Gun of Ashes

But this time it’s different. The train is scarcely guarded, and once attacked, these soldiers have no ability to resist. He doesn’t know what cargo is being transported, but he’s very displeased with such defense measures.

”Do you want me to communicate?”

The man in the seat asked. Rod looked over; it was a young foreigner, to be precise, a Jiuxia person, clad in armor and carrying weaponry.

Rod was somewhat disappointed that he spoke standard Western language. No one is sure how much preparation these Jiuxia people did when they left Jiuxia.

”No need, they’ll handle it.”

Rod responded.

The man said no more, gazing out the window, keeping silent, which made Rod uncomfortable.

These self-proclaimed Anonymous folks seem to be like this: expressionless and silent. If you couldn’t hear their breathing, you’d suspect they were cold machines beneath their skin.

But fortunately, not all Anonymous are like this. Otherwise, Rod would start thinking all Jiuxia people are like this, causing the imagined nation in his mind to collapse.

”Don’t worry, he’s always like this. Actually, this guy is quite enthusiastic.”

A cheerful voice rang out; her Western language wasn’t very standard, and others found it a bit hard to understand, like talking while eating.

Rod could understand it all, so his main translation duties were focused on this girl.

She was a girl who looked very much like the indifferent man, seemingly siblings. She also wore armor, but obviously much lighter than the man’s, with a strangely shaped firearm beside her.

”You’re our translator, right?” The girl repeated in Jiuxia language.

Rod was stunned for a moment, then replied in Jiuxia language.

”Yes.”

The girl laughed, very lively, like a live fish jumping into a pool of dead fish among the Anonymous. From the man’s expression, the girl’s over-activity brought him quite some trouble.

”This is Shao Liangye, and I’m Shao Liangxi.”

Shao Liangxi introduced herself and the silent man beside her. Shao Liangye didn’t look pleased, seeming helpless.

Rod was a bit bewildered, awkwardly stating his name, ”Rod Evans.”

”Hello, Rod!”

Shao Liangxi exclaimed joyfully. The other Jiuxia people looked like they were coming here to die, only she seemed to be on a public-funded holiday.

This slightly excessive enthusiasm made Rod a bit uneasy; he answered stiffly.

”Hello, Shao Liangxi.”

It was at this moment the carriage slightly wobbled, and the loud whistle sounded, suggesting that the stubborn driver had finally been persuaded. The armed train slowly started, speeding along the tracks towards Old Dunling.

Dust flies among the steel, the motion spreading to the cargo boxes at the rear. In the darkness, the silent steel bodies, reminiscent of the Armor of Original Sin yet somehow different.

They hold no exaggerated design, and outwardly simple appearance, yet beneath simplicity, they impose solemn pressure, like towering boulders.

Metal lightly collides during the motion, playing a stern melody, as these performers are dragged by the armed trains towards Old Dunling.

This is why these armed trains don’t need soldiers; they are transporting an army.

A steel army.