Chapter 129: The Treasure Hunter

[Protect me… You exchange a glance with Conductor Wei. From the look in Wei’s eyes, you realize that in his view, you are still someone who needs protection. You exhale deeply, grip your long sword firmly, and gaze at the crowd around you. You understand that you have a long way to go before becoming a true strong warrior.]

Chen Qi looked at the text. He could understand the subtle emotions of the game character—this little sentiment of being repeatedly told to be protected. It undoubtedly stirred his fighting spirit.

He stretched his waist; after all, being protected felt quite reassuring. On this perilous Textile Express, having these powerful conductors around added a great deal of security.

Conductor Wei straightened up and tucked his white hair, which partially covered his eyes, behind his ear:

“Everyone, based on our recent observations aboard the train, daylight is about to fade! Once night falls, the entire train will face a terrifying assault from the Furnace Spider swarms. At the same time, other calamity monsters will appear above the train cars! Everything will become far more dangerous in the darkness. Everyone, let us strive together to safely endure this night!”

“Daylight is about to fade!” Hearing Conductor Wei’s words, the crowd erupted into a commotion once again! Once night descends, the whole train will become increasingly perilous!

Many of the blade-bearers among them drew their long swords, readying themselves for battle!

Then, Conductor Wei turned to you and spoke softly:

“Guest, since daylight is about to fade, for your own safety, please return promptly to the safe carriage. Inside the safe carriage, even if the Furnace Spiders swarm in numbers, it is difficult for them to break through the protective runes. And if those monsters manage to damage the runes, we conductors will be there swiftly to protect you.”

Return to the safe carriage…

Chen Qi thought it over.

The Furnace Spiders’ attack method was straightforward and brutal—they pierce the train’s outer shell with their sharp legs to strike those inside the carriages. It would be wise for him to return to the safe carriage first.

Even if he wanted to hunt monsters, being closer to a “safe point” was the better choice.

This safe carriage was like a cabinet in a horror game—when in danger, one could hide inside. It was an extremely useful strategy and nothing to be ashamed of.

More importantly, his game character had been traveling long and hard without resting and was already fatigued. He needed a safe place to rest for a while.

Chen Qi opened the map, selected the safe carriage, and set out.

You again thanked Conductor Wei and rose to head toward the safe carriage.

Looking up at the ceiling, you saw that the entire train exterior was now covered with a thick protective shell—you could not return to the safe carriage via the rooftop path.

Chen Qi studied the map. He could only move from one carriage to another, gradually making his way back to his safe point. The safe carriage he belonged to was quite a distance from the current forging carriage.

He had to pass through the surgical carriage, then the trading carriage, and countless ordinary carriages to reach his safe carriage.

First, return to the safe point!

You passed through the textile carriage and saw some elaborate garments that could greatly increase your charm stat…

You continued through carriage after carriage of ordinary cars.

The ordinary passenger carriages were crowded, with many people having drawn their weapons, ready to fight fiercely through the night!

Moving forward…

Chen Qi had thought he could return directly to the safe carriage smoothly.

But suddenly, a line of text popped up in the game:

You have arrived at a strange carriage. Its connection to other carriages is different—there is a thick, sturdy white door before this carriage.

You studied the heavy door carefully and saw mottled bloodstains on its surface.

A door stained with blood?

Chen Qi opened the map; unsurprisingly, this was the “surgical carriage.”

This carriage was specially used for surgeries and had more robust protective measures than others.

You slowly looked toward the door and were surprised to find that, compared to other carriages, this surgical carriage was exceptionally quiet.

Exceptionally quiet…

Chen Qi thought about it.

Something was wrong.

According to his previous information, chaos raged outside—how could it be so quiet here?

Surgery does require silence, but…

You faintly caught a scent of blood. Looking through the door’s window into the carriage, it was empty. Inside, a pallor and stillness prevailed.

Traveler, do you wish to enter this door?

Chen Qi was startled. He sensed a faint aura of danger.

A simple yes-or-no choice suddenly felt like a terrifying test.

Something was off about this surgical carriage…

Yet, if he didn’t pass through this surgical carriage, he couldn’t get back to the safe carriage.

Only two options…

Chen Qi thought for a moment and activated his precognitive dream, setting the target to “Yes.”

You silently made your choice and activated the precognitive dream.

Detection revealed the presence of Dice Aspect’s aura inside the carriage, causing your prediction to become more obscure.

Precognition begins.

You gently pushed open the door and entered the surgical carriage.

Inside, you saw many patients lying on operating tables. They were alive but heavily sedated, hence unusually quiet.

Among them were some Dice Aspect individuals lying on the tables, emanating a black aura that interfered with your precognition.

You continued forward.

Ahead, you saw several wrapped cocoons.

You began a conversation with one of the cocoons.

During this dialogue, you showed a shocked expression!

After speaking with the cocoon, you breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly left the surgical carriage.

Precognition ends: You safely exited the textile carriage.

You opened your eyes.

Dice Aspect…

Chen Qi tapped his fingers on the table, contemplating. Under the influence of Dice Aspect, his precognition had become quite unclear.

In short, the precognitive content showed him conversing with a cocoon inside the carriage, revealing a shocked expression, then safely leaving the textile carriage.

Dice Aspect was chaos itself, capable of disrupting his precognitive abilities.

The option appeared again:

Traveler, do you wish to enter this surgical carriage?

Chen Qi swallowed hard. Undoubtedly, he had learned something inside this carriage.

He thought for a moment and first sent a White Dove to enter the carriage, but nothing happened.

From the result, he should be able to enter this carriage.

