Lucky Star (Thanks to Alliance Master Naiyazi Supreme)

Lucky Star (Thanks to Alliance Master Naiyazi Supreme)

Yue East Province, Yuezhou City, Train East Station.

East Station was Yuezhou's oldest station. It had six waiting halls, and trains passing through it included high-speed rail, express trains, and green-skin trains.

Li Banfeng carefully checked the ticket information: 1160 Train.

Why was it this train again?

Li Banfeng sent a message: "Didn't this train derail?"

Click-clack~

He Jiaqing replied: "The accident has already been handled. Service has resumed."

Handled already?

Something that serious had been dealt with so quickly?

There wasn't even a "K" before the train number.

That meant it was not even an ordinary fast train—it was the slowest kind of train.

Hopefully, his hometown was not too far away.

The ticket said Gate 96.

Li Banfeng made a circuit of the various waiting areas. He saw plenty of middle-aged men in suits and leather shoes, as well as many casually dressed young people.

What left the deepest impression on him were the plainly dressed elderly travelers. They carried a great deal of luggage—on their backs, in their hands, even on their shoulders. Quite a few had large enamel mugs tied to the outside of their bags. It was the most common, yet most distinctive, sight at a train station.

But after looking around, Li Banfeng still could not find Gate 96.

"Where is Gate 96?" Li Banfeng messaged He Jiaqing.

"It isn't fixed. Ask a staff member."

Li Banfeng asked five station employees in succession. The first four all said there was no Gate 96.

After checking Li Banfeng's ticket, the fifth employee led him to Waiting Hall Two. Beside the restroom, they passed through a corridor, opened an iron door, and entered an underground passage.

Underground passages were common in train stations, but this one was somewhat unusual. It was very long, and under the dim lights, waves of damp, rotten stench assailed their noses.

The ground was pitted and uneven. Damp bugs wriggled through the standing water. A passage with such terrible conditions seemed like something that existed only in Li Banfeng's childhood memories.

When he was little, he often went to an abandoned train station—not to catch trains, but to steal scrap iron with Old Woman Wu.

After crossing the long underground passage, the employee took Li Banfeng straight to the platform.

He took out a pitch-black box, shaped somewhat like a mailbox.

There was a crank on the right side of the box. The employee turned it, and a section of ticket emerged from a slit at the top.

It was a section of ticket—a ten-centimeter strip of soft paper, not the stiff cardboard train ticket Li Banfeng was familiar with.

The employee stamped the ticket and handed it to Li Banfeng.

The front of the ticket listed every station along the route and its arrival time.

Three Heads Junction, Sea Eat Ridge, Green Water Bay, Belt Ridge...

He did not recognize a single place name. At the very bottom of the ticket was the destination of Li Banfeng's journey: Medicine King Gully.

Medicine King Gully was He Jiaqing's hometown?

Li Banfeng had never been there, nor had he ever heard of it.

He checked the departure time: June 28, 1:53 p.m. There were about fifteen minutes left.

Then he checked the arrival time: June 30, 7:00 a.m.

Nearly two days!

This was quite a long trip!

Then he looked at the seat.

Car Seven, Seat Seven, first-class sleeper ticket.

That meant a soft sleeper.

A soft sleeper was still barely acceptable.

There was a line of fine print on the ticket. Li Banfeng looked closely and saw: This train provides hot water but no food. Passengers are requested to prepare their own provisions.

A two-day journey, and the train did not even sell food!

What about sunflower seeds, drinks, and bottled water?

Did it not even have the most basic snack cart?

Why the hell didn't they say so earlier? What was he supposed to eat all the way there?

The waiting hall sold food. Should he run back along the original route from the platform?

With only fifteen minutes until departure, it seemed too late already.

The route was too complicated, and he would have to pass through an iron gate in the middle.

Besides, if he ran into that big-eyed man, he would definitely be shot dead.

Could he buy some from someone on the platform?

On this old platform, Li Banfeng was the only one waiting for a train.

Could he find someone to buy from after boarding?

Would anyone be willing to sell him any?

At the crucial moment, Li Banfeng's phone rang. He Jiaqing had sent a message: "Brother, did you buy food?"

"You only remembered now? Why didn't you remind me when I was at the supermarket?"

"The situation was urgent then, so I forgot. Once you get on the train, whatever you do, don't leave the carriage."

Why could he not leave the carriage?

Did going to the restroom count as leaving the carriage?

He could not hold it in for two days, could he?

As Li Banfeng puzzled over it, he suddenly saw an old woman walking over on the platform, carrying a cardboard box.

"Young man, want to buy instant noodles?"

