Lost Coast

The waiting hall was noisy; a train had arrived, and the broadcast reminded passengers to quickly check in and board.

Gurgle!

Lin Baici's stomach growled.

He pulled out his phone and checked the time.

It was 8:20 now, with over an hour left before the G1955 train departed.

He'd arrived early.

"With so many people at the train station, there are naturally plenty of people losing things!"

Lin Baici figured it was a wallet or luggage. He didn't pick it up. After hesitating for a moment, he headed toward the restroom.

He planned to stuff these bags into the Black Altar Bowl.

The big and small bags together weighed over fifty jin—not only heavy but also a hassle to carry.

"There shouldn't be any cameras watching me, right?"

Lin Baici worried that if he walked into the restroom with a pile of stuff and came out with just a backpack, the station's surveillance might catch on.

But carrying it all was just too heavy, so Lin Baici decided to take the risk.

Still, Lin Baici played a little trick. Instead of finding a secluded restroom in a corner, he chose one with heavy foot traffic and walked in.

In the urinals, there were blue toilet-cleaning balls, the smell a bit pungent.

The floor had been cleaned spotless by the janitor.

Quite a few people were using the stalls. Lin Baici waited a few minutes before one opened up.

He walked in, locked the latch, then took out the Black Altar Bowl from his Blue Backpack.

The bowl was flat and round, like a jade container for Go pieces, and pure black, as if the night without moonlight had solidified onto it, with a ring of gold trim at the bottom and the rim.

"No matter how many times I see it, it's still this beautiful!"

Lin Baici wiped it with affection, then brought the bowl to his lips and muttered softly.

"Drink porridge!"

"Drink porridge!"

As Lin Baici finished chanting, a swirling halo immediately appeared at the bowl's rim.

The 'Granary' had opened.

Lin Baici placed the Trolley Case at the bowl's opening, and it sank in like a surface of a lake, stirring the halo into layers of golden ripples.

When Lin Baici also put the travel bag in, he felt instantly relieved.

The Black Altar Bowl had taken all this stuff without gaining an ounce in weight.

"Sweet!"

Lin Baici was delighted.

In the Blue Backpack were chargers, a diary, a wallet, an umbrella, tissues, a water bottle—common and important things he needed to carry on him—but it only weighed three or four jin, light as a feather.

With his luggage handled, Lin Baici acted as if nothing had happened, walked out of the stall, went to the sink, and washed his hands.

When he returned to the waiting hall and saw the passengers lugging so much baggage, he felt a sense of happiness.

The Black Altar Bowl was truly an essential tool for long trips!

Gurgle!

The hunger was still there, meaning the 'lost item' hadn't been found by its owner yet.

Since there was still time, Lin Baici decided to go look for it.

Doing good deeds, building up karma, hoping for a smoother four years of college ahead.

Lin Baici hummed a tune and started moving.

After all these years, he'd become quite skilled at finding 'things.'

The hunger was like a radar.

The hungrier he felt, the closer he was to the 'lost item.' When his mouth watered so much he had to swallow, it meant the 'lost item' was right nearby.

Lin Baici walked to the northwest corner of the waiting hall.

Few people were here. There was a shop selling local specialties, with two customers inside.

Lin Baici looked around.

The janitor was diligent, keeping the floor spotless. He didn't see any wallets or phones.

Lin Baici also paid special attention under the chairs—nothing there.

"What are you looking for?"

A rough, questioning voice suddenly rang out.

Lin Baici looked up and saw a man in his thirties staring at him with a deep frown.

The other man had a crew cut, wore a suit, and held a cigarette in his left hand.

Lin Baici didn't answer.

So what if he's a working man?

This Seat is still a God Hunter!

The Suit Man took a drag on his cigarette, sizing up Lin Baici, his face full of scrutiny, as if Lin Baici were a fugitive on the run.

[This guy looks down on people, treating you like a wet-behind-the-ears student. Can you take that? Cut him down. After the kill, I suggest charcoal grilling and feeding him to the dogs!]

The God of Gluttony spoke up, immediately calling for bloodshed.

Lin Baici ignored the God of Gluttony, his gaze falling on the chair next to the Suit Man, where a Black Suitcase sat.

This hunger seemed to be triggered by that case.

What's inside?

"Hey, what are you staring at?"

The Suit Man had a companion, a youth in his twenties with a big nose. Seeing Lin Baici staring at the suitcase, he got annoyed.

Lin Baici turned and left.

"Captain Ma..."

The Big Nose Youth stood up, staring at Lin Baici's back: "This kid suddenly shows up, then leaves. Seems off. Should we interrogate him?"

"No need. He probably lost something and came looking. It has nothing to do with the 'Lost Coast'!"

