Chapter 83 - 80: The True Owner of the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun

Chapter 83: Chapter 80: The True Owner of the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun

The train came to a steady halt.

A man boarded the train, stepping into the end of car number four.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he leisurely closed his umbrella and shook off the raindrops.

Dread began to fill the heart of the actor holding the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun.

’Here we are on a bizarre steam train at an abandoned station, and some dapper, mysterious man just boards. No matter how you look at it, something about him is just wrong, isn’t it? Of course, there’s another possibility. Maybe the man’s a lunatic, traumatized by the death of a loved one. Maybe he comes to this abandoned station every day, waiting for someone who can never return. And when this strange train showed up, he just wandered on in a daze.’

Jiang Chaosheng strode with a steady gait, passing through the crowd in the car and making his way toward the front.

The passengers watched him, their eyes following his every move.

Their faces were streaked with tears, their expressions numb. Their clothes were disheveled and dirty.

These people were a stark contrast to Jiang Chaosheng’s calm and unhurried demeanor.

It was like they weren’t on the same wavelength, not even in the same world.

He was like a high-society noble deigning to visit the slums.

As the actor saw Jiang Chaosheng drawing closer, his breathing grew ragged.

’Whoever holds this antique gun is the boss. I just became everyone’s leader. If I’m afraid of this guy, I’ll lose their respect. After all, Zhong Shu always looked so fearless. The problem is... this mysterious man’s arrival is just too bizarre... Then again, he might just be a lunatic!’

The actor glanced at his wife, who was standing to the side.

There was a strange, ambiguous light in his wife’s eyes.

That light wasn’t for him. It was for that strange man.

The actor knew exactly what his wife was thinking.

She must be thinking this man was an Exorcist, just like Zhong Shu.

The actor glanced at the gun in his hand, the one that could drive away Ghosts, and mustered his courage:

"I’m the boss here! Who are you?!"

Jiang Chaosheng didn’t break his stride.

He was like a lion in its prime that had heard the yapping of a scrawny stray dog.

The actor swallowed hard, a lump catching in his throat.

The pressure was overwhelming, so strong his knees felt weak.

As Jiang Chaosheng drew nearer and nearer, the actor subconsciously stepped aside to let him pass.

He called out to Jiang Chaosheng’s back:

"I’m the boss here. Let’s just stay out of each other’s way."

His voice lacked conviction.

Jiang Chaosheng paid him no mind and kept walking.

Suddenly, someone spoke up:

"The train... has it stopped?"

Everyone snapped to their senses and made a mad dash for the doors.

Just then, the figures of conductors abruptly appeared at both ends of the car.

Not just this car—there were conductors at both ends of every car.

The conductors spoke in unison:

"The train is about to depart. For your safety, please return to your seats."

The passengers didn’t dare to disobey and were forced back.

They all turned in unison to look at the mysterious man walking toward the front of the train.

A conductor stood in the man’s path.

"The train is about to depart. For your safety, please return to your seats."

The conductor wore a professional, yet eerie, smile.

Jiang Chaosheng’s pace didn’t falter in the slightest; his rhythm remained unchanged.

A smug look crossed the actor’s face.

’He probably has no idea how powerful these conductors are, does he? Even this flintlock gun in my hand can only...’

Jiang Chaosheng’s thin lips parted slightly:

"Get lost."

The actor stared at Jiang Chaosheng in disbelief.

’Is he really that brave?’

In perfect unison, the conductors’ faces twisted into sinister grins.

The crowd held its breath.

They wondered if this man who had defied the conductors’ rules was about to start a huge fight with them.

The next second, the conductors’ figures flickered. Their sinister grins vanished as if reset, replaced once more by professional smiles as they stepped aside to let Jiang Chaosheng pass.

It was as if they were all afraid of Jiang Chaosheng.

The actor’s breath suddenly hitched.

He was sure now.

’That guy was another strange one!’

Someone asked cautiously:

"Do you think... we could ask him for help?"

Jiang Chaosheng entered a private soft-sleeper compartment, his figure disappearing from view.