Li Banfeng looked at her warily. There was actually someone selling things on the platform!

In truth, there were usually people selling food on green-skin train platforms. Li Banfeng had ridden green-skin trains before; it was not all that novel.

But why had he not seen this old woman just now?

The old woman said, "The train will be here soon. There's no food on board, so buy a few boxes to take with you!"

"How much per box?"

"Four yuan."

Only four yuan!

Not to mention at a train station—even in any random supermarket in Yuezhou City, that price would have been downright conscientious.

"Give me ten!"

Ten boxes for two days—enough to eat.

Li Banfeng took out his phone and was about to scan the code when he saw a tall man in uniform step onto the platform and snatch away the old woman's box of instant noodles.

"Who allowed you to sell things here?" the uniformed man demanded.

"I spoke to the stationmaster," the old woman answered shakily.

"I never heard the stationmaster say that. I'm confiscating these!" The uniformed man hoisted the box onto his shoulder and turned to leave. The old woman watched him trembling, her heart aching for that box of instant noodles, yet she did not dare make a sound.

Li Banfeng stepped forward and yanked the box straight off the uniformed man's shoulder, nearly making him stumble.

The uniformed man stared in astonishment. "What do you think you're doing?"

"What do you think you're doing?" Li Banfeng shot back. "Robbing people in broad daylight?"

The uniformed man frowned. "I'm station staff. She's operating illegally. I'm following the rules!"

"What business is she operating?" Li Banfeng looked at the old woman. "She's my Second Aunt. She came to see me off and brought me a box of instant noodles. Is that not allowed?"

The uniformed man was speechless for a long while. Li Banfeng turned back to the old woman. "Second Aunt, this is far enough. I'll be boarding soon."

As he spoke, Li Banfeng secretly slipped a hundred-yuan banknote into the old woman's hand.

The old woman looked at Li Banfeng and said nothing for a long time.

There were twenty-four cups of instant noodles in the box, a little more than necessary.

More was more! He could take them to Jiaqing's home and eat them together.

Chuff! Chuff! Chuff!

What was that sound?

Li Banfeng looked along the tracks toward the farthest edge of his vision.

The first thing he saw was white smoke.

More precisely, it was not smoke. It was white steam.

Clusters of black vapor seeped through the steam. That was the real smoke, coal dust produced by burning coal.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

It was the distinctive mechanical collision between a crankshaft and connecting rods.

Woooooo~

A whistle truly driven by steam!

This was...

A steam train?

Li Banfeng's jaw dropped.

There were still steam trains in this era?

The pitch-black Train Head, belching steam, gradually slowed and entered the platform.

The doors of the green carriages opened one by one, and the attendants lowered boarding steps.

Carrying the box of instant noodles, Li Banfeng walked toward Car Seven.

At the platform entrance, Xiao Zhengong and Light Bulb silently watched Li Banfeng's figure as he was about to board the train.

"Light Bulb, move!" Xiao Zhengong gave the order.

Light Bulb's heart trembled. He had not expected that Team Leader Xiao had come in person, yet still would not act himself.

Was this Team Leader Xiao testing me?

No, it could not be called a test. It should be my last chance.

Xiao Zhengong had considered acting personally as well, but he had seen the old woman on the platform—the old woman selling instant noodles.

The old woman had been watching Li Banfeng the entire time, and that terrified Xiao Zhengong.

He knew the old woman's identity. If she was connected to Li Banfeng, then they absolutely could not make a move against Li Banfeng here, or the consequences would be extremely serious.

But Xiao Zhengong was unwilling to simply let Li Banfeng leave.

Was that old woman really watching Li Banfeng?

Perhaps she had no connection with Li Banfeng at all.

Rather than let Li Banfeng get away like this, it would be better to have Light Bulb conduct a test.

"Immediately shoot the suspect dead. This is the last chance!" Xiao Zhengong gave the order again.

Hearing Xiao Zhengong's command, Light Bulb gritted his teeth and was about to rush onto the platform when someone grabbed him from behind.

Light Bulb turned around. The person holding him was Team Leader Old Chen.

When had Team Leader Chen arrived?

Light Bulb hurriedly saluted. Xiao Zhengong pointed at Li Banfeng, who was about to board, and said to Old Chen, "Team Leader Chen, Li Banfeng is trying to flee. He may be carrying important items. This is our only chance to bring him back."

Old Chen nodded and said to Xiao Zhengong, "That makes sense. You go ahead. I'll wait here for you."

Xiao Zhengong's cheek twitched, but he made no move.

Light Bulb was deeply puzzled. He did not understand why Xiao Zhengong refused to act.

Was it really only to test him?

