Give It to No One

The surrounding darkness and void gradually receded, first restoring the contours of rolling mountains, then the colors of grass and trees. Standing in the wild grass across from Li Banfeng was a man whose head was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, forming a triangle. His nose was half a foot long, covering his mouth completely and hanging straight down to his chin. Grandpa Train blew his whistle and called out, "Dear passengers, the living spirit before us is called Meng Xuan. His true form is a dream-eating tapir, a tenth-layer Dream Cultivator!" Li Banfeng was startled. That freak across from them was actually a tenth-layer cultivator. Though Li Banfeng had seen his fair share of the world, right now his heart was in his throat. Anyone else in his position might have lost their mind. In the normal conception of Puluo Province, the tenth layer was the pinnacle of cultivation, an insurmountable existence. "He's tough to fight!" Grandpa Train pulled his whistle. "Dream Cultivators aren't like other cultivators. His true self can enter another person's dreamscape. If we fight his true self inside a dream, do you have any idea how much of a disadvantage we're at?" As he spoke, the tenth-layer Dream Cultivator had already vanished. Grandpa Train continued, "In a dream, he can transform at will—into flora or fauna. There's no telling whether he's near or far, no telling where he is, and no telling when he'll strike. But..." Before he could finish, the tenth-layer Dream Cultivator suddenly appeared beside Li Banfeng, ready to wrench him off Grandpa Train's back. Li Banfeng was completely off guard, not even having time to react. The tenth-layer Dream Cultivator reached out. Just as his fingers were about to seize Li Banfeng, a faint smile showed on his triangular face. His smile flashed for only an instant before vanishing completely—because his face was covered by the sole of Grandpa Train's shoe. "But what does that matter?" Grandpa Train kicked the tenth-layer Dream Cultivator right in the face, continuing where he had left off. "Isn't it enough as long as we're faster than him?" *Boom!* The tenth-layer Dream Cultivator went flying straight out, embedding his body deep into the mountain rock. Grandpa Train paid him no heed. Carrying Li Banfeng on his back, he dashed forward full tilt. "Dear passengers, thank you for your hard work on this journey. We are nearing the terminus. This train presents for you a rendition of the 'Train Ballad' to relieve the fatigue of your travel." As he spoke, over a hundred figures appeared around them, surrounding Grandpa Train on all sides. "Are all of these tenth-layer cultivators?" "Some are even higher," Grandpa Train said, striding forward with giant steps. As he moved, he sang a nursery rhyme: "Racing the plains, crossing mountain and stream, Chugging and puffing and venting its steam! Feed it with coal, pour the water and go, Once the train rolls, its power will grow! Cross over bridges and drill through the caves, Rolling iron wheels where the perilous craves! Countless the hardships, we conquer them all, Rain, shine, or storm, through ten thousand streams tall!" Grandpa Train sprinted wildly forward while singing the rhyme. An ox-headed cultivator with a pair of horns blocked Grandpa Train's path. One could see how terrified he was. Yet he had no choice. Only by claiming this merit would he have the qualification to compete for the position of a local spirit. Singing his song, Grandpa Train simply swerved right past the ox-head. By the time the ox-head reacted, Grandpa Train was already far away. The ox-head looked back at the receding figure of Grandpa Train, and in the next moment, exploded into a shower of flesh and blood. Was this the technique of Viewing Flowers on a Galloping Horse? Li Banfeng couldn't see the slightest sign of exhaustion or depletion in Grandpa Train. Ahead, another pack of burly body cultivators barred their way. Grandpa Train stomped his foot heavily. *Boom!