion dedicated to the arts. You deserve it, and you should indeed enjoy such honor."
As he spoke, the old man, representing the Hell United Music Association, bowed respectfully and said calmly, "Unless one day you cast it all aside, we will not leave you."
Huai Shi was silent for a long while, unable to help but smile. "Is this a blessing from the arts or a curse?"
"Just a small token of hospitality."
The old man stepped back, bowing respectfully as he left.
Huai Shi turned back to look at the subtle yet dignified suit on the table. After a long while, he couldn't help but shrug and put on the new clothes.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
In the mirror, the handsome young man dressed in the suit grinned back at him, showing a smile.
He looked very fitting, which was pleasant.
"I've kept you waiting."
Huai Shi opened the door of the resting room and nodded to the teenage girl inside. "Miss Yuan, shall we depart now?"
When Yuan Yuan looked up and saw the completely transformed Huai Shi, she was momentarily stunned. The standard business smile, a hallmark of Old Liu's genuine lineage, had yet to return to her face.
It took her a while to notice her own trance.
"Just call me Yuan Yuan."
She said politely, hiding some fleeting emotion.
Just as they were leaving, Huai Shi once again heard faint sounds emanating from behind him.
This time... it seemed a little closer.
"What about Yuan Zhao?" he casually asked. "Didn't he come?"
"It seems he was up all night gaming, then suddenly caught a cold. He's now lying in bed at the inn, refusing to wake up no matter how much we call him," Yuan Yuan said with regret, shaking her head.
"Is that so?"
Huai Shi nodded nonchalantly, recalling the several calls he had made to Yuan Zhao just now that hadn't gone through. A slight sinking feeling settled in his heart.
Yet, at the same time, though he didn't know what Yuan Yuan was planning, he was beginning to look forward to it.
What would be waiting for him outside?
「.」
Today, the Group Star seemed different from yesterday once again.
While the bustle remained the same, the streets now had more black-clad, indifferent-faced train guards. They made no attempt to hide their vigilance, coldly surveying the faces of each passenger.
Additionally, there were many more security and scanning devices. Under the ubiquitous presence of cameras, even the travelers who were previously at ease couldn't help but feel suppressed.
"What's going on?" Huai Shi looked at the people around him with curiosity.
"It must be because of what happened last night," Yuan Yuan said from beside him.
"I heard many people had nightmares last night, as if under some sort of curse. Even the train management didn't escape it. Mr. Huai Shi, did you rest well?"
"I slept very well. I didn't dream anything. When I opened my eyes, it was already daylight," Huai Shi replied. "It might be because of the dreamcatcher I bought yesterday, so no nightmares came to disturb me. How about you, Miss Yuan Yuan?"
"I didn't sleep much."
Yuan Yuan shook her head. "I never sleep well when I'm away from home. It was nearly morning when I finally got a little shallow sleep. If it's convenient, let's buy a couple of dreamcatchers later; hopefully, they will work."
"Sure, but I can't quite remember where that stall was yesterday. We'll see how our luck holds up." Huai Shi considerately asked, "Do you need to find a place to rest for a while first?"