Chapter 165: Spooky Urban Legend Bus?
Boarding the carriage, Yuan Zhu swept a glance toward the carriage tail and found that the front and rear carriages had gradually been occupied by 2/3 of the seats. He hadn’t expected to arrive early enough, yet there were still plenty of people catching the first bus.
Next, he noticed something interesting. The middle of the passenger bus was an aisle, with three consecutive seats on each side. But most passengers chose positions farther from the car windows on both sides, closer to the corridor.
Not only that, most passengers were extremely quiet. Some wore eye masks to rest with eyes closed, others read magazines or novels under the car ceiling lights. A very few even wore high-end equipment like portable music players (headphones) to listen to music?
Has the technology in the Du Ling World developed this much?
After scanning the carriage, he chose an empty seat in the first carriage, on the left side near the front and by the window. On his right was a middle-aged man in formal attire.
Seeing Yuan Zhu approach, he nodded politely in greeting, then stood up to let him pass, appearing very well-mannered. But the carriage maintained its silent and quiet atmosphere throughout, and the man had no intention of starting a conversation.
So Yuan Zhu didn’t initiate any talk either. Instead, he slightly lifted the curtain blocking the window and looked outside. On the wide station plaza, vehicles of various lengths were parked. Not far away, groups of passengers were lining up orderly to board.
After another 10 minutes or so, the two passenger carriages where Yuan Zhu was sitting were almost fully occupied. Finally, a few late passengers boarded, saw that the middle seats were taken, and unwilling to sit by the windows, got off again with unhappy faces to switch vehicles.
At this moment, a short man only 1.4m tall, carrying a thermos cup, struggled to climb the bus steps and nodded to the ticket-inspecting auntie with bandaged eyes, arms crossed over her chest, standing motionless like a mountain.
He then addressed all the passengers: “Hello everyone, I am the driver for this trip. I have a few words for you all. Regardless of whether you’ve ridden to Taixi before, please remember these points: First, during the journey, all window-opening is prohibited. There are ventilation devices above the car ceiling—strictly no opening windows for air. If not necessary, do not pull back the curtains to look outside after entering the mountains. The misty area has no scenery and is instead likely to attract ill omens.”
Yuan Zhu: “!!!”
He hadn’t expected that a youth from the mountains taking his first long-distance bus full of excitement to see the big city would immediately encounter “weird tale rules” upon boarding. How could Running be so peaceful and harmonious, yet riding a bus comes with horror rules?
Seeing the crowd’s flat reactions, the short driver clearly knew they were all aware of this common sense, but due to work rules, he had to continue reciting mechanically without emotion.
“Second point: During the journey, no loud noise, shouting, or disturbing others’ rest. If you truly must speak, directly call for the attendant.”
As he spoke, he pointed his palm toward that broad and steady back, in a strangely polite manner.
“During vehicle operation, situations vary by passenger. Some experience nothing unusual throughout, but others may hear singing, cries for help, laughter, or chats among family… In short, do not believe, indulge, respond, or fear them. If you’re worried about self-control, no need to fret. This trip offers free binding and one-time paid gag ball service—those in need can contact the attendant.”
Yuan Zhu: “???”
What the hell is this SM weird tale rules, and you even have to pay for the gag ball?
Next, the short driver raised three fingers: “Third point: During the journey, do not attempt to interfere with my work. After the vehicle starts, no leaving seats, no requesting toilet breaks, no shouting to stop midway… Hold it in if you need to go. This trip has three rest stops for refueling, about every two hours. You can get off to relieve yourselves or buy lunch.”
“Finally, a warm reminder. Every trip always has a few passengers lacking self-control, affected by the Misty Mountains environment, troubling other guests. At that time, the attendant will perform correction and maintenance—please do not panic, freak out, or be surprised. The attendant’s actions are all normal… Treat them with a normal heart!”
“Um… One more addition. The singing, laughter, incomprehensible mutterings, little secrets from loved ones and friends, even lottery or horse racing predictions you hear during the journey… are all normal phenomena. You’ll still remember them clearly after leaving the misty area, so don’t take them seriously. However! If any of you hear a strange voice imparting some kind of knowledge to you, with an especially profound and clear memory impression, do not get lucky and think it’s a fortuitous encounter to secretly keep to yourself.”
