Chapter 27 The Four Seasons Train (4)
This instance was different from the last. Within three hours of entering, they were thrust into a combat scenario. Although there were no puzzles to solve or investigations to conduct, making it simpler in terms of gameplay, it was actually more challenging for non-combat-oriented participants.
The accelerated metabolism forced them to collect food coupons, but having food coupons meant facing the ghosts’ attacks at “night.” To starve or to fight, that was the dilemma most participants faced.
If this instance continued with its rapid cycle of hunger and day-night transitions, Legs would be forced to make this choice repeatedly, a fact she was acutely aware of.
She glanced at Zhu Ming, who was quietly watching her, her chin resting on her hand.
Legs knew that if she didn’t prove herself useful, Zhu Ming wouldn’t truly consider her a partner. Zhu Ming seemed strong, and strong people were often arrogant, looking down on the weak.
But Legs really wasn’t good at fighting. She would have to demonstrate her courage and determination, at least showing Zhu Ming she wouldn’t be a burden.
Steeling her resolve, Legs slapped the table. “I want to trade for food coupons!”
Zhu Ming looked at her curiously.
The three at the table stared at Legs in silence for a long moment. The oppressive atmosphere made Legs’ newfound courage waver.
But if she didn’t trade for food coupons, she would starve.
Just as they were about to speak, Legs suddenly stood up. “Wait, I’ve changed my mind.”
She scanned the carriage, carefully selecting her next target. An elderly man, a chubby young woman, and a pregnant woman. Perfect. This group clearly wasn’t a threat. They were slow and would be easy targets.
Legs sat down at their table. “I want to trade for food coupons. What are your conditions?”
The pregnant woman, dressed in a traditional qipao and embroidered shoes, glanced at her companions and giggled, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. “My dear girl, you’re so amusing. Tell us, what do you have to offer?”
After a full day-night cycle, all the participants likely understood the significance of food coupons. Those who came to trade were presumably prepared. The ghosts didn’t bother with pretenses anymore. The first round was the easiest time to trick participants into trading their tickets, a chance that wouldn’t come again.
Legs pursed her lips. “I can trade a fingernail.”
The pregnant woman shook her head. “Just one fingernail? You’re dreaming, dearie. You’ll starve without food coupons. It’s summer now. Haven’t you heard of inflation?”
Legs frowned, glaring at the pregnant woman, refusing to back down. One fingernail wasn’t enough? These ghosts were too greedy.
Zhu Ming couldn’t stand it any longer. She sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Just as Legs was about to give in, Zhu Ming placed a hand on her shoulder and said impatiently, “Aren’t you all forgetting something?”
Relieved that the unfavorable trade had been interrupted, Legs asked, “What?”
Zhu Ming said, “It’s a seller’s market, not a buyer’s market. We are the ones selling. I might not even want your food coupons, even if you beg me to take them.”
Legs stared at her, stunned, then allowed herself to be pulled up. Zhu Ming sat down in her place, gesturing for Legs to sit beside her.
Zhu Ming tapped the table and pulled three food coupons from her pocket. “See? I don’t need these. I’m giving you one chance to trade your food coupons for my life. This is a limited-time offer. Once night falls, I’m switching carriages, and you’ll lose your chance to get a train ticket. So, understand? Food coupons. Take it or leave it.”
The elderly man, the pregnant woman, and the chubby young woman hesitated for a moment, then each pulled out a food coupon. “But you have to trade something in return, right?”
Zhu Ming said, “Of course.”
She handed each of them a piece of candy. That was all.
Three food coupons acquired. Zhu Ming turned to Legs, raising an eyebrow. See? You have to control the narrative.
Legs’ eyes widened in understanding. She had learned a valuable lesson.
Since entering the instance, she had been cautiously observing, only daring to trade for food coupons when she was on the verge of starvation. The shrewd ghosts in carriage 16 must have sensed her desperation and deliberately acted reluctant, forcing her to beg.
Damn, these ghosts were cunning.
As the train continued its journey, the previously silent loudspeaker suddenly crackled to life:
“Attention passengers! Welcome to the Four Seasons Train, number 999! Please observe proper train etiquette during your journey. Failure to do so will result in a re-education session conducted by our esteemed conductor. The second rule of proper train etiquette: all trades must be voluntary!”
