The train from Lanxi Kingdom to Wu Country takes seventeen hours.

That's a long time.

Compared to how we've already gotten used to the efficiency of planes, this is actually pretty hard to endure.

And because there's currently conflict breaking out in Wu Country, even if Zhang Beixing and Makely spend seventeen hours on the train, they still can't go straight to where they want to go.

On top of those seventeen hours, they have to transfer and trek for more than three hours before they can get there; it's basically a whole day gone.

There's nothing to be done about it; Zhang Beixing can only pin his hopes on Leng Bing being tough enough on his own.

Tough enough to hold out through this winter cold until the moment he can rush to his side.

Makely has to be brought along; she's the only hope Leng Bing has to stay alive.

"After you bring him back from the brink, then what? Send him back home?"

Makely chose to use this victim to break the silence between the two of them.

Zhang Beixing didn't stint at all; he directly bought four tickets and took the whole soft sleeper compartment.

Facing Makely's question, Zhang Beixing pondered for a moment before answering.

"That's what I'm thinking. After all, there's basically no need for him to keep carrying out missions in Wu Country anymore."

"My Cultivation Technique has already been spread, and the leader of the organization he threw himself into, Simoski, is already dead. I really can't think of any use in him staying in Wu Country."

Zhang Beixing thought it over.

"But his identity is awkward now too. Within Great Xia, his identity has basically turned into that of a traitor. That's bound to cause major trouble for his life."

"Barring any surprises, he'll probably have to live under an assumed name for a long time, wait for his superior to work the situation for a while and rescue his reputation first. Otherwise, it won't just be him—even going out with his family in the future will be impossible."

Zhang Beixing didn't hide the fact that Leng Bing was an undercover agent sent out by Great Xia to carry out this mission.

Makely was about to become Leng Bing's savior; if you even keep a patient's identity from the person who's half a doctor to him, that's pretty uncalled‑for.

As for Makely knowing about the Fake Cultivation Methods incident he'd orchestrated, Zhang Beixing didn't care either. Makely would be following him back to Great Xia soon anyway, so even if she knew, it didn't matter.

He might as well treat it as boring small talk between the two of them.

Makely listened very carefully, nodding at the parts she agreed with.

Zhang Beixing looked at her and asked, a bit puzzled, "I have a question that might be a bit offensive, but I really am curious."

"Minister Zhang, curiosity is what kills the cat."

Makely's gaze hooked like a claw as she shot Zhang Beixing a deep look.

She seemed to have already guessed what Zhang Beixing wanted to ask, but she didn't mind.

"Go ahead."

Zhang Beixing came straight out with it. "Your husband cheated on you openly, and then you, in a roundabout way, directly had your husband killed."

"Throughout that whole process, I don't think I saw the slightest emotional fluctuation from you."

"Is your heart really as hard as a rock?"

"..."

So it was that question.

Makely's eyelids lowered; she twisted off the cap of a bottle of mineral water and took a light sip.

"Not really. I just don't like to show it, that's all."

"For things that have already happened, anger is useless. You just need to carry out your revenge, that's enough." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Even if you're heartbroken, why do you have to show it? For who to see? For a stranger like Minister Zhang? Or just to make my parents and daughter worry for nothing?"

Makely let out a faint sigh. "Some things, once they've happened, you just take them head‑on. Why show so much emotion?"

After hearing this, Zhang Beixing sucked in a sharp breath.

"I think your emotional control has already gone beyond what's human."

"I even feel like you're more like an artificial intelligence now—rational to the extreme."

Makely neither agreed nor disagreed with Zhang Beixing's opinion. She didn't respond, just turned to look out the window.

By this time, the train had already left Tietuo City.

But the landmark iron tower still stood tall on the land, within the range visible from the carriage window.

This was her first time leaving Tietuo City since getting married, and the destination she was heading to was a full ten thousand li away from this hometown.

The atmosphere in the carriage started to quiet down.

Neither of them spoke up again.

...

...

...

"You're sure Zhang Beixing is in one of the cars up ahead?"

"I'm absolutely sure."

Right then, in another carriage, two men were talking quietly.

The carriage they were in was the very last one of the whole train, hanging off the tail end.

Among the people taking part in this operation, only these two actually knew Zhang Beixing.

Because Zhang Beixing was just too special.

There was only this one Transcendent in the whole world.

They didn't dare wander around in front of Zhang Beixing, didn't even dare get too close to him, for fear he'd notice them.

The dozens of thugs they'd brought this time were all people who had never met Zhang Beixing. Only that way could they effectively avoid triggering Zhang Beixing's sharp instincts.

This was experience they'd summed up in blood and tears.

They had pored over all the surveillance footage of Zhang Beixing's many battles abroad.

The final conclusion they came to was that Zhang Beixing's sixth sense was insanely sharp!

Just having someone fix their eyes on him for a bit was enough for him to notice!