Old Chen looked at Xiao Zhengong and smiled. "You're afraid?"

Xiao Zhengong offered no defense. He truly was afraid.

Light Bulb found it even harder to understand.

Why was Xiao Zhengong afraid?

Why would he fear Li Banfeng, a White Lamb?

Old Chen looked at the old woman on the platform. "Li Banfeng took Lucky Star's things, so he must hand over three strokes of good fortune.

"If you send Light Bulb to arrest Li Banfeng right in front of Lucky Star, aren't you sending Light Bulb to his death?"

Those words left Light Bulb completely dumbfounded.

Who was Lucky Star?

That old woman?

I'd die if I went?

Then why had Team Leader Xiao told me to go?

Light Bulb stared at Team Leader Xiao in shock. Team Leader Xiao showed no particular expression, not the slightest trace of guilt. "I'm not certain she is Lucky Star, nor am I certain Lucky Star has any connection to Li Banfeng."

You weren't certain?

And because you weren't certain, you sent me in as a test subject?

Light Bulb's face turned pale. His impression of Team Leader Xiao changed completely.

Team Leader Xiao continued, "The item in Li Banfeng's hands is extremely important. We cannot let him take it away. We must bear a certain degree of risk for this!"

"Let me bear the risk alone?" Light Bulb stared straight at Xiao Zhengong.

Xiao Zhengong said calmly, "That was your duty to begin with. You were the one who lost Li Banfeng!"

Team Leader Chen patted Light Bulb on the back, soothing his emotions.

Once Light Bulb had calmed down, Team Leader Chen turned to Xiao Zhengong. "Wouldn't it be just fine to let that thing go where it belongs?"

Xiao Zhengong's expression turned cold. "Li Banfeng is not a Dark Energy User. If he takes something that important to Pro State, it is the same as walking into death. Better to do it now..."

"I'll say it again—if you want to go, then go," Team Leader Chen said, his smile unchanged. "Didn't you just say you wanted to shoot this man dead? Hurry along. I won't stop you!"

Xiao Zhengong said nothing. He would not use his own life to provoke Lucky Star.

Old Chen looked at Li Banfeng's retreating back and murmured to himself:

Kid, with Lucky Star watching over you, you should reach Pro State safely.

But when you came back, who knew whether you would still look like this.

Woo-oo! Woo-oo!

The whistle sounded again, seemingly urging the passengers to board as quickly as possible.

Li Banfeng reached the green Carriage Door. The Train Conductor checked his ticket first, punched a notch in it with his clippers, and let Li Banfeng board.

Entering the narrow passageway, Li Banfeng found his assigned seat, Number Seven.

This was... a seat?

Li Banfeng pushed open Door Seven.

Behind it was a small room.

A private compartment?

You could get private compartments on trains in Huan Kingdom?

Inside was a long bench. This kind of bench was common on green trains, but in Li Banfeng's memory, there should have been a pair of them. Now there was only one.

In front of the bench was a small dining table, another standard fixture on green trains that Li Banfeng knew well.

Beside the table was a window. Its two lower corners had handles and buttons for opening it. Li Banfeng was about to open the window for some fresh air when he noticed two more doors in the little room.

Li Banfeng pushed open one of them, and a familiar smell drifted out.

It was a toilet. Looking down past the urinal, he could see the tracks directly below.

There was a washbasin beside the urinal.

This was the standard restroom on a green train.

A first-class sleeper ticket actually came with a private restroom?

Li Banfeng turned and opened the other door. Inside was another small room—or, more precisely, a berth, because there was only a single bed inside.

One bedroom, one sitting room, one bathroom.

Was all this exclusive to first-class sleepers?

Worried that he had come to the wrong place, Li Banfeng was about to go out and ask when the broadcast in the sitting room crackled to life:

"Dear passengers, welcome aboard the 1160 Train."

"Passengers who have already boarded, please do not move about at will. Passengers riding this train for the first time, please close your curtains and do not look out the window. Remember not to open the windows."

"The train staff are only responsible for checking tickets when boarding and reminding passengers when they arrive at their stops. They will not disturb passengers at any other time. Unless necessary, please do not allow strangers into your carriage. We wish you a pleasant journey."

Crackle—

The broadcast stopped. Li Banfeng was still puzzled by some of the strange rules—why couldn't they open the windows? Why did they have to close the curtains?

His phone vibrated. Li Banfeng received a message from He Jiaqing.

"Brother, you must follow the rules on the train."

PS: Thank you to Alliance Master Naiyazi Supreme for becoming an Alliance Master. From Grant Me God's Name all the way here, thank you, Naiyazi Supreme, for your support throughout!