Chapter 117: Departure!

A new day arrives.

Chen Qi opens the forum to find many friend requests and messages.

Fishing Guy: "Qi, any interest in becoming a squad leader? We have two newcomers with rare talents in the White River District recently! Based on my observation, they have significant potential, and one of them is even a pretty girl."

News of his victory over the prisoner among the Kin-Eaters has already reached Fishing Guy and Chen Shi. Because of his performance at the Kin-Eater base, Fishing Guy now hopes he can mentor the newcomers, pass on his successful experience, and form a player squad. Such player squads exist in all major guilds. However, the White River branch has never placed much importance on this due to its small size, only improving after the public beta.

Theoretically, Chen Qi, Lin Yuxing, and Captain Chen Shi are already considered a team.

Chen Qi pauses. If he were to teach his style of gaming, the mortality rate of the newcomers would surely skyrocket. He declines Fishing Guy's invitation; he has no plans to lead a squad of newbies right now. Compared to meeting new people, he has more important things to do!

He must see the Weaver Train beyond the mountain range. What exactly is on that Weaver Train? It was enough to make a top-tier player investigator produce a guide, and enough to pique the interest of top-tier players like the White Puppeteer and Sea Bird!

Chen Qi takes a deep breath and picks up his phone.

New Day Game, launch!

Chen Qi clicks on the game text, preparing to leave the Disaster Messenger Tower.

[The sun burns fiercely once more, originating from this day in the snow.]
[You grip your long blade and step out of the guest room.]
[You arrive at the outer layer of the Disaster Messenger Tower; the newly ignited sun is blindingly bright.]
[Some Disaster Messengers follow you. As Disaster Messengers, they have learned many of the world's secrets through books: the giant serpents beneath the deep sea, the shattered sky, and the rivers beyond the Land of No Light. Yet, despite knowing this knowledge, they have never seen those legendary calamities with their own eyes.]
[They watch you with a strange emotion.]
[The Disaster Messengers bid you farewell and send you to the Raven Landing Platform.]
[They firmly believe that at the end of that journey, the Path to the High Heavens must exist.]
[They stand behind you, looking toward the distance with you.]
[The train in the distance is far too dangerous for them.]
[You shoulder your pack, tread through the snow, and gaze toward the distant Furnace Mountain Range.]
["Farewell, Disaster Messengers." You board the Guest-Sending Raven and dive from the Disaster Messenger Tower toward the snowfield below.]
["We will meet again, during the execution of our missions!" Some Disaster Messengers wave goodbye to you.]
[Some joke that perhaps one day, they will hear of your legend, just as the people of New Capital District 8 discussed the legends of the Death Group in the past.]
[May you return safely; may you remain untroubled by disasters.]
[You ride the giant raven, flying ever downward...]
[You mutter to yourself that you had best reach the Furnace Mountain Range before the sun goes out...]
[Once at a suitable distance, you leap from the raven and whistle: "Fox!"]
["Here!" A small Lantern Shadow Fox leaps out from your Traveler's Box.]
[The Lantern Shadow Fox emerges from your clothes, and black flames spread from its body.]
[In an instant, the once-small fox transforms into a fierce beast over four meters tall! It lands from the sky, kicking up waves of snow!]
[You land steadily on the fox's back, placing your hands on its ears and leaning forward.]

[You look toward the distant mountains. Set off!]
[Advancing through this snowy day...]

Chen Qi is excited and prepared for danger. Once he steps into the Land of Sparse Light, he must be ready to face peril. He clicks on his skill bar and uses "White Pigeon."

[A white pigeon flies from your eyes.]
[You release the pigeon, maneuvering it to scout the snowy landscape as you advance. The Disaster Messenger Tower is located on the edge of the Land of Sparse Light and New Capital District 8, which is also a relatively safe route into the Land of Sparse Light.]
[You look into the distance, seeing more and more people riding pet beasts, continuously treading through the snow.]
[Their numbers are far greater than you imagined!]
[Your pigeon sees merchant troops, pathfinders moving together, and corpse-burners riding fire-horses...]

What is this...

Chen Qi is startled. Is the Weaver Train attracting them? The number of people is far higher than he thought, even livelier than Mist City was before. In this vast, cold snow, there are actually so many people...

At this moment, a highlighted text pops up.

