An hour later, Sylutia finally caught up with the Ninth Train. Seeing that the young woman had returned safe and sound, everyone on the train breathed a sigh of relief.
“As long as you’re safe, that’s what matters. Those Blood Clan members were all Fifth Tier, after all, and few Transcendents of the same rank can match their flying speed.” Master Ge Zhen comforted the young woman.
In truth, when he first met Sylutia a few days ago, he hadn’t been entirely satisfied. After all, she looked far too young. Perhaps for the young men on the train, having such a pretty and adorable young woman as a colleague would be a blessing, but not for him.
As the overall commander and responsible person for the Ninth Train, the mission’s weight and burden all pressed down on his shoulders. If any accident or mishap occurred midway, he’d be the first held accountable. So he naturally preferred a mature, steady, and reassuring colleague over someone he’d constantly have to worry about and clean up after.
But the events of the past few days had gradually shattered that ingrained impression.
Yes, this young woman was very young, not even graduated yet. But in both incidents, she hadn’t disappointed. She solved problems with remarkable decisiveness and efficiency. Her talent was extraordinary, her execution strong, and she had her own judgment. Each time, she withdrew unscathed without giving him extra cause for concern.
All of this had earned the crew’s respect.
Among the team leaders, Novadon was the most straightforward in personality, Kubo was seasoned and smooth—not as a criticism, but because he excelled at getting along with all kinds of people and harmonizing the group’s atmosphere. Amisa, though appearing like a gentle older sister, was actually quite proud at heart. If she didn’t like someone, she would politely keep her distance.
It was only after resolving the Worze District incident that Amisa had proactively approached Sylutia to talk. Master Ge Zhen noticed all of this. As a man over a hundred years old who had experienced much in life, the thoughts of young people were transparent to him.
When Sylutia had chased after them last night, he had actually regretted not stopping her forcefully. After all, if such an outstanding young person were to sacrifice herself out of impulse, it would be such a waste.
But he also understood—that’s how young people were. In the prime of youth, full of fiery energy, and seeing the enemy snatch things away right under her own responsibility, if Sylutia had stood still and watched, many on the crew would have been disappointed.
Sometimes, as an elder, he felt a conflicted mindset. He hoped these exceptional young people would possess pure conviction and courage to accomplish many things and create new momentum. Yet he also worried that their naivety might lead them to smash their heads bloody against the wall at work.
To simultaneously possess worldly wisdom and unwavering courage was a luxury. Many people, after contemplating too many risks and seeing the danger, would unconsciously retreat.
After Sylutia had chased out, many had spent two hours tense with worry. Now seeing her return alone, many breathed sighs of relief. They didn’t dare ask further, afraid of damaging her self-esteem.
In the eyes of the entire crew, this young woman had already done more than enough. She had even risked danger to chase that far alone and returned safely from five powerful Blood Clan members.
As for the lost 40 crates of Scorching Sun Crystals, so be it. The train carried 10,000 crates in total, so losing these 40 wouldn’t have much impact. Perhaps they should even be grateful that the Blood Clan only wanted to grab some spoils rather than destroy the train or tracks. Otherwise, the consequences would have been far more severe.
Seeing everyone comforting her and urging her to get some good rest, Sylutia found it hard to speak up. Just then, Amisa came over to check her body. Only after confirming that the young woman truly hadn’t suffered any injuries did she relax.
“Alright, don’t dwell on it anymore, Hedra.” Amisa stroked the young woman’s hair, holding her in an embrace to comfort her.
“You chased so far. Your safety was what everyone worried about. Go get a good night’s sleep now. We’ll talk about everything else tomorrow.”
And so, Sylutia was guided, somewhat dazed, to take a bath. Meanwhile, Cerise brought her a specially prepared dinner, urging her to eat well and rest.
“Chef Kubo made this himself. He said it was to praise Miss Hedra’s bravery.” Before the young woman lay a specially made pie.
