Chapter 44: River Crab and Tofu Casserole

Liang Kuan stopped the train and first carried the two night demons from the carriage down. After evolving, his strength had increased significantly, making it effortless to lift these lanky creatures with one hand each.

Lifting the headless night demon, a large charred mark was visible on his iron-gray skin. Without a doubt, it was caused by Su Huan’s high-voltage electricity. However, when he picked up the night demon he had killed by his own hand, he was surprised to see the same burnt mark on its body.

Liang Kuan fell silent for a moment, then carried the two corpses out. Just then, he saw the passengers disembarking one by one from the rear carriages, while Su Huan stood there smiling, holding a roster, as if summoning souls like the King of Hell.

When Liang Kuan passed by and was called by name, he couldn’t help but tense up. Su Huan raised his eyelids slightly. “Later, try to gather those bodies at the front as well. Let Wan Xing collect them. If there are too many, discard based on importance.”

“Understood.”

Watching Liang Kuan carry the two night demon corpses back onto the train, Su Huan continued cross-referencing the roster. Now that everyone on the team had become evolved, they could share the burden. At the very least, this group could hold the train when he wasn’t around.

Glancing at the scorching sunlight, after standing for more than ten minutes, his back ached from the heat. The passengers before him looked listless, but compared to the refugees he’d seen on the overpass, they were much better off.

Su Huan kept calculating the food supplies they had, adjusting ticket prices to prevent some from losing the motivation to scavenge, which would lead to depletion. Food reserves were limited; many were already starving.

There was much to do today, and releasing the passengers promptly to find food was the priority. Su Huan fanned the roster, generating waves of heat. “As usual, three portions of supplies, special tickets, and new passengers.”

A stir arose among the crowd. A scar-faced man nearby spoke up, “Just bring in a new passenger, and you don’t have to pay supplies?”

Su Huan smiled. “Yes. Bring in one new passenger, and even one and a half portions of supplies count. Two passengers enter free. Anyone who brings back steel plates also rides free.”

“But—”

Hearing the cold undertone in Su Huan’s words, their faces stiffened, alert and attentive.

“I only want passengers between sixteen and fifty years old.”

“I’ll open a gap in the side fence shortly. Get ready to depart.”

Su Huan finished speaking and quickly boarded the carriage. Earlier, while escorting Liang Kuan, he had nearly exhausted his energy and even used some pan-energy crystals to supplement. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be sweating so profusely under the sun.

He still needed to personally search for the fire truck soon and had to replenish his energy quickly. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to send others, but manpower was scarce. As for the passengers behind... if those unruly folks got guns, would they shoot zombies first or come for him? Better to go himself.

Before reaching the dining car, Su Huan heard a soft humming.

“Life’s scenery wanders on; whenever lonely, I look back, your love always waits nearby...” (sung)

The voice carried a relaxed, gentle warmth, like the hot breeze outside flowing against his body, swirling around and continuing onward.

The voice floated freely and soothingly into the distance, leaving him stunned in place. But it seemed she noticed something, abruptly stopping at the climax.

A rich, savory aroma wafted from inside the carriage, like molten salted duck egg yolk.

Su Huan stepped into the dining car. On the central table sat a plate weighted down by a heavy object. Wearing an apron, Yu Yue stood behind the cupboard. The ginger-yellow shirt she’d worn earlier was replaced by a white T-shirt, paired with milky-white ice silk wide-leg pants.

She looked both homey and soft.

On the induction cooker simmered a large clay pot, from which the savory aroma drifted.

As Su Huan entered, Yu Yue carefully set down what she held and took an empty cup filled with ice from the fridge, poured half a bottle of cola, and placed it by his side.

Su Huan took it, sipping gently. “Where did you find the clay pot?”

He knew well what was in the kitchen.

“Found it in the luggage carriage. Brand new, never used. I thought of making crab stewed with tofu tonight.”

Yu Yue folded her hands in front of her, legs together without a gap, sitting properly like a maid responding to her master’s inquiry.

“Tofu?”

Su Huan glanced at the pressed item on the plate, his gaze darkening slightly. The young aunt knew quite a few things.

“It’s brined tofu, made this morning. Perfect to eat tonight.”

“And the clothes?”

“Yes.”

“Any for me?”

Looking at the sharp-featured young man before her, Yu Yue’s almond-shaped eyes flickered with surprise.

How could this person switch from cold cruelty like a demon to a child craving sweets so smoothly and unpredictably?

“I collected some and put them in my room,” Yu Yue said, sneaking a glance at Su Huan’s expression.

His face turned slightly cold. “If I don’t ask, you wouldn’t plan to give them to me, right?”

“N-no, I’ll bring them to your room after I finish cooking,” she said timidly.

Daily intimidation 1/1

Seeing her timid demeanor, Su Huan felt much relieved. He hummed softly, sat on the orange cat sofa with his icy cola, and began silently absorbing the pan-energy crystals to restore his strength.

After a while, something felt off. He furrowed his brows and opened his eyes, suspiciously watching the busy woman.

There were knives, chopping boards, yet no sound at all? And the bubbling of the clay pot, the humming of the air conditioner—these lively sounds that comforted him were all gone?

Soon, Yu Yue stiffened under his cold gaze and slowly turned around with a placating smile. “I was afraid the cooking noises would disturb you...”

Su Huan twitched his face. “Never block my senses again!”

Silence surrounded them. How could he dare close his eyes?

“Hmm...”

In an instant, all the chaotic sounds returned. Su Huan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Without these sounds, he would lose his spatial orientation.

That was a terrifying prospect.

Fortunately, Yu Yue caused no more trouble afterward.

An hour later, feeling energy surging within, Su Huan opened his eyes once more.

The midday sun shone so brightly it was nearly white, streaming through the explosion-proof mesh in square patches. Outside, on the gleaming tracks, Liang Kuan was slowly reversing the hydrogen-powered train.

A group of workers carried pipes and metal steel plates, each looking as hot and red as steamed shrimp, sweat flying.

Stretching and finishing the melted ice water in his cup, Su Huan walked outside.