Chapter 141: Station 24: Seeking Warmth

Chapter 141: Station 24: Seeking Warmth

This entry into the train was no different from before.

The sun shone brightly outside the window, casting a radiant glow, unlike the gloomy atmosphere of the previous two times.

If there was any distinction to be made.

Yan Qiling slowly lowered his eyes in the faint light.

…It was the added sensation of a blazing, tightly held hand in his own.

The youth's knuckles were prominent, reflecting his character's sharp edges, and carried the rough touch characteristic of someone skilled in martial arts, vastly distinct from the smooth skin that felt as if it had brushed against chalk.

Ming Yiyang appeared to be looking sideways down the aisle, but he still held onto the man's hand, showing no intention of letting go.

After surveying their surroundings, he turned back, leaned closer to the cold-faced man, and whispered:

"There are six others. It seems this station won't be too challenging."

It was different.

Yan Qiling thought indifferently in silence.

This time, numbers couldn't be relied upon to determine the outcome.

That was why he didn't want Ming Yiyang to get involved. But this man was so stubborn; who knew what devious plans he might cook up if he refused?

It would be better to keep him within sight, at least then he could ensure the man's safety for a while.

Seeing that Ming Yiyang didn't protest or withdraw from his touch, a faint, golden smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

He toyed with the silver chain that connected their wrists, occasionally catching glimpses of shimmering light flickering in the depths of his dark eyes.

With a resounding crash of breaking ice, the train transformed into a bus in an instant.

It soared through the golden clouds and plunged into a gray-white blizzard created by the icy landscape!

Snowflakes fell like rain, and the chained wheels of the bus left deep grooves in the snow as they braked to prevent skidding.

The surrounding cedars rushed past rapidly, and passengers on the vehicle gradually stirred awake.

Ming Yiyang wanted to speak but felt a slight tightening of his hand.

The young man, having received the cue, remained silent. However, soon enough, someone else broke the silence.

It was a man dressed in a sharp suit. Unlike the typical office worker, his hair was stylishly groomed, with a hint of hair gel, giving him an impeccable appearance.

He began speaking in a flurry of Japanese:

"Assuming there are no newcomers, please kindly announce your train station stop promptly. This will facilitate our coordination later. I am Tojo Shuang, currently at Station Four, an even number."

Ming Yiyang's eyebrows knitted together swiftly.

Shortly after, a lady dressed in a pink blouse replied cautiously,

"Koike Tōzuki, Station Two."

As the stream of Japanese continued, Yan Qiling exchanged a glance with Ming Yiyang, who understood the unspoken question and reassured him with a subtle nod.

"I've got this."

Yan Qiling smiled and shook his head, gently interrupting him, "Let me do it."

Although Ming Yiyang was unsure about Yan Qiling's intentions, he didn't object.

After everyone had reported their station numbers, Yan Qiling made a gesture and, with a deliberate tone, announced their own and Ming Yiyang's stations, "Four and ten."

All eyes were drawn to them, most carrying a sense of admiration and respect for Ming Yiyang.

The Unbounded Realm was so terrifying, yet they had encountered someone who had survived ten stations!

This unknown gentleman must possess abundant survival experience in this aspect.

Tojo Shuang was the suited man who had spoken first. He wore an obvious expression of delight.

"Someone who has traveled ten stops must have much wisdom to impart upon us. Could you please offer some guidance on our current situation? Any advice would be greatly appreciated," the request was made with sincerity.

Initially, Ming Yiyang assumed it was only Tojo Shuang's opinion, but to his surprise, the young lady named Ikeko Touzuki immediately bowed and echoed, "Please, we beg of you."

Soon, the entire bus chimed in with the same plea, leaving Ming Yiyang feeling overwhelmed.

He had no advice to give; his method of passing the levels was not applicable to everyone. However, he now understood Yan Qiling's intention. The fellow probably sought this authoritative influence to avoid the hassle of giving individual hints along the way.

Thus, Ming Yiyang pretended to be enigmatic and casually stated, "There are currently no leads. Prioritize observing the situation and pay attention to every detail."

The passengers in the bus promptly took action.

Heavy snowfall and thick fog shrouded the sky, surrounding them and the forest on all sides, forming a white wall that obscured any view beyond. They could only tell that the bus was ascending higher and higher, without knowing where it would lead.

Although their journey had left deep tracks, such a massive snowfall would likely soon bury all traces of their passage.

In a few hours, there would be nothing left.

Due to the bus's constant motion and lack of extra items, they didn't even have the chance to leave any marks.

Anxiety crept onto every face, except for Ming Yiyang and Yan Qiling, who maintained their silence.

As their surroundings widened, they caught sight of the spires belonging to structures.

The bus drew closer and soon, the "passengers" on board realized they had arrived in front of a hot spring inn.