[You notice a group of people riding brown wild horses approaching you.]
[A group of rugged horsemen arrives at your flank.]
["Brother on the black fox! Wait for us!"]
[Their horses trample the snow as they gather around you.]
[This is a group of messengers, but unlike others, they are quite unique.]
[These people are sturdy, with bronze skin, golden hair, horse-like ears, and brown fur on their hands.]
[They are known as the Greedy Wild Horse Messengers. In your life as a Night Watchman, you have heard of them; many aspire to become one of the Wild Horse Messengers.]
[The Wild Horse Messengers come from New Capital District 6, hence their bestial physical traits. Compared to other messengers, they are ambitious, greedy for wealth, and eager to start families! Everyone among them dreams of making money and becoming a resident of New Capital District 2! The Wild Horse Messengers are like a clan, supporting and cooperating with each other. You have heard Night Watchmen say they, too, hope to become Wild Horse Messengers.]
[You scan this group of tough-looking messengers; some are still wearing thin clothes despite the snow.]

Chen Qi clicks through the text of these Wild Horse Messengers one by one. Most are around level 10, with a level 14 leader nicknamed "Curved Blade."

["Hey, hey, brother on the fox, are you here too? Do you need a guide!?" their leader, Curved Blade, says to you.]
[You can feel one of the rugged horse-eared women looking you and your fox over with interest! She flexes her toned muscles and winks at you.]

"..."

Chen Qi is stunned; he has been targeted.

[Please make your choice.]
[1. Accept the offer.]
[2. Refuse the offer.]

Chen Qi thinks for a moment. He doesn't know these people; it is best to stay away from them.

2.

[You place your hand on the long blade at your waist and refuse the offer.]
["Hahaha! We aren't robbers, though we have indeed looted many merchant goods!" Curved Blade looks at the badge on your chest and laughs loudly: "But we aren't foolish enough to rob an herb collector from the Medicine Tower; otherwise, we'd only be able to buy potions from those scamming merchants later."]
[Curved Blade explains to you that there are many terrifying rumors about the Weaver Train. Due to fear and the unknown nature of the train, no one dared to approach it in the past.]
[Going alone is not a good choice.]
[Reasonably speaking, there shouldn't have been so many people embarking on the journey to find the Weaver Train this year!]
[But this year, a treasure hunter reached the summit, became an inquisitor of the Black River Prison, and even had the chance to inherit legendary power! And all of this was accomplished through the surgical procedure he underwent on the Weaver Train, which pushed his body beyond human limits! It allowed him to unleash powerful techniques that transcended physical boundaries! He successfully entered the New Capital District 2 'City' and became a true 'Judge'!]
[Curved Blade laughs, saying not everyone knows about the knowledge of other districts like they do. You see, New Capital District 2 is the most prosperous area in the New Capital; there, people have recreated the glory and systems of the Steam Age. Marrying, raising children, and drinking afternoon tea are very common things there.]
[The dream of the Wild Horse Messengers is to earn enough money to move into New Capital District 2!]

Looking at the text, Chen Qi roughly understands why there are so many people. The success of one person is like a rising firework, attracting countless people to scramble onto this path!

[Curved Blade snaps his whip at his horse to keep up with your Lantern Shadow Fox: "How about it, brother! As long as you give us one Sun Coin, we are willing to guide you to the Weaver Train. That train is mysterious and unpredictable, but we already have some leads! Otherwise, this trip of yours might be in vain!"]
[Will you accept Curved Blade's offer?]

Chen Qi thinks about it. Judging by the text, they only have a few leads on the location of the Weaver Train. It doesn't seem very reliable.

No.

[You refuse Curved Blade; you have your own route planned.]
["Is that so..." the Wild Horse Messengers laugh. They tell you that not long ago, some lone treasure hunters headed to Mist City, and they either ended up being gnawed on by rats or becoming half-petrified! Those treasure hunters were considered talented, but not only did they get nothing, they also lost their lives. According to their information, only one or two people who went to Mist City alone managed to find treasure.]
[You look toward the direction of Mist City, and the eyes beneath your Mist Cloak flash with cold light.]
["You haven't been to Mist City, have you..." Curved Blade senses something from your gaze, his body trembling slightly.]
["Young brother on the fox! You seem quite capable, but this competition is dangerous—and it's not just the calamities that are dangerous, it's the people too. Let's see who arrives at the Weaver Train first!"]
[With a loud shout, Curved Blade drives his wild horse toward the front left.]
[After the Wild Horse Messengers leave, you look toward the distant mountains; beneath the snow, you can see fiery red rocks.]
[The light of the sun gradually fades; you have arrived at the Furnace Mountain Range!]