Chapter 140: A Paradise Beyond the World

  Dongfang Yonghao pretended not to see my gesture, turned around and sat down with his eyes closed. I couldn't help but secretly laugh, and turned back to Xia Lin, who was now innocently expressionless due to the commotion caused by her loud voice: "Alright, stop pretending to be a little girl, you're already so old, it's not even convincing!"

  Xia Lin almost reflexively said: "I'm only twenty, how old is that? You... you're the old monster!"

  I smiled wryly and said, "It's just asking you your age, why get so angry?"

  Xia Lin said with a huff: "Is that how you ask questions? If we weren't in this together right now... I would have slapped you silly already."

  I pretended to be afraid and whispered: "If you speak so loudly, the police will come over."

  Xia Lin was shocked and immediately shut her mouth, speechless.

  I couldn't help but smile secretly, glancing at Dongfang Yonghao who was still pretending to meditate with his eyes closed. I said in a low voice: "Dongfang is not interesting, he says he's protecting you, but sits so far away. If you're in danger, he definitely won't be able to save you."

  As soon as I finished speaking, I felt a darkness in front of me, and Dongfang Yonghao appeared before me. He said coldly, "What did you just say?"

  I laughed: "I said someone was irresponsible, the person he's supposed to protect is here, but he's sitting somewhere else, not doing his job at all."

  "Wouldn't have left our miss if you weren't always bothering her!" Dongfang Yonghao said angrily.

  I smiled and said: "Then from now on, Miss, your safety is in your hands."

  "Tell me? I don't know what to do. Meddling guy."

  I whispered: "If you don't want to protect her, I can take care of it. However... we'll go hungry on the bus today and starve until tomorrow."

  Dongfang Yonghao was taken aback for a moment before saying: "I'll go buy food myself, no need for you to worry."

  I laughed: "Someone has no money on him at all, and I don't know how he's going to buy food later?"

  Dongfang Yonghao's face turned bright red, but he couldn't say a word. It is said that one cent can crush a hero, and unexpectedly, such an intelligent person like him would also be forced by money, feeling extremely embarrassed.

  I smiled and stopped hitting and squeezing him. Last time he cheated me, I was greatly deceived, now it's also considered as already returned, so I directly left this compartment and went to the dining car to buy food.

  I didn't have any money on me either, but I had my own plan. So when I arrived at the dining car, I immediately started ordering food.

  After all the dishes I ordered were served, I said to the service staff on the train: "Please ask your supervisor to come over, I have something to say."

  The waiter, looking puzzled, called over the conductor. I saw that the conductor was an old man in his fifties, so I smiled and said: "My name is Jin Cang, this time I'm on a mission, unfortunately my luggage was lost during the battle with the enemy."

  The conductor looked me up and down, suddenly became very excited, stretched out his hand to grasp mine, as if he was about to shout loudly.

  "I quickly said: 'Don't spread it around, I'm on a secret mission.'"

  The purser nodded excitedly: "Sir, I've seen your photo and know a lot about you. You...your luggage is lost? Don't worry, if you need anything, just let me know and I'll take care of it right away."

  I smiled: "Thank you. When I get back, I'll definitely have the troops convert all your belongings into cash and send it to you."

  The trainmaster shook his head: "Chang Ke is angry, I know Chang must be going to carry out another difficult task like the Xiang Wanlong meeting. This little thing, let's just say it's my support for you, how dare I want your money?"

  I didn't stand on ceremony either and told him everything I needed in one breath. Finally, I added: "Do you have a handgun here? Give me a gun."

  The purser nodded immediately: "All the things you want are available. I'll go and prepare them for you right away."

  I nodded in gratitude and then took the dishes I had ordered and prepared to return to Xia Lin and Dongfang Yonghao.

  The flight attendant immediately said: "Is this enough food? Do you want me to prepare some more for you?"

  I smiled and shook my head: "I'll come over in a bit to get those things, thank you."

  The squadron leader immediately stood at attention and gave a military salute: "Squadron Leader, I'm also from a military background, so don't be polite to me."

  I smiled and left the dining car, then all the way back to the carriage where Xia Lin and Dongfang Yonghao were. The two of them were still here, and they didn't quietly leave because I left.

  I put the dishes on a small table, and they almost took the chopsticks out of my hands without saying thank you and started eating.

  Watching Dongfang Yong's wolf-like devouring food, I also felt very hungry, so I went forward and had a big meal, almost starting to grab food.

  Even Xia Lin ate very quickly. She seemed to be really hungry and didn't care about her image as a beauty while eating.

