Chapter 29 The Four Seasons Train (6)
Zhu Ming’s face went through a kaleidoscope of emotions before settling on anger. “So you dare show your face again! You’re really determined to make an enemy of me! Fine! Don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Yin Yu asked curiously, “Ruthless how? Like last time?”
Wenren Tu looked back and forth between them, suspicious. “Last time? What last time?”
Zhu Ming coughed, covering her mouth. “Don’t spout nonsense! Back then, I thought you were a fake, so I didn’t…”
Yin Yu’s smile was cryptic. “Weren’t you testing me?”
Zhu Ming: “…”
Her face hardened as she strode towards Wenren Tu and snatched the blade, Zhanqiu. “Cut the crap! I wasn’t going to bother with you, but you just had to show up! You’re like a bad penny! What are you planning?!”
Unfazed by her hostility, Yin Yu replied innocently, “What if I don’t tell you?”
…Right. She had said that last time, that she wouldn’t tell her.
If Yin Yu hadn’t reappeared, Zhu Ming wouldn’t have cared about her schemes. But she had reappeared, which meant her plans were definitely related to Zhu Ming. She couldn’t ignore this.
If Yin Yu wouldn’t talk, fine. She would make her talk!
Zhu Ming held out her hand. “This is a robbery. Hand over your food coupons.”
Yin Yu blinked, glanced at Zhu Ming, then suddenly slipped sideways, grabbed the edge of the window, and slid out of the carriage like a fish, landing on the roof!
Zhu Ming and Wenren Tu were stunned. So, it was possible to leave the carriage!
“Give me the blade!”
Wind rushed into the carriage. Without hesitation, Zhu Ming grabbed the blade and climbed out after Yin Yu, landing on the roof of the train. From this vantage point, she saw a sea of golden autumn colors.
Fields of wheat rippled like waves, interspersed with red maples and golden leaves. The autumn air was crisp and clear, the sky a brilliant blue. The dark green train was the only man-made object in sight.
The train wasn’t moving very fast, but as long as it was in motion, the wind blew from front to back.
Only now, standing outside, did Zhu Ming realize how long this train was. It was difficult to see the end, at least fifty carriages!
Yin Yu stood at the front of the train, the wind whipping through her hair. She brushed her bangs aside and calmly tied the belt of her windbreaker.
She said, “Mingming, although I didn’t fall in love with you, I was quite fond of you. Did you really think I wanted to kill you?”
Zhu Ming’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained cold. “Are you done with the bullshit? Like I still care about you. If you’re scared, just say so.”
Who knew if this was another one of Yin Yu’s tricks? Playing the victim, trying to gain sympathy? And who needed her to keep emphasizing that she didn’t love her?!
Yin Yu smiled faintly. “How hurtful. In that case, I can’t let you go.”
They would see who wouldn’t let whom go.
Zhu Ming charged forward. The distance between them closed quickly. Yin Yu sidestepped the blade, but that was a feint. Zhu Ming’s real target was her legs!
Wearing high heels in an instance? Let’s see how you handle a fall! Especially since Yin Yu was slightly shorter than Zhu Ming, but the heels made her taller. It irritated Zhu Ming.
Yin Yu raised an eyebrow, deftly jumping back, avoiding Zhu Ming’s sweeping leg. She glanced at the blade in Zhu Ming’s hand and turned to run towards the back of the train, her windbreaker billowing like wings, her movements light and graceful.
Zhu Ming wasn’t about to let her escape. She gave chase. The high heels slowed Yin Yu down, and Zhu Ming quickly caught up.
Closing the distance, she raised the blade and swung it down, her attack fierce and merciless. If Yin Yu didn’t dodge, her arm would be severed!
Yin Yu, not fast enough to escape, suddenly stopped, spun around, and leaned back, not only avoiding the blade but also moving into Zhu Ming’s arms!
So close.
Zhu Ming was startled, even catching a whiff of Yin Yu’s perfume amidst the wind. The close proximity brought Yin Yu’s unforgettable face into sharp focus, her smiling eyes and cherry lips mere inches away.
Zhu Ming abruptly stopped, instinctively grabbing Yin Yu’s waist to steady herself. Beneath her hand, Yin Yu’s waist felt delicate and pliant.