* Li Banfeng first felt the earth shake, then heard a burst of ringing in his ears. Shattered stones rained down, blood blossomed everywhere, and the body cultivators collapsed immediately. Grandpa Train stepped right over their bodies and walked past. Li Banfeng looked back and saw dust billowing into the air like a rising cloud. Was this Treading Ten Thousand Rivers? "Attention, passengers! We are about to enter a tunnel!" Li Banfeng looked forward, but saw only sheer cliffs and crags—no tunnel in sight. "Brother, it looks like there's no road ahead." Grandpa Train's expression grew slightly grim. "There was a road originally. A real ruthless one showed up and sealed it." As he spoke, Grandpa Train glanced up at the sky. Li Banfeng looked up as well and spotted a woman in white circling overhead. Meng Qian! Grandpa Train didn't slow his pace. Charging straight toward the cliff face, he shouted, "Open!" A cloud of dust and rubble erupted from the rock face, opening a tunnel that bored straight through the mountain. Was this a sixth-layer technique? Was this Severing Paths to Open Roads? A technique could possess such immense power? Grandpa Train gasped for breath and said, "The location changed. We've entered that woman's dreamscape. This really took quite a toll." As they spoke, the rocks on both sides of the tunnel rapidly converged, closing like a wound healing in an instant as the tunnel contracted at breakneck speed. "Open!" Grandpa Train roared again, widening the shrinking tunnel just a bit. "Duck!" Grandpa Train barked, and Li Banfeng swiftly ducked his head. The moment the train burst out of the cave, the mountain slammed shut, nearly crushing Li Banfeng inside. Grandpa Train chuckled. "Close one! If I'd been a step slower, you would've stayed inside that mountain for good." Li Banfeng was curious. "What happens if I die in a dream?" "Then you're dead. Whatever's left of your body has no soul." Grandpa Train's answer was exceedingly concise. Li Banfeng looked around. Vines and briars had sprung up everywhere; the two were currently in a patch of brambles. "Are we still in that woman's dream?" "Still in it," Grandpa Train blew his whistle. "Dear passengers, the train is about to accelerate!" *Whoosh!* A gale swept in, thorns slicing at their faces like blades. Grandpa Train charged fiercely ahead. Li Banfeng dared not lower his head; he had to keep watch on the dreamscape's boundary at all times. Circling in the air, Meng Qian knitted her brows. Usually devoid of expression, she was facing an opponent far too formidable now. Grandpa Train had already reached the edge of the briar patch. Meng Qian waved her long, flowing sleeves, and the expanse of brambles began expanding rapidly. Inside a Dream Cultivator's dreamscape, the cultivator possessed overwhelming dominance. The briar patch represented the boundary of her dream; as long as her stamina held out, Meng Qian seemed capable of expanding her dream indefinitely. The premise, however, was that the speed at which her dream expanded could outpace Grandpa Train's speed. Ahead of Grandpa Train, few brambles remained. Some thorns had only just sprouted vines without even growing barbs before being trampled under Grandpa Train's feet. Sweat poured down Meng Qian's face. Biting down on a lock of her hair and casting out her long sleeves, she exerted every ounce of strength to extend her dreamscape. Grandpa Train ran faster and faster, already breaching the perimeter of the dreamscape. Meng Qian let out a ragged breath. Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, and clutching her chest, she fell toward the ground. She had failed. She had not been able to stop Grandpa Train. Her opponent's power was simply too immense. Even though she was the champion of the Dream Cultivators, and even though this was her very own dream, she was no match for Grandpa Train. "Toot, toot—" Grandpa Train blew his whistle. "We've reached the terminus. Brother, are you ready?" Li Banfeng had already spotted the boundary line of the dreamscape. "Brother, aren't you coming with me?" "I can't leave. My body is in the Inner States." Grandpa Train slowed down. "Brother, I'm going." Li Banfeng leaped up and hurled himself toward the boundary line. Grandpa Train reached out a hand, widening the boundary. Though he hadn't known this crazy old man for long, when the moment of parting truly arrived, Li Banfeng felt a pang of sorrow. In this world, he might never find someone so kindred again. "Brother..." "Hurry along now." Grandpa Train was also reluctant to part with Li Banfeng. *Clang!