Chapter 883: Heaven's Unequal Exchange~

He was selfish. He was self-serving.

Ye Qiyan was exactly that kind of person, and no one could change that.

Zhou Shangqing could not understand Ye Qiyan.

Because he was the type of person who, like an utterly unremarkable classmate in a class, suddenly revealed one of his talents and was then expected by everyone to achieve great results in a talent competition.

Deep down, he craved a comfortable life, yet occasionally wanted a bit of attention.

But when the moment truly came when he was needed, he neither knew how to refuse, nor was willing to tell others that he was lying, that he was not actually that impressive.

Perhaps the train system had long since noticed this.

That was why it had provided him with the option authority known as 【Escapee】.

And perhaps Zhou Shangqing also understood in his heart what kind of person he really was, so he had bought that authority.

"...You still don't understand. Talent is a curse. A Train Conductor who possesses talent will forever face more danger than an ordinary Train Conductor. Only those who have it can understand that despair... I..."

"Stop right there. If you really don't want this talent, then just give it to me."

"Give it to you? How is that even possible? Talent cannot be stripped away. Only the Talent Cube can store a portion of it. What nonsense are you talking ab-"

Before the word "about" could leave his mouth.

A dark gold card appeared in Ye Qiyan's palm.

【Fate Card · Heaven's Unequal Exchange】

【Heaven's Unequal Exchange: Using this as currency, trade for half of a talent at an unequal price.】

This was one of the cards from Zhu Xingshu's Fate Card Sequence, and it had come into his hands after she traded for Zhao Lin's Misfortune.

All along, Ye Qiyan had thought about completely obtaining the Surpass the Stars talent.

After all, the Cube storing its power was in his hands.

Originally, he had planned to wait until the number of uses reached the very last one. Perhaps by then, his Bewitchment would allow even an item to directly "speak," and then he would hand over this Heaven's Unequal Exchange to the Talent Cube.

Though he was not fully confident, it was still worth a try.

After all, even though Surpass the Stars sounded like an imposing talent, its ability was actually just the simplest and most plain two words: acceleration.

But what Ye Qiyan's train needed was precisely a higher speed capable of keeping up with its master.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

In truth, from the moment he learned the other party was Zhou Shangqing, and saw that his talent still remained on his body, Ye Qiyan had already set his mind in motion.

Talent.

Surpass the Stars.

Since Zhou Shangqing loathed, even hated this talent, then why waste away with it on him?

Ye Qiyan wanted to obtain this talent.

As for whether Zhou Shangqing was willing or not?

Why would he not be willing?

Was this not exactly what he most desired? Besides, Ye Qiyan was not even asking for the entirety of his talent.

"Senior, do you know what this is?"

"...Zhu Xingshu's Fate Card? Why is it in your hands? Is that terrifying woman dead? Even if you are the Dominator of the Card Sequence... that monster of a woman really... can die? What are you trying to do? Even a Fate Card can't..."

Zhou Shangqing's words were saturated with fear toward Zhu Xingshu.

But this fear was not entirely the same as what he had displayed before.

Moreover, he also did not know the ability of Heaven's Unequal Exchange.

"She? She should be living quite well. This, how about we treat it as a gift?"

Ye Qiyan released Heaven's Unequal Exchange with a smile, letting it float before Zhou Shangqing.

Zhou Shangqing instinctively reached out to touch it.

The next instant.

A river of light descended from the heavens, suddenly appearing between him and Ye Qiyan.

Above the river of light, two lines of small words emerged.

【Talent, trade?】

【Yes/No?】

Sure enough, when facing non-Luck-type talents, the ability of Heaven's Unequal Exchange would not function so smoothly.

Think back to when Zhu Xingshu stole Zhao Lin's Misfortune. Back then, all she had to do was let Zhao Lin hold the card.

Here, however, Zhou Shangqing still had to agree.

With this extra step, using the card to directly and forcibly snatch another person's talent was basically impossible.

"You, you can actually strip away talent!?"

"That's right, Senior. Isn't this exactly what you wanted? I can promise you. I'll let you become a Train Conductor again, change your identity, set out anew and re-enter the Wasteland. You won't be tormented by this talent anymore.

And no one will recognize you.

You can become a homebody, an ordinary person. Become a Train Conductor who ventures out once in a while.

How about it?

As long as you press it, you will never again walk that desperate road of yours with no end in sight."

The murmured Bewitchment lingered by Zhou Shangqing's ears.

A voice within his heart was urging him on.

"Press it. Press that button. As long as I press it, I won't have to suffer anymore! I can return to the Wasteland. I won't be expected of by everyone anymore! And no one will ever expect anything of me again..."

Zhou Shangqing raised his hand while trembling.

Bloody tears streamed continuously from his eyes.

As his fingertip drew closer and closer to the "Yes" option, his trembling grew more and more intense.

And when he was just about to truly touch it, Zhou Shangqing suddenly stopped and looked at Ye Qiyan.

"You really can let me become a Train Conductor again? Return to the Wasteland?"

"Of course. I keep my word."

"Fine! I've only got this lousy life anyway, so... I'll trust you once."

His fingertip touched it.

That river of fate seemed to sigh about something as it slowly vanished.

Zhou Shangqing clenched his fist. The talent that had once accompanied him through countless years still existed.

He frowned, thinking something had gone wrong.

But after truly driving that talent, he suddenly discovered that the original acceleration ability had been directly halved.

Even though he was currently in an intact state, reproducing that accelerated world from before was basically impossible now.

The talent had truly been taken away.

Though not all of it had been taken.

But for some reason, Zhou Shangqing, who had previously detested his talent to the extreme, now felt anxious over his gains and losses.

He... somewhat regretted it.

"I..."

"The trade is complete truthful and fair. Senior, congratulations. After today, you have also become a holder of a Fate Card. Also, after today, you will once again become a brand-new Train Conductor."

Ye Qiyan clapped his hands with a smile.

【Authority · Newcomer Invitation】 activated.

Zhou Shangqing looked at the system interface before him, finally seen again after so many years.

The regret that had just sprouted in his heart vanished instantly.

What replaced it was pure ecstasy.

"Thank you, thank you!"

He pressed the accept option without the slightest hesitation.

The locomotive section of a most basic, battered train fell before him from the void.

Zhou Shangqing could hardly wait to board the train, but Ye Qiyan spoke up to stop him again.

"Don't rush. Your injuries are so severe. No matter what, you should treat them before going out to adventure. Senior, you should need that, right?"

At Ye Qiyan's fingertip, the pallid Salvation was slowly rotating.

A fleeting confusion flashed through Zhou Shangqing's eyes. Then, he wiped away the moved tears in his eyes.

"Thank you, Friend. Meeting you has truly been wonderful! Right, I still haven't asked your name. If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely repay you!"

Name, huh?

Ye Qiyan smiled mysteriously.

"My name is Altos. I'm a Demon."