Chapter 63: Chapter 63: First Time Leaving the Train (Bonus Chapter)

Bai Cheng froze for a moment.

She wasn’t incapable of understanding Zi Yuan’s words. She just hadn’t expected that this Trophy Mission would require her to leave the train.

"There’s a seal at the cave entrance. It seems that only a survivor can unlock it."

She frowned, her gaze shifting toward the pitch-black, storm-ridden Snowy Mountains outside.

Although the train’s safety was guaranteed, and Bai Cheng herself wasn’t afraid of Cold Erosion, there was still...

Ever since transmigrating into this train world, Bai Cheng had never truly left her train.

Of course, moving around near the train didn’t count.

From the time Zi Yuan had left to scout the mission location to her return, Bai Cheng could easily deduce that the cave wasn’t exactly close to the train.

However, she quickly stopped hesitating. Since things had come to this point, why retreat now?

Even if it was currently the far more dangerous Silent Night.

"Where exactly is the cave? How far from the train?" she immediately asked for details.

Zi Yuan glanced back at the dark mountains, estimating the direction before explaining, "Young Lady, the Frozen Caverns is located at the highest ridge of the mountain at the eleven o’clock direction."

"But the terrain is steep, and there is a chance of encountering magical beasts along the way. Zi Yuan suggests that Young Lady should go during the day instead."

The main issue was the limited visibility at night, not to mention that they had to climb the mountain as well. The threat of magical beasts was the least of their concerns.

But Bai Cheng didn’t take Zi Yuan’s advice. She didn’t want to waste an entire night parked here.

She shook her head. "Zi Yuan, you guard the train. I’ll have Chi Yan carry me there."

Both Zi Yuan and Chi Yan were momentarily stunned. That was indeed a good idea.

Chi Yan then shifted into his true form, transforming into a massive lion, his limbs and tail wreathed in crimson flames that melted the surrounding snow.

Waves of heat constantly emanated from him.

Zi Yuan also returned the Explorer’s Pinky Ring to Bai Cheng, though her eyes kept flickering toward the train’s interior, as if she wanted to say something but is holding back.

"What is it?"

"Young Lady... it smells so good. Can Zi Yuan have a little? Just a tiny bit..." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Bai Cheng had thought that it was something serious. She waved a hand dismissively. "Go ahead. I made enough for two."

As for why it was two portions, it was because Chi Yan could eat his food raw.

Before setting off, Bai Cheng made thorough preparations.

She packed a bag, brought a flashlight, and took both Fatal Edge and Blade of Severance.

If not for the fact that these two legendary weapons were bound and couldn’t be lent to her employees, most of her troubles would’ve been easily resolved.

Outside, Chi Yan crouched low. Bai Cheng stood at the doorway before leaping onto his back.

His broad spine was covered in thick fur, and the crimson mane radiated heat through her clothes. However, rather than scalding, it was comfortably warm.

Bai Cheng gripped his mane tightly before giving the order: "Let’s go!"

With that, Chi Yan’s limbs tensed, and he rushed forward, charging into the darkness ahead.

The scenery on both sides blurred past, and the only sound left in Bai Cheng’s ears was the howling wind.

The blizzard lashed at her, icy and biting. She had no choice but to press herself flat against Chi Yan’s back.

She wanted to observe their surroundings, but the darkness and harsh conditions had long since disoriented her.

However, Bai Cheng didn’t panic. If anything, she felt a faint thrill coursing through her.

Because the moment she left the train, she finally felt that this was a real world, not some survival game where she had to hole up in a train, struggling to develop.

Bai Cheng checked the compass on her watch, then used the guidance of her pinky ring to quickly confirm their direction.

The mountain loomed ahead, towering into the clouds, its slopes covered in snow and gravel, treacherously steep.

For magical beasts, this terrain posed no obstacle. But if Bai Cheng had tried climbing it herself, it would’ve been nearly impossible.

That was why she hadn’t asked Zi Yuan to accompany her. Instead, she had chosen Chi Yan.

Despite his massive lion form, he still retained the agility inherent to felines.

And, most importantly, he could carry her effortlessly.

By the time they reached the mountain’s base, Chi Yan didn’t even pause. His powerful form leaped upward, scaling the ridges with swift, nimble movements. In just a few breaths, they had already arrived before the cave entrance.

Bai Cheng turned on her flashlight and jumped down from Chi Yan’s back.

The beam of light swept across the entrance, revealing a massive circular opening nearly three meters in diameter. At the top was an ice-blue dragon’s head, lifelike in detail.

Above and below the entrance, four sharp ice spikes extended outward like fangs bared by the dragon’s maw.

"So this is the Frozen Caverns?" Bai Cheng couldn’t help but study it curiously.

But the moment the flashlight’s beam hit the cave, it was swallowed whole. Inside, there was only pitch-black emptiness, and she couldn’t see anything.

Beside her, Chi Yan had shifted back into human form and stepped forward to inspect it. After a moment, however, his brow furrowed.

"Young Lady, neither this subordinate nor Zi Yuan can enter this place. And... there’s no trace of any unusual energy inside."

To demonstrate, he reached out to touch the entrance. However, before his hand could even get close, it met an invisible barrier.

Bai Cheng’s eyes sharpened. She nodded. "So this is the so-called seal, huh?"

But what intrigued her more was how she was supposed to break it. Was it through the system’s Train Conductor verification?

She moved forward slowly, raising her arm to attempt contact with the cave entrance, expecting some kind of prompt to appear.

But not only was there no notification, there wasn’t even the slightest resistance as she stepped forward.

The only thing out of place was the Explorer’s Pinky Ring on her hand, glowing an intense blue in the darkness, bright enough to sting the eyes, and growing hotter by the second.

Bai Cheng continued forward until nearly half her body had already crossed into the cave, swallowed by the darkness.

But she still hadn’t touched the barrier.

"Huh? Where’s the seal—"

Mid-sentence, her entire figure was abruptly sucked in, vanishing completely from the cave entrance.

Chi Yan’s expression twisted in alarm. "Young Lady!"

Without hesitation, he charged in after her.

This time, there was no barrier to stop him.