Vol·5 [Distant Dreamer·Ambition Far Away]

The dim oil lamp on the Third Platform flickered.

A gust of wind, carrying scarlet steam, surged as the train arrived.

The conductor blew his whistle as a warning, and the maintenance crew, donning work gloves, became busy.

A garbage transport vehicle slowly drove from the train's carriage into the diversion gate, its oil and waste swept clean by the cleaners.

The attendants, working with the platform manager, blew loud whistles, urging every staff member and passenger to pay attention to the steel behemoth that had just stopped.

Jiang Xueming watched the train silently—

—The flame of the oil lamp reflected in his dark brown pupils, along with the large iron wheels, round like a beast's eyes.

The last time he was here, he had been in too much of a hurry to look closely.

As he prepared to board again, he pondered: what kind of magnificent engineering, and how much manpower and resources, were required to build this underground railway network?

He had changed into new clothes, his heavy pack filled with essential wilderness survival gear.

His heart was filled with both unease and anticipation—

—Anticipation of where this unknown journey and train would take him.

The last time he set out, it was to save his closest kin.

This time, he was setting out to bring Bu Liuxing back safely.

And there was a long-term plan to complete.

According to the manager, many trade transfer stations were still in a semi-abandoned state, like roadside inns at various transportation hubs. To establish a coffee shop in such places would likely cost a fortune.

Mundane world currency couldn't buy shops or land in the underground world.

Only Luminous Stones or Blood Butterfly Vouchers had some use. Further into the underground world, people might still be trading through bartering.

The railways were like shipping routes, with newly built stations connecting isolated "islands." These "islands" were relatively closed off, presenting both opportunities and risks.

Jiang Xueming looked down at his ticket. It still bore the orange barley ear pattern and the inverted pentagram representing the devil.

[Nine Realms Station]

[HK→DD]

[Platform 3, Carriage 02, Seat 01A]

Beyond that, there was no extra information, no friendly hints, not even the departure time.

This was the station's usual practice, a countermeasure against passengers being picky or hesitant about the information provided.

When passengers arrived at their designated stations, corresponding staff would be there to guide them—by then, it would be too late to regret.

If passengers privately exchanged tickets, the destination codes were simple, and the tickets were hard to confuse. Train staff only needed to pay a little more attention to the seat numbers to identify discrepancies and promptly send the ticket-swapping individuals back.

"Ming Ge."

Bu Liuxing had recovered from his hangover dizziness.

He had changed into a passenger's spiritual garment, a golden padlock hidden in the front buttons, worn as a necklace—his charm for protection.

He leaned on a pure metal cane, and just like last time, wore flamboyant golden-zippered boots and a flashy cowboy hat.

A Xing's attire made him look like a cowboy ready for a wilderness adventure at any moment.

But as he looked at Jiang Xueming, he suddenly felt like a well-behaved child.

—Ming Ge's dark, tough leather hip-huggers were adorned with a row of small Panacea bottles, the size of twelve-gauge shotgun shells.

Two sturdy leather belts crossed in an X shape. Further down, the crotch of the pants was cut out, revealing a pair of tight, quick-drying white trousers underneath, snugly wrapping his thighs. Sweat would be quickly absorbed by the breathable synthetic fabric and then evaporate.

If injured, bloodstains on the white trousers would be immediately visible.

Bu Liuxing looked up again—

—Ming Ge's spiritual garment had been modified into a lightweight jacket. To facilitate the injection of Panacea, a heart-shaped cutout was made at the chest, with the edges sealed with gold thread.

From the left sleeve cuff to the shoulder, extending to the right arm, and along the underarms to the waist, and the back, there were twelve segmented zippers. This allowed the garment to be removed without unbuttoning.

Although Bu Liuxing understood that Ming Ge had done this for safety reasons—after all, the last time at Mrs. Canaan's, it had taken him a great effort to cut through Ming Ge's clothes, and these zippers would have been much more convenient.

But this outfit was truly…

"This is too flashy! Ming Ge!" Bu Liuxing was somewhat frantic, feeling like ants were crawling on him. "Did we really get the same items?"

Jiang Xueming explained, "I made a few modifications."

Bu Liuxing said excitedly, "Do one for me too! Do one for me too! You know, you look like someone out of a Western movie right now."

He couldn't find the right adjective for a moment and felt awkward.

Jiang Xueming: "A stripper?"

"Hehe." A Xing scratched his head. He had indeed thought of saying that, as the jacket looked very easy to take off.

"Think what you will," Jiang Xueming was a laid-back person and didn't care about such flamboyant descriptions.

It was like the joke his sister used to tell.

"Spilling offal is like pouring fine wine."

"A firefly in the night."

"Martini with an olive."

All of this was just the attitude of ordinary people living their lives earnestly.

If one day this attire brought unnecessary trouble, he would change it to another style.

But as it stood, this gear was his best equipment for struggling to survive in the underground world.

The vehicle completed its self-check. A Xing stepped onto the metal grate platform with one foot, the other still on the train platform.

Just then--

--Xiao Qi rushed over.

She was like a scholarly young woman chasing love in an old 1980s movie, clutching a lunchbox, stumbling along the way.

She ran up to Jiang Xueming, and before she could even get into character, she was so struck by Xue Ming's outfit that two streams of blood gushed from her nose.

But she forced herself to maintain composure, continuing to act with a reluctant, affectionate demeanor.

"The frozen goods on the train aren't good to eat. Xue Ming, I made you food. There's an instruction manual for the life-saving charm attached to the outside of the lunchbox. Read it carefully after you get on the train."

Jiang Xueming took the lunchbox and nodded.

"Thank you."