After the announcement, Zhu Ming continued tapping the table. “I’ll take two more tables’ worth of food coupons, then I’m done. Remember to bring an offering when you trade. Candies and small snacks are preferred, of course. And remember, all trades are voluntary. I’m not forcing anyone. Limited spots available! First come, first served!”
The ghosts in carriage 17, their eyes filled with resentment, glared at Zhu Ming. What kind of person was she?! Couldn’t she act like a normal human being?
Zhu Ming: Nope.
But she had accurately gauged the ghosts’ desperation for the train tickets. Even if collecting nine food coupons didn’t guarantee her success, not trading meant definitely missing the opportunity.
The ghosts in the carriage stirred restlessly.
Legs was a little worried. “Isn’t this too risky? So many ghosts…” She had only traded for two food coupons last time, enough for a piece of bread and a bottle of water.
Zhu Ming said, “Don’t worry. I’m a highly respected employee of the Paranormal Affairs Bureau…”
Legs’ eyes lit up, instantly reassured by those words.
Zhu Ming: “…’s friend.”
Legs: “W-Well, that’s good too.”
With so many ghosts eager to trade, Zhu Ming waved her hand, instructing those who wanted to trade to raise their hands. She then delegated the task of collecting the food coupons to Legs.
Legs was flattered. “You’re really letting me choose?”
Zhu Ming smiled kindly. “Of course! You’re in this carriage too. What if the ghosts I chose decided to kill you? I’d feel terrible.”
Legs: “…” So if the ghosts she chose decided to kill her, it would be her own fault?
But regardless, she had to perform well! As Legs walked around the carriage, surrounded by eager gazes, a sense of power surged through her. She felt like a salted fish finally flipping over.
She carefully selected two tables of seemingly weaker ghosts. When she returned to Zhu Ming, she found her asleep on the table.
Almost an hour later, the cart rumbled back into the carriage. The black and white vendor barked to announce its arrival. Legs quickly woke Zhu Ming. The food coupons weren’t hers to spend.
Zhu Ming bought two lunchboxes and two bottles of water, spending six food coupons, then two more loaves of bread as a buffer for later, spending another two coupons. She kept two coupons for the bathroom—yes, even the bathroom required food coupons. Their stinginess was appalling!
That left her with only one spare food coupon.
Zhu Ming asked the vendor, “Can I buy things that aren’t on the cart?”
The border collie: “Woof!”
Perhaps that meant yes? Zhu Ming tentatively asked, “I want a backpack.”
The border collie, surprisingly dexterous, used its paws to open a small compartment under the cart and pulled out a backpack. However, the price tag on the bag indicated it cost five food coupons. Zhu Ming couldn’t afford it.
Zhu Ming sighed. “Forget it. I’ll buy it next time.”
She patted the dog’s head. The border collie put the backpack back in the compartment, wagged its tail, and continued to the next carriage.
Soon, another “night” arrived. The train sped into the dark tunnel. The lights flickered, and the ghosts reappeared.
Zhu Ming remained at the pregnant woman’s table, patting the chubby young woman ghost on the shoulder. “I’ll sit on the inside, so the other ghosts don’t try to steal your seat.”
The chubby young woman, no older than thirteen or fourteen, looked at her, momentarily stunned, then switched places. “You’re so nice, big sis!”
Zhu Ming smiled. “You’re welcome. It’s what I should do. Block those other ghosts for me, so they don’t try to ambush me.”
The chubby young woman, who had simply been plump in life, inflated like a balloon in her ghost form, effectively blocking the entrance to the four-seater. “I’ve got it covered! Hurry up!”
The pregnant woman ghost’s lips twitched. Was this woman stupid? But it didn’t matter. She would get that train ticket!
Their eyes gleaming with malice, the two ghosts lunged at Zhu Ming.
With this side blocked by the chubby ghost, the remaining six ghosts, seeing they were losing their chance, turned their attention to Legs.
Six ghosts! And the carriage was cramped, the seats creating obstacles that hindered Legs’ movements.
Legs had never run for her life with such intensity. She felt like she could compete in an obstacle course after this. Adrenaline surged through her as she dodged and weaved, her movements frantic.