The Suit Man, named Ma Yuan, watched Lin Baici's back and took another drag on his cigarette: "Just an ordinary student. Don't worry about it. Focus on the target. They're carrying an A-rank God's Taboo Object with a contamination intensity of 5.0. We can't afford any mistakes!"

After Lin Baici saw the Suit Man's black case, his hunger greatly diminished, confirming that it likely contained a God's Taboo Object.

If it were valuables like gold or antiques, even if the Suit Man had stolen them, Lin Baici wouldn't feel hungry.

"I wonder if those two are wild God Hunters or official ones?"

Lin Baici found Gate A12.

The four rows of seats nearby were filled with people.

Haijing was a super-first-tier city, and many people from Guangqing worked there, so this train was very popular.

Lin Baici wanted to find a seat.

There was a Young Woman in her twenties who was very eye-catching.

She wore a denim skirt, revealing two long white legs, and had on a pair of beige Studded High Heels, very sexy. Her top was a halter top with an open back.

To her left was a small red Trolley Case.

The men around her would occasionally sneak a glance, feasting their eyes.

[I advise you not to sit next to her. She has HIV!]

"Huh?"

Lin Baici hadn't planned to sit next to that woman, but the God of Gluttony's words still shocked him.

[You don't even know about this? AIDS, understand?]

The God of Gluttony explained.

"No, I know what HIV is. I mean, that woman looks perfectly healthy!"

Lin Baici was surprised. Judging by her appearance alone, such a glamorous girl, he would never have guessed she had this infectious disease.

[What use is appearance?]

The God of Gluttony thought Lin Baici was naive: [Eyes can't see the truth.]

The Young Woman was scrolling through her phone out of boredom. When she caught sight of Lin Baici, her eyes lit up.

What a handsome guy!

His face still had a hint of youthful immaturity. He should be a college student, right?

But the Young Woman wasn't sure, because he had no large luggage, just a backpack. Too carefree.

Huh?

What's this guy doing?

The Young Woman's tattooed willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly.

She was confident in her looks and figure. Most men didn't have the guts to strike up a conversation, but they would walk past her and sneak a few more glances.

But this Big Male Student actually went around her.

What's up?

Am I the plague or something?

The Young Woman was annoyed, but then, thinking of her own situation, her expression suddenly stiffened.

Could he be a medical student?

He could tell I have HIV?

No, I've only been infected for less than five months, and there aren't any obvious symptoms on my body yet.

Lin Baici found a seat and sat down, starting to observe the waiting passengers.

Because the God of Gluttony would comment.

[An irritable man who often beats his wife. He's currently hungover, and his wallet was stolen when he entered the station. You'd better keep your distance, or he might try to frame you!]

That was a man in his thirties, with patchy baldness and puffy eyes, looking like he hadn't woken up yet.

[A hardworking and optimistic woman. Don't let her plain, worn-out clothes fool you—her son got into Peking University. She's a good mother who gave her child love and everything!]

The God of Gluttony was referring to a woman with two snake-skin bags beside her, stuffed with bedding and quilts, bulging full.

She had been working in Haijing for over a decade to earn money for her son's wedding and a house.

Though it was exhausting, she was very happy.

Now she just hoped her son would get married soon and give her a chubby grandson.

"My mom is great too!"

Thinking of his own mother, Lin Baici felt even more motivated to earn money.

[A man who, from overwork, has developed kidney disease and heart disease. He hasn't noticed yet, but if he doesn't get treatment soon, the optimal window will pass!]

That was a man in his thirties with heavy dark circles under his eyes.

On his lap sat a Huawei laptop, and he was clattering away typing code, occasionally yawning and taking a big gulp of the coffee beside him.

"Are these assessments accurate?"

Even as he asked, Lin Baici felt they should be right.

The God of Gluttony disdained to answer such a boring question.

The train station really was the best place to see the full spectrum of life. Some people were brimming with ambition, dreaming of the future; others had been worn down by the grind, only wanting to earn a few silver coins to feed their families.

Some threw themselves into love with reckless devotion, faithful to the end; others enjoyed a full circuit of massages and foot rubs every day, too happy to think of home.

Everyone had their own kind of hardship, and their own kind of sweetness.

Lin Baici listened for a while, then lowered his head to read a novel and kill time.

Ding dong.

Lin Baici received a WeChat message.

Little Fish Person: Where are you?

Hua Yueyu had chatted with Lin Baici yesterday and knew he was reporting in today. She had already taken leave, planning to go to Haijing Institute of Technology to see Lin Baici.

To help him with all the enrollment procedures and get familiar with the dormitory and campus.

Of course, the most important thing was to throw a welcome banquet.

Making a junior feel at home was a senior female student's duty.