Someone wielding a blade could kill an intangible being, but a long, heavy weapon was difficult to maneuver in close combat. Everything had its advantages and disadvantages. Zhu Ming quickly reversed her grip on the blade, but she was too slow.
Yin Yu’s fingers, like orchids, flicked towards Zhu Ming’s throat. Zhu Ming knew how strong those delicate hands were. One flick could crush her windpipe!
Zhu Ming instinctively pulled back, protecting her throat, and jumped back. Yin Yu twisted away, avoiding Zhu Ming’s upward kick.
Zhu Ming landed gracefully, blade at the ready, but Yin Yu had already created some distance between them.
This time, there was no escape. They had reached the end of the train. If Yin Yu retreated any further, she would fall off.
But Yin Yu didn’t retreat. She stood her ground, her windbreaker open, revealing the graceful curves of her body beneath the long skirt.
“You’ve become much stronger in these past few years, Mingming. Perfect timing. My blade has arrived. Let me see how much you’ve improved.”
The window below opened, and a blade was tossed up. Yin Yu caught it, twirling it expertly. It was a thin, flexible blade that vibrated in the wind, humming softly when she flicked it.
Zhu Ming wouldn’t underestimate it.
In the strong wind, the two figures, one in black, one in white, faced each other.
It was unclear who made the first move, but a flash of silver filled the air.
Zhanqiu was heavy and powerful, while Yin Yu’s blade was light and agile. They exchanged several blows, the clang of metal echoing through the air.
So fast.
Zhu Ming’s clothes were sliced open in several places, the bloodstains quickly blown away by the wind. Her high ponytail came undone, her hair whipping around her face.
Yin Yu, using her usual tactic, closed the distance between them. Her white blade flashed, momentarily blinding Zhu Ming, creating an opening. With a flick of her wrist, Yin Yu’s blade bypassed Zhu Ming’s defense and darted towards her left eye.
Zhu Ming should have dodged. If she had, Yin Yu would have slid the blade towards her neck.
In that split second, Yin Yu had already anticipated Zhu Ming’s next move: she would defend her vital point and counterattack, either with a sidestep and a slash or a low sweep to Yin Yu’s legs.
Yin Yu was confident she could handle either scenario. Zhu Ming wouldn’t be easily defeated. They were evenly matched, this fight far from over.
But Zhu Ming didn’t dodge.
As the sharp tip of the blade approached her face, she didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. She pushed forward with Zhanqiu, deflecting Yin Yu’s blade. The blade slid upwards, its tip still aimed at her face—but Zhu Ming’s goal wasn’t to push the blade away completely. There wasn’t enough time. She only needed to deflect it slightly, enough for the tip to graze her skin, avoiding her eyes and piercing her forehead instead of her skull!
Thwack.
The blade pierced the skin between her eyebrows. A trickle of blood ran down her face.
Yin Yu’s eyes widened in surprise, then understanding, but it was too late.
The moment the blade pierced Zhu Ming’s forehead, Zhu Ming kicked her hard.
Thump.
Yin Yu stumbled backward.
Zhu Ming had put all her strength into that kick, sending Yin Yu flying. And the train, relentless, continued to move forward!
Yin Yu slid backwards, unable to stop. They had been fighting at the very back of the train. In an instant, she reached the edge and started to fall. Reacting quickly, she grabbed a railing, about to regain her footing on a lower ledge, when a cold blade pressed against her neck.
Yin Yu looked up.
Zhu Ming crouched on the roof of the train, silhouetted against the sky, her hair whipping around her face, the blood from her forehead trickling down her nose and staining her cheek, making her expression unreadable.
“Don’t move,” Zhu Ming said, “unless you want me to chop off your hand and let you fall to your death.”
Yin Yu smiled. “I didn’t expect you to become so strong in these seven years, Mingming. You used to be such a well-behaved child, never fighting back even when bullied.”
Zhu Ming’s lips twitched sarcastically. “I had to. The thought of seeing you again one day gave me endless motivation to train. I always thought you were strong, so I never let my guard down, afraid that I wouldn’t be able to beat you to a pulp when we met again. But now… it seems my memory exaggerated your strength. You’re nothing special.”
Seven years ago, at eighteen, Zhu Ming had been weak and helpless. The terror of Yin Yu had driven her forward. That nightmarish glimpse, she didn’t know what Yin Yu was, but she knew she was powerful.