She hoped that friend of a Paranormal Affairs Bureau employee wouldn’t die. Please, don’t die! But she was trapped, and there was no sign of activity…
In Legs’ enhanced perception, everything seemed to move in slow motion. As she passed by the chubby ghost’s table again, the chubby ghost suddenly lunged forward. Legs, startled, sprinted away.
The chubby ghost, her face contorted in a grimace, landed on top of the ghosts chasing Legs, pinning them down.
She gasped, “Big… sis… you tricked… me…”
In the cramped space beneath the massive, distorted form, the woman in black slowly retracted her hand, black and red blood dripping from it. She looked up at Legs and smiled, unaware that her blood-splattered face looked more terrifying than any ghost.
“Sorry, I was a little slow.”
Legs, too grateful to be angry, said quickly, “Not slow, not slow! As long as you’re alright!”
As long as Zhu Ming was okay, this “night” was as good as over!
…
Five minutes later, the doors of all the carriages opened simultaneously.
In carriage 16, two ghosts glared at them hungrily; they were the ones Legs hadn’t dealt with in the previous round. In carriage 18, four ghosts glared at Zhu Ming, their resentment practically tangible.
“To the front!”
Zhu Ming wiped the blood from her hands and stepped into carriage 16, Legs close behind.
The two hungry ghosts in carriage 16 were delighted to see their prey return!
But before they could act, a third person entered from the other door.
The two ghosts paused. Three people? Could they handle that?
They didn’t have to ponder for long. The newcomer placed a hand on each of their shoulders. Her short, blue-and-purple streaked hair bounced playfully. She smiled. “My, my, Zhu Ming, you look a bit worse for wear.”
Legs watched in surprise as a flash of blinding purple and white light erupted. The two ghosts convulsed violently.
Heavenly lightning, a bane to ghosts. They shrieked in agony, trying to attack, but the newcomer was enveloped in a protective layer of lightning, making them afraid to touch her.
A moment later, the ghosts dissolved into black ash. The woman in the crop top brushed the ash from her hands and stretched languidly. “I’m exhausted. And who’s this little miss?”
Legs quickly introduced herself.
Wenren Tu smiled and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you! I’m Wenren Tu, Zhu Ming’s best friend.”
…
The three participants in carriage 16: Zhu Ming, Wenren Tu, and Legs.
The train exited the tunnel, transitioning from summer to autumn. Golden fields stretched as far as the eye could see, a soothing sight. But with the change of seasons, the temperature in the carriage dropped sharply.
The remains of the two dead ghosts vanished without a trace, leaving two more empty seats in the carriage.
Zhu Ming went to the sink to clean the bloodstains from her clothes. Legs looked curiously at Wenren Tu, wondering if she was Zhu Ming’s friend from the Paranormal Affairs Bureau.
“Why could you bring your blade in, but I couldn’t bring my crowbar?” Zhu Ming grumbled.
“Probably because of a spirit binding technique. And it’s my bonded weapon,” Wenren Tu said, patting the long blade at her hip. “It’s good that you’re here. Fighting alone wasn’t much fun. Those little ghosts are surprisingly tenacious.”
She patted her bulging pockets, filled with food coupons. She had initially been placed in carriage 14. After testing the side effects of the food coupons, she had gone to carriage 15 and started collecting them on a large scale. Aware of her limitations, she had only taken half the carriage’s coupons.
But that didn’t mean she had killed all the ghosts in that carriage.
“Sometimes, being too strong is a curse,” Wenren Tu said, a hint of smugness in her voice. “I only killed a few ghosts instantly, and the rest started running away, either clinging to the ceiling or shrinking themselves and hiding in corners.”
Her ability had a major drawback: she couldn’t use it remotely. And since she couldn’t damage the train itself, her ability couldn’t be used on the seats or walls. Her hand-to-hand combat skills were average, so after chasing them for a while, she gave up.
But now Zhu Ming was here.
Zhu Ming washed her face. “Actually, I was waiting for you too. There were too many eyes watching outside, so it wasn’t convenient to talk. But now that we’re here, I think it’s time to tell you.”
“Huh? What’s so secretive?”
“My ability is back.” Zhu Ming lowered her voice instinctively.
