Hongxiu's Gift of Thanks
When Dongfang Yueming returned to the carriage, Zhou Tong was sitting cross-legged in a corner, his eyes tightly shut. He looked as though he were making the most of his time to cultivate, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his inner turmoil.
Dongfang Yueming ignored him, found an empty seat, and sat down. He closed his eyes to rest and digest what he had gained from the earlier battle, while silently circulating his inner breath to recover what he had expended.
Before long, Hongxiu returned to the carriage as well.
Dongfang Yueming keenly noticed that something seemed amiss with her mood. Although she still wore a smile, a trace of complicated emotions and struggle lay hidden deep in her eyes, and her former lively charm was gone.
However, since Hongxiu did not bring it up herself, and Dongfang Yueming was not one to pry into other people's private affairs, he asked no questions.
Hongxiu seemed to notice Dongfang Yueming watching her. She forced a somewhat strained smile at him, then found a seat and sat down with her head lowered slightly, lost in thought.
Silence fell over the carriage once more, broken only by the monotonous clatter of the moving train.
Time slipped quietly by on the dreary journey.
When the next morning's sunlight streamed through the windows, the train slowly began to decelerate again.
At last, with a long blast of its whistle and a slight shudder, the train came to a complete stop.
"We're here! We've reached the Black Stone Fortress!"
No one knew who shouted first, but the carriage immediately erupted into a commotion!
Dongfang Yueming opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance passing through them. He had finally reached his destination!
The brothers Tie Shan and Tie Zhu were even more excited, their faces flushed red as they rubbed their hands together, eager to rush off the train at once!
Only Hongxiu's emotions remained complicated. She gazed at the vast black silhouette looming in and out of view beyond the window, her eyes full of struggle, resistance, and a barely perceptible trace of uncertainty.
Zhou Tong, in the corner, slowly opened his eyes as well. Feeling the power stirring restlessly within him, he curled his lips into a cold, sinister smile. Soon... I'm about to break through to Lesser Bone Tempering! He glanced at Dongfang Yueming not far away and thought viciously, Brat, the day you die... isn't far off!
As the carriage doors opened again, everyone filed off the train.
The sight before them made everyone visiting for the first time gasp!
An immensely vast and majestic fortress, built entirely of enormous, dark stones, stretched between heaven and earth like a primordial behemoth crouching upon the land! Its walls towered into the clouds, covered in marks left by blades and axes, exuding the iron-blooded aura of long years of hardship.
Atop the walls, banners snapped in the wind. Patrolling soldiers and massive defensive engines could be glimpsed in the distance.
Outside the fortress lay an even broader buffer zone, packed with simple tents and makeshift buildings. Countless martial artists came and went among them amid a noisy clamor.
Zhou Tong was the first to step off the train. His false smile back in place, he cupped his fists to the others. "Everyone, I'll be going on ahead! Until we meet again!" With that, he headed deeper into the fortress without looking back, clearly in a hurry to find a place to enter seclusion and break through.
Tie Shan scratched his head and said to Dongfang Yueming and Hongxiu, "Captain Dongfang, Sister Hongxiu, according to the rules, the first thing newcomers like us have to do is register our team's information at the Military Merit Office. Only then can we officially accept missions and earn military merit."
Tie Zhu nodded repeatedly. "Right, right! Register first!"
Hearing this, Dongfang Yueming nodded. "Mm, looks like we'll have to follow the rules first." He had intended to act alone, but since there was a team registration process, he would go through the procedure first.
"Wait, little brother Dongfang." Hongxiu suddenly spoke up, catching Dongfang Yueming as he was about to take a step and leading him to a slightly more secluded spot nearby.
"Hmm?" Dongfang Yueming looked at her curiously, wondering what she was going to do.
Hongxiu's pretty face reddened slightly. She seemed a little embarrassed, but she gathered her courage, quickly operated her terminal, and aimed it at Dongfang Yueming's.
"Beep-"
With a soft sound, Dongfang Yueming's terminal received two pieces of information.
He instinctively opened them, and his pupils immediately contracted!
[Hundred Beasts Flesh Refining Method]!
[Hundred Beasts Bone Tempering Method]!
They were actually two cultivation methods! And judging by their names, they seemed closely connected to the Beast Defense Frontier!
He looked at Hongxiu in surprise.
"Tha..." He was just about to thank her when Hongxiu extended a slender finger and gently pressed it against his lips, stopping the words that followed.
"Hehe..." Hongxiu giggled, a trace of slyness and a refusal to admit defeat in her eyes. "You don't need to thank me. Consider these two cultivation methods payment for protecting me! But... you'd better work hard. Don't let your big sister leave you too far behind!"
With that, while Dongfang Yueming was still surprised, Hongxiu swiftly kissed his cheek, as lightly as a dragonfly touching the water!
Then, before Dongfang Yueming could react, she blushed and turned to flee like a startled rabbit. She soon vanished into the crowd, leaving behind only a faint trace of fragrance.
Dongfang Yueming touched his kissed cheek, feeling the warmth and softness lingering there, unsure whether to laugh or cry. This Miss Hongxiu... really does act... unexpectedly.