AZI Volume 3 Chapter 29

With the intent to buy a new pair of footwear, Long Hua walks into a random shoe store in the third ward.

Footwear of all types lined the walls, along with boxes—labeled with different sizes, stacked below the items that were being displayed.

The center of the store has seating areas—for customers, to conveniently try on their products.

"Hmm."

Looking around, Long Hua walks over to the section for hiking boots, and just as he is thinking about which one to choose—

"This one blocks out rain and sand. What do you think?"

A hand reaches forth, and picks up a black boot—that is tied down with a strap buckle, prior to positioning it right in front of Long Hua's face.

Turning his head to his left, Long Hua sees Bai Wen.

Different from last time, Bai Wen is wearing a white dress shirt with a pair of dark trousers. Although the outfit still looks slightly off on him, it is still better than seeing him wearing a plain T-shirt.

Towards Bai Wen, Long Hua asks—

"Why are you here?"

"Out on a stroll, and just so happened to see you walking in. C'mon, you're going to make me hold this forever?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua takes the boot from Bai Wen, and examines it for a brief moment. Price wise, it is within his budget, and it seems durable enough.

"I guess this will do."

Grabbing a box—that is labeled with the appropriate size, Long Hua brings it over to the register, while Bai Wen follows after him.

While waiting in line, Bai Wen asks—

"Lao Long, if you're bored, you could always come over to my place to hang out."

Saying this, Bai Wen presses a piece of paper towards Long Hua.

"I doubt I'd ever be that bored."

Taking the piece of paper—that has Bai Wen's address written on it, Long Hua shoves it into his pocket.

"You hardly ever show up at the café—you're supposed to be working at, after you get off work from the office at seven PM, anyways."

"What are you, a stalker?"

Ignoring the remark, Bai Wen continues to ask—

"Why not accompany us for dinner tonight?"

"Us?"

"The little girl from the Chen Shi family, Nuo'er, and I."

Thinking for a bit, Long Hua didn't see any reason to refuse, as he answers—

"Fine."

"Great, I'll text you the place later."

Having said this, Bai Wen heads for the store's exit.

"Wait, how do yo-"

"Lao Zhen has info on almost anything, so long as you're willing to pay for it."

Answering as such, Bai Wen leaves, while Long Hua thought—

("A man like the wind, comes and goes as he pleases," is this what that saying is referring to?)

Shaking his head, Long Hua takes out his wallet to pay for the shoes.

...…

Returning to the yacht—

"Master plans to eat outside with others tonight?"

Despite having already known this, the Tai Xuan Emperor still asks about it through her vessel, to which, Long Hua answers—

"That's the plan."

"I see."

Answering as such, Tian Cheng begins to wash the emptied meal container.

"…"

"…"

As the sound of running waters looms between the two, a sense of awkwardness arises.

Eventually, Long Hua asks—

"…You want to come along?"

"I cannot eat anything. Wouldn't it be awkward for me to come along?"

"…"

Seemingly, everything is awkward all of a sudden.

Just as Tian Cheng finishes washing the meal container, and sets it aside to dry, Long Hua is just about to end the conversation there.

However—

(*-laoban.)

Seeing this to be a good opportunity, to get Long Hua to use the gacha system, the Tai Xuan Emperor asks—

(You want this doll of yours to be more human-like?)

Turning his head to the side slightly, Long Hua asks—

"…You got any ideas?"

As her vessel tilts its head, the Tai Xuan Emperor answers—

(If there's a will, there's a way. Now, spread that wallet wide, and spend that hard-earned resource you've got.)

"…Sounds like a scam."

(Now don't be like that. In the SR rarity pool, there is a special item called a combat body. It's built to be as identical as possible to an ordinary human's body. Any food—that is taken in by this body, automatically gets turned into energy.)

"…"

As they continue this exchange, the Tai Xuan Emperor has her vessel wipe its hands with a towel, while in an attempt to guilt-trip Long Hua, she says—

(That doll took a bullet for you, *-laoban. Having to eat out of a power outlet, whenever she needs to recharge, don't you feel sorry for her?)

"…"

(If those ancient ruins are like the Zang Luo Realm's secret realms, you'll be swimming in more resources than you can hope to spend after getting through it. A little bit of expenditure right now is called an investment, and investments are called investments—because you'll be able to get a profit back, at a later day. Think about it, who could you possibly trust in those ruins? Surely, you don't believe those squad-mates of yours—will be of any help, in a place filled with the tech of practitioners, do you? Wouldn't having that doll there with you, make you feel more at ease?)

Saying up to here, the Tai Xuan Emperor opens up the gacha system's interface in front of Long Hua, and adds—

(You need only push that ten-roll button, and everything will be yours.)

"…Tch."

Clicking his tongue loudly, Long Hua does find the Tai Xuan Emperor's argument awfully convincing. Indeed, he doesn't trust his back to anyone in his squad.

"…"

Raising his right hand, and clenching it into a fist, Long Hua is just about to say something. However—

"Master."

Deciding to swap over to her vessel, to further guilt-trip Long Hua, the Tai Xuan Emperor has her vessel ask—

"Is something the matter?"

Twitching his lips, Long Hua answers—

"…There's something called a combat body in the gacha system. Apparently, anything eaten—using that body will automatically get converted into energy. So…"

"I see."

...…

Within the dreamscape—

"*-laoban, I've already applied a defense down debuff on you. Now comes the guaranteed critical hit!"

Staring coldly at Long Hua, who is still being hesitant, the Tai Xuan Emperor proceeds to—

...…

Lifting its arms, the Tai Xuan Emperor has her vessel wrap its hands around Long Hua's clenched fist.

Due to having just wiped its hands, the vessel's artificial skin is slightly cold to the touch, which isn't too different from how it would usually be.

In a gentle tone, the Tai Xuan Emperor has her vessel say—

"There's little need to be concerned with me, master. For you, there are better places to spend your resources on. Don't you wish to return home as soon as possible?"

"...…"

...…

Within the dreamscape—

"Ai, deciding to maintain my vessel as a separate identity was indeed the right choice. So what if that Lone Dog Incantation can keep you coolheaded in front of a woman? In front of a machine, it's nothing more than a joke."