Lost Coast

The Waiting Hall was noisy. A train had arrived, and an announcement reminded passengers to hurry and get their tickets checked before boarding.

Grrr!

Lin Baici's stomach growled.

He took out his phone and checked the time.

It was 8:20 now, and the G1955 Train wouldn't leave for another hour or so.

He was early.

"Train stations get a lot of foot traffic, so naturally, a lot of people lose things!"

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

He planned to put the luggage into the Black Altar Bowl.

The bags weighed about fifty pounds altogether. They were not only heavy, but a nuisance to carry.

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

Lin Baici was worried that if he went into the restroom carrying a pile of things and came out with only a backpack, the station's surveillance cameras might take notice.

But the luggage was simply too heavy, so Lin Baici decided to take the risk.

Still, Lin Baici used a little cunning. Instead of looking for a secluded restroom in some quiet corner, he chose one with plenty of foot traffic and went inside.

Blue toilet-cleaning balls sat in the urinals, giving off a slightly pungent smell.

The floor had been cleaned thoroughly.

Quite a few people were using the stalls. Lin Baici waited several minutes before one became available.

He went in, locked the door, and took the Black Altar Bowl out of his Blue Backpack.

The bowl was flat and round, like a jade box used to hold go stones. It was pure black, as though a moonless night had solidified upon it, and a golden band circled both its base and rim.

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

Lin Baici lovingly rubbed it, then brought the bowl to his lips and muttered softly.

"Drink porridge!"

"Drink porridge!"

As soon as Lin Baici finished, a vortex of light appeared inside the bowl.

The Granary had opened.

Lin Baici set the Trolley Case against the Black Altar Bowl's rim. It sank in as if into a lake, sending ripples through the glow and spreading layer upon layer of golden waves.

Once Lin Baici had put in the travel bag as well, he felt much lighter.

The Black Altar Bowl's weight hadn't increased by even an ounce, despite holding so much.

"Awesome!"

Lin Baici was delighted.

His backpack contained things he needed to keep with him, like a charger, diary, wallet, umbrella, tissues, and water bottle. But it weighed only three or four pounds, which was practically nothing.

With his luggage taken care of, Lin Baici pretended nothing was out of the ordinary, left the stall, and washed his hands at the sink.

When he returned to the Waiting Hall and saw the passengers lugging around all their bags, he felt a wave of happiness.

The Black Altar Bowl really was an essential travel companion for long journeys!

Grrr!

He was still hungry, which meant the "lost item" hadn't been found by its owner yet.

There was plenty of time, so Lin Baici decided to look for it.

He'd do a good deed, build up some good karma, and make the next four years of college a little more comfortable.

Humming a tune, Lin Baici got to work.

After all these years, he was quite practiced at finding "things."

The hunger was like a radar.

The hungrier he got, the closer he was to the "lost item." When his mouth watered so much that he had to swallow, it meant the item was nearby.

Lin Baici made his way to the northwest corner of the Waiting Hall.

There weren't many people around. A local specialties shop stood nearby, with two customers inside.

Lin Baici looked around.

The cleaner had done a diligent job, and the floor was spotless. He didn't see anything like a wallet or phone.

He also checked under the seats, but there was nothing.

"What are you looking for?"

A gruff voice suddenly challenged him.

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

The man had a crew cut and wore a suit. A cigarette rested between the fingers of his left hand.

Lin Baici didn't answer.

So what if you're a tough guy? I'm a God Hunter!

The Suit Man took a drag and sized Lin Baici up, scrutinizing him as if he were a fugitive.

[This guy's so arrogant, treating you like some snot-nosed student. You're going to put up with that? Beat him up. After you kill him, I suggest Charcoal Grilling him and feeding him to the dogs!]

The God of Gluttony was already calling for bloodshed.

Lin Baici ignored the God of Gluttony and looked at the seat beside the Suit Man. A Black Suitcase sat there.

It seemed the suitcase was what had triggered his hunger this time.

What was inside?

"Hey, what are you staring at?"

The Suit Man had a companion, a young man in his twenties with a large nose. He noticed Lin Baici eyeing the suitcase and got angry.

Lin Baici turned and walked away.

"Captain Ma..."

The big-nosed young man stood up and watched Lin Baici's back. "That kid showed up out of nowhere, then left. Something seems off. Should we question him?"