Zhu Ming had trained relentlessly, transforming herself.
Whatever Yin Yu’s purpose, whatever she was planning, Zhu Ming would uncover the truth.
With the blade at her neck, Yin Yu couldn’t move. She dangled precariously from the back of the train, swaying in the wind, but she didn’t seem discouraged.
One hand gripping the railing, the other holding her blade, she calmly brushed her hair back from her face. The wind was strong, ruining her hairstyle.
Her windbreaker was long gone, lost during the fight. A footprint, courtesy of Zhu Ming, stained her long skirt. Despite her disheveled appearance, she remained composed, which irritated Zhu Ming.
Yin Yu sighed. “You’ve changed so much, Mingming. Not only can you see through others’ lies, but you’ve also learned to lie yourself. I was quite surprised when I saw it in the last instance.”
Zhu Ming used the tip of her blade to lift Yin Yu’s chin. “Anyone who’s been hurt by lies learns to fear them. And to recognize lies, you have to learn to lie yourself. Yin Yu, why are you talking so much? Are you trying to stall?”
Yin Yu smiled faintly. “Oh dear, you’ve seen through me. In that case, let me teach you something else—it’s not good to be too focused on one thing. No matter how much you hate someone, you should always be aware of your surroundings.”
Zhu Ming frowned. She suddenly heard a rustling sound approaching, so close it meant… she couldn’t dodge!
The branches of the tall trees lining the tracks, heavy with golden leaves in autumn, swept across the roof of the train. A branch struck Zhu Ming’s back.
At this speed, even thin branches and leaves were dangerous, enough to knock her off the train, especially since she was precariously perched at the very back. She lost her balance and started to fall, the world spinning around her. Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed something, clinging to it desperately.
When she regained her grip and looked up, she realized she was clinging to Yin Yu’s waist, her face pressed against the footprint on Yin Yu’s skirt.
Zhu Ming/Yin Yu: “…”
Simultaneously, they raised their blades, the tips pointed at each other’s throats.
A black kite joined the white kite dangling from the back of the train. Yin Yu’s grip on the railing loosened. “Want to die together?”
Zhu Ming didn’t want to die with her. “Die alone.”
Yin Yu said, “I’ll count to three, and we both lower our blades. One, two, three.”
Neither blade moved.
Zhu Ming snorted, using her blade to threaten Yin Yu while she climbed up, her movements awkward. Yin Yu’s grip finally slipped. Zhu Ming jumped to the side, using Yin Yu’s leg as a foothold to reach the railing. But Yin Yu wasn’t giving up so easily. While Zhu Ming was grabbing the railing, she wrapped her legs around Zhu Ming’s waist.
Their positions reversed. Now Zhu Ming was holding onto the train while Yin Yu clung to her.
“Let go!” Zhu Ming tried to shake her off.
“Don’t be so stingy. I didn’t kick you when you were holding me,” Yin Yu said, slithering around her, moving from the front to her back.
They struggled again, but their blades were useless at such close range. They were locked in a stalemate, one trying to climb up, the other pulling her down, neither gaining any advantage.
The close proximity made Zhu Ming’s body stiffen. Unable to shake Yin Yu off, she grew increasingly frustrated, finally lowering her head and biting hard into Yin Yu’s shoulder.
Yin Yu gasped, her body trembling, tightening her hold on Zhu Ming.
The faint taste of blood filled Zhu Ming’s mouth. She paused, realizing that Yin Yu, known for her cold heart, even had unusually cold blood.
Yin Yu’s soft body pressed against hers, her light fragrance mingled with the scent of blood. At this moment, she felt like a recurring nightmare, clinging to Zhu Ming, refusing to let go.
Tsk.
Yin Yu tilted her head, her hair brushing against Zhu Ming’s cheek. The half-dried blood on Zhu Ming’s face smeared onto Yin Yu’s skin. Zhu Ming’s warm breath tickled her neck. Yin Yu felt a strange mix of discomfort and arousal. She chuckled softly. “Mingming, I know you don’t trust me. How about this, we each climb up on our own. Is that acceptable?”
Zhu Ming, gradually calming down, realized it would be difficult to defeat Yin Yu in this situation. She glanced at her and nodded in agreement.
Yin Yu reached out and grabbed the railing.
Warily eyeing each other, they separated, each holding onto the train, and moved to opposite sides of the carriage.
