Chapter 73: This beast surge… is probably not that simple

Inside the luxurious carriage, the atmosphere was tense.

“Bomb!”

“I’m asking you—do you want to die or not?”

Han Mengqing slammed four cards onto the table.

At this moment, her previously fair, delicate face was plastered with white sticky notes.

Clearly, she had lost badly.

But this round, she was confident.

“Hehe, Lin Mo, you’re dead this round!”

Han Mengqing glanced at the cards left in her hand, a smirk curling her lips.

Four 2s and one single card remained.

Lin Mo clearly held the King and Joker, but it didn’t matter—she was certain to win this round!

Beside her, Han Mengyao put down her book and gave her sister a cold, disdainful glance—as if looking at an idiot—then silently returned her gaze to the book.

“Cough…”

Chu Lingxuan shrank back slightly and whispered:

“Mengqing, maybe… tone it down a bit?”

“Tone it down? Pfft! Lingxuan sister, today Han Mengqing is going to win back every single sticky note on my face with these cards!”

Han Mengqing stared triumphantly at Lin Mo.

“Lin Mo, I know you’ve got the King and Joker, but you still have seventeen cards—I don’t believe you can wipe me out with seventeen cards!”

“If you can wipe me out with seventeen cards today, I’ll eat this table right here!”

“Seventeen cards, huh?”

Lin Mo slurped his juice, then casually began discarding cards.

“Bomb, airplane—done.”

“?”

The smile on Han Mengqing’s face froze.

“Your move.”

Lin Mo bowed with a smile.

Chu Lingxuan looked at Han Mengqing with pity and whispered weakly:

“Um… Mengqing, maybe skip eating the table? It’s expensive, and… it’s not sanitary.”

“I’m done! This is boring!”

Han Mengqing threw her cards onto the table and stomped back onto the sofa, fuming.

At that moment, Han Mengyao spoke softly:

“Even a dog could win with this hand. Tsk tsk… you should donate your brain to someone who needs it.”

“Sis!!”

Han Mengqing puffed up like a pufferfish, cheeks swollen with rage.

She angrily yanked the sticky notes off her forehead and muttered under her breath:

“You’re all picking on me! There’s no love left in this world…”

Just then.

“Ding dong—”

Attention, esteemed passengers: Monster activity detected ahead. A beast surge may occur. The train is activating defense mode.

“The train may experience slight jolts. Please return to your seats, fasten your seatbelts, and do not move around the carriage.”

“Repeat: Please fasten your seatbelts…”

Lin Mo listened to the announcement and frowned slightly.

Beast surge?

He turned his head and gazed out the window into the distance.

On the distant horizon, a thin black line appeared in his field of vision—the approaching demons.

Above and below, the land was dark with them.

“That’s quite a lot.”

Lin Mo murmured.

At the same time, Han Mengyao closed her book without expression, stood up, and a silver spear appeared in her hand, radiating a chilling cold.

“Sis? What are you doing?”

Han Mengqing blinked. “Beast surges? The guard team can handle it. We just sit back and watch.”

Han Mengyao ignored her sister, speaking calmly:

“Greater power, greater responsibility.”

“Since we’ve encountered this, we can’t just sit idly by. I’ll go see if help is needed.”

With that,

she picked up her spear and walked out directly.

“Sigh…”

Han Mengqing sighed helplessly.

Immediately after,

Chu Lingxuan beside her carefully stood up. “Um… I’ll go take a look too.”

Though her voice was gentle, her tone was resolute:

“I’m a knight. Protecting the weak is my duty… and I can help Sister Mengyao hold the line.”

With that, she nodded to Lin Mo and Han Mengqing, then ran off to catch up with Han Mengyao.

Watching their retreating backs, Lin Mo rubbed his chin.

“Tsk. Didn’t expect these two to have such high ideals.”

The skill bar’s “Fireball” began to stir.

【“Fireball” trembled with excitement: So many monsters! So many monsters! Hurry, I’m leveling up—come on, follow me!】

【“Earth Shield” whispered cautiously: Big bro, it’s dangerous out there. Stay inside—the announcement said not to wander.】

Lin Mo soothed them internally.