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

The Suit Man was named Ma Yuan. Watching Lin Baici's retreating figure, he took another drag on his cigarette. "He's just an ordinary student. Don't bother with him. Keep your attention on the target. They're carrying an A-rank God's Taboo Object with a pollution level of 5.0. Our operation can't afford the slightest mistake!"

After seeing the black suitcase beside the Suit Man, Lin Baici's hunger had eased considerably. That confirmed that it probably contained a God's Taboo Object.

If it had been something valuable like gold or an antique, Lin Baici wouldn't have felt hungry, even if the Suit Man had stolen it.

"I wonder if those two are freelance God Hunters or government agents."

Lin Baici found Gate A12.

Quite a few people were sitting in the four rows of seats nearby.

Haijing was a top-tier city, and many people from Guangqing worked there, so the train was popular.

Lin Baici wanted to find a seat.

A young woman in her twenties caught his eye.

She wore a denim miniskirt that showed off her long, fair legs, and a pair of beige Studded High Heels. She looked very sexy, and her top was a backless camisole.

A small red Trolley Case stood to her left.

The men around her kept sneaking glances at her, feasting their eyes.

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

"What?"

Lin Baici hadn't planned on sitting beside her, but the God of Gluttony's words still shocked him.

[You don't even know what that is? AIDS. Get it?]

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, he never would have guessed that such a glamorous young woman had an infectious disease.

[What does appearances have to do with it?]

The God of Gluttony thought Lin Baici was terribly naïve. [The eyes can't see the truth.]

The young woman was bored, scrolling through her phone. When she caught sight of Lin Baici, her eyes immediately lit up.

What a handsome guy!

He still had a youthful look about him. He must be a college student, right?

But the young woman couldn't be sure, because he had no large bags with him, just a backpack. He looked far too unencumbered.

Huh?

What was this guy doing?

Her tattooed, willow-shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly.

She was confident in her looks and figure. Most men didn't have the nerve to approach her, but they would walk past and steal a few extra glances.

But this young man had gone out of his way to avoid her.

What was that about?

Do I look contagious or something?

The young woman was annoyed, but then she thought about her situation and her expression stiffened.

Could he be studying medicine?

Could he tell that I have HIV?

No.

I've had it for less than five months. There aren't any obvious symptoms yet.

Lin Baici found a seat and sat down, beginning to observe the passengers waiting for their trains.

That was because the God of Gluttony liked to comment on them.

[A short-tempered man who often beats his wife. He's hungover right now, and his wallet was stolen when he entered the station. You'd better keep your distance, in case he tries to pin something on you!]

The man was in his thirties, with a bald patch and puffy eyes. He looked as if he hadn't woken up yet.

[A hardworking, optimistic woman. Don't be fooled by her shabby clothes—her son got into Peking University. She's a wonderful mother who gave her child all the love and support she could!]

The God of Gluttony was talking about a woman with two woven plastic sacks beside her. They were stuffed full of bedding and quilts.

She had been working in Haijing for more than ten years to earn enough money for her son's wedding and a house.

It was tiring,

but she was happy.

All she wanted now was for her son to get married soon and give her a chubby grandson.

"My mom's great, too!"

Lin Baici thought of his mother, and his determination to earn money grew stronger.

[A man who's developed kidney and heart disease from overwork. He hasn't realized it yet, and if he doesn't get treatment soon, he'll miss his best chance!]

The man was in his thirties and had heavy dark circles under his eyes.

A Huawei laptop sat on his lap as he typed away at code. Every so often, he yawned and took a big gulp of coffee from the cup beside him.

"Are the things you're saying accurate?"

Though Lin Baici asked, he felt the answer was probably yes.

The God of Gluttony couldn't be bothered to answer such a pointless question.

Train stations really were the best places to see every side of life. Some people were brimming with confidence and looking forward to the future, while others had been worn down by hardship and just wanted to earn a few coins to support their families.

Some would risk everything for love and stay faithful, while others indulged in massages and foot rubs every day, enjoying life too much to care about anything else.

Everyone had different sorrows, and everyone had different joys.

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

Ding-dong.

Lin Baici received a WeChat message.

Little Fish Person: Where are you now?

When Hua Yueyu had chatted with Lin Baici yesterday, she'd learned that he was reporting to school today. She had already taken the day off and was planning to go to Haijing Institute of Technology to see him.

She'd help him with all the enrollment procedures and show him around the Dormitory Room and the campus.

Of course,

the most important thing was to throw him a welcome dinner.

Making sure her junior felt right at home was a senior's responsibility.