Chapter 132

Bang.

Bang bang bang.

There was no roar or any pointless commotion.

Only the sound of heavy objects falling on the thick carriage roof kept coming.

Uesugi Toru raised his eyes and met the gazes of those Yellow Turban Power Warriors, whose bodies were burly like small mountains of muscle, clad in heavy Black Armor, with blood-colored bright yellow cloths bound around their foreheads.

Amidst the howling wind, the ends of the bright yellow cloths fluttered noisily.

The Yellow Turban Power Warriors' faces were angular like stone carvings, their expressions solemn without sorrow or joy; only in those pairs of black-and-white distinct eyeballs was revealed a thick indifference and killing intent.

Some warriors held dark iron heavy pestles over a zhang long, some had chains densely covered with Daoist Mantras in dark gold wrapped around their waists... without exception, every warrior had distinct features and unique Ultimate Techniques.

A total of twelve burly Yellow Turban Power Warriors stood on the carriage roof; just the dense Evil Qi they emitted could almost incinerate to ash those mei climbing out the windows.

Uesugi Toru looked up at the tops of their heads, revealing a hint of Xi Kan.

——【Yellow Turban Power Warrior Projection (Three-Star)】.

Twelve identical Prompts popped up, giving a thick sense of reassurance.

Uesugi Toru let out a light breath and said to them: "Completely overturn or smash that train under your feet; in short, don't let it continue moving."

The next moment, led by that Yellow Turban Power Warrior holding the dark iron heavy pestle, the twelve people silently knelt on one knee toward Uesugi Toru and spoke in unison,

"We respectfully obey the decree."

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Immediately, six Yellow Turban Power Warriors turned into Golden Light, quickly and nimbly landing beside Uesugi Toru — they turned into palm-sized little figures, not letting the car's speed slow by half a fraction.

Uesugi Toru looked at the solemn row of golden little figures on the SUV roof, thinking the Yellow Turban Power Warriors judged that destroying this train only needed six people.

Wouldn't that be a bit overconfident...

And the next moment, the remaining six Yellow Turban Power Warriors used actual actions to tell Uesugi Toru.

——Their actions were not overconfident at all!

——Rather, this was the result of already considering this old train loaded with weak mei as a powerful enemy among powerful enemies.

"Big, big, big..."

A deep voice came from the mouth of the foremost Yellow Turban Power Warrior; in just a Blink, the originally only two-meter-tall Yellow Turban Power Warrior swelled into a small giant four to five meters tall!

Fa Tian Xiang Di: Youth Edition!

He took a single stride to the very front of the train.

Then, with a boom, he fell down!

Muscles forged like metal and stone bulged block by block; before the train's huge impact force, signs of tearing appeared in an instant, and that Yellow Turban Power Warrior's feet also rapidly vanished from friction with the ground.

Yet he seemed to have no pain sensation at all, just like that relying on his own flesh and blood body to forcibly drag down the train's advancing speed.

Simultaneously, the five Yellow Turban Power Warriors originally standing on the train roof each displayed their divine abilities, and in no time the train was thrown far behind Uesugi Toru's group's SUV.

——Only this way could they employ methods to overturn the train.

"Big, big, big..."

"Fall! Fall! Fall!"

The Yellow Turban Power Warriors roared in anger, bracing their hands, using their physical bodies to push over the huge Iron Beast.

In no time, that narrow old train seemingly endless was overturned in one move by the death-fearing Yellow Turban Power Warriors.

Firelight and explosions soared skyward; countless mei poured out, spreading like a tide, then were easily incinerated to ash and smoke by the Yellow Turban Power Warriors.

However all this quickly disappeared from Uesugi Toru's field of vision; the scenery behind turned back into overlapping scenes like abstract painting colors.

Uesugi Toru came back to his senses, looked at the remaining six Yellow Turban Power Warriors standing silently on the car roof, and showed a genuine smile: "The safety of the journey ahead, I'll have to trouble you all."

The warrior figurines replied in unison: "We respectfully obey the decree."

Uesugi Toru nodded at them, and in a flash returned to the Passenger Seat.

"Well done."

He reached out and grasped the Steering Wheel, then toward Ye Chundao in the driver's seat, whose whole body was stiff but who clung tightly to the steering wheel and floored the Accelerator,

"It's fine now, let me do it."

Hearing this, Ye Chun's whole person instantly went limp.

Having the two-chi Adult drag Ye Chun, who couldn't move at all, to the back first, Uesugi Toru then sat back in the driver's seat and dripped a drop of Awakening Spirit Mist into his mouth.

Thanks to the existence of the remaining six Yellow Turban Power Warriors on the car roof, the journey ahead, though not exactly smooth sailing, could be called safe despite scares.

Whenever sudden yokai or strange phenomena appeared, a Yellow Turban Power Warrior would Stand Up, then Jump Down and easily tear them into fragments.

Also benefiting from this, within this one hour Uesugi Toru's previously consumed Physical Strength, Spirit Power, and Internal Qi almost completely recovered.

