chapter 42
Jiang Li shielded Xia Xiaoqiang behind her.
Her gaze fell on the Dining Car Rules posted at the entrance to the Carriage.
Dining Car Rules, Article One:
[If you are injured, please, upon entering the Dining Car, go to the counter and purchase Deodorizing Spray immediately! Remember, never let others smell the scent of blood on you.]
Xia Xiaoqiang’s left arm had been slashed, blood flowing nonstop.
There was no time to stop the bleeding.
Jiang Li immediately supported Xia Xiaoqiang and led her to the nearby counter. “One bottle of Deodorizing Spray. Quickly!”
The Staff Member in a Black Vest took one look at Xia Xiaoqiang’s wound, his expression completely unperturbed. “10 Points. You can put it on your account.”
“Put it on mine,” Jiang Li said anxiously.
The Staff Member processed the transaction at a sluggish pace.
After finishing, he turned to the storage room to retrieve the item.
He moved so slowly that every second felt unbearably long to Jiang Li.
During this time, a man wearing a No. 32 Number Tag on his wrist approached and quietly slipped behind Jiang Li and Xia Xiaoqiang.
A strange light glinted in the man’s eyes.
He craned his nose forward, inhaling deeply at the napes of their necks.
His expression, eyes closed and utterly lost in the moment, was like someone savoring a plate of delicious food.
Seeing this, others began to gather around as well.
Realizing the situation was deteriorating, Jiang Li urged the Staff Member, “Please hurry!”
The Staff Member replied perfunctorily, but still didn’t return.
No. 32 seemed eager to take things further.
Just as he reached out his hand, Jiang Li’s face hardened and she swung her knife back, slashing him.
The blade was sharp, slicing a long, bloody gash into the man.
Pain brought No. 32 abruptly back to his senses; the strange light vanished from his eyes.
Before he could speak, Jiang Li gave him a hard shove.
Jiang Li had used quite a bit of force.
No. 32 staggered back several steps and fell to the floor.
“Hiss… Hey, what are you-”
He hadn’t even finished his sentence before the group that had surrounded Xia Xiaoqiang suddenly changed direction and lunged at No. 32.
With someone protecting Xia Xiaoqiang, she was difficult to attack, but No. 32 was now alone!
Xia Xiaoqiang glanced back worriedly.
Jiang Li covered her eyes. “Don’t look.”
The two turned their attention away.
Behind them came the sounds of people tearing at meat, mingled with No. 32’s agonized screams.
The noise reached Jiang Li’s ears.
She couldn’t help but frown and close her eyes.
Once they finished with No. 32, it would be their turn.
But fortunately, just as No. 32 was about to be devoured completely, the Staff Member finally emerged from the storage room.
He held a small bottle of Deodorizing Spray and placed it in front of Jiang Li. “Here you are, your Spray.”
“10 Points on credit, charged to No. 40’s account.”
Jiang Li nodded in response.
She took the Spray, opened the cap, and immediately sprayed Xia Xiaoqiang all over.
With the scent of blood masked, those who had been eyeing Xia Xiaoqiang finally withdrew their gazes.
Jiang Li supported Xia Xiaoqiang, finally feeling a sense of relief.
They had barely stood for a moment before two Staff Members arrived with cleaning tools, dispersing the gathered crowd.
As the area cleared, the Staff Members quickly cleaned the bloodstained floor with garbage bags and a Rag.
The red gleam faded from the eyes of the frenzied crowd, and clarity returned to their gazes.
Once they regained their senses and noticed the blood at the corners of one another’s mouths, everyone froze in shock for a moment.
Their startled and fearful expressions made it seem as if they had no memory of what had just occurred.
They began discussing and questioning all at once.
“Quiet, please! All passengers, please find a seat!” a Staff Member called out loudly, knocking twice on the table as a reminder.
Jiang Li supported Xia Xiaoqiang and sat down at the four-person table closest to the edge.
She summoned the Space and took out the external wound medical kit the nurse had given her last night, then began to treat Xia Xiaoqiang’s injuries.
“Hold on, this might hurt a bit.” Jiang Li signaled that she was about to tend to Xia Xiaoqiang’s wound.
Xia Xiaoqiang gritted her teeth and nodded.
Jiang Li saw the deep gash on Xia Xiaoqiang’s fair arm, sliced open by a Kitchen Knife, and felt a deep sense of guilt.
It was hard for her to imagine what kind of conviction the usually timid Xia Xiaoqiang had held onto, fighting like a demon at the door of Carriage No. 9, just to leave Jiang Li a sliver of hope for survival.
“Sister Jiang, don’t worry about me, I’m fine. I was actually thinking, if you hadn’t grabbed that spot, I probably wouldn’t have survived even if I made it in.” Xia Xiaoqiang still had the mood to joke.
Though it was a joke, there was some truth hidden in her words.
Xia Xiaoqiang knew well that entering the Dining Car was only temporary safety.
But the group selected for the Dining Car were all tough characters.
She knew that only by keeping Jiang Li safe did she have a chance to survive herself.
Otherwise, even if she got a spot, she’d end up dead sooner or later.
“Mm, I know.” Jiang Li didn’t look up, continuing to wrap Xia Xiaoqiang’s wound with a bandage.
After finishing Xia Xiaoqiang’s treatment, Jiang Li finally glanced at the two people sitting across the table.
Across from them sat a muscular man and a gentle-looking male college student.
The muscular man still had a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, as if he’d just finished a hearty meal.
The college student, on the other hand, looked like he hadn’t participated in the earlier feeding frenzy.
Jiang Li guessed it was probably because the boy was too thin and couldn’t squeeze in.
At this moment, both men across the table looked perfectly normal, as if the terrifying events just now were nothing but an illusion.
The muscular man had a rather outgoing personality.
Recalling Xia Xiaoqiang blocking the door, he couldn’t help clicking his tongue:
“This little girl, you really can’t judge by appearances. She looks so delicate, but when it comes to chopping people, she’s downright fierce!”
The muscular man turned to Jiang Li, “I didn’t even dare to block the door just now, but your friend here is fearless!”
He crossed his arms and shook his head in amazement.
Jiang Li gave a faint smile in response.
“My name’s Wang Qiang, nice to meet you.” The muscular man introduced himself boldly, extending his hand.
Jiang Li glanced at Wang Qiang’s large hand but didn’t reach out to shake it.
“Jiang Li,” she replied symbolically.
Xia Xiaoqiang followed, “My surname is Xia, Xia Xiaoqiang.”
The college student said, “I’m Liang Jie.”
Jiang Li observed the two across from her.
Wang Qiang’s palms were thick with calluses, either from frequent training or years of manual labor.
Liang Jie, the college student, was someone Jiang Li had encountered twice before.
He always carried a black backpack and liked to wear earphones.
His clothes were clean, without a single drop of blood, making him stand out among the other passengers.
Liang Jie’s Number Tag read “01”.
Jiang Li began to speculate.
Most likely, this boy had anticipated the chaos early on and arrived at the Dining Car ahead of time.
Jiang Li recalled that when she tried “Buying Life” with money, the Old Lady who served porridge had said she was the “second clever person” she’d ever met.
This meant someone else had tried Buying Life before her.
Could it be that the person who bought life was him?
Jiang Li looked at Liang Jie across the table.