Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2705: Chapter 2700: I Am the Curse

It’s cool, sure, but everyone knows tattoos are a tough sell when it comes to passing political reviews...

In a corner of Shangjing in the early morning, the bookstore owner, who lost even his pants in a whole night’s hustle, is taking stock of his earnings.

Although the colors are not as flamboyant as Crimson Frenzy, the pattern is so abstract you can’t really tell what it represents.

But whether you’re a businessman or an intellectual, sporting such a style is bound to catch some eyes.

You could say that sometimes when you gain too much, it can also bring trouble. The Dragon King’s farewell gift indeed caused some inconvenience for future travels in the worldly society.

First, Fu Qian is very certain this thing can’t be washed off.

And although clothing can be used to conceal it as before, Crimson Frenzy is more than just a visual spectacle.

As a highly recognizable transcendent entity, quite a few people should be able to identify it.

There’s a reason it’s described as a gift from the Dragon King.

The one on his hand is hard to simply explain away as a curse.

Curse as I am, I am the curse.

Aside from being unable to completely stow it away, he can already manipulate it in many ways, such as—

Fu Qian looked down at his wrist, not even needing extraordinary perception as the sinister pattern rapidly spread.

Over the back of his hand, the palm, and even the arm...

Not only that, the pattern even undulated and moved along the skin’s surface as if transforming into a two-dimensional creature.

And Fu Qian was fully aware that if he wanted, he could make this two-dimensional creature continue its walk onto others during contact... or let it devour the existing contamination.

For this Crimson Frenzy curse, the Dragon King seemed to have delegated a part of the authority directly.

Let’s just say he’s too polite; next time, I’ll definitely bring some excellent food in return.

As for the small troubles it caused, it’s not entirely without solutions.

No matter how hard it is to conceal the transcendent aura, as long as you use the Dazzling Visage bestowed by the Pontiff, it’s likely to cease being a problem... though it feels a bit weird.

Fu Qian shook his head, the pattern on his body quickly retracting as he stood and went upstairs.

Of course, those extreme measures I mentioned are just for the worst-case scenario.

Simply wandering in Shangjing, or having a talk with Chief Yuan, only requires a piece of clothing.

...

”The shop is closed, thank you for your patronage.”

Amid the overly rapid depletion, there weren’t many outfits left that Miss Wen helped prepare back then.

After changing into what was almost his last set of casual attire, Fu Qian didn’t take long to usher in a peak in the shop’s customer flow.

And under the sun that was already starting to heat up, he wasted no time in shooing people away.

”You can’t do this... what store closes at this time!”

Sure enough, there are always those customers with high courage values who protest immediately.

Although this one with perfectly slicked hair had already been lingering for almost an hour before protesting.

”I can do this; didn’t you see I finished my tea?”

Alas, the fate of such people is always the same. Without even lifting his head, Fu Qian spared only half an eye on him, gesturing toward the counter.

It did look like the tea was indeed finished... but what does that have to do with me!

Under guidance, the customer couldn’t help but glance over, but soon remembered their role as ”God.”

”So, you want to go to sleep?”

Unable to resist frowning, he was clearly trying to fathom the connection between finishing the tea and closing the shop.

”No, I’m going to find tea leaves... or are you planning to help me find them?”

Sadly, the owner maintained the same expression.

Help find tea leaves...

It was apparent this guy had some knowledge worthy of his attire.

The tea leaves Miss Wen brought to offset her salary were definitely not ordinary. Just with one more look, the customer, still speechless, left.

Perhaps he didn’t really believe the bookstore owner was going to find tea leaves, but it was obvious this guy wasn’t short on cash.

...

He really was going to find tea leaves.

After stifling the arrogance of the stubborn elements, soon all customers were driven out.

And not long after that, Fu Qian sat in the same posture, but in a completely different place.

The light wasn’t as intense relatively, but it was clear the weather was just as good, with light pouring almost unobstructed through massive floor-to-ceiling windows, so much that the scars on the table were vividly clear.

Indeed, the masterpiece of Lady Suzune, who at the time pinned her own hand to the table.

In return, I treated her to a steaming bowl of creamy brain flower soup.

The current location is on Ye Island, in the Otaku Demon Mansion.

As to how he got there, of course it was via the Arbitrary Gate given by the Red Moon.

And specifically as to why... wasn’t it mentioned earlier that I came to find tea leaves?

We, who conduct business, are based on integrity; making excuses is not our style.

Fu Qian remembered quite clearly, that although it might taste different than what Miss Wen had prepared, the tea here was undoubtedly good, having even been used to entertain retired leaders from the Academy.

Sadly, Lady Nepheli neither managed to sit down nor properly enjoy a cup — indeed, there were still leftovers.

As he reminisced, Fu Qian had already searched thoroughly according to old memories and successfully found what he was looking for.

Although it had been opened before, it was still well-preserved, and not too much time had passed.

Moreover, not in a rush to bring it back or bothered by the lack of a tea-brewing companion, Fu Qian immediately started making tea himself.

...

It still seemed quite peaceful.

After three rounds of tea, having idly watched the flowers in the garden bloom and wither, Fu Qian nodded slightly, reflecting.

He still remembered vividly, the last time he visited with Su Gao, it was swarming with distinguished guests.

Not only did numerous tea-brewing ladies flock, but even the King of Ye Island personally came to grace the occasion.

Perhaps this is the reality of people leaving and tea cooling down.

Fu Qian’s reflection on this wasn’t really due to getting sentimental.

Don’t forget the current situation: Yasui, who controls Ye Island, is fiercely clashing with the Sirens, with insidious tactics emerging one after another.

In such a climate, if Ye Island was too tense, a dangerous factor like himself should have been under greater scrutiny.

Yet, after all this time sipping tea, no one had come to take a swipe at him.

Perhaps this indicates that the daily life of Ye Island’s general populace hasn’t been significantly impacted.

We can only attribute this to the Night Watchman’s system design — offering neither punishment nor reward to the commoners.

You can fight all you want, tear at one another all you like, but don’t disrupt everyone’s lives.

Speaking of which, isn’t that Fortune Teller’s Cottage, previously struggling with business, still open now?

At that moment, Fu Qian stood up and exited the place from the other side of the door.