“Little Fire, don’t rush. There’ll be plenty of monsters in Jingdu. One or two won’t make a difference.”

“Besides, Captain Shen said they brought three times the usual guard force. If we rush out now, we’re stealing their jobs—unfair.”

“Our job right now is to enjoy the journey as a noble passenger in this luxury carriage.”

At that moment, Han Mengqing pouted and sighed:

“Ugh, it’s just a beast surge. Trains encounter these all the time.”

“The guard team can handle it fine. Why go out and cause trouble? Don’t they get tired?”

“And Lingxuan sister too—why rush ahead? I just don’t get them.”

Listening to Han Mengqing’s complaints, Lin Mo shook his head with a smile:

“You can’t say that.”

“It’s because of people like them that we can lie back so comfortably.”

“In a way, they’re pretty cool.”

Han Mengqing froze slightly at this.

She fell silent for a few seconds, then let out a light laugh:

“Huh… maybe you’re right.”

“Didn’t expect you to say something so philosophical.”

“Flattery, flattery.”

Lin Mo smiled and asked curiously:

“By the way, aren’t you a strong support?”

“Why don’t you give your sister some buffs? Supporting from behind should be safe enough, right?”

“Pfft, my sister doesn’t want my buffs.”

Han Mengqing waved her hand.

“Huh? Why?”

Lin Mo was even more puzzled.

In this world, someone didn’t want buffs?

“Well… uh…”

Han Mengqing avoided his gaze, stammering:

“Maybe she thinks she’s strong enough already? Or… maybe she thinks my buffs are… unnecessary?”

“Ah, forget it!”

Han Mengqing abruptly changed the subject:

“Anyway, she’s so strong, she doesn’t need my buffs.”

“Come on, Lin Mo, let’s play ‘Draw the Turtle’! I refuse to lose this round!”

……

On the roof of the magic train.

This is the train’s defensive position.

Gales howled, nearly knocking people off their feet.

Along the armored roof, magic-energy machine guns were mounted at regular intervals.

Guard team members stood tense at their posts.

Ranged specialists stood on the inner side, while melee specialists stood ready to protect them.

“Huh? Two classmates, what are you doing up here?”

A guard team squad leader, seeing Han Mengyao and Chu Lingxuan, paused when he noticed the glowing badges on their chests.

“This is too dangerous! Get back to the carriage immediately!”

Han Mengyao said nothing, glanced at the distant beast tide, and spoke calmly:

“We’re here to help.”

Beside her, Chu Lingxuan nodded firmly.

“This… but…”

The squad leader, meeting their determined gazes, fell silent.

“No more ‘buts.’”

Han Mengyao cut him off, battle intent flashing in her eyes:

“As a Longguo professional, you benefit from the nation’s protection and resources—you must bear the corresponding responsibility.”

“One more person means one more force.”

Behind her, Chu Lingxuan gathered her courage and said:

“I… I’m a Light Knight. I can cast shields for all you guys. I want to help too!”

Seeing these two young girls, barely of age yet burning with passion, the squad leader felt a warm surge in his chest.

“Fine!”

The squad leader nodded firmly, dropping all hesitation:

“Then thank you both!”

“Da Zhuang! Er Lei! You two, come here and protect these two classmates! If they lose a single hair, I’ll hold you responsible!”

“Yes!”

Two burly Shield Warriors immediately ran over and positioned themselves between the two girls.

Then, the squad leader turned and left.

Han Mengyao scanned the front and rear of the train.

Suddenly, she frowned slightly.

“Magic-energy cannons…”

“Sister Mengyao, what’s wrong?”

Chu Lingxuan noticed Han Mengyao’s unease and asked curiously.

Han Mengyao looked at the magic-energy cannons charging ahead and behind, her tone grave:

“Magic-energy cannons consume expensive resources every time they fire.”

“Normally, against ordinary beast tides, magic-energy machine guns are enough.”

“This…”

Chu Lingxuan instantly grew tense.

Han Mengyao took a deep breath and gripped her long spear tightly:

“Lingxuan, stay alert.”

“This beast tide… won’t be simple.”