Wenren Tu’s eyes widened in delight. “Since when?! Does your grandma know?!”
Zhu Ming shook her head. “It came back after we left the last instance. I wasn’t planning on telling anyone. They’ll find out eventually.”
Actually, Zhu Ming’s ability had been sealed shortly after awakening seven years ago. She had never truly used it.
Legs, listening quietly, was confused. Did that mean Zhu Ming hadn’t had any abilities before?
Suddenly, she sneezed. “Achoo!”
Zhu Ming and Wenren Tu looked at her simultaneously.
Legs rubbed her nose, about to speak, then sneezed again and again.
Wenren Tu said, “Probably caught a cold from the sudden temperature change.”
Zhu Ming shrugged. “Maybe. At this rate, the next season will be winter.”
Just then, the loudspeaker crackled to life again:
“Attention passengers! Welcome to the Four Seasons Train, number 999! Please observe proper train etiquette during your journey. Failure to do so will result in a re-education session conducted by our esteemed conductor. The final rule of proper train etiquette: keep your train ticket safe! Lost tickets will not be replaced! Lost tickets will not be replaced! Repeat, lost tickets will not be replaced!”
The last few words were distorted, as if the announcer was desperately trying to drill this into every passenger’s head.
Zhu Ming and Wenren Tu exchanged glances. They both understood.
Legs, her nose running, her body weak from sneezing, wondered if the cart sold medicine and how expensive it would be. She found a seat and sat down to rest. Besides the sneezing, her throat was sore and itchy, her head dizzy, another symptom of the accelerated hunger.
Damn it, even illnesses progressed rapidly here. She couldn’t do anything in this state.
Thankfully, Zhu Ming and that Wenren Tu woman were strong. She would try her best, and they surely wouldn’t abandon her. Legs consoled herself, seeing that Zhu Ming and Wenren Tu had also found seats and were resting, not as ostentatiously as in the previous carriage.
Were they being considerate of her illness? Legs felt a pang of guilt and a surge of gratitude for the reliability of the friend of a Paranormal Affairs Bureau employee.
Halfway through their autumn journey, the border collie vendor returned with its cart.
Wenren Tu quickly spent all her food coupons, buying not only food and water but also fever medicine for Legs, three light jackets and two down jackets in preparation for winter, and a backpack.
Despite its small size, the cart seemed to have everything.
The temperature was around 10 degrees Celsius, which Zhu Ming found perfectly comfortable, but she didn’t refuse Wenren Tu’s offer of a long black windbreaker.
Legs, having taken the medicine and put on a jacket, felt drowsy. Just then, Zhu Ming and Wenren Tu stood up.
One said, “This is a robbery!” The other opened her backpack.
Legs was jolted awake. Wait, what? A robbery? Robbing who?
Who else but the surviving ghosts in carriage 16?
Not only Legs, but even the ghosts in the carriage were stunned by this move. They had seen people courting death, but not like this.
“Trading food coupons is voluntary,” one of the ghosts said, remembering the key rule. “I’m not trading! Hehe, you’re clearly up to something!”
These two were either incredibly stupid or incredibly strong. Judging by the fact they had survived two “nights,” it was likely the latter. This ghost knew that missing this opportunity was regrettable, but there were other people on this train. With enough patience, he would find another target.
But Zhu Ming said, “No, we’re trading with you. And I decide what we’re trading.”
The ghost glared at her, silent, trying to intimidate her with its gaze.
Zhu Ming smiled faintly. “Don’t look at me like that. You can’t actually refuse, can you? During the spring, on the first day, a ghost told me that to get food coupons from others, I had to trade something in return. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but then… the train etiquette rules said all trades must be voluntary.”
Why emphasize that specifically? It was easy to realize that ghosts couldn’t force trades. Was it really necessary to state it explicitly?
It wasn’t until Zhu Ming and Wenren Tu decided to rob the ghosts in carriage 16 that she finally understood.
If a player was too strong, and the ghosts refused to trade food coupons, the player would starve to death, and the ghosts would get a free train ticket—that was unreasonable. If that were the rule, as long as the ghosts cooperated, all the players would die.
So the rule about voluntary trades applied to what the players offered, while the ghosts couldn’t refuse a player’s request to trade for food coupons!
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