Chapter 55 The 1924 Train Murder Case (28)

“It seems there’s no movement outside the door anymore.”

Tang Mu still pressed close to Eli’s body, as if inviting him to take whatever he wished.

She wanted to see just how long this man could withstand temptation.

Ordinary men could never escape Tang Mu’s “seduction.”

But Eli was different.

Despite nearly reaching his limit, he managed to maintain the demeanor of a gentleman. His endurance far exceeded Tang Mu’s expectations.

Just as Tang Mu was lost in thought, Dale returned outside the door.

This time, she had somehow snatched a hammer from somewhere.

With a heavy iron rod, she pounded relentlessly on the conductor’s door, the blows resounding with such force that the entire carriage seemed to tremble.

Had Dale gone mad?

She was using such strength, not even caring if her own hand shattered from the impact.

Outside, someone tried to persuade Dale, “Give up, it’s useless. We’ve all been infected with anthrax. Even if you manage to escape this game instance alive, you’ll have to spend a fortune to buy repair fluid. Otherwise, you won’t live to see the next instance open.”

“I won’t! As long as there’s even the slightest hope of survival, I have to try!” Dale’s voice outside remained frenzied as she continued to smash the door.

But it seemed everyone had been infected with anthrax.

Without exception.

Tang Mu saw that her own arm already showed signs of ulceration, scabs, and necrosis…

Eli, too.

His skin was swollen, with red, moist rashes appearing.

The symptoms progressed alarmingly fast.

Seeing this, Tang Mu felt discomfort.

How could this happen?

The disease was progressing far too quickly.

If she hadn’t rushed into Eli’s private space, perhaps he wouldn’t have been infected by her.

Perhaps Eli sensed Tang Mu’s inner turmoil.

Unable to help himself, he reached out and patted her head, comforting her, “Cases like this have occurred many times in the instance of ‘The 1924 Train Murder.’ In the end, we’re almost always infected, without exception.”

“So, is the true ending of this instance that everyone on the train dies from anthrax exposure?”

Every instance in ‘Extreme Escape’ was based on real events.

Some supernatural instances lingered in the present because the spirits’ resentment was too deep to be appeased.

The mystery instances existed because the deceased sought answers. They had no resentment, but hovered in the land of the dead, unable to move on because their hearts were unsettled.

So, what was the lingering question for the passengers of the Haier Train?

What made their souls wander here for so long, refusing to depart?

“Mm.”

Eli’s voice was calm, so calm it was as if he’d lived through this scenario ten thousand times.

“You’re right. The story ends with everyone on the train dying of anthrax infection. They couldn’t understand what war meant to them. Nor could they fathom how someone as depraved as Augustine could continue living unscathed in this world. Does karma truly exist? If it does, why was Augustine able to bring ruin to everyone on the train right up until his own death? If karma is real, how many times would Augustine have to die to atone for the lives of the entire train?”

While Eli spoke, Tang Mu watched him quietly.

Her heart ached terribly.

She thought of her Yan Xingwen, trapped in an unfamiliar place, infected again and again with anthrax, watching his own tissue rot and decay until death.

Restart.

A new batch of players arrives.

Endlessly repeating.

She felt the Queen of Spades was far too cruel to the Black Knights.

Others could be reborn. But the Black Knights were trapped in the instance forever, never able to escape.

“But Eli, this might not truly be your story.”

Tang Mu replied softly to comfort him.

“Your real life may be completely different from the character ‘Eli.’ You shouldn’t be trapped in such a small world. Your true self is a ruler in some other realm. If you desire, you can wield your power and make people willingly submit to you. You possess extraordinary charisma. Sometimes, you need not say a word—just standing there, your presence is overwhelming. In fact, your name isn’t Eli, you—”

“Miss Tang Mu, are you mistaking me for your boyfriend?”

Eli’s face turned cold.

“If you truly regard me as your boyfriend… then I’m sorry. Please forgive me, but I cannot empathize with Miss Tang Mu’s past.”

…

Tang Mu gazed at the man before her.

She narrowed her eyes, her heart burning with intense dissatisfaction and agitation.

Why?

Other girls could freely act spoiled and playful with their lovers, but why must she suffer the pain of separation?

He was right before her.

Yet he refused to acknowledge her.

Of course, there was a ten percent chance that Eli truly wasn’t Yan Xingwen.

But it didn’t matter.

Even if Eli wasn’t Yan Xingwen, she would forcibly bind him to her.

The Cosmic Mall had memory reconstruction tools. When she escaped this game instance, she would use the “Blessing of the Resentful Couple (B-)” to bind Eli, and then use the memory tool to turn Eli into a complete Yan Xingwen!

If she couldn’t create the real thing, a fake would suffice—Tang Mu didn’t care!

She thought she might already be mad.

She couldn’t bear to truly lose Yan Xingwen.

But even in madness, she would use all her strength to keep her beloved by her side!

“If you find this upsetting… then fine, let’s not talk about it.”

Tang Mu changed the subject. “Why don’t we discuss the innocent passengers infected with anthrax? They want answers, don’t they? War… ha, it means nothing to ordinary people, or those destined to die because of it.”

“War only ever plunges ordinary lives into hell. They are merely cannon fodder for those in power. Whether the rulers use war to profit from arms sales, or to create some utopian future, it matters not to the ordinary people about to die. They will never see that future, nor can they influence those in power.”

“But everyone living in this world has their own longing.”

“Whether for family or for loved ones. They think, if they charge ahead, will their country be safe? If their country is safe, then will their wives and children be safe?”

“At that moment, they’re not fighting for themselves, but for those they love. Perhaps this is the meaning humanity gives to war.”

“As for Augustine…” Tang Mu deeply disliked his character. Augustine was nothing but a beast.

A person devoid of humanity.

Someone who tortured others for pleasure.

Truly undeserving of life.

Even in death, it felt like he got off far too easily.