Time flowed like water—the day of departure arrived before they knew it.
Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, softening the ache of parting.
"Yang'er—be careful on your journey," Lin Mengxi whispered, fingers fussing with Fang Yang's collar, eyes brimming with reluctant affection.
Fang Yang gently clasped her hand, warmth spreading through his palm.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm not a child anymore—I'll take care of myself and Gu Yue."
He glanced at Gu Yue standing quietly beside him—dressed in a pale white dress, her raven hair cascading to her waist.
"Mm." Lin Mengxi forced a smile, then turned to Gu Yue. "If Yang'er bullies you, tell Auntie immediately!"
Gu Yue's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Don't worry, Auntie… Fang Yang daren't."
---
Aolai City Soul-Guided Train Station
The platform swarmed with travelers, luggage wheels clattering, announcements echoing.
Woooo!
A long whistle pierced the air as a silver soul-guided train glided in—its streamlined hull shimmering with blue soul-guided runes.
Doors hissed open.
"Passengers to Tian Dou City—prepare to board…"
"Time to go, Gu Yue," Fang Yang said softly.
"Alright," she nodded, black hair stirring in the morning breeze.
Their destination: Tian Dou City—once capital of the Tian Dou Empire, now one of Douluo Continent's grandest metropolises.
From Aolai City on the eastern coast to inland Tian Dou, even at the train's top speed, the journey would take a full day and night, stopping at over a dozen cities.
For comfort, Fang Yang had booked a luxury cabin—mid-train for smoothness, soundproofed, with private seating and dining.
Inside their cabin, spacious as a hotel room, two white-sheeted beds, a small round table with fresh fruit and drinks, a cozy window nook with twin armchairs.
Fang Yang tested the mattress. "Worth every credit."
"Very comfortable," Gu Yue agreed, eyes sweeping the room.
With another whistle, the train lurched gently forward.
Through the soul-guided glass, the platform slid away, soon replaced by blurring countryside—crystal-clear yet perfectly smooth.
Relaxed, the two drifted into sleep.
---
BOOOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the train.
Fang Yang jolted awake, instinctively gripping the bed frame as the cabin tilted violently.
Emergency lights bathed the cabin in blood-red gloom.
"EVERYONE FREEZE! DON'T MOVE!"
A guttural roar shattered the calm.
Chaos erupted—screams, stampeding footsteps.
Fang Yang and Gu Yue snapped awake, eyes locked in silent alarm.
Fang Yang unleashed his spiritual sense—then froze, expression turning utterly bizarre.
Through his spiritual power, hooded figures rampaged in standard cabins.
Their leader hoisted a smoking fixed-artillery soul-guided cannon—his mask emblazoned with a grinning cartoon "Wang Zai" logo.
(T/N: Wang Zai is a mascot for a brand. Similar to Ronald McDonald)
"HELLO, EVERYONE! I'M WANG ZAI THE EVIL SOUL MASTER! HOW ARE YOU TODAY?"
The leader's voice dripped with manic glee.
In the standard cabins, terror reigned.
Passengers cowered in silence.
Fang Yang's eye twitched.
"No way… Tang Wulin isn't even ON this train…"
Then realization struck—his face paled comically.
"Oh no… have I become the 'Train Killer'?!"
"Fang Yang—what's happening?" Gu Yue's voice pulled him back.
He exhaled slowly. "Evil Soul Masters. But…"
Gu Yue extended her own spiritual sense—and stared in disbelief.
"This Evil Soul Master… is absurd."
In the chaos of standard cabins—a teenage girl was held at knifepoint, face ghost-white, trembling violently.
"Don't… don't kill me…" she sobbed.
Train security rushed in, soul-guided rifles raised—but dared not fire.
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS! HANDS ON YOUR HEADS!"
Wang Zai cackled—six soul rings blazed beneath his feet—2 yellow, 2 purple, 2 black—a Six-Ring Soul Emperor!
His hip bore a high-lethality soul-guided pistol, ready to draw.
His henchman twirled a soul-guided dagger—treating her life like a toy.
Security seethed—but hesitated.
Evil Soul Masters were madmen—bargaining was suicide.
Fang Yang's eyes turned glacial, killing intent flooding the cabin.
"Evil Soul Masters… you've made a grave mistake."
Now he'd be known as the "Train Killer"—all thanks to these fools.
"WELL?!"
Wang Zai roared, patience snapping.
His henchmen raised their rifles, muzzles aimed at terrified passengers.
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