**[Hero’s Triumph Pie] (Seventh Tier·Superior)**
*“The crisp pie crust is cut open. The red filling inside unfurls like blazing flames. At the pie’s center stands a mounted knight carved from nuts, raising a sword in hand, charging through crimson flames. The figure is fearless and heroic. It is an exclusive pie made by young Chef Xi Lu to celebrate Big Sister Hedra’s courageous exploits.” (Nutrition +12, Stamina Recovery +7, Spirit Recovery +7, Blood Circulation +7, Flavor +5, Fire Resistance +2)*
“This…” Even for Sylutia, it was her first time seeing such luxurious and exquisite food. She couldn’t imagine how much her strength would instantly improve after eating such a meal following a battle.
“It’s fine, eat up. If you think it’s a shame, you can save some too.” Cerise replied.
“Young Chef Bai Jing said the figure on top is made from ‘Red Scale Nuts.’ It’s best eaten within a day after completion, or the nutrients and power inside will be lost and wasted.”
“As for the pie body below, you just need to finish it within a week. It won’t spoil or go to waste too quickly.”
“Alright.” Sylutia curiously picked up the carved mounted knight with chopsticks and took a bite of the little sword above. The nut blended with a hint of cocoa flavor spread across her tongue, followed by a surge of fiery warmth that coursed through her body, dispelling the night’s chill.
She then felt her blood circulation accelerate. The “Breathing Technique” ability linked to her Bloodline Aspect received a significant boost, giving her a sensation of pushing from “Lv.7” toward “Lv.7.8.”
After defeating those five Blood Clan members, she had regressed True Crimson Blood Lv.2 back into the Breathing Technique. Otherwise, with her black hair, red eyes, and aura radiating Blood Clan royal power, she wouldn’t know how to explain herself.
After finishing the nut-carved figure on top, Cerise helped Sylutia cut a small piece from the pie below and placed it on her plate.
The crust was slightly crispy. Biting into it released a warm wheat fragrance mixed with rich flavor. The filling inside appeared to be made from meat and a type of red leafy vegetable, with an excellent texture. It not only quickly replenished nutrients but also rapidly restored her depleted stamina and spirit, bringing Sylutia’s condition to its peak.
After eating just that one small piece, Sylutia felt she was no longer hungry.
As for the remaining portion, she called over the Inspection Department members who had been injured tonight and gave each of them a small piece, allowing them to recover quickly.
This gesture moved many team members deeply. Like Sylutia, they were tasting such high-grade luxurious cuisine for the first time in their lives. Food of an even higher level would probably require extravagantly rare ingredients like “dragon meat.”
“Miss Hedra…” After eating, a wave of warmth spread through their bodies. Previously injured areas rapidly recovered. Both body and consciousness gradually reached their optimal state.
The team members standing before the young woman were filled with emotion but couldn’t find the words to express it. Simply saying “thank you” seemed too cheap, insufficient to convey their feelings.
Fortunately, Sylutia understood their thoughts and feelings. She gently waved her hand.
“Alright, no need for that. After all, I brought you all on this mission. Seeing you injured, I share some responsibility. If you recover quickly, you’ll be able to help me sooner.”
Even though Inspection Department members were cold and detached when carrying out tasks, that didn’t mean they were born that way. Often, that coldness was a form of self-protection. If they empathized too easily, it would greatly impact their work and make them vulnerable to exploitation.
Seeing everyone had finished eating, Sylutia told them to go rest as well. She, too, was urged by her companions to return to her small room and sleep.
Lying in bed, Sylutia hugged her blanket and rolled over once before letting go and lying still, listening to the unceasing wheels rumbling beneath her. She reflected on the night’s events.
Sigh… she still hadn’t figured out how to explain things. Everyone tactfully refrained from asking. If she now said she had killed all five Blood Clan members, she wouldn’t even know how to start.
Her head rested sideways against the pillow, clad in a deep blue nightgown with white trim. Sylutia slowly drifted into sleep.
---
#
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter