Exiting the Zeus Jewelry Shop, Lan Jue made a beeline for the Gothic Winery across the street.
It'd been a long time since he'd been on Skyfire Avenue. Although he'd only passed through it, the familiar feeling of familiarity washed over him. It lifted his mood considerably.
To Lan Jue's surprise, the Wine Master was waiting for him in the lobby of the Gothic Winery. When he saw Lan Jue enter, his face lit up with a smile. "Thank you."
"Eh?" Lan Jue was taken aback. "Why so polite?"
"Come with me and you'll find out," the Wine Master said.
Lan Jue chuckled. "No matter what you're thanking me for, I don't mind you thanking me with fine wine."
The Wine Master chortled. "Alright, I'll treat you later.
As long as you have the time. "
Lan Jue's heart skipped a beat. Without another word, she followed the Wine Master into the Gothic Winery's interior.
At the head of the long table, someone was already seated. When Lan Jue saw her, her jaw dropped.
It hadn't been that long since they'd parted!
"Ma … what are you doing here?"
Seated at the head of the table was none other than the woman who'd pestered Jueti on Ziluo. Jueti had angered her, Roxanne. She was Lan Jue's new mother.
It was obvious that Roxanne had returned after leaving Ziluo.
Roxanne glared at him. "Call me whatever you want. Do you think I'm not your mother now that you're back?"
The Wine Master's body trembled as he listened. He turned his head to look at Lan Jue in surprise.
Lan Jue's expression was one of helplessness. "What are you doing here, Ma 'am?"
The Wine Master's mind went blank when he heard her address him.
He was tongue-tied and speechless.
"This is my home," Roxanne said. "I founded this place with Huckster Shen. Why can't I come back?
You're back just in time. Have a seat. "
Lan Jue glanced at the dumbfounded Wine Master, then took a seat beside Roxanne.
The Wine Master's heart was filled with questions.
But now was not the time to ask him, so he could only sit on the other side of Roxanne.
Roxanne faintly said, "The life of the huckster is coming to an end. As a former friend, I have to come back to send him off.
But you must keep my return a secret. "
Lan Jue asked tentatively, "I, your mother, will you still leave after coming back this time?"
Roxanne glanced at him.
"Do you want me to go?"
Lan Jue quickly shook her head and said, "Of course not.
With you on Skyfire Avenue, we'll feel more at ease. "
Roxanne smiled and said, "Alright, then I won't be leaving."
"Auntie, you're really not leaving?" The Wine Master asked in surprise.
Roxanne snorted.
"As long as my precious son is here, I won't leave."
Lan Jue couldn't help it. No matter how she looked at it, Roxanne didn't look like his mother. Although she was old enough to be his grandmother, appearance was what most people paid attention to.
Skyfire Avenue, on the other hand, had a Nirvana Paragon in their midst.
The Major League and the Citadels couldn't be compared in any way.
Especially in a situation like this, where humanity was about to face the invasion of the aliens, it would be a great boost to their strength.
It would be a boon to the Eastern Alliance.
The Wine Master glanced at Lan Jue. He could see that Roxanne and Lan Jue weren't related by blood. He couldn't understand how Lan Jue had managed to bring back his aunt.
It seemed that his aunt still thought highly of him.
It had to have something to do with Jueti.
He'd have to ask Lan Jue in private.
Roxanne continued. "About me coming back, keep it a secret.
Do what you're supposed to do.
Wait for the huckster to come out.
I'll go see him. "
"Yes."
The Wine Master was quick to answer. He was a Paragon now, but he'd grown up with Roxanne. Roxanne had taught him all of his abilities. He had a deep affection for his aunt, and a deep respect for her.
Roxanne looked at him. "You haven't made much progress these past few years. You still haven't untied the knot in your heart?"
The Wine Master's face changed, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. "Auntie, do you remember?"
Roxanne shook her head. "It's fine. Things change with the passage of time. There are plenty of fish in the sea.
She ran off to the Northern Alliance for so many years, it proves she doesn't care about you.
What's the point of thinking so much?
I'll introduce you to someone else. I heard from Ah Jue that there's someone called the Pharmacist, right?
She's pretty good, too.
Why don't you make do with her? "
The Wine Master's face fell. "Auntie, you can't just pick a couple like that!"
Roxanne huffed. "How am I picking a couple like that?
Don't forget, back then, your aunt had the title of the number one matchmaker in history. "
The Wine Master scowled. "Don't, please don't.
I'm scared of you. "
Roxanne looked at him. "How's my shop coming along?
When can it open? "
"It's almost done," the Wine Master replied. "You can go in two days."
Lan Jue looked at Roxanne in surprise. "Mother, what kind of shop are you going to run?"
According to Skyfire Avenue's rules, every true member of the organization had their own shop. Whether it was above ground or below, there was always at least one.
Paragons like the Wine Master and Clairvoyant were no exception.
Only the Bookworm was now with the Keeper, and he didn't have his own place to himself.
Roxanne giggled. "My nickname on Skyfire Avenue was the Photographer!
When you're getting married in the future, you can come to me for your wedding photos.
My shop will be called Roxanne Wedding Photography. "
Lan Jue stared at her in surprise. His mind raced back to the first time he'd met her, and the abilities she'd displayed. She was the Photographer, and it seemed his mother's Discipline had to be some kind of spatial Discipline.
"Alright, I'm going.
I'll be back when the shop's ready.
Your place reeks of alcohol, so annoying.
I still like the smell of cigars on my Bupang. "With that, she stood up and gracefully walked out.
My Not Pang …
Lan Jue didn't know how his father would react if he heard this, but he was certain. He couldn't argue!
Roxanne's return to Skyfire Avenue, and just as the Clairvoyant was about to fall. For Skyfire Avenue as a whole, this was a good thing.
Her return also meant that Skyfire Avenue's overall strength had increased. Not only were there more Paragons, but they were also more powerful.
"Ahem, Jewelry Master, tell us, what's going on?" The Wine Master watched as his aunt left, then turned to Lan Jue.
(To be continued)