He said he’d leave tomorrow, but he bought a ticket for tonight. Rather than wait for a crowd to tearfully see him off, it’s better to leave quietly tonight.
There weren’t many people catching the night train, the platform was deserted, a few food vendors nearby. Dumpling and Light Bulb were buying snacks, the two of them would return to Outside Provinces with Li Banfeng.
"Seventh Master, what would you like to eat?" Dumpling had gotten used to calling him Seventh Master at Xiaoyao Lodge, and it slipped right out.
Li Banfeng glanced around; there were people selling sesame soup, boiled eggs, pastries, and instant noodles.
Instant noodles...
This thing wasn’t common in Puluo State.
The vendor of instant noodles was an elderly lady. Li Banfeng approached, lowered his voice, and said, "Second Aunt, you came to see me off?"
Bitter Granny chuckled, "Nephew, leaving just like that? You still owe me those three times of tempering. When do you plan to repay them?"
"What three times of tempering?" Li Banfeng was puzzled.
"Trying to weasel out, huh? I’ll let you off tonight; we’ll settle it slowly in the future," Bitter Granny said, turning her head and calling to a corner of the platform, "Come quickly!"
Chu Er, dressed in coarse clothes, approached Li Banfeng, lowered his head, and looked up, asking, "Why are you going to the Outside Provinces?"
Li Banfeng replied, "Just going out to take a look around."
Chu Er bit his lip and said, "Is it for me?"
Li Banfeng smiled but said nothing.
Chu Er’s voice trembled, "I’m going to Bridge Yesong because I have a grudge with the Defense Agency, not to save you. If anything happens with the Defense Agency, let them find me. My business doesn’t concern you, don’t go to the Outside Provinces."
Li Banfeng stared at Chu Er for a moment, but still remained silent.
Woo—woo~
The whistle blew, the train was about to leave.
Chu Er whispered, "Don’t go, I beg you..."
Li Banfeng placed his hand on his top hat, pressing down its brim.
Chu Er lifted her head, wanting to take another good look at Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng’s hand remained on the hat, not taking it down.
Woo—woo~
The train whistled again.
Li Banfeng took off his hat and placed it on Chu Er’s head.
He did it with such gentleness, seriousness, and care.
He gazed at Chu Er for a long time.
With the top hat on, Chu Er looked beautiful.
Woo—woo~
Li Banfeng turned and boarded the train.
Chug, chug~
The train started moving.
Beneath the shadow of the hat brim, Chu Er’s tears trickled down one by one.
The brim dipped slightly, as if not wanting others to see her cry.
...
In the carriage, Dumpling and Light Bulb were playing cards.
Light Bulb knew how to count cards, while Dumpling played purely on instinct. In less than two hours, Dumpling almost lost a month’s wages.
Li Banfeng kept watching the scenery outside. Light Bulb appeared a bit worried, "On our way here, Big Head told me that on train 1160, it’s best to keep the curtains drawn, especially when we reach Three-Head Fork. It’s best not to look there; for someone at my level, seeing it might lead to trouble."
Dumpling asked, "Why isn’t Big Head coming back with us?"
Light Bulb replied, "He applied to stay another month in Puluo State, said he had unfinished business."
Dumpling wondered, "What kind of tasks?"
Light Bulb shook his head, "I don’t know. Ever since we got to Puluo State, I never knew what he was up to."
...
At Greenwater City, Jiang Xiang Gang’s old headquarters, Big Head led Xie Juncong to a spot next to the rockery.
Lately, Big Head had been inquiring about the whereabouts of He Jiaqing. He discovered that He Jiaqing recently had dealings with Cui Tiq, eventually using contacts in the Defense Agency to connect with Cui Tiq.
Cui Tiq had just returned from Cheap Person Ridge and, upon hearing Big Head’s inquiry about He Jiaqing, provided clues. The clues were located at Jiang Xiang Gang’s old headquarters.
Now, this site had become Luo Zhengnan’s territory. Xie Juncong had searched several times but found nothing useful. With Luo Zhengnan currently at Bridge Yesong and the defenses relaxed, Xie Juncong called Big Head over so they could search together.
"There’s a secret chamber under this rockery," Xie Juncong said, "If we can’t find anything here, there’s no need to come back. Luo Zhengnan isn’t someone to mess with. If he catches us, it’ll be hard to escape."
Big Head couldn’t spot any traces of the secret chamber. Xie Juncong tested various magical treasures, spent hours, but couldn’t locate the entrance to the chamber.
"Forget it, the craftsmanship method is too sophisticated. I’m at a loss. Let’s go," Xie Juncong was about to give up, but Big Head insisted on searching a bit longer.
They searched for over an hour longer, the sky almost bright, and Xie Juncong was set on leaving. Suddenly, they heard a sound.
"Someone’s in the secret chamber!" Xie Juncong paused, felt around the ground following the sound, then turned to Big Head, "There’s a brick down there that seems to have a gap, but it hasn’t been broken through."
...
The train reached Hai Chi Ridge. Li Banfeng and Dumpling bought lots of things: steamed buns, deep-fried dough sticks, fried cakes, baked pancakes, and pot stickers.
The two ate and drank heartily, while Light Bulb, with a darkened expression, sat still, not taking a single bite.
Li Banfeng was curious, reaching Hai Chi Ridge yet not wanting to eat. Light Bulb’s restraint was quite something: "What’s the matter with you? Are you ill?"
Light Bulb forced a laugh, "No, just tired."
Dumpling snorted, "Serves him right, during the Pants Belt Pit stop, I warned him not to open the window, but he went back to his carriage and secretly opened it."
Li Banfeng was taken aback and asked Light Bulb, "How many times have you come?"
Light Bulb pressed his lips, "Should be sixteen times."
"The stop is twenty minutes, you’ve come sixteen times?"
"Pants Belt Pit is a great place..." Light Bulb closed his eyes, recalling the rich sweet taste of Pants Belt Pit.
Dumpling glared at Light Bulb, "I’m warning you, we’re approaching Three-Head Fork, pull the curtains tight. You can’t look there!"