Chapter 7: Lights Out

The woman in heavy makeup crossed her arms over her chest. "I've said everything I know."

Her words stood in stark contrast to her demeanor and posture.

Li Fei gritted his teeth and turned his gaze to Xu Huo.

Xu Huo remained silent.

"Brother Li is asking you a question," the woman with the melon-seed face glared at him irritably.

"Do I have an obligation to tell you?" Xu Huo tapped the tabletop. "Did you pay for the information?"

The woman with the melon-seed face choked on her words. Li Fei blocked her, realizing that his usual tactics wouldn't work here.

"If you know the situation, can't you share it with everyone?" the middle-aged woman said. "You shouldn't be so selfish!"

"Exactly," the square-faced man added. "Since you knew about this before boarding, telling everyone would be better for you too—the more people who survive, the better."

The others in the carriage didn't speak, but they clearly agreed with this sentiment. The woman in heavy makeup, however, retorted, "I've said everything I can. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. Besides, who can prove that the others didn't know about the Preliminary Trial Train? Why don't you share what you know?"

"So you mean you're just going to watch others die?" the woman with the melon-seed face said with deep resentment. "You are truly selfish!"

"People who use moral kidnapping are the disgusting ones." The woman in heavy makeup didn't back down. Just as a fight seemed imminent, Professor Han stood up and interrupted them loudly, "Everyone, stop arguing!"

He looked at the group and said, "This train is called the Preliminary Trial Train. Evolvers have only appeared in society for less than a month. Even if some people have experienced this, the information leaked is scarce. It’s not strange that some know a little bit."

"What about him?" The middle-aged woman pointed at Xu Huo. "I saw him whispering with people from other carriages earlier. Don't sell us out!"

Xu Huo ignored her hostility. "Was the note I showed you earlier not clear enough? Even if you buy information from the attendants, the information received is already contained within the train's explicit rules."

"That's correct," Professor Han said. "I believe that as long as we follow the train's requirements, we can minimize danger to the greatest extent."

"Furthermore, the players of this game are human. The settings must conform to human ethics and values, so 'falling' will definitely affect the game rating."

"The food on the train can satisfy hunger. With food available, no one would want to 'fall'."

"We are currently just prospective players; we might only become official players after the Preliminary Trial Train ends. The rating classifications mentioned at the start of the game are likely linked to assets, traits, and evolution levels. Our performance over these three days will determine our future game progress. Following the explicit rules of the train, plus the implicit rule of not 'falling,' is the only way to get a high score."

Professor Han paused. "I suggest everyone follow the rules. This game might just be the beginning."

He was a smart man and very persuasive. Players had no choice in whether to participate in the game, and those with a higher starting point would be safer.

"I'll listen to the Professor. We don't know what dangers we'll encounter in the game later. If we fall behind now, we might lose our lives," the female student said.

The others weighed this in their minds and reached a consensus.

Using force to compel the woman in heavy makeup or Xu Huo to reveal what they knew was clearly unrealistic, and what Professor Han said addressed everyone's concerns.

Professor Han took out a small notebook he carried, tore it into strips, numbered them, and had everyone draw lots. "Six people per round, split into the first and second half of the night."

No one had any objections, and they took turns drawing the slips.

"Aren't you going?" Yan Jiayu asked Xu Huo as she stood up.

Xu Huo flicked his lighter with a *snap* and reached into his pocket. "You guys draw. Leave the remaining one for me."

Professor Han glanced at him, then looked away as Xu Huo began to puff on his cigarette again.

In the end, the number Xu Huo received was five. He was assigned to the first half of the night with Chen Yi and the female student.

The square-faced man, the woman with the melon-seed face, and the elderly person were also in the first half, while the remaining six were in the second half.

"The train has a lights-out time. To be safe, don't use mobile phones or lighters after the lights go out. It's best to turn off your phones. The people guarding the front door are responsible for watching the light switch."

Xu Huo’s group was guarding the front door, and he nodded. "No problem."

"What if there's a Bloody Player among us?" the woman in heavy makeup asked. "Wouldn't it be convenient for them to harm people in the dark?"

"Do you think Bloody Players are idiots?" the woman with the melon-seed face snapped at her.

The woman in heavy makeup said nothing more, and the matter was settled.

Time quickly approached eight o'clock. Everyone took turns going to the restroom at the front, and upon returning, everyone except those on guard duty went back to their seats.

