Train Survival: I Can Evolve Everything!

["This isn't related to any of that. I want to borrow 10 Train Coins from you."]

["?"]

Zhao Lin rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things. Ten Train Coins? Although she and Shangguan Yingxue were relatively familiar within the same Sector and occasionally chatted at night about their experiences at stations, they weren't close enough to borrow money from each other.

Zhao Lin hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse immediately.

She felt Shangguan Yingxue wasn't someone who would ask lightly—if she brought it up, she must have encountered some real trouble.

["10 coins is quite a lot. What happened to you?"]

Shangguan Yingxue breathed a sigh of relief. Not being directly rejected meant there was a possibility of success.

After thinking for a moment, she concealed Ye Qiyan's name and explained her situation completely to Zhao Lin.

["I encountered a shady merchant who's selling me a Flame Stone for 30 Train Coins. The offer expires before the next station entry. But I didn't find any treasure chests at the last station, so I had to sell all my resources. In the end, I only managed to gather 20 coins—I'm still short by 10... I can't think of any other way to get them, so I have to ask you."]

Zhao Lin felt a twinge of envy.

Though she had been following Ye Qiyan around in the City of a Thousand Stars, she still knew the value of a single Flame Stone.

If she were short on Train Coins, she would definitely try to borrow from someone too.

Hmm... if it were her, who would she borrow from?

Ye Qiyan's image surfaced in Zhao Lin's mind, but she quickly shook her head and muttered softly.

"He definitely wouldn't lend me any, that stingy guy..."

Collecting her thoughts, she tapped on the light screen.

["I can lend them to you, but you'll need to provide collateral, and I'll charge interest. 10 Train Coins, you'll pay back 13. How about it? If you agree, find something suitable to use as collateral."]

"......"

It was a reasonable request.

Shangguan Yingxue looked around her train and finally settled her gaze on the Japanese-style flip phone in her hand.

"It has to be this..."

It wouldn't reduce her survival or combat capabilities, and it was valuable enough to serve as collateral.

Gritting her teeth, she sent a screenshot.

[System-Controlled Flip Phone]

[Can be used outside the train, accesses the system's Trading Platform/Chat Room]

["This was one of my upgrade rewards. I'll use it as collateral. If I don't repay you after the next station, the phone is yours. As for the interest... that's fine."]

"Wow, you can actually use system functions outside the train? That's amazing!"

Zhao Lin's eyes lit up when she saw the phone's description in the screenshot.

She had noticed back in the City of a Thousand Stars that Ye Qiyan seemed able to control the train system from outside, and she had been incredibly envious, though she never mentioned it.

["Deal. We can trade now. If you don't redeem it after the next station, I'll just take the 3-coin interest. By the way, could you introduce me to that shady merchant selling you the Flame Stone? I'd like to buy one too."]

["Forget it... he's probably pretty busy."]

Zhao Lin got the phone, and Shangguan Yingxue got the Train Coins she needed.

Still, she couldn't help feeling an inexplicable pang of regret.

That phone was one of her favorite items—using it as collateral was truly a last resort.

"It's fine. As long as I can gather enough Train Coins at the next station..."

Even as she said this, doubt crept in.

If she failed to find a treasure chest at the next station, would she really be able to gather 13 Train Coins?

Moreover, upgrading to level 4 came with upgrade options.

The items in the advanced options were always worth far more than their cost.

Just like that phone—she had only spent 6 Train Coins on it originally.

Shangguan Yingxue sighed, opened her friends list, looked at the first name at the top, pressed her lips together, and tapped on it.

["Flame Stone. Let's trade."]

["Hey?"]

["???"]

No response came, which was inevitable.

Because at that moment, Ye Qiyan was fast asleep and had turned off all chat notifications. Unless someone had abilities like Shaya's, no one could wake him up through the chat room.

————

Early the next morning.

Well-rested, Ye Qiyan stretched lazily, casually took the warm water WALL-E handed him, drank it, and finished his morning routine.

He skillfully pulled out a White Forest Fruit, sliced it, paired it with bread and some vegetables, cracked two eggs, and leisurely began eating breakfast.

"Huh? Who's messaging me so late?"

He pulled up the system light screen, noticed the private chat icon blinking incessantly in the background, clicked on it curiously, and saw the messages from his friends.

He scrolled directly to the last one.

Shangguan Yingxue: ["I've sold everything. I have enough money now. We can trade whenever you're available."]

The timestamp showed 03:06 in the morning.

"Wow, still awake at that hour? She must be really eager for that Flame Stone."

Ye Qiyan scratched his head and chuckled lightly.

"But she's probably catching up on sleep now, right? Hmm... whatever, I'll just send one message."

["You there?"]

He assumed she would be resting and was about to continue eating breakfast when, to his surprise, Shangguan Yingxue's reply came back instantly.

["I'm here. Can we trade now?"]

Shangguan Yingxue had stayed up all night.

She couldn't sleep—absolutely couldn't sleep!

After going through so much trouble, even mortgaging her favorite item, who would have thought Ye Qiyan would go to bed so early?

She was too frustrated to rest—without securing that Flame Stone, she simply couldn't accept defeat.

["Of course. You've gathered enough money?"]

["Absolutely."]

The trade request came through, and Ye Qiyan took the Flame Stone into his hand.

He pressed the trade option, and 30 Train Coins replaced the Flame Stone in his possession.

He counted them, bit a few to check—everything was perfect.

"With these thirty, that makes seventy-six Train Coins. Hmm, enough to upgrade the train."

With seventy-six Train Coins ready for the upcoming upgrade options, one thought dominated his mind:

"Advantage is mine."

In a cheerful mood, he continued eating breakfast and casually opened his personal interface. Suddenly, he paused, staring blankly at one particular attribute line.

[Spirit: 130]

["???"]

Why had his Spirit limit increased again?

What had he done?

Recalling the events of the past few days, he couldn't think of anything that should have increased his Spirit.

Except for that "flash of inspiration" sublimation yesterday?

Was it because of that? Or had he eaten too many White Forest Fruits?

Ye Qiyan leaned toward the latter explanation.

After all, the former didn't make much sense.

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