  We soon ate our fill, and then I smiled and said: "How's that? Following me out the door won't starve your belly, will it?"

  Xia Lin looked at me and didn't say a word. Dongfang Yonghao sneered, "Are these dishes you snatched? They're all cold."

  I forced a smile: "You're looking down on me too much, aren't you? Rushing to eat? You've got some nerve."

  Dongfang Yonghao sneered, "Either you're a spy who planned to infiltrate us with this trick, or else, if you don't have any money on you, how did you manage to get food?"

  I pulled out a wad of cash from my body, waved it in the air and said: "What is this if not money? Do you think I'm as stupid as you are, going out without bringing any money?"

  Dongfang Yonghao glared and said, "Who says I didn't bring any money? Didn't you guys take it away from me?"

  I laughed: "Isn't that still no money? From today on, if you need to use money, just ask me and I'll guarantee it. The premise is that you must speak up, otherwise, I won't even know you need the money."

  Dongfang Yonghao gritted his teeth and didn't speak, but his eyes were slowly filling with murderous intent.

  Xia Lin suddenly smiled slightly and said softly: "God of Wealth, how much money do you have to dare speak like this?"

  I didn't know that Xia Lin had a gentle side, and I was taken aback for a moment. But then I remembered she wasn't an ordinary woman, so I quickly snapped back to reality: "Money isn't everything, as long as it's enough."

  Xia Lin's face turned cold, then said: "Then don't pretend to be a big shot, it makes me sick just looking at you."

  I forced a smile, knowing that if I wasn't careful, she would scold me. So I smiled and said: "Now the three of us, it's just that I have money, so, you know what? I'm actually the big spender among the three of us."

  Xia Lin burst out laughing and then said to Dongfang Yonghao, "This guy's face is too thick, I...I can't argue with him. You come instead, you must bring down his arrogant attitude, it's annoying to watch."

  Dongfang Yonghao seemed to have received the highest instructions, and immediately said loudly: "Jin Cang, stop bothering my young lady. Didn't you hear what my young lady just said? She gets annoyed whenever she sees you."

  I smiled and stood up, saying to myself: "Take the plate back, lest it gets bitten by something that bites after being fed."

  Dongfang Yonghao seemed to be stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood my intention, raised his hand and was about to launch a sneak attack from behind. I flashed my body, suddenly speeding up, making his blow fall empty.

  I took the plate back to the dining car and saw a large backpack had been placed on the table where I was sitting before.

  I put down the tray and said to the purser standing beside me: "Thank you, I will send you the money for these things."

  The train conductor smiled and said, "Don't be polite, these things are our contribution to the country. By the way, we put some cash in your backpack, you can take it out when you need it. It's not much money, please accept it."

  I smiled: "You're very considerate, thank you for the kind words. I won't say much more, but hopefully we can meet again in the future. Next time, I'll treat everyone to dinner and drinks!"

  The staff inside the dining car said in unison: "Yes, sir!"

  I smiled, picked up my backpack and left the dining car, heading towards my original carriage. In my heart, I felt a long-lost special emotion, as if I had once again tasted my mother's cooking as a wandering son, or been accepted by my girlfriend as a young man. Anyway, this feeling was very intimate and touching.

  I returned to my position and saw that Dongfang Yonghao had already closed his eyes and was resting. I put down my backpack and asked Xia Lin, who was also preparing to rest: "How much longer until we arrive at your place?"

  Xia Lin slightly furrowed her brow and said: "I didn't say I'd take you to our place, aren't you going to Hubei? Why ask these things?"

  I saw she didn't seem to have any intention of setting things on fire, so I said: "I'm a good person who sees things through to the end, sending Buddha off to the west, but I won't send you home."

  Xia Lin sneered: "You want to know our base? Don't dream about it, I won't tell you."

  I smiled and said: "Then I'll follow you forever, till the earth is old and the sky is worn out..."

  "Are you shameless? You can say something like that so casually?"

  I smiled and said: "What's wrong with that? I'm not married, she's not married either. I expressed my... whatever to her, it doesn't count as a crime, does it?"

  Dongfang Yonghao's face changed again, as if he was about to get angry. But Xia Lin hastily said: "But I won't accept someone like you...that kind of thing..."

  I smiled: "It's okay, as the saying goes, 'sincerity can move mountains and rivers', I will try my best. If all else fails, I'll learn from a certain someone and follow you around every day under the guise of protecting you. One day, you'll develop feelings for me."