Yes.

Holding his breath, you slowly pushed open the surgical carriage’s heavy door. As you did, you noticed the chains locking the door showed signs of being damaged.

You observed the surgical carriage carefully. It contained many bloodstained tools.

Within the carriage were various secret surgical machines and twenty operating tables.

Each table had a patient lying on the bed, their appearances rather strange.

On one operating table, you saw the Lantern Artisan from before, quietly lying on the bed.

Chen Qi thought for a moment.

The former Cocoon Witch train medic was not present inside the carriage.

You took a deep breath and slowly headed toward the carriage’s exit.

A crimson line of text suddenly appeared:

Before the operating tables, you saw dozens of human-sized oval cocoons hanging from the ceiling, like pigs hung in a slaughterhouse.

You activated intermediate spiritual vision and carefully observed your surroundings as you passed by these humanoid cocoons.

Suddenly, another line of crimson text appeared!

Some faint sounds came forth!

You gripped your long sword fiercely—you had just seen one of the cocoons move!

A weak voice came from inside the cocoon:

“Someone! Are you a fellow Lantern Aspect traveler? Please, please don’t leave! Save me, I’m willing to give you everything I have…”

A wrapped cocoon speaking?

The scene before you was somewhat horrifying.

Save him?

Chen Qi was shocked—was there someone inside this cocoon?

You stepped back, drew your long sword, and distanced yourself from the cocoon.

The person inside seemed to sense your movement and weakly said:

“Don’t go, don’t go. I am a treasure hunter. Though I have lost much, I still have a very rare book. If you save me, I… am willing to give you that book.”

A treasure hunter?

Chen Qi was startled—the person inside the cocoon was indeed a treasure hunter.

You looked at the cocoon. It seemed non-aggressive.

The oval-shaped cocoon slowly revealed an opening, inside which appeared a hollow, weary eye.

You looked into that eye; it showed no bloodshot veins, as if all hope had been lost.

You looked at the white silk cocoon with a curious gaze. Would you inquire further?

Yes.

You showed a skeptical expression, stepped back, and questioned the figure.

The cocoon, seeing you had no intention to rescue him, hurriedly said in a weak voice:

“I’m not lying! My name is Kano, a well-known treasure hunter! You can ask the other passengers—I’m a man of my word, I wouldn’t deceive you… Please, I beg you…”

Kano…

That name sounded familiar…

Wait!

Chen Qi recalled hearing rumors about this treasure hunter.

According to the hearsay, this treasure hunter underwent surgery on the Textile Express, gained a brand-new powerful body, and thereafter rose rapidly to become a judge in New Capital District 2!

Such an enviable story; it was precisely because of this rumor that so many people from New Capital District 8 traveled to the Textile Express this year!

But why was this person here?

If this Kano in the cocoon was real, then who was the Kano who became a judge?

It was confusing… Chen Qi decided to keep reading.

You tried to hide your shock and maintain a calm expression before continuing to ask.

The person inside the cocoon told you his misfortune in a weak voice.

About a year ago, he came aboard the Textile Express to undergo surgery.

The train medic promised him that after the operation, he would be reborn as a completely new person!

However, this pursuit of power failed.

When he woke, he was trapped inside this cocoon, its silk threads piercing his body.

Every day, he could feel his spiritual power being drained, and he dreamed strange dreams of examinations in which his body was no longer under his control.

For over a year, he had been imprisoned in this cocoon, trapped in false illusions, his spiritual energy continuously siphoned.

The voice grew weaker as Kano the treasure hunter said:

“For a whole year, even my best brothers and the Purifiers have neither come to save me nor noticed my disappearance.”

No one came to save you…

More accurately, they didn’t even know you were missing.

Chen Qi studied the text and thought for a moment.

If this was true, the ‘rebirth surgery’ was actually a complete erasure of the person!

In the investigator’s guide, there was mention of a creature that could imitate others’ appearances and behaviors.

Simply put, this train medic imprisoned this treasure hunter here, draining his spiritual power daily.

At the same time, the medic likely created a monster—a puppet identical to Kano—and infiltrated the people, replacing “him.”

Chen Qi swallowed hard. This train medic was truly a monster!

Seeing this, he exhaled in relief, thankful he had not sought a physical examination from this medic—otherwise, who knew what might have happened.

The voice in the cocoon grew weaker, but still summoned some strength to say:

“Traveler, if you can save me, I’m willing to give you everything I have left. Trust me, fellow Lantern Aspect traveler. Though I have lost much, what I give you is the rarest book I have ever obtained in my life! Benefactor, please, I’m barely holding on…”

The treasure hunter told you that until you appeared and somehow broke the cocoon’s runes, he could not regain his normal mind.

The voice in the cocoon grew ever weaker.

I broke the runes!?

Chen Qi stared at the text, instinctively holding his breath.

Something was wrong! Very wrong!

He had not touched the cocoon at all!

In this room, besides him and the cocoon’s occupant, there were other conscious beings…

The person inside the cocoon seemed to realize something and slowly said:

“Benefactor, there seems to be someone behind you…”

Someone behind me?

Chen Qi felt a cold sweat and looked down at the text.

Some translucent words appeared:

You sense a breath behind you.

The cabinet behind you shifts!

You hold your breath; the black Shadow Soul on your right hand is steadily condensing!

You faintly hear an angry, low voice behind you saying:

“I sincerely advise you, my power is not to be looked upon…”

Behind…

Chen Qi took a deep breath, preparing for battle, eyes fixed on the next text!

You heard a threatening tone from behind:

“You’d better leave me be…”

(End of chapter)