Chapter 559: City of the Living Dead (3)
Qin Ye nodded and turned to the bewildered Wang Chenghao, “This is the third tunnel of Pusan, but it’s also not.”
“When the Yin energy and air of resentment trapped within a particular location accumulates beyond a certain point, it would create a special supernatural zone.” Qin Ye glanced out of the carriage, only to realize that a series of louvres had already been lowered over the windows, blocking out all sources of light from outside.
Qin Ye massaged his temples in dismay, “Did you really only inherit your family’s fortune and not the smarts? Didn’t I make myself clear enough? Why don’t you try sensing it for yourself?”
At once, two incomparably sharp sources of Yin energy jolted straight through his mind.
Click, click, click… Then, just like old films, the images began to run in sequence. The ladies quickly drew closer and closer, until the last frame which depicted the lady and the girl at point blank, right in front of his face!
“Haa--...” Wang Chenghao gasped loudly as he opened his eyes.
“It’s actually the three of them.” Oda Nobutada spoke with a deep voice, “There’s another one in the pregnant lady’s womb. But, even though there are three of them… they move with one body, bound by a single strand of fate and destiny.”
“And what’s most special about them is that they’re also earthbound spirits.”
“So close, yet so far. To perish only when you see the light and have come so far; and to die by the hands of your own people even after narrowly escaping the grasp of the living dead. They were completely helpless. They had no ability to refuse, and no ability to resist. They… were fated to spend the rest of eternity with the living dead. Their resentment against the world is immense. Thus, as their Yin energy grew, they consumed everything around them… and constructed an entire supernatural domain around them that is akin to the third tunnel in the mortal realm, but which does not occupy the same physical space. Incidentally, all trains headed to Pusan would have no choice but to pass through this tunnel.”
“That certainly seems to be the case.” Qin Ye sighed.
First, it was the incident of MV Sewol, and then, we’re seeing the aftermath of Train to Pusan… Do casting myths and fabricating miracles always have to come at the cost of human lives?
“What the Daehan government has been desperately covering up is probably the great stir caused by the living dead that have been transported from Pusan to Gwangju. When the film premiered, one of the only things it probably lacked was a line that says - ‘This film is adapted after a true story’.” Qin Ye sighed, “Retract your Yin energy and get some rest. This three-in-one Hellguard isn’t something that either of you can handle. It’s not easy to find naturally born Hellguards, even in Cathay. Who would’ve thought we’d encounter two of them in our short stay in Daehan thus far.”
Qin Ye leaned over and looked down the aisle, only to discover that a tempered glass door had already been raised in the connecting corridors between carriages. Bzzt! The entire train fell into pitch-black darkness.
“Good excuse. Power supply system failure, huh…” Qin Ye continued to gaze out of the window after the lights went out.
It was clear and distinct, and evidently no trick of the ear. They were currently travelling with a high speed train across the inexplicable third tunnel of Pusal, and yet to think that they would actually hear strange knocking sounds on their windows?!
It was neither fast nor slow, and incredibly rhythmic and consistent. Yet it was precisely because of this that the knocks felt almost as though they were hammering straight into his heart.
“Farewell to thee, farewell to thee… The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers…” As the train continued to plough through the darkness, a soft cry suddenly cut through the tense silence of the third tunnel.
The passengers tightened their grips around the armrests, and several of them even drew a deep breath.
Train to Pusan… This is the exact same song sung by the little girl in the last scene! It’s exactly the same!
And as soon as it did, a ghastly, pale face instantly appeared on the crack along the window!
Her pallid white face and contorted features masked the fact that she was only a little girl. Her short hair was completely disheveled, and blood poured out of her seven apertures. Yet perhaps what was most striking of all was the gaping bullet hole that was right between her eyes.
BOOM!!!
Wait a minute… Aren’t I supposed to be the one scaring the people within?
The little girl’s expressions grew more and more twisted and contrived as time passed. Three seconds later, she pouted.
Qin Ye watched in astonishment as the little girl bawled at the top of her voice and flew away like a kite with a broken string.
She’s actually crying?!
Oh no… What have I done... Forgive me for frightening a poor little child to tears… Qin Ye clasped his hands together and made an insincere prayer before glancing out the window again.
The dim lights on the exterior of the train cast just enough light on the surroundings to illuminate the pallid appearances of the twisted figures outside. Each and every single one of the living dead were currently staring intently at the train as it passed.
Qin Ye shook his head, “Of course I’d have loved to take her in. She would be an excellent sprout to nurture into a fine ghost. Unfortunately… we’re not at the third tunnel just yet.”
“Their essence and true form are still located within the real third tunnel to Pusan. We’ll have to go there if we want to take them in. Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of time to achieve something like that right now. The high speed rail takes no more than ten seconds to travel through the entire third tunnel from end to end. That’s far too little time to reap the souls of the three-in-one Yin spirit that was a naturally born Anitya Hellguard.”
It should be fine. Besides, what’s a little girl doing jumping out at a fast-moving train in the middle of the darkness? They should be studying hard and working on their future! What happened to proper parenting these days?
“Didn’t I tell you to study hard?! What are you doing scaring people all day long? You’re banned from having your blood and flesh today!”
Qin Ye’s imaginations ran wild.
The Train Captain’s room was completely dark.
“The train’s power supply was restored in just 12 minutes… Doesn’t it usually take 30 minutes to cross the ‘Abyss of the Third Tunnel’? Why did it take 18 minutes less this time?”
The man’s appearances remained hidden in the shadows and yet he spoke with clearly suppressed excitement. The Train Captain responded, “Sir, then… should I ignore them and carry on as scheduled in five days’ time?”
“Of course!” The Train Captain’s voice burst with excitement, “Just say the word, and I’ll send the train off its rails at once!”
“Pusan to Hanyang… Haha… Everything you have done will surely rock this entire world. And my Lord will most certainly open the gates of the underworld and welcome you with open arms.”
It didn’t take 30 minutes. In fact, they soon ‘exited’ the third tunnel as soon as Qin Ye scared away the naughty poltergeist earlier.
We’re finally arriving… Qin Ye glanced about at the houses and fields passing by on both sides on the train. His expression turned grave and somber.
Just then, something stirred excitedly from within his clothes.
He opened his palm, and the ballpoint pen spun around like the needle on a compass, before finally pointing towards a particular location!
Seconds later, Kwon Kyung-ho responded, “Yes.”
1. These are lyrics of Aloha ‘Oe.
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