Xiao Qi suddenly turned her head, looking melancholic and sentimental, "Why do you and I need to say thank you? If this feeling could last forever."

A cleaning lady nearby came over and mopped up the nosebleed she'd flung onto the ground, completely ruining the mood.

Jiang Xueming took out a tissue and, as if wiping Seventh Brother's mouth, cleaned up Seventh Brother's nosebleed.

He said, "Alright, alright. It doesn't have to be morning and evening. Are you done talking?"

"Mm!" Xiao Qi suddenly brightened, squeezing Xue Ming's hand, her eyes sparkling.

Jiang Xueming then asked about the steel rings: "Are you ready?"

Xiao Qi nodded vigorously, "Ready! I definitely won't faint again. Yangchun and I have practiced many times."

Jiang Xueming took out the ring box, preparing to hand it to Xiao Qi.

He repeatedly emphasized, "You're really ready, okay! Really! Don't lie to me!"

Xiao Qi's eyes were serious, as if preparing to face an execution: "Mm!"

Jiang Xueming added, "This isn't a proposal. Old Old Spirit wants me to give one of these rings to you. Do you understand what that means? I'm afraid you might suddenly die, and I'd have to pay with my life."

"Give it here! Hurry!" Xiao Qi urged, "Quick, quick, quick!"

Xue Ming didn't open the ring box, he simply handed it over.

Zhao Yangchun stood by the corridor window, holding a walkie-talkie, watching the man and woman on the platform.

She issued orders to all units.

"Medical emergency team, pay attention. Observe the status of 9527 at all times. If there's danger, prepare defibrillation and hyperbaric oxygen equipment--Over."

Xiao Qi took the ring box.

Immediately, she began to take deep breaths, continuously taking deep breaths.

Her face flushed to the roots of her neck, like a criminal who had committed a great misdeed, caught by the most formidable police officer of her life.

She wanted to open the jewelry box to take a closer look.

Xue Ming stopped Seventh Brother.

He leaned closer to Seventh Brother's ear and whispered.

"This is my life-saving charm. Don't look at it here. There are too many people. Go back and look at it slowly."

"Okay," Xiao Qi replied, walking away with a backward glance every few steps towards the corridor.

However, she hadn't gone far before she ran back.

She nudged him suggestively, her words jumbled and unclear, as if she had suffered a great mental shock: "You must return safely and not get hurt. You have to ring the bell, the one I gave you."

"This one?" Jiang Xueming pulled out a call bell from his bag. It was a gift Seventh Brother had given him long ago.

"Yes," Xiao Qi finally felt relieved. "The station regulation states that if you are in mortal danger and ring the bell, we attendants must come to your rescue, no matter where you are--but don't ring it unnecessarily, or you'll be punished."

"Okay."

Xue Ming tucked the call bell into an inner pocket and boarded the train to his seat.

He leaned against the window, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Bu Liuxing. He also saw Xiao Qi in the corridor, waving at him from a great distance.

His senses were exceptionally sharp, and he could see very clearly--

--Very, very clearly, Xiao Qi pouted her lips and raised her hand, making a gesture of gently shaking the call bell.

That sharp, generous, and dashing womanizer seemed to have transformed into a woman made of water.

Xue Ming didn't speak, just raised his hand and gave Seventh Brother a thumbs-up, signaling Seventh Brother not to worry.

Just at that moment--

Jiu Wu Er Qi rushed out of the exit again, running onto the platform.

At first, she just walked slowly, keeping pace with the train, saying nothing, her head tilted up to look at Xue Ming.

Jiang Xueming asked, "Aren't you going back?"

Xiao Qi just shook her head, remaining silent.

Jiang Xueming asked again, "I heard from your supervisor that you took more than half a month off. I'm sorry I've caused you trouble."

Xiao Qi still just shook her head, not speaking, and started to run, her head held high.

The train picked up speed.

Misty vapor billowed from the chimney.

Reflected in the golden light of the Lava Lake, it turned pink.

Jiang Xueming shouted, "Don't chase! Be careful!"

Xiao Qi didn't listen, her strides quickening as she ran faster.

She rushed to the railing at the edge of the platform, climbing to the outer edge of the cliff face, just one step away from jumping into the Lava Lake.

She watched the train on the steel bridge, carrying her employer, as it sped towards the deeper parts of the underground world.

In the end, she still said nothing, clutching the ring box tightly.

The newsstand on the Third Platform.

Jason Megan sat on a bench--

--He raised his newspaper to cover his face, secretly watching the direction the train was leaving.

He looked at the young girl running on the platform, his eyes filled with melancholy.

After a long while, he quietly left the newsstand and hid in the logistics channel used for transporting goods.

At this moment, his little attendant jumped out from a large electrical cabinet.

"Mr. Jason! Did you succeed?"

"No."

"Why? Didn't we agree you'd make your move today?"

"Today isn't a good time."

"Didn't we plan it out? All you had to do was give the signal, and I would have cut the power to Platform Three immediately, and then it would have been your showtime!"

"I wasn't ready. Even if he got lucky, I'll let him go this time. Let's change the plan!"

"So that's why I didn't get the signal! Don't be discouraged, my good sir, you'll regain your confidence!"

"Mm."

"Aim far! Aim far!"

"Mm."

As Mr. Megan and his little attendant walked back from the logistics channel to the Third Platform, they ran right into the old station manager.

Immediately after, two armed employees approached to question them.

"What were you doing just now? Why were you hiding in the logistics channel?"

The old station manager pointed at Megan and the attendant, demanding an explanation.

"I heard it! I heard it very clearly! You were suspiciously discussing something--"

"--Were you planning to damage the station's facilities?"