Chapter 282: The Best Train in the World (High Energy Continues)

When talking about trains, Train Eunuch became very excited.

"My train is amazing—it can carry so much stuff, so many people; wherever I go, the train follows me."

Li Banfeng chuckled: "That's nonsense. You said yourself that people follow the train, not the other way around."

Train Eunuch shook his head: "My train is different—it has spirit, it follows me."

"But trains need rails to move—how does it follow you where there are no rails?"

"It lays its own rails. Isn't that impressive?"

Li Banfeng was even more astonished: "A train that lays its own rails? Wherever it goes, it lays tracks?"

"Exactly! Wherever it goes, it lays tracks!" Train Eunuch grew more excited as he spoke.

"Then your train must carry a lot of rails?"

"Not that many—ten or twenty pieces are enough. My train can lay and dismantle them—used rails are immediately taken up and reused."

Li Banfeng thought long and hard but couldn't figure out how this train worked.

Train Eunuch kept explaining: "My train has a special carriage dedicated to laying rails—it's the smartest one, constantly moving between the other carriages, never laying a rail wrong."

Describing a carriage as "smart"? This was the first time he'd ever heard such a thing.

Li Banfeng grew even more confused about the train's structure, yet Train Eunuch spoke with such fervent devotion, as if the train truly existed.

Li Banfeng smiled: "If you're followed by a train wherever you go, wouldn't people be terrified?"

Train Eunuch replied seriously: "No one else can see my train—it's invisible. Sometimes I can't even see it myself."

Li Banfeng stopped smiling.

He recalled a memory.

When he first learned the Skill of Perceiving Spiritual Sounds, Li Banfeng had heard sounds through walls—the hiss of steam.

Li Banfeng asked cautiously: "Master, if you can't see the train, how do you board it?"

"I have the key!" Train Eunuch glared. "The train key—you've heard of it? It opens doors and starts the train!"

Li Banfeng exerted maximum self-control, showing no sign of disturbance.

The train this Train Eunuch described resembled something extremely important to him.

He remembered the words the peddler had said when giving him the Mobile Dwelling:

"This shelter was built by a Traveling Cultivator Master. Later, as his cultivation deepened, he no longer needed it, so he sold it to me."

Li Banfeng looked at this Traveling Cultivator elder and asked: "Where did this train come from?"

"I built it myself!" Train Eunuch said proudly.

"Why build a train?"

"Traveling Cultivators are always on the move—we need somewhere to shelter from wind and rain."

"If you're a Traveling Cultivator, how could you build a train?"

Train Eunuch snorted: "Would you casually reveal such things? Would you casually ask others about their cultivation base?"

Li Banfeng dared not offend this Master and quickly apologized: "My apologies—I shouldn't have asked."

Train Eunuch snorted again: "Normally I'd never tell you, but since we're in a dream, it doesn't matter—I'll forget this whole thing when I wake up."

Li Banfeng nodded eagerly: "Master speaks wisely!"

Train Eunuch said: "I'm a Traveling Cultivator—and a Crafting Cultivator."

"Can a Traveling Cultivator also practice Crafting Cultivation?"

"Why not?" Train Eunuch beamed at the mention of Traveling Cultivation. "Besides Residential Cultivators, Traveling Cultivators can combine with any sect!"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Yes, they can combine with any sect!"

Train Eunuch added: "Traveling Cultivation is the best sect in the world!"

Li Banfeng loudly agreed: "Yes, Traveling Cultivation is the best sect!"

Train Eunuch went on: "Residential Cultivators are the worst—total bastards!"

Li Banfeng said nothing.

Train Eunuch glanced back at Li Banfeng: "Aren't they bastards?"

"Mm." Li Banfeng gave a slight nod.

Train Eunuch blew two whistles and kept speeding forward.

Li Banfeng asked: "If your train is so great, why sell it to someone else?"

Huff~ Huff~

Train Eunuch slowed his pace: "Because I wanted to buy something better."

"Did you buy it?"

"I did—but I still miss that train. There are countless good things in this world, but only one as fun as that."

Li Banfeng said: "Then why not build another train?"

Li Banfeng said: "Then why don't you build another train?"

Train Eunuch slowed even more.

"I can build a train—but the materials are hard to find. You need to go to Neizhou to get them.

I found over ninety percent of the materials in Neizhou, but those bastards there ambushed me—I've been asleep ever since."

Li Banfeng exclaimed: "You slept in Neizhou?"

"Yes! Why are you asking? Are you planning to harm me?" Train Eunuch suddenly grew alert.

"No, not at all," Li Banfeng shook his head quickly. "I have no grudge against you, no reason to harm you."

Train Eunuch emitted a flicker of killing intent: "Why should I believe you?"

Was that even a question?

"I'm in Puluozhou, you're asleep in Neizhou—we're tens of thousands of miles apart. I can't even touch you—how could I harm you?"

This answer made perfect sense.

Yet, to Li Banfeng's surprise, Train Eunuch's suspicion deepened after hearing it.

"Who told you you're in Puluozhou?"

Li Banfeng said: "I've always been in Puluozhou! The station where we met was Heishipo, wasn't it?"

Huff-huff~ Huff-huff~

Train Eunuch suddenly slowed down drastically.

His speech became slow: "This isn't Puluozhou. This is Neizhou."

His speech slowed considerably: "This is not Pulu Province; this is Neizhou."

Is this old man having another fit?

