Choo choo! Choo choo!

The train arrived at Three-Head Fork, and Liao Zihui boarded the train.

If it weren’t for his round figure, Li Qi might not have recognized him. Liao Zihui was wrapped tightly from head to toe, with a heavy mask on his face.

"Brother Li, haven’t seen you in a while!

Old Shen, how long has it been since we’ve met!"

Liao Zihui removed his mask and greeted everyone. On the train, there’s no need to guard against Heavenly Light, so they can temporarily remove their gear.

Li Banfeng exchanged pleasantries with Liao Zihui, and specifically mentioned, "The Autumn Song Festival at Xiaoyao Lodge is coming up, Chief Envoy Liao, you must come to give support."

Liao Zihui waved his hands repeatedly: "Director Shen is listening nearby, we can’t discuss this in front of him, he’ll surely report me when we get back."

Shen Jingye chuckled: "What’s wrong with listening to a song? The first Singing Empress of Puluo State, Jiang Mengting, is said to be at Xiaoyao Lodge, right? They say she sings exceptionally well, I want to listen too."

After exchanging pleasantries, they began discussing the main topic.

Liao Zihui brought a list, "Brother Li, here’s a list of five thousand people, take a look first."

Looking at the list doesn’t help; Li Qi has never been to Three-Head Fork and doesn’t know any of the people on the list: "Chief Envoy Liao, are these people selected from the City of Sinners?"

This was Greenwater Beggar’s condition; he said the Three-Headed People he’s requesting must come from the City of Sinners.

Liao Zihui nodded, "The place we’re in is the City of Sinners, the people I selected are all from there. If you don’t believe, you can ask them one by one. If one of them talks nonsense, it might be taught by me, but surely not all five thousand would talk nonsense?"

Li Qi truly wanted to verify: "Since Chief Envoy Liao said so, let’s disembark!"

Liao Zihui had someone take the gear, and Li Banfeng put on a hat, wore the heavy protective suit, and donned the mask.

"Director Shen, want to come along?" Liao Zihui asked.

Shen Jingye scratched his neck and said, "Chief Envoy Liao, could you kindly get me some inhibitors? I took some before coming here, and now the effect seems to be a bit too strong."

People without cultivation level, upon arriving at Three-Head Fork, are affected by the territory, their necks itch, consciousness scatters, and they have an illusion of growing two extra heads.

Of course, this also depends on how long you stay at Three-Head Fork. If it’s just for a few hours, there’s not much issue, and the illusion quickly disappears.

But if you stay for ten days or half a month, it might not be an illusion anymore; you could really grow two extra heads.

To be safe, it’s best for those without cultivation level to take some inhibitors when arriving at Three-Head Fork. Shen Jingye requested inhibitors at this moment, partly to show his strength, indicating he’s still a White Lamb, best not to let him disembark.

Additionally, to show his stance, indicating that since they’ve arrived at Puluo State, such matters should not involve him.

Liao Zihui quickly called someone to bring inhibitors for Shen Jingye, and he led Li Banfeng off the train.

The platform was still the same as before; outside the iron fence, Three-Headed People were still crowded.

They reached their hands into the fence, opened their palms, looked expectantly at Li Qi.

Li Banfeng asked Liao Zihui, "Are all these people boarding today?"

Liao Zihui shook his head, "Not all."

"What do you mean?"

Liao Zihui said, "Some are family members seeing off their loved ones, not knowing if they’ll meet again in this lifetime, they had to come to see them off."

Having said that, Liao Zihui waved his hand, ordering to open the gate.

Five thousand people formed a line and entered the station entrance through a temporary passage.

The temporary passage was made from iron fences; as they walked forward, people inside the fence net reached out their hands, pulling at their clothes, holding their hands.

Li Banfeng heard cries, heard faint and fragmented exhortations.

Li Banfeng saw many reaching out both hands towards him, clasped together, bowing towards him.

Since the day he could remember, Li Banfeng rarely avoided others’ gaze; when talking or handling matters, he usually looked directly into the other’s eyes.

But today, he averted his gaze.

"Chief Envoy Liao, how many Three-Headed People are at Three-Head Fork?"

Liao Zihui said, "The City of Sinners has over two hundred thousand, those hiding outside the city haven’t been counted."

Over two hundred thousand...

Li Qi looked at the five thousand boarding the train; they were loaded into cargo carriages, which didn’t have windows.

"Is food and drink prepared?"

Liao Zihui laughed: "Don’t worry, we definitely won’t let them starve to death."

Li Qi inspected each carriage, and once everyone boarded, the train whistled, ready to embark.

Li Qi boarded the train, stood by the window, and looked at the station.

People outside the platform were still bowing towards him. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The train slowly started, and amidst the steam hissing, Li Qi heard drums, low drum beats.

Liao Zihui frowned: "Why are they drumming today? Are they up to mischief again?"

They didn’t intend mischief.

This is the unique drum of the City of Sinners, only sounded in two situations.

One is during the New Year, representing the City’s hope for life.

The other is when survival becomes impossible, representing the City’s struggle for life.

Today isn’t the New Year, but they see hope.

They don’t know why these five thousand people are leaving the City of Sinners, nor where they’re headed.

But leaving brings hope.

Thud! Thud!

Li Banfeng stood by the window, silently watching the receding platform.

Wait for me, I will return.

...

On the road, Li Qi went to the Three-Headed People’s carriage to count, and Liao Zihui took the opportunity to ask Shen Jingye: "Why did Green Flower take an interest in these Three-Headed People?"

Shen Jingye repeatedly shook his head: "Even I haven’t figured that out, by the way, when does the Autumn Song Festival at Xiaoyao Lodge usually start."