"Ding-dong!"

"The train is about to turn off the lights. There may be slight turbulence when passing through the dimensional rift. Please return to your seats and remain calm."

After the announcement played three times, the lights in the carriage went out. At the same time, the sky outside darkened at a visible rate, sinking into total darkness within a few minutes.

Xu Huo stood guard by the light switch, pulling out his folding knife.

The darkness on the train was absolute; there was no light from instruments inside, nor any starlight or moonlight outside. The entire train was hurtling through a void of blackness.

As time passed, the breathing of the people in the carriage gradually slowed, becoming less tense than when the lights first went out. Some even seemed to have fallen asleep.

Xu Huo counted his heartbeats to track the time. Just as it neared midnight, the train suddenly jolted violently, as if it had charged into a storm. The carriage swayed from side to side, continuing for three minutes before stopping.

"Is everyone okay?" Professor Han's voice rang out.

"I'm fine... ah!!!" The female student's reply turned into a scream.

Xu Huo frowned. Just as he was about to step forward, he suddenly felt a gust of wind from the side of his head. He reflexively blocked, and a thin, rod-like object pierced the back of his hand, pressing his head toward the carriage door!

Xu Huo braced his elbow against the door, kicked the opponent's calf, heard a *crack* of bone, and lunged with his knife!

Chen Yi let out a miserable shriek and retreated repeatedly. At that moment, a disturbance occurred at the back door as well. The square-faced man also cried out in pain, "Someone from outside has come in!"

"Don't turn on the lights!" Following Professor Han's shout, the others in the carriage braced themselves. For a moment, they didn't know whether to block the front door or the back. Just then, Chen Yi shouted in panic, "Xu Huo attacked me! He's a Bloody Player!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he was kicked away by a powerful force. He fell into the overturned tables and chairs, and before he could crawl up, his head was pressed down, and a thin, sharp knife was driven into his ear!

At the same time, the back door slammed shut, but there were chaotic footsteps, and it was unclear what was happening.

"Don't use your phones! Everyone stay where you are! If anyone moves, I'll assume they're a Bloody Player!" Professor Han roared.

The carriage fell quiet. Xu Huo confirmed that Chen Yi had stopped breathing before standing up against the window.

"The front door is fine. Chen Yi was a Bloody Player."

After two seconds of silence, the square-faced man said, "The back door is closed too. Just now..."

"Is anyone dead?" Xu Huo interrupted.

"I smell blood," the elderly person said.

After a headcount, it was confirmed that the woman with the melon-seed face had died at the back door.

"She's not breathing," the square-faced man said, feeling her body. "Her neck is broken, and there are wounds on her body."

"Is the player from the third-class carriage still in our carriage?" He Yang asked.

"I heard someone leave just now," the square-faced man replied quickly.

This statement made everyone breathe a sigh of relief. Li Fei asked Xu Huo again, "How can you prove that Chen Yi was the Bloody Player?"

"I... I can prove it," the female student said, her voice choked with tears. "Chen Yi attacked me first just now... I don't know why he changed his mind..."

Xu Huo tilted his head slightly, lost in thought.

"Who knows? Maybe you two are the Bloody Players," Li Fei sneered.

"I believe my student," Professor Han spoke up. "Arguing now does more harm than good. Since there are no outsiders in the carriage, everyone stay in your original positions. We'll wait until tomorrow. You don't want to be wiped out by infighting due to suspicion, do you?"

Everyone remained silent, tacitly accepting his suggestion.

Although people were assigned to guard duty for the second half of the night, in this situation, no one dared to sleep. Everyone stayed alert in their seats, eyes wide open until dawn.

At four in the morning, the train jolted again. By eight o'clock, it was light, and the train began to broadcast

"Ding!"

"Welcome, players, to Preliminary Trial Train 301. This train departs from the 3D point, passes through a dimensional rift, and will arrive at the terminal, the 5D Station, at 8:00 AM in two days. There will be turbulence during the journey; please remain calm."

"The train will classify and rate players based on their performance during the journey. Please mind your words and actions."

"The following are the riding rules..."

The riding rules had not changed, only the duration had been reduced from three days to two.

The sky suddenly brightened, and Xu Huo squinted, adjusting to the light.

"Look outside!" Yan Jiayu exclaimed.