Ye Chun also gradually broke free from the previous state of terror that left her unable to speak.

She sat back in the Passenger Seat, indicating that if that kind of thing happened again she could still grip the Steering Wheel tight!

Then, the girl full of anticipation to leave Kisaragi Station chatted with Uesugi Toru about her parents, family, and some interesting school stories.

"But I've already been missing without a word for over a month, who knows how worried my family must be... anyway, thank goodness I met Uesugi-kun!"

"Otherwise, maybe I'd be trapped in Kisaragi Station for a whole lifetime and never get out!"

Uesugi Toru just listened, but didn't answer much.

Because he knew, the time Ye Chun entered Kisaragi Station was not one month or a month plus a few days.

But a full twenty years.

Twenty years later, perhaps everything Ye Chun spoke of has already disappeared, or become completely unrecognizable to her.

Uesugi Toru recalled Main Quest Two was called "Rescue Yu Jun".

But such a rescue, does it really still count as rescue?

"——Uesugi-kun! Look quick, that looks like the tunnel exit!"

The girl's cheerful voice pulled Uesugi Toru's thoughts back.

Looking ahead, besides white light that was completely different from the specks of light and the surrounding "scenery," he also saw a blood-red status window.

——【Resentment Aggregate (Three-Star)】.

The thing finally blocking the tunnel exit was actually a yokai whose rank had reached Three-Star Level.

The water of Kisaragi Station, a mere Two-Star Map, was actually this deep.

However...

Uesugi Toru only heard a thud from the car roof, and the last Yellow Turban Power Warrior's figure shot out like lightning.

"——Yokai! Execute!"

In midair, that Yellow Turban Power Warrior grew from figurine size to several times larger than an SUV.

He held a black iron heavy pestle and crashed toward the Resentment Aggregate, whose whole body was wrapped in blood color and resentment and whose appearance was like a translucent plastic bag.

In just two or three strikes, that Resentment Aggregate, whose strength was likewise not to be underestimated, was heavily smashed away.

The two fought together amidst the surging bizarre scene and soon disappeared.

Ye Chun, staring intently at the distant exit, did not even notice this scene; the girl held her breath, hoping to see the familiar carriages and horses or the warm sunlight outside the tunnel.

Finally, the SUV that had traveled the long road rushed out of the tunnel.

Dazzling white light lit up, then gradually faded.

【Side Quest One——The Tunnel to Chang Shi is Completed!】

【You may choose to claim the reward for this side quest immediately! Or wait to claim Accumulate Reward after multiple quests are completed!】

Uesugi Toru chose Accumulate Reward with an unchanged complexion, then slightly narrowed his eyes.

Ye Chun's smile froze.

She stared dazedly at the scenery before her that seemed no different from before entering the tunnel, at those railway tracks, mountain forest, and the Silver Moon hanging in the sky.

Is this... still Kisaragi Station?

Ye Chun asked blankly,

"Why, exactly the same?"

"No, not the same."

Uesugi Toru said calmly: "If it were the same, then this place shouldn't have scenery exactly the same as the previous 'Entrance,'"

"We have passed through the tunnel and left that world; there is no doubt about that."

Uesugi Toru pressed the accelerator, driving toward the station along the route in his memory,

"I fear this place and that previous Kisaragi Station are mirror images of each other, and this place is the true Kisaragi Station located in Chang Shi."

As for why this Kisaragi Station before them is the one in Chang Shi... it is naturally because Uesugi Toru had witnessed "Restart" after Ye Chun died.

Uesugi Toru did not believe that an existence in this Two-Star Map called Kisaragi Station could truly make time flow backward in Chang Shi.

And if the Kisaragi Station where he had stayed before did not exist in Chang Shi, but was merely a small world attached to the true Kisaragi Station, then the bizarre Restart phenomenon that happened after Ye Chun's death could be understood.

——It is probably quite normal for the Game Administrator to slightly adjust the timeline after discovering an important character in the game has died, after waiting for the "Player" to leave.

This is probably also why Restart only happened after Uesugi Toru left.

"Mirror images? Chang Shi?"

Ye Chun did not understand the meaning of these words.

The girl merely converged her smile, pressed her lips, and looked at the scenery outside the window that was unchanged from when they came: "Can I really go back..."

"You can."

Uesugi Toru looked ahead, only his voice came: "Because I promised you."

And so Ye Chun's panicked and helpless heart settled down.

Not long after, Uesugi Toru drove the SUV to the platform beside the signboard reading【Kisaragi Station】, and also saw that convenience store.

Uesugi Toru opened the car door and jumped out, walked onto the platform and raised his head.

Mm, no shrine found.

It seems this place is indeed the Kisaragi Station located in Chang Shi.

Then the method to take Ye Chun away is to wait for the arrival of that train he took when doing the Regional Unlock Mission, then have her board with him and get off at the station in Genjitsu?

Uesugi Toru was thinking, but noticed the surrounding aura was slightly off.