The inn stood alone on a snowy mountainside, halfway up the slope.

A low gateway connected to a white wall encircled it, behind which stood a Japanese-style two-story building. In the center, a vast quadrangular courtyard was shrouded in faint white smoke.

Though they hadn't entered yet, they could sense the luxurious atmosphere concealed by its intricate design.

It was a rather nice hot spring inn – if it existed in ordinary life.

But in the Realm of the Unseen, this meant that it possessed immense lethality. It was predictable that this world's killing stage would primarily take place within this extravagant yet out-of-place lodging.

The bus finally came to a halt and the engine died.

No one greeted them, nor were they expected to disembark immediately. All that existed was an endless expanse of wind and snow.

The air here was dry, causing the snowflakes to be whipped up by the gusts like sand, only to be gently set down amidst the chaotic swirl, blending with the frozen snow in a seemingly infinite cycle.

As the bus quickly lost its heating, the moment it ceased emitting warmth, the inadequately dressed passengers could keenly feel the chill creeping in from outside, almost unbearable to resist.

A man named Kiyokawa Chikara and his wife, Hanaka Sanrin, volunteered to approach the onsen's entrance and knock, hoping to gain entry.

Their attire was more reliable, consisting of coats and sweaters, making them the best-dressed among those present.

Kiyokawa escorted his wife into the blizzard, and the onsen wasn't too far from the bus. Peering through a window, one could see him knocking on the door while Hanaka stood nearby, scanning her surroundings.

Suddenly, she seemed to have noticed something at the entrance. She tugged on her waiting husband, and the two stood, rubbing their hands together as they observed. After a moment, without waiting for the onsen's door to open, they hastily ran back to the bus.

Ikeko Touzuki watched the pair return in confusion, using her sleeve to brush off the snow from their shoulders:

"What happened? Was no one there?"

Qiao Liqin rubbed his hands together, trying to warm himself up by exhaling warm air:

"Not really, there's a sign at the entrance of the hot spring house stating that it operates from five in the evening until nine in the morning. Therefore, it's currently not in operation, and the door won't open."

"Five in the evening?!"

The man named Oliver exclaimed with an exaggerated expression, while Ming Yiyang calmly took out his phone from his pocket to check the time.

Only then did they realize that the spacious hot spring house was not illuminated.

It was like a sleeping monster, sprawled amidst the snowstorm, slumbering soundly without lifting its head.

However, its slumber rapidly pushed this group of resource-deprived individuals into a perilous situation.

Amidst the chaotic blizzard, they couldn't discern daylight, let alone determine whether it was evening or morning, as the dim light could be described by any adjective.

Despair silently spread around them.

When they arrived, they were initially on guard against any potential horrors that might occur within the hot spring house.

Initially, they had discussed strategies about whether to enter the hot spring resort and how to do it.

Now, they fervently wished for the entrance to the resort to open immediately, rescuing them from the blizzard.

At that moment, a young man named Guan Zhiyi, from the crowd, stepped into the empty driver's cabin and started rummaging around.

Ming Yiyang, who had also made his way to the driver's cabin, asked him in Japanese, "What are you doing?"

Guan Zhiyi glanced at him but replied in English, "I'm trying to locate the engine starter or the car key. In this situation, if we can get the bus running again, we'll have some warmth. Otherwise, we'll freeze to death soon."

Ming Yiyang knew that this was another person who assumed he was a foreigner. However, there was something intriguing about the man's accent.

So, he spoke directly in Mandarin, "Step aside, I'll take care of it."

With an expression of surprise on his face, Guan Zhiyi immediately got up.

But he didn't go far. Instead, he leaned against the windscreen of the bus, planning to watch how Ming Yiyang would deal with the items.

In Ming Yiyang's hand, the Yellow Bamboo Song had transformed into a wooden wedge. However, since he had pulled it out of his pocket, it didn't seem quite as out of place for the moment.

...Of course, it was still very odd, but Guan Zhiyi suppressed his urge to comment on it.

In one swift move, he used the wooden wedge to pry open the plastic cover under the bus, then skillfully lifted the panel of the driver's compartment, revealing the intricate web of wires behind it.

Guan Zhiyi had only seen such maneuvers in movies before. Watching this person deftly disconnect and reconnect wires, he finally couldn't resist commenting,

"Do you usually carry something like this around?"

"Why wouldn't I carry something that could save my life?"

Who the hell carries such a thing for their daily emergency needs? !

Ming Yiyang clearly had no intention of giving a detailed explanation. He took off his casual sports jacket, wrapped it around his hands, and then carefully separated the numerous wires, twisting them together one by one.

After ensuring the connection points were secure, he took out two wires and twisted them together.

With a crackling sound, sparks flew in all directions.

Ming Yiyang twisted them again, and with a soft bang, the car's engine roared to life!

The humming sound was more reassuring than anything else.