“Please contact the station immediately after disembarking for handling. If you don’t trust the station, you can go to the hospital yourself for [Holy Light Demon Extermination Department] treatment. Of course, if you insist on believing the ‘knowledge’ heard during the ride, I can only wish you the best. That’s all—please fasten your seatbelts. Call the attendant if needed.”
With that, the short driver flipped over a bulging device and climbed to the driver’s seat. He pulled out a cushion as thick as a shoebox from under the seat, placed it properly, then effortfully sat up high to ensure he could see the view outside the car window.
Then, he bent down to fit his right foot with a prosthetic-like section, somewhat like a stilt ‘fake leg’, ensuring his short leg could promptly reach the pedals.
Yuan Zhu watched all this with twitching eye corners.
“Little Spicy Stick, did we board the wrong bus? Seat cushion + fake leg, on mountain roads—this is a death rhythm!”
Little Spicy Stick retorted: “I see it differently! A long-distance station letting such a short-legged guy drive proves real strength. Standing out among all the long-legged normal drivers—doesn’t that mean his driving skills are even more masterful?!”
“Fair point!”
The vehicle started up with a roar and vibration—whether Yuan Zhu regretted it or not, it was too late. The vehicle slowly moved forward, heading toward the streets outside the door.
At this moment, Yuan Zhu keenly detected that the ‘passenger bus’ power system had obvious energy reactions. This ‘pollution fluctuation’ was familiar, consistent with the [Industrial Element Device] he encountered at the lamp factory and the fake liquor he bought for No. 3.
Little Spicy Stick also reminded: “Boss, I’ve keenly noticed this bus and the driver’s ‘fake leg’ feel off.”
Yuan Zhu: “How off? Is this trip hiding a conspiracy? Am I really that unlucky?”
“Not quite. I just discovered a hidden connection between the ‘driver’ and ‘bus’—not like normal driving, more like a [profession]. Do you think this [long-distance driver] could be a kind of ‘pollution system’? But his (polluted) feel on me isn’t strong, and the bus’s ‘supernatural modification’ is minimal, only about 1/20 of the whole vehicle.”
Yuan Zhu analyzed using his knowledge of the Du Ling World: “I think this isn’t any systematic [supernatural system]. But the driver must have undergone limited pollution modification and training, and… perhaps received some blessing from a [Drift God, Mountain Road God]?”
As a [Anti-Law Demon God] reserve, he often role-played ahead. Imagining what he’d do after unlocking [Anti-Law].
If he planned to expand the [White Feather Association] and whitewash into legitimacy, he’d inevitably need to cultivate core members and grant ‘supernatural powers’.
This blessing would be stronger and more enduring than [Holy Cough], actually effective. But not as formal as [Holy Mark], directly entering a ‘supernatural system’.
Just limited supernatural power would give superiority among ordinary humans, allow manifesting miracles with real effects, satisfying vanity.
This driver’s state matched his vision. First, rich work experience; second, skills honed beyond ordinary human levels, spontaneously birthing ‘supernatural driving skills’? But not reaching [seed] level, no systematic upgrade path—yet more than enough to traverse the dangerous Misty Mountains.
…
The vehicle soon left the urban area, with vegetation and trees gradually appearing on both sides of the highway. As it neared the mountain base, the roadside vegetation grew denser and taller.
Due to years without maintenance, plus year-round mild temperatures without seasons and abundant rainfall, the big trees on both sides intertwined in mid-air, fully blocking the road, chilly, desolate, damp, eerie…
Yuan Zhu sat in the first carriage, looking toward the carriage head glass ahead, clearly seeing faint ink-green road ahead gradually shrouded in wisps of white mist. The ground was wet; frog croaks could even be heard rapidly passing outside the window.
By now, a few passengers with poor mental fortitude or carsickness had paled and softly called for the attendant.
The attendant auntie at the carriage head front, motionless like an indestructible Vajra meat mountain Barbie, twitched her ears slightly and heard the faint call from the second carriage.
She stood, turned, steadily strode the corridor with wind in her steps to the second carriage, then performed a series of swift, efficient binding actions, securing the passenger to the seat with a rope while pinching two fingers for a quick jab to the abdomen.
