Care Guide to Raising a Max Level Leaf in Apocalypse - 35
Sparrowtail Flower Revelry
After the apocalypse, candied hawthorns came in all sorts of weird shapes, and not a single skewer looked normal.
Ji Jiu wanted to eat every single one he saw. Ever since their last mission, “The Vanishing Enclave,” which they completed excellently, he no longer needed to rely on Si Yin Yuan’s points card. His own card was enough for his needs.
Feng Chuyao remembered the former team leader’s instructions—not to feed him strange things. She laboriously picked the best-selling and most expensive candied hawthorn, the candied strawberry, from a pile of oddities and handed it to Ji Jiu.
Although the strawberry was mutated and larger than an apple, it at least looked somewhat normal. Ji Jiu licked the candied strawberry as if he were an instantly soothed kitten. Finally, he was willing to follow Feng Chuyao to the mask stall.
As the carnival drew nearer, mask sales increased. This was the only place in the entire base where they sold handmade masks. Some people even bought masks discreetly, making those like Feng Chuyao, who were open about their intentions, a rare sight.
She didn’t mind people knowing she was going to the carnival, as long as she wouldn’t be recognized once inside.
Each of the handmade masks looked exquisite. In the pre-apocalyptic world, they would have fetched high prices. Unfortunately, in the post-apocalyptic era, they could be bought for a few points or a bit of food.
Half of the strawberry was already gone, and Ji Jiu was showing signs of being enticed by other delicacies. Feng Chuyao quickly picked a golden butterfly mask and placed it on his face.
The finely crafted golden butterfly easily covered his palm-sized face, leaving only a small portion visible. His crimson lips looked even more enticing, and the golden butterfly on his face seemed ready to take flight at any moment.
With the mask on, the wearer resembled a sprite or a little enchantress who only appeared at night, stealing people’s hearts.
Both Feng Chuyao and the shopkeeper were stunned for almost a minute before they snapped out of it. She hastily removed the golden butterfly from Ji Jiu’s face, saying, “No, no, this one is too captivating… I mean, it’s too easy to be recognized with this one.”
The shopkeeper suddenly stood up, saying, “I’ve been making masks for so long, and this is the first time I’ve seen someone who suits gold so well. If you’d like, please try this one.”
He turned to rummage through something at the bottom of a box. It was evident that he cherished those masks, or at least, he had no intention of selling them.
The shopkeeper handed the found mask to Ji Jiu. Though it hadn’t been displayed with the others, it had been wiped clean.
Ji Jiu extended his tiny tongue and quickly licked away a piece of candy residue from the corner of his mouth. Then, he casually put on the mask. Feng Chuyao exclaimed again, “It’s a perfect fit…”
Different from the previous mask, this time it was a full-face mask with a delicate golden butterfly hovering elegantly in the upper right corner.
Ji Jiu exclaimed, “But this way, I won’t be able to eat anything.”
The mask even covered his mouth.
Feng Chuyao waved her hand generously, “Then we’ll buy them both.”
It would be the chief’s responsibility to convince Ji Jiu to wear it when the time came.
“Okay,” Ji Jiu happily bought two more skewers of candied strawberry on the way back.
He suddenly envied Guan Yin, who had four hands to buy four candied hawthorn skewers at once.
…
Time quickly passed to 8:00 PM, and Yu Feichen arrived for the appointment wearing a black smiling face mask, just like Si Yin Yuan.
Seeing the two of them walking from a distance, even though their appearances were hidden, their outstanding looks and the broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted figures effortlessly drew all the attention. He frowned beneath his mask.
He had been quite satisfied with his appearance today.
Clearly, wearing the same mask, how could they look so different?
Si Yin Yuan didn’t know what his subordinate was thinking. He had just spent a long time coaxing Ji Jiu to wear this mask that prevented him from eating before they left. He had even agreed to many conditions, including letting Ji Jiu try a cocktail with a pretty color—ever since he missed it at the last celebration, he had been thinking about it.
Although they were only a few minutes late, the entrance was already crowded with people, all dressed differently from the survivors in the base who were struggling for basic necessities.
Some came in groups of two or three, while others were alone. However, now, everyone’s gaze was fixed on the two of them, who seemed mysteriously well-matched.
In fact, these unabashed, masked gazes weren’t just focused on Ji Jiu. Many people were also attracted to Si Yin Yuan’s mature and charismatic appearance. But Si Yin Yuan chose to selectively ignore all these looks, convinced that they were all directed at Ji Jiu.
Although he had guessed this situation from the moment the young man put on the mask, emotions came before reason, and he couldn’t help but feel irritated.
He adjusted his posture to completely shield Ji Jiu.
Just at that moment, the grand gates adorned with purple wisteria petals slowly opened, revealing a dozen waitstaff inside, all wearing masks with the symbol of wisteria.
The door didn’t open exactly at 8:00 PM; it was always a few minutes past that they swung it open.
As the door opened, the opulent decor and the strong scent of alcohol inside greeted them, like a paradise of excess.
People redirected their attention to the revelry itself, eagerly feigning restraint as they lined up to enter.
At the entrance, the attendants used a special flashlight to shine on the invitation cards. If it was a genuine invitation card, the wisteria flower symbol would appear.
This craftsmanship was difficult to replicate in the post-apocalyptic world, which is one reason why no infiltrators had ever managed to sneak into the carnival.
There was a small commotion nearby, and Ji Jiu glanced over to see a teenager wearing a blue mask who had been caught with a fake invitation card.
He exclaimed in disbelief, raising his voice, “This can’t be! He told me it was definitely real!”
From his voice, it was evident that he hadn’t yet experienced a voice change, and his high-pitched tone became grating when he raised it.