Huff-huff~ Huff-huff~

Train Eunuch continued: "The place where we met wasn't Heishipo either—it's the border between Neizhou and Puluozhou."

The train eunuch continued: "The place where you met me isn't Heishipō either; that's the border between Neizhou and Pulu Province."

Li Banfeng felt dazed.

"Master, are you mistaken?"

"No mistake. Heishipo used to be my territory. The people there were wild, unruly—just like me."

Li Banfeng said: "I'm not talking about Heishipo—I'm talking about Neizhou and Puluozhou…"

Li Banfeng said: "I'm not talking about Heishipō—I'm talking about Neizhou and Pulu Province…"

A long whistle—Train Eunuch braked.

"Zhao Dajun Station. Passengers disembarking, please collect your belongings and exit here."

Train Eunuch's tone sounded exactly like a conductor's.

Li Banfeng stepped down from Train Eunuch's back and looked around.

Zhao Dajun—the coder.

Why was this place called Zhao Dajun Station? Was it because this was his dream?

Train Eunuch looked at Li Banfeng: "If you get off here, the fare is one hundred and fifty yuan. If you don't get off, we keep going."

Li Banfeng stared at Train Eunuch, hesitating.

From this elder, he could still gain vital information.

But continuing to follow him might lead anywhere—this Train Eunuch was mentally unstable. One must be cautious around the mentally ill.

After a moment, Li Banfeng said: "Can I explore this place for a while?"

Train Eunuch blinked: "You want me to wait?"

Li Banfeng nodded.

"Fine!" Train Eunuch agreed readily. "Half an hour, three hundred yuan."

Li Banfeng paid three hundred Hengguo notes, then asked: "Master, can you accompany me as I walk around?"

"You want me to be your guide?"

"You mean for me to be your guide?"

Train Eunuch thought: "Half an hour, three hundred."

Li Banfeng paid another three hundred.

He didn't know if he'd truly paid, or even what state he was in.

But Train Eunuch was satisfied, leading Li Banfeng into the wilderness.

But the train eunuch was satisfied, leading Li Banfeng into the depths of the wasteland.

There was no path ahead, but it didn't slow the two traveling cultivators.

At first, tall, thick wild grass rose to human height; after walking dozens of li, the grass grew shorter, until it vanished entirely, leaving only a stony path.

The stony path grew smoother; after another dozen li, it became a stone slab road.

The stone slab road led to a lake, where Li Banfeng spotted Zhao Dajun.

Zhao Dajun held a small twig and was intensely calculating by the lake's edge.

Li Banfeng wondered what he was calculating, stepped closer, and saw he had drawn a matrix on the left and an integral equation on the right.

He seemed to have been calculating for a long time.

Just as Li Banfeng was about to leave and explore elsewhere, Zhao Dajun suddenly stood up, looked at him, and said, "Friend, you've come!"

He can see me?

The Eunuch Train shrugged his brows. "This is his dream—he can naturally see you."

But Zhao Dajun appeared not to see the Eunuch Train at all; he excitedly told Li Banfeng, "I've solved it!"

"What did you solve?"

Zhao Dajun eagerly took a ruler, measured around the entire lake, selected a spot, marked it, pulled up a chair, and began fishing.

Li Banfeng said, "All that effort, all that calculation—just to find a place to fish?"

Zhao Dajun nodded. "I analyzed over five hundred sets of historical data. The conclusion was clear: this is the fastest spot for catching fish!"

As he spoke, he pulled up a catfish.

He pursed his lips. "The quality of this fish is just a bit poor."

Li Banfeng couldn't understand Zhao Dajun's thinking. The Eunuch Train snorted. "That's just how Calculators are!"

Li Banfeng looked at Zhao Dajun. "Brother, don't you have any other pleasures?"

"I do!" Zhao Dajun stared solemnly at Li Banfeng, clearly offended by his skepticism.

He led Li Banfeng into a three-story villa.

In the first-floor garden, Teacher Anxi and Teacher Sanshang were tending flowers and plants. Seeing Zhao Dajun return, they both bowed respectfully.

Inside the hall, dozens of teachers greeted in unison: "Master, you've returned!"

Zhao Dajun gave a token nod in reply. After inspecting the room, he finally chose Teacher Lisha.

He struck sharply at one of Teacher Lisha's peaches—its sound was crisp and clear.

Teacher Lisha turned around, glancing at Zhao Dajun with a mix of mild reproach and something else—perhaps the blow hurt, or perhaps it didn't hurt enough.

Zhao Dajun revealed a sinister smile.

Teacher Lisha felt a flicker of fear—and anticipation.

Next, Zhao Dajun took a pen, drew a matrix on the left side of Teacher Lisha's peach, and an axis quadrant on the right. After meticulous calculation, he determined the optimal ratio and made adjustments to the peach.

Once done, he stood quietly to admire his work.

Li Banfeng took a deep breath. "You actually calculate all this..."

The Eunuch Train sneered beside him. "See? That's the extent of a Calculator's ambition!"

Li Banfeng agreed. "Truly pathetic."

The Eunuch Train said, "Besides House Cultivators, no one's more pathetic than them. Don't you think so?"

"Mm." Li Banfeng muttered softly.

The Eunuch Train stared at Zhao Dajun, his tone grave. "He's trapped here. Do you still want to leave?"

PS: That carriage responsible for laying the tracks is strangely unique.

(End of Chapter)