He silently looked around, finally fixing his gaze on the signboard with the four characters "Kisaragi Station" and the platform beneath his feet.

This platform... is it moving?

Uesugi Toru gazed at the platform beneath his feet; after a while, a label popped up before his eyes.

——【Kisaragi Station (Three-Star)】.

Without the slightest hesitation, Uesugi Toru drew Kaga Kiyomitsu.

The Separation Sorrow Domain spread, pale color dripped onto the platform, making a hissing sound like falling on a living creature.

"——Uesugi-kun, don't attack!"

Uesugi Toru was about to swing his blade to test the depth of this Kisaragi Station, when Ye Chun's voice suddenly came from beside him.

He looked at Ye Chun, who had just gotten out of the car; the latter was full of confusion: "I didn't speak just now..."

Ye Chun did not speak.

Then who made that voice just now?

"It was me."

Ye Chun's voice came again.

Uesugi Toru felt the vibration beneath his feet, looking toward the center of the platform——that gray concrete ground actually writhed like a living creature, opening toward both sides.

Finally, a girl exactly like Ye Chun in appearance actually rose from within it!

The girl whose body was tightly connected to Kisaragi Station opened her eyes, looked at Uesugi Toru, and spoke softly,

"Uesugi-kun, what you thought is not wrong — the Kisaragi Station beneath your feet is indeed a living thing."

This scene made Ye Chun clutch the Adult beside her in fear, stammering: "Y-you-you-you, what are you! How do you look exactly like me, and even have my voice!?"

The stone slab supporting the girl's body moved slowly, turned toward Ye Chun, and smiled: "Because, I am you, little Ye Chun."

Ye Chun felt not the slightest closeness from the identical appearance and voice; instead, she only felt her scalp go numb.

She swallowed her saliva, crouched down, and hid behind the Adult: "Monster, don't think you can disguise yourself as me and deceive Uesugi-kun — that's impossible!"

"What possible or impossible is there……"

The girl smiled faintly, looking at Uesugi Toru, who had sheathed his sword from the start and simply stared at her in silence without a word.

The girl exhaled lightly and said to Ye Chun: "Actually, the time that has passed is not merely the month or so you perceived — a full twenty years and more have already gone by."

"Tw-twenty years?"

Ye Chun's face stiffened, then she frowned and retorted: "You monster, don't think you can trick me!"

Then Ye Chun looked at Uesugi Toru again,

"You say so, right, Uesugi-kun!"

Uesugi Toru fell silent for a long while.

He closed his eyes, sighed: "Ye Chun. She is telling the truth — in reality, twenty full years have indeed passed."

"Eh?"

Ye Chun's hands holding the Adult lost their strength; she looked at Uesugi Toru, then at the exact duplicate of herself on the stone slab.

In the silence, Ye Chun's face was gradually overtaken by blankness and despair.

She could not understand, nor did she grasp where this "twenty years" came from, but she knew even more clearly that Uesugi Toru had absolutely no reason to lie to her.

Time…… had really passed this long without her knowing at all?

Ye Chun slumped onto the ground, her eyes gradually losing focus.

The Adult said nothing, simply hugged Ye Chun tighter.

"Uesugi-kun."

The girl on the stone slab likewise showed a trace of gloom; she gazed straight into Uesugi Toru's eyes and said: "The original me should have died long ago inside Kisaragi Station, but perhaps because of that post I made while alive, things turned into what they are now……"

"I don't know how much time passed; I seemed to regain awareness again, then became a part of Kisaragi Station, inseparable from it."

"Therefore, I also share a portion of Kisaragi Station's power."

With the spread of that post, Ye Chun herself became a part of the mononoke known as 'Kisaragi Station'."

This is not an impossible thing.

Because so-called mononoke are precisely existences that disregard common sense, that defy reason.

The girl looked at the listless Ye Chun not far away, pursed her lips: "Ever since regaining awareness, I have wanted to leave Kisaragi Station every single moment."

"That is why, after that tunnel, a Ye Chun would appear in the world fixed in 2004 for no known reason, and why everything would restart after Ye Chun's death."

"Although I don't know the specific method, in this endless samsara, among so many Ye Chuns there must be one who can find a way back to reality."

"She only needs to succeed once — just once — then that Ye Chun can take my place, leave Kisaragi Station, and return to reality."

The girl's voice grew lower and lower; she showed a bitter smile: "But I was wrong."

"This rootless, boundless, impractical desire and obsession ultimately bring only endless death and despair."

The girl took a deep breath,

"——Until, Uesugi-kun, your appearance."

"——Until, you stood before me like a hero, bringing Ye Chun with you."

Uesugi Toru gazed at her, asked softly: "Then, Ye Chun, what do you want me to do?"

The girl — or rather, Ye Chun — closed her eyes, bared her neck to him,

"Please kill me, grant liberation to all Ye Chuns, and end all suffering and meaningless samsara right here."

(End of Chapter)