  Dongfang Yonghao almost jumped up, his eyes turning red again. He coldly said: "What did you say? Dare to repeat it!"

  I was about to further infuriate him, when Xia Lin suddenly said: "We've grown up together since childhood, like siblings. If you're envious, why don't you go find someone who gets along with you instead of stirring up trouble here?"

  Her words were obviously helping Dongfang Yonghao, but a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, although it was very weak, and I really caught it.

  "I muttered to myself: 'So that's how it is, childhood friends, innocent and carefree. But it seems someone doesn't like being someone else's brother... This is a difficult matter, everything depends on fate, can't be forced!'"

  My words pierced Eastern Ho's ears like a sharp knife that had been thrust deep into his heart, causing him to shudder all over.

  Xia Lin seemed to have sensed something, glanced at Dongfang Yonghao, and then coldly stared at me: "You're now a person with no way out, it's best if you behave. Otherwise, I may not necessarily take you to our place."

  My heart skipped a beat, but I pretended to be clueless and asked: "How did you know I had nowhere else to go? I'm a member of the Dragon Protection Squad... at least I used to be. Now even though I can't go back, I can still return home. Let me tell you, my hometown may be in the countryside, but we have food, drink, brothers, and friends. When we're all together, there's laughter and joy. What about you guys? You're always so serious, like everyone owes you millions! It's exhausting! Life is too tiring!"

  Xia Lin was about to refute me, but suddenly shut her mouth. I saw a hint of longing in her eyes, probably because she had never experienced the kind of family life I described, where four generations live together, laughing and chatting, drinking and eating meat with big mouths, so she was stunned.

  I secretly rejoiced and continued to say: "In my opinion, we'd better not go to your place. Aren't you worried that I'm an undercover agent? Then let's go to my home together, so you'll feel at ease. How about it?"

  Xia Lin sighed softly and said in a low voice, "I know you may be sincere in helping us, but after all, we are still enemies at the moment. How can we trust you? We appreciate your kindness, but we really can't go to your home..."

  I feigned extreme disappointment and raised my voice, saying: "What a pity! Otherwise, you would know what a paradise on earth is like. Let me tell you, my hometown is just that - a paradise on earth..."

  Dongfang Yonghao suddenly said, "Stop bragging, do you think we don't know? It's just a rural village, three or five people, a few chickens, and a few dogs, what's there to brag about?"

  I laughed and said: "You're wrong about that, our village is a big one with over a thousand people. As for pigs, cows, chickens, ducks and whatnot, there are tens of thousands of them, not just a few..."

  Dongfang Yonghao hastily said: "Isn't that just a rural area? What's there to say, in places like this, our Huaxia has at least 8,000, if not 10,000."

  I laughed: "That's right, our Huaxia is picturesque with beautiful mountains and rivers, talented people and spiritual land, everywhere is a paradise on earth. But what I find strange is that since our Huaxia is already so good, why would you still want... to do that?"

  Dongfang Yonghao was suddenly speechless and couldn't say a word for a long time.

  I pretended not to see his awkward expression, turned my head and said to Xia Lin: "So, you're a girl, you should find a man in a mountainous and scenic place, get married, have one or two kids, and live happily with your family. There's no need to participate in battles."

  Xia Lin slightly furrowed her brow and said: "It seems that my affairs are not for you to manage, you have the leisure to think about it, but rather think about how we will proceed from here."

  I waved my hand: "Follow you guys.I've made up my mind, wherever you go, I'll go."

  Xia Lin's face turned slightly red, and then she straightened her face and said: "Who allowed you to follow? Dongfang, tell him that we don't welcome him."

  Dongfang Yonghao wanted to speak up, but after glancing at me, he obediently shut his mouth.

  I smiled secretly in my heart and said with a straight face, "That won't do. For your sake, I've abandoned everything. Now you say you don't welcome me, what am I supposed to do?"

  Xia Lin suddenly became angry again, coldly shouting: "What did you say? What do you mean by giving up everything for me? I... did I let you do this?"

  I rolled my eyes and said: "You sleep so beautifully, I lost everything when I saw you, even almost forgot what my surname is and what my name is?"

  The old man sitting in front of us with his eyes closed finally couldn't help it, and burst out laughing: "Young fellow, you've got a thick skin, I'm rooting for you!"

  I also smiled: "Thank you for the compliment!" Turning back to Xia Lin, I said: "If you don't allow me to follow you, there's only one way."

  Xia Lin was overjoyed and hastily asked: "What method?"

  I smiled, and I smiled very mysteriously...