Someone else asked:

"What if... he’s a Ghost too?"

Everyone shrank back in fear.

Gradually, people started turning their gazes toward the actor.

Now that he had the gun, it was his job to protect everyone.

The actor pointed the gun at Zhong Shu:

"You go find him."

Bai Tasha shook her head at Zhong Shu.

She had been on the train for a month, but this was the first time she had ever encountered a situation like this.

’That man... he must be dangerous.’

The actor once again pressed the fruit knife to Bai Tasha’s throat.

Zhong Shu’s expression changed:

"I’ll go. I’ll go right now."

Bai Tasha glanced at the indifferent passengers filling the car, a wave of disappointment washing over her.

’Zhong Shu was their hero, the one who protected them.’

But these people they protected were like lambs in a flock, watching impassively as a sheepdog was hunted by a wicked wolf.

....

Jiang Chaosheng sat in the private compartment.

The space was decent, a little over twenty square meters.

The only reason he had come here was simply because it was more comfortable.

Jiang Chaosheng had long since recognized the item in the actor’s hand as the Taboo Item, the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun.

But he was in no hurry to reclaim it.

He wanted to see this train’s destination—the Returning Ruins.

’Item No. 4-01, the Sea Train. This is a Taboo Item, a train that travels to the Returning Ruins. Its number is 4, which means it can raise a human’s Life Level. Just like how Jin Meiting became a Succubus. The reason this train can run is probably that some unlucky soul was accidentally controlled by the Sea Train, had their Life Level raised, and became a monster enslaved by it. The Sea Coachman. That’s the title given to a human whose Life Level has been raised. To be ranked first in the fourth Taboo sequence, the Combat Power of a Sea Coachman must be immense, nothing a Succubus could compare to.’

Jiang Chaosheng did the math.

’The Sea Train, plus the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun... that’s two Taboo Items right here. After I secure these, I’ll only need four more Taboo Items to break my Curse.’

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

A knock sounded at the door.

Jiang Chaosheng glanced at the door and said:

"Come in."

The door was pushed open. It was Zhong Shu.

Zhong Shu entered cautiously, his fists clenched, and gave an awkward smile.

"H-hello, sir."

It had nothing to do with how mysterious or terrifying the person was.

Dealing with strangers was just genuinely difficult for him.

Seeing that Jiang Chaosheng wasn’t paying him any attention, Zhong Shu stepped forward, his head bowed.

"Sir, can you please save us...?"

Jiang Chaosheng didn’t answer the question:

"Have you used the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun?"

Zhong Shu froze for a moment.

’The Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun he mentioned... that must be the antique gun.’

Jiang Chaosheng added,

"That gun is mine."

Zhong Shu’s mind worked fast.

"You’re the owner of the antique shop?"

’No wonder. I was just wondering if the original owner of that flintlock gun was also a Supernatural Being.’

A flicker of surprise showed in Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes.

Zhong Shu scratched his head and said humbly,

"I’m sorry. I was originally entrusted by an old gentleman to deliver that gun to the South Sea."

"But... I’m sorry, it was stolen."

Jiang Chaosheng understood.

’The owner of the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun had given it to the man before him and asked for help returning it.’

Jiang Chaosheng asked casually,

"Who is this old gentleman you mentioned?"

Zhong Shu shook his head.

"I don’t know his name."

Jiang Chaosheng raised an eyebrow.

"You don’t know his name, yet you’re delivering something for him?"

Zhong Shu said earnestly,

"When you promise someone you’ll do something, you have to follow through."

As he spoke, he gave a small smile.

"And I’m not very good at refusing people."

Jiang Chaosheng had no idea how this person had managed to live so long.

Zhong Shu pulled a letter from his pocket.

"Um, he also asked me to give this letter to you."

Jiang Chaosheng took the letter doubtfully.

’This was the first time a customer from the antique shop had sent him a letter. Following the timeline, the Manager who handled the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun transaction should have been the previous Manager, Li Qinglian.’

Jiang Chaosheng opened the envelope.

"Brother Li, I trust this letter finds you well."