* Li Banfeng struck the boundary line headfirst, failing to pass through. Grandpa Train smacked his lips. The situation had become rather awkward. Meng Qian was already swooping in from midair. Even though this was beyond her dreamscape's border, as long as it was still within the realm of dreams, a Dream Cultivator held absolute dominance. The peerless beauty dived toward Li Banfeng, who was splayed on the ground, preparing to hoist him up. Grandpa Train yelled, "Sever!" As soon as the word left his mouth, a sheer rock wall burst from the earth. The peerless beauty slammed head-on into the rock wall; clutching at the stone, she slid down, enveloped in curling wisps of immortal mist. The technique of Severing Paths to Open Roads could open roads, but it could also sever them. Seizing this opportunity, Li Banfeng scrambled up from the ground. Employing the footwork Grandpa Train had taught him, paired with the Unimpeded Passage technique, he threw himself headfirst into the boundary line of the dream. His figure vanished. Grandpa Train smiled, released his technique, and looked at Meng Qian on the ground. Meng Qian smoothed her torn robes and disheveled hair, continuing to maintain her languid, impassive demeanor as she spoke to Grandpa Train. "Running an inn isn't easy for me. Why make things difficult for me?" Grandpa Train laughed. "It's not easy for our pathway to produce a fine disciple, either. He shouldn't have to die young here." Meng Qian shook her head. "It's precisely because they knew he was an outstanding talent of your pathway that they invited him into Dream-Tethering Tower." Grandpa Train nodded. "And then use this talent of our pathway to swindle the train's craftsmanship out of me." Meng Qian sighed softly. "What they wish to do isn't something I can control. As long as his true body stays inside Dream-Tethering Tower without wandering off, he won't be harmed. Once they grant permission, they will naturally let him leave." "Girl, cut the crap," Grandpa Train said with a laugh. "His true body isn't in Dream-Tethering Tower. If it were, you wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of chasing me. "Besides, let me tell you something: this disciple of our pathway leaves whenever he pleases. He doesn't need anyone's permission. The fine sons of our pathway have never had the habit of looking to others for approval." ... A burst of a train whistle jolted Li Banfeng awake. Opening his eyes, Li Banfeng found that he was still on a train. A train... A train! "Why am I still on a train!" Li Banfeng assumed he was still trapped in a dream. Looking around, he noticed the passengers nearby were all gazing at him with peculiar expressions. What kind of train was this? Certainly not Grandpa Train. This train had a locomotive, carriages, and windows. The buildings outside the window were only a few meters away from the carriages. This was a train that could weave through narrow alleys. This was the train in Heishipo. *I'm back in Heishipo?* *Has my physical body been in Heishipo the entire time?* *Or is this still a dream?* Arriving at a stop, the conductors changed shifts, exchanging a few words. "Has that guy come again?" "He's here. It's already the third day. He's guaranteed to board the first train, and when night comes, he switches to the night train and keeps riding." "Shouldn't we kick him off?" "Why kick him off? He pays two hundred dollars for the fare each time and doesn't even ask for change. Just let him sit there." ... "Little Brother, you're finally awake! For the past three days you've been sleepwalking, riding this train day after day, and we couldn't wake you up no matter what." "Master, what happened? Are you sick?" His several magic treasures asked incessantly. Li Banfeng shushed them. In his ears, the faint melody of a ballad seemed to echo: "Racing the plains, crossing mountain and stream, Chugging and puffing and venting its steam! Feed it with coal, pour the water and go, Once the train rolls, its power will grow! Cross over bridges and drill through the caves, Rolling iron wheels where the perilous craves! Countless the hardships, we conquer them all, Rain, shine, or storm, through ten thousand streams tall!" *Brother?* Standing inside the carriage, Li Banfeng looked all around, but could find no trace of the source of the voice. He could still faintly hear someone speaking to him: "Brother, you've already made it out. "Hold on to the train, and give it to no one. Even if one day I come asking for it, you must not give it to me. "Remember my words: I have entrusted it to you."