The originally pale passenger let out a pained grunt from nose and mouth, then his face rapidly regained color, body twitching in pain yet showing some comfortable relaxation.
Soon, a few more passengers actively sought the strange service. Some accepted binding and even requested extra loops around the abdomen, tightened. Others called for the striking service—as if the attendant auntie’s ‘acupoint strikes’ had acupuncture effects?
Fortunately, no one chose the ‘paid gag ball’ business, or it’d be too damn weird! Plus the light-blocking curtained windows on both sides gave a sense of boarding the wrong bus, about to go super off the rails.
…
The attendant auntie remained silent, just attacking and binding passengers relentlessly. Once no more calls came, she returned to her throne, leaving the crowd her broad, steady, reliable back.
This mute-button-like scene made Yuan Zhu seriously suspect if this big sis cultivated the [Path of Strength]? Secretly bulking up after work every day? So strong, so reliable.
Little Spicy Stick retorted: “Doesn’t seem like it! Though I haven’t formally contacted and recorded the [Path of Strength] polluted aura, she doesn’t feel like a [Frog God] believer. This ‘attendant giant mom’ is strong, sure, but her body’s terror and power don’t seem post-training—it’s innate divine power. Her inner aura is very restrained and low-key, orderly and steady, inclusive and stable like [Earth]. Very… likable!”
Hearing Little Spicy Stick’s description, Yuan Zhu nodded in agreement. This ‘giant mom’s’ back looked as solid and reliable as mountains. Like in daily life, though her build was intimidatingly huge and her face not kindly, she surprisingly felt dependable and trustworthy.
…
As the vehicle entered the Misty Mountains’ winding mountain highway, constantly twisting, turning, big looping drifts, Yuan Zhu by the window had nothing to do. Seeing no one initiating chat, he couldn’t resist quietly lifting a corner of the curtain, peering through the window gap to observe outside.
The passenger bus hadn’t yet entered the dangerous ‘mist zone’—theoretically, a few glances posed no risk.
Far away were endless towering mountains, steep and tall like sky-reaching barriers, exceeding the car window’s visible range. The mountains were not only steep but lush with verdant vegetation, wrapped in layers of thin mist, clouds and fog interweaving—very atmospheric, like traveling through the clouds.
However, his action drew dissatisfaction from nearby passengers. Several around him kept turning to glare impatiently, hoping he’d cover the window himself and not court death by breaking the rules.
But Yuan Zhu didn’t turn back at all, ignoring the stares behind him, continuing to peer curiously.
Finally, a fat guy couldn’t hold back: “Hey! Kid, didn’t you hear the ride reminders? Don’t fiddle with the curtain—cover it quick!”
Then another spoke: “Attendant, you gonna handle this kid? What if he delays the trip—bad for everyone.”
Bandage Barbie’s ears twitched slightly upon hearing, and she rose again, turning toward Yuan Zhu’s position.
Clearly without vision, yet everyone felt her eyes precisely lock on Yuan Zhu, her body emanating a suppressive aura for silent pressure and warning.
Signaling not to challenge the attendant’s authority during the ride.
Yuan Zhu just raised one finger, [Holy Light] aura flashing and dispelling the gradually gathering chilly damp mist aura in the carriage.
Surrounding passengers immediately shut up, showing surprised delight.
Great! A Holy Cultivator—we’re saved!!
Instead, the attendant auntie sensed the ‘Holy Light’, proactively dissipating the silent pressure, and nodded slightly to Yuan Zhu in acknowledgment.
This time, Yuan Zhu no longer courted death by lifting the curtain but draped it over his head—neither disturbing others’ rest nor missing the 100% death-defying view outside.
The Misty Mountains’ winding highway was exceptionally steep in motion; every sharp turn felt like being flung into the void off the cliff, about to plummet to death.
In fact, he really was flung out, hovering beyond the cliff. But due to the two carriages’ weird structure, it formed a ‘folding drift’ state.
Fold your arm, fist on chest. Now, the fist is the first carriage head, shoulder the second carriage tail—elbow dangling over the cliff.
What more could Yuan Zhu say?
This defied Earth common sense—utterly heavenly. Couldn’t comprehend the busted bus structure or driver’s skill; all ‘supernatural driving’ effect.
His C1 license might as well be trash—this was the true car god.
