chapter 34
“What’s this?” Jiang Lianlian quickly snatched the Rule Card, asking foolishly.
It was hard to tell if she was genuinely curious or just pretending.
In any case, after she took the Rule Card, she lay back on her bed, turning it over and over, examining it several times.
“Doesn’t seem useful. I’ll just throw it away.” Jiang Lianlian casually tore the Rule Card into pieces.
Xia Xiaoqiang’s expression turned grim.
All the Ghouls on this train were in league.
They would rather the passengers never see the rules; they hoped everyone would die.
Jiang Li knew that Jiang Lianlian on the middle bunk was doing it on purpose.
If Jiang Lianlian were beside her now, Jiang Li would have slapped her across the face.
She could even use the chance to put on the airs of an elder sister and lecture her a bit.
Unfortunately, after Jiang Lianlian moved to the middle bunk, Jiang Li couldn’t just get up and do anything.
Jiang Li thought for a moment, pretended to put on her shoes, but actually slipped her own Rule Card under her foot.
“I’m going to the restroom,” Jiang Li said.
Then Jiang Li stood up, stepped on the Rule Card, and with a kick, sent it sliding to Xia Xiaoqiang’s feet.
Jiang Li stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked toward the restroom.
“Are Aberrations impossible to kill?” Jiang Li asked the Red Infant on her shoulder as she walked.
Red Infant scratched his head, thinking for a moment. “Not exactly. As far as I know, different types of Aberrations have different weaknesses.”
All the way, Jiang Li carefully observed the nearby passengers.
Some people hadn’t seen the rules.
They really treated those Aberrations as their own family, chatting warmly about ordinary matters.
Others quickly found the rules and also felt for the Kitchen Knife in their bags, like the passing Blond Guy.
Blond Guy quickly realized this was a kill-or-be-killed situation.
He acted immediately, and as the Aberration moved in for a hug, he raised the Kitchen Knife and struck on the spot.
The Aberration let out a miserable scream. At the same time, Blond Guy’s family member back in Huaguo also collapsed to the ground, suddenly covered in countless knife wounds…
The bloody scene made Jiang Li’s heart tremble.
Whether it was the sound of reminiscing or the screams, they kept coming one after another.
Jiang Li quickly reached the restroom door.
She went in, locked the door behind her, and stood there for a while.
This time, the layout of the restroom was just the same as the night before.
But Jiang Li vaguely felt as if something was missing.
It was probably the absence of the Little Ghost she encountered last time.
Jiang Li stood inside for two minutes, pressed the flush button, washed her hands, opened the door, and walked out.
She hurried back to Lower Bunk No.16.
Jiang Li needed to interact more with these Ghouls and gather more information to make plans for what came next.
“Xia Guofeng” across the aisle finished reminiscing with Xia Xiaoqiang and went to lie down on Middle Bunk No.15.
Xia Xiaoqiang, meanwhile, sat there dazed, tears in her eyes, with the extra Kitchen Knife from her bag placed on the table.
Seeing her like that, Jiang Li knew she had definitely understood the rules.
The meaning of the rules was clear: only one of her and her family could survive.
Jiang Li naturally knew what she was grieving over.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Li said, “I’m hungry. Let’s eat some breakfast.”
At these words, Xia Xiaoqiang wiped her tears, took out some snacks from her backpack, and shared them with Jiang Li.
“Sis, you can have all of these.”
Xia Xiaoqiang dumped out all the snacks from her backpack and gave them all to Jiang Li.
“Have you made up your mind?” Jiang Li asked her.
Xia Xiaoqiang nodded sadly. “Mm. I won’t do anything to my dad.”
Seeing Xia Xiaoqiang with tears in her eyes, holding back from crying, Jiang Li also felt a pang in her heart.
“Don’t be sad.” Jiang Li patted Xia Xiaoqiang’s shoulder. “Maybe there’s another solution.”
Xia Xiaoqiang sniffled and forced a smile.
She knew Jiang Li was only trying to comfort her.
Xia Xiaoqiang took out her phone and checked the time.
Those Ghouls boarded the train at around seven.
Nearly half an hour had passed already.
The train still had an hour and a half before reaching Wraith Station.
In other words, Xia Xiaoqiang had about an hour and a half left to live.
She thought it over, then took out her notebook and her treasured fountain pen, curling up on the bed to write something for herself.
She even tried to cover what she was writing.
Jiang Li didn’t even need to look. It was obvious-a young girl, realizing she was about to die, sadly writing her will.
Jiang Li, on the other hand, wasn’t worried at all.
As for Jiang Lianlian, just stabbing her to death would be enough.
There was no need to overthink it.
If she cleared the Instance, Jiang Lianlian would revive anyway, and she wouldn’t be a murderer.
If she failed the Instance, dragging Jiang Lianlian down with her wouldn’t be a loss either.
The ones really struggling now were the kind-hearted passengers.
Someone like Xia Xiaoqiang, who would very likely sacrifice herself for her family.
In the Ghost Train Instance, quite a few people had already been killed by exploiting their kindness.
The Migrant Worker who gave his seat to a pregnant woman, the medical workers who tried to save the sick, and the young men who acted bravely to catch a rogue.
Now, another group of soft-hearted people willing to die for their families was about to be killed.
Jiang Li guessed that, by the end, those left on the train would probably not be good people at all.
What exactly was the Aberration trying to do?
Was it driven mad by some kind of trauma…
Thinking of this, Jiang Li started talking to herself again.
“Minister, this is Jiang Li. I know you’re watching the livestream and can hear me.
I want you to help me look into Train Z114. Has anything horrifying ever happened on this train? If you find out, let me know as soon as possible.
Just call Xia Xiaoqiang’s phone. I’ll answer.”
Jiang Li’s analysis happened to match Xia Guofeng’s thoughts.
Meanwhile, Huaguo had already begun its investigation.
As Jiang Li was speaking, a strand of hair dropped onto her face.
Then more and more hair began to hang down.
Jiang Li looked up and found herself face to face with the terrifying, upside-down face of Jiang Lianlian peering down from the middle bunk.
Trying to scare her?
Jiang Li sneered. This Aberration was just too low-level.
She didn’t say anything and simply sneezed twice in a row.
“Achoo! Achoo!”
In an instant, Jiang Lianlian’s upside-down face was splattered with saliva.
“Wow, what an ugly face,” Jiang Li remarked, then turned her head away and lay down.
Jiang Lianlian, annoyed at not getting the reaction she wanted, wiped her face angrily and pulled her head back.
A quiet stretch followed.
Everyone busied themselves with their own matters, barely speaking.
About five minutes later, everyone’s attention was drawn to the broadcast.
It was the familiar voice of the female Announcer:
“Dear passengers, the train is about to enter the nation’s longest tunnel. Estimated travel time is thirty minutes. Please be advised.”
As soon as the announcement ended, with a whooshing sound, the train entered the tunnel.
The sunrise outside the window was completely replaced by darkness.
Jiang Li sat up, crouching at the head of the bed and hugging her knees.
She turned her head and noticed that “Xia Guofeng” across from her tugged the blanket tightly over himself and began to sleep.
From the middle bunk above her came the sound of Jiang Lianlian adjusting her covers as well.
Could it be… that the Aberration had to sleep whenever the train entered a tunnel?
Jiang Li looked at “Xia Guofeng” with his head tightly wrapped up.
Or maybe, he was afraid of something…