Ling Mountain is eight hundred kilometers away from Yunqing City.
Liu Mushi emerged from her room, a backpack slung over her shoulders.
"The train leaves at ten in the evening and won't arrive until the next morning."
Lin Fan had dinner at the Liu family's residence and set off an hour early.
Liu Mushi drove them to the train station in no time.
Lin Fan grumbled internally. He was already a Divine Realm expert, yet he had to travel by train. It was utterly undignified.
But there was no alternative; he had encountered a bottleneck.
Only by reaching the Void Realm could one fly through the air.
Liu Mushi, prioritizing comfort and convenience, had booked a soft sleeper compartment.
Inside the carriage were two bunk beds, totaling four berths.
It was just enough for a good night's sleep, and they would arrive at their destination by morning.
The tickets were assigned randomly, with no option to select seats.
Thus, Lin Fan was assigned the lower berth, and Liu Mushi was above him.
Lin Fan tentatively asked, "How about we switch? You're a girl, it might be more convenient for you to be on the bottom."
Liu Mushi shook her head slightly. "No need."
The lower berth was a thoroughfare, with people constantly sitting and moving, which was less hygienic.
Lin Fan shrugged, not pressing the issue.
He tossed his bag onto the bed and lay down.
Liu Mushi stepped on the ladder above his head and gracefully climbed up.
Her qipao was slit, opening all the way to her thigh.
As she lifted her leg, Lin Fan happened to catch a glimpse of a beautiful sight.
"No underwear."
Lin Fan blurted it out.
Liu Mushi, having climbed up, asked, "What did you say?"
She peered down.
Lin Fan immediately closed his eyes. "No underwear, just empty space. This large compartment, only the two of us."
"Others haven't arrived yet."
Liu Mushi withdrew her head.
Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief. This woman, so aloof and distant, was surprisingly sensual.
If she knew he'd seen, he didn't know what would happen.
He absolutely had to keep it a secret!
The compartment door was closed, and the sounds of people passing by outside could be faintly heard.
"Ling Mountain isn't exactly a tourist spot, yet quite a few people are going," Lin Fan said, making small talk.
Liu Mushi replied, "This train makes many stops along the way, not everyone is necessarily going to Ling Mountain."
"Oh."
After a brief silence, the compartment door was pushed open.
"Xiao Yue, hurry in, it's so crowded outside."
A girl, wearing athletic shorts and a t-shirt, carrying a large suitcase, rushed in energetically.
She looked back and gestured, then took a backpack.
The girl named Xiao Yue also squeezed in, quickly closing the compartment door.
"Miss, there are too many people, I'm sweating," Xiao Yue complained.
The girl who entered first covered Xiao Yue's mouth. "You little rascal, I told you not to call me Miss outside. Be careful someone overhears! Call me by my name!"
Xiao Yue stuck out her tongue. "Got it! Shen Yuqing!"
"You brat, no manners, call me Sister Yuqing!"
Shen Yuqing playfully tickled Xiao Yue.
The two girls wrestled playfully.
"Sister Yuqing, stop… hahaha, stop it, there are other people here!"
Xiao Yue begged, tears of laughter almost streaming down her face.
Shen Yuqing then noticed the other two occupants.
"Hello, I'm Shen Yuqing, and I'm going to Ling Mountain to play."
She greeted them proactively, lively and cheerful.
"Hello."
Liu Mushi nodded slightly, her tone indifferent.
Lin Fan sat up on the bed and smiled, "Lin Fan, we're also going to Ling Mountain."
He carefully observed the two girls.
Shen Yuqing was vivacious and outgoing. Even in her loose t-shirt, her voluptuous figure was evident.
She had a naturally spirited beauty, very pretty.
Her large eyes darted around with a lively, intelligent spark, carrying a hint of slyness.
A long ponytail hung down her back, swaying with her head movements.
The girl named Xiao Yue, while not as stunning as Shen Yuqing, was also attractive, especially her exaggerated physique.
She seemed a bit timid, always hiding behind Shen Yuqing.
Both girls appeared young, around their early twenties.
They exuded youthful energy, making the atmosphere in the compartment much livelier.
"What a coincidence!"
Shen Yuqing exclaimed, "Are you guys also going to Ling Mountain for adventure?"
Lin Fan smiled and nodded.
Ling Mountain's terrain was rugged, with many natural cliffs and caves, making it ideal for exploration.
Yet, for some reason, despite numerous people venturing there for adventure, the local authorities had never developed it.
"We are too!"
Shen Yuqing was a natural at making friends and immediately struck up a conversation with Lin Fan.
They were university students from the city. They had heard that supernatural phenomena had occurred at Ling Mountain a few days prior.
Seven-colored auspicious clouds had risen from the mountaintop, drawing birds and beasts from the surrounding area in reverence.
"What are you talking about?"
Lin Fan frowned deeply.
Shen Yuqing's small mouth widened in surprise. "The video is all over the internet, and you don't know?"
Lin Fan chuckled sheepishly. "I spend my days farming. I don't surf the internet much."
"That explains it. I thought you two were also going because you heard about these seven-colored auspicious clouds."
Shen Yuqing took out her phone and showed him a video.
In the video, amidst swirling mist, the outline of Ling Mountain was faintly visible.
A beam of seven-colored light suddenly shot up into the sky, vanishing in an instant.
"That's it?" Lin Fan scratched his head.
Shen Yuqing put her phone away. "Isn't that enough? Experts speculate that this beam of seven-colored light could be an alien spacecraft landing!"
"There are too many legends about Ling Mountain. Some say immortals live there, others claim aliens have come to Earth and reside within!"
"The most widespread theory is that aliens are conducting experiments on Ling Mountain!"
Liu Mushi scoffed. "Nonsense. The so-called seven-colored light is merely the refraction of sunlight through water vapor in the dense fog, creating a phantom image in the sky."
Shen Yuqing made a face at her. "If you don't believe it, why are you going then?"
Liu Mushi turned over, no longer engaging.
Lin Fan explained for her, "She's approaching it from a scientific perspective, aiming to solve the mystery. Please don't mind her."
In fact, Lin Fan suspected that these rumors might have arisen because the owner of the shattered pot lived on Ling Mountain.
Perhaps someone had seen his true appearance, or inadvertently witnessed him cultivating.
Thus, the story spread, growing more exaggerated with each retelling.
As for the seven-colored light, the video was too short to discern anything.
The train slowly started to move.
Shen Yuqing, unable to sit still, chimed in, "Brother Xiaofan, is it fun in the countryside?"
"I've heard of many primitive villages with customs of cannibalism or human sacrifice. Is your village like that too?"
"Hahaha…"
Lin Fan couldn't help but laugh heartily.
This girl seemed a bit dim-witted.
But she was lively and spirited, chirping like a skylark, which he found quite endearing.
"Actually… I'm a witch doctor!"
Lin Fan deliberately tried to scare Shen Yuqing.
"Ah?!"
Not only Shen Yuqing but also Xiao Yue was startled.
"You, you won't hurt us, will you?"
The two girls believed him.