Through the window, Zhu Ming saw Yin Yu begin to climb, then stop and move forward instead.
What was she doing?
Right, she had an accomplice!
Zhu Ming climbed onto the roof and looked towards Yin Yu, just in time to see her climb through an open window into a carriage. Zhu Ming tried to follow, but couldn’t.
Even with the window open, she couldn’t enter. There was a hidden rule on this train: a participant could only move one carriage per day-night cycle.
This was why they had been progressing so slowly. They had tried entering multiple carriages when the doors opened, but it didn’t work. Once inside a carriage, they couldn’t leave until the next round.
Yin Yu, having composed herself inside the carriage, smiled at Zhu Ming. “Still want to fight? Next time.”
Zhu Ming glared at her. So she was running away because she couldn’t win. It seemed she wouldn’t be getting any useful information from Yin Yu this time.
Unable to follow, Zhu Ming decided to observe.
Besides Yin Yu, there was another person in the carriage who was clearly a participant, likely her accomplice. But this person was shrouded in mystery, wearing a white mask with a black digital display where the eyes should be. Apart from their gender and height, nothing else was discernible.
And besides the two of them, the carriage was empty. It was “day,” yet there were no ghosts present. This meant the masked person had eliminated all the ghosts in this carriage.
Zhu Ming looked back, walking along the roof of the train.
Yin Yu had entered carriage 57. There were three more carriages behind it. The train had a total of sixty carriages.
Even if the participants were spread out, there were definitely no fewer participants in this instance than in the previous one. Zhu Ming walked along the roof, checking the situation in each carriage.
Carriage 60, empty. 59, empty, bloodstains. 58, empty. 57, two people. 56, empty. 55, empty. 54, bloodstains. 53, empty. 52, empty. 51, one person. 50, bloodstains…
The situation in the carriages after 50 wasn’t good, but thankfully, there were more survivors further up the train.
There must have been deaths, but she didn’t see any bodies. She wondered if they went to the same place as the dead ghosts.
Having surveyed the train, Zhu Ming returned to carriage 8.
Wenren Tu and Legs were eating sunflower seeds, sitting at the four-seater table Yin Yu had cleared.
Seeing Zhu Ming return, Wenren Tu said excitedly, “What took you so long? Who was that woman? You looked pretty roughed up! She’s strong! Did you… you know…” Wenren Tu made a slicing motion across her neck. “…finish her off?”
“No.” Zhu Ming placed the blade on the table, her tone grumpy. “You didn’t even help me when I was fighting outside.”
Wenren Tu looked innocent. “I was watching! I saw you knock her off the train. Clearly, you didn’t need my help.” So she hadn’t bothered.
“Besides, do you think everyone can climb trains like they’re climbing into bed like you two?” Wenren Tu said defensively. “Moving one carriage and fighting every night, I haven’t slept at all! I’m exhausted! And that woman left a whole carriage of ghosts! We still have to fight them later! I need to conserve my energy!”
Besides, only those who lacked strong abilities resorted to physical combat. Wenren Tu didn’t think it was shameful that her hand-to-hand skills were slightly lacking. She was still much stronger than ordinary people, just not as strong as a freak like Zhu Ming.
Zhu Ming pouted. There were more pressing matters to discuss.
She described the situation in the rear carriages. “I was thinking, since we don’t know how long this train is, it might be better to head towards the front. There are only a dozen or so carriages in that direction, and the engine is at the front. We might find something there.”
Wenren Tu said, “Based on the carriage numbers we were assigned, it seems the participants are placed in every other carriage, starting from carriage 2. That means there were initially 30 participants on this train.”
Zhu Ming said, “But there are only a dozen or so left alive. I saw five people grouped together in carriage 32, probably an alliance. The rest are mostly alone. After all, more people means more food coupons needed, and more food coupons mean more ghosts at night.”
Wenren Tu asked, “Only a dozen or so left on the entire train?”
Zhu Ming leaned back against the sofa, her arms crossed, her mood sour. “Not necessarily. I forgot to check the front carriages.”
Sensing her mood, Wenren Tu said, “It’s fine. We’re heading that way anyway. You said you won against that woman. Why are you so upset?”
Zhu Ming didn’t answer. How could she explain?
That she was sulking because she hadn’t managed to get any information out of Yin Yu? That would make her seem petty.
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