The attendant checking the invitation cards remained composed. “Please do not disrupt the order of the event and leave voluntarily.”
As soon as he heard this, the young man wisely decided to stop causing a scene. However, it was clear he hadn’t given up completely, as he stood by and stared at everyone who entered.
This was just a minor incident, and they soon had their turn. Ji Jiu withdrew his gaze and followed Si Yin Yuan smoothly into the venue.
The interior of the carnival resembled a massive discotheque, but the décor was even more extravagant.
Surprisingly, music began to play, and it had a somewhat soothing quality to it.
Si Yin Yuan found a corner to sit down, and an attendant immediately approached, asking if he wanted a drink.
The beverages here were at one’s own expense.
Ji Jiu looked at the colorful cocktails and whiskey on the attendant’s tray, his eyes sparkling.
“I’d like to have one,” Ji Jiu gently tugged on Si Yin Yuan’s sleeve.
Si Yin Yuan lowered his voice, “We’ll have some at home.”
Many people were still watching them, itching to strike up a conversation.
Ji Jiu obediently sat down but couldn’t help but follow the movements of the attendant’s tray.
Even though faces were concealed, there was an inexplicable air of vulnerability around Ji Jiu. It tugged at one’s heartstrings, making them want to provide him with everything he desired, just to earn a smile from this beauty.
The wolves in the vicinity exchanged knowing looks.
Soon, the first bold person approached for a chat, “Hey, little beauty, let me buy you a drink.”
He pushed a glass of alcohol towards Ji Jiu and cast a provocative glance at Si Yin Yuan with that look that men understood.
Before Ji Jiu could react, a shadow flashed by with a loud thud, and the person was sent flying, colliding with some decoration.
Si Yin Yuan nonchalantly withdrew his foot as if he hadn’t just kicked the guy. He gently patted Ji Jiu’s head, “Don’t be afraid.”
Everyone around: Aren’t we the ones who should be afraid?!
The attendants rushed over, and they should have been accustomed to handling such situations, given the anonymity of this place combined with the influence of alcohol. Disputes were quite common, and they usually tried to mediate, advising them to stop. If that didn’t work, they’d escort the parties involved out and put them on a blacklist.
This time, however, they were rare, and didn’t know how to proceed. It wasn’t a dispute; it was a one-sided kick, and the person in question had stopped after just one action.
There was no need for mediation, as the guy who got hit couldn’t move anymore.
So, they had to carry the person who seemed both scared and injured outside and then sternly warned Si Yin Yuan.
Without waiting for the attendant to speak, a loyalty card was held between two fingers and placed in front of Si Yin Yuan.
Si Yin Yuan didn’t care at all, “Swipe the card, compensation.”
These four words, with the authority of a superior, made the attendant hold back everything else and simply accepted the loyalty card with a subdued “Okay.”
It was only at this moment that Yu Feichen, who had been watching the drama unfold, realized. He reached to touch his own loyalty card and found that it was indeed gone.
Si Yin Yuan said matter-of-factly, “My loyalty card was too easily exposed.”
The highest-limit black loyalty card was like revealing oneself voluntarily.
Yu Feichen drank bitter alcohol with tears in his eyes.
Thanks to this disturbance, those who had been openly ogling Ji Jiu earlier didn’t dare to approach anymore. They all reined in their flirtatious intentions.
No matter how attractive a beautiful person was, it couldn’t compare to the importance of life. Moreover, they couldn’t see their faces, and making conclusions about someone being beautiful just based on their exposed eyes and figure seemed too presumptuous. They might have beautiful eyes but average facial features. The group of onlookers silently distanced themselves from Si Yin Yuan and his group.
The music had transitioned into more aggressive rap at some point, with a singer possessing a husky voice and accompanied by metallic instrumentals. It felt as if the audience were in the center of a raging wasteland.
The atmosphere in the venue was gradually heating up, and people wearing various masks began to express themselves through dance.
Ji Jiu’s eyes were bothered by the flashing lights, so he shifted to the side. Unintentionally, he moved farther away and accidentally bumped into someone’s arm.
“Ah, that hurt.”
“Sorry,” a polite little voice apologized immediately.
At the same time, he turned his head slightly in confusion. He thought he had only bumped into him accidentally, so why did it hurt?
The boy in the blue mask covered his mouth in distress, “It’s… It’s nothing.”
As if intentionally, he stumbled and fell to a spot very close to Si Yin Yuan.
Ji Jiu quietly watched his performance and felt a sense of familiarity.
The boy continued, “Sir, could you please help me up?”
He looked up weakly at Si Yin Yuan.
Now Ji Jiu finally recognized him. He was the young man who had been stopped at the entrance and told he had a fake invitation card. Somehow, he had managed to get inside.
Lan Fei bit his lower lip, his eyes filled with seduction. Just a while ago, he had lured a seemingly wealthy middle-aged man to be his companion to get inside. The greasy man had been pestering him since they entered, but he had just been lured away by someone else for dancing. Lan Fei didn’t mind at all; his purpose for infiltrating the revelry was to find someone to latch onto.
All he needed was one night to secure a month or even more of provisions. It was a very profitable deal.
Initially, outside, he had been attracted to Si Yin Yuan’s outstanding presence and had naturally assumed that Ji Jiu was of the same caliber. He had held a slight disdain for him and had seen the opportunity to promote himself while demeaning Ji Jiu. That’s why he had tried to use the chance to step on Ji Jiu’s toes.
At this moment, Lan Fei’s eyes had no awareness of anyone else; he only saw Si Yin Yuan’s long, straight legs encased in trousers.
His eyes revealed a hint of desire.
Ji Jiu, watching this scene before him, tilted his head and placed his hand over his chest.
Why does it feel stifling here?