Chapter 1930: Chapter 1094: _2
After determining that one of the two was involved, Yang Xiao and Takagi Reina’s first thing upon boarding the train was to inspect the entire train to confirm the identity and location of the other party.
But from the last carriage to the front, they didn’t find a single familiar face. The other party hadn’t boarded early.
However, as the train slowly stopped at Renyuan Shrine Station, Yang Xiao and Takagi Reina saw a familiar figure on the platform.
"Damn..." Takagi Reina’s face was grim, knowing tonight wasn’t going to end well.
As the train doors slowly opened, Watanabe Gou boarded the train from the platform, and his first action was to inspect each car.
He was looking for someone, specifically Yang Xiao and Takagi Reina, to determine their location.
"Retreat." Yang Xiao decisively ordered a retreat. Watanabe Gou boarded from carriage 6, while Yang Xiao and his companion were in carriage 3.
Taking advantage of Watanabe Gou boarding, Yang Xiao and his companion quietly left the train.
When the train began to move, Watanabe Gou, still inside looking for someone, saw Yang Xiao and Takagi Reina standing on the platform.
But it was too late. Yang Xiao and Takagi Reina stood in a row, waving goodbye like bidding farewell as Watanabe Gou slowly disappeared into the distance.
Until the train disappeared completely into the night.
"Why is it him again?" After Watanabe Gou was gone, Takagi Reina was skeptical, "This curse is so terrifying, why does it target one person? Last time it was him, this time it’s him again. That guy is just too unlucky."
Watching the train vanish, Yang Xiao also couldn’t understand, isn’t this saying that as long as the person holding the Ghost Train Ticket survives, the curse will continue?
He will always be the host for the Half Ghost, helping it on the train to find those "guests" who don’t belong here. It’s terrifying.
But anyway, today they managed to escape this ordeal.
Their task was to take the train, but they never specified taking the same carriage as Watanabe Gou.
Even if Watanabe Gou asks the next day, they have a way to evade, besides... Yang Xiao doesn’t believe he will survive another encounter.
"Do you think he might block us at the next station?" Takagi Reina asked worriedly.
"Very likely, but we’ll just stay vigilant. As soon as we see him appear on the platform, we’ll get off right when he boards," Yang Xiao proposed a strategy, "We have plenty of time to drag this out; he doesn’t."
There aren’t many waiting passengers at the night train platforms, so if Watanabe Gou appears, they will certainly see him and avoid him.
As the train entered the night, it soon stopped at Fukagawa Shitamachi Station. Yang Xiao and Takagi Reina leaned on the window glass, carefully observing the people waiting on the platform.
But even as the train restarted, they didn’t see Watanabe Gou’s shadow.
"Not here?" Takagi Reina frowned in surprise.
"Don’t let your guard down. You keep an eye out while I check the nearby carriages to make sure he didn’t sneak aboard." Though such chances are small, it’s a matter of life, they can’t be careless.
Yang Xiao carefully inspected again; the train had only six carriages, but Watanabe Gou wasn’t in any.
Thus, they kept vigilant, checking each time the train stopped, until they reached Old Valley Town Station, with the next stop being Shirahata Station, and the haunted Youjian Mountain Tunnel lying in between.
Watanabe Gou still hadn’t appeared, raising suspicions for Yang Xiao. That guy doesn’t seem like someone who’d give up easily.
On the Old Valley Town Station platform, there were only three people: a tall, thin man in a suit, and a young girl assisting her elder.
The girl seemed about 15 or 16, supporting an old woman wearing a hat, slightly hunched over. Their actions suggested they were talking.
Yang Xiao and Takagi Reina were in carriage 5, while the tall, thin man boarded the adjacent carriage 4, and the old lady and the granddaughter went to the front carriage.
Until the train started again, nothing unusual occurred—Watanabe Gou did not attempt to board again, nor did he appear; it seemed he gave up entirely.
Yang Xiao felt this was impossible; there must be a problem somewhere.
As he racked his brains, suddenly, behind the glass of the connecting door to his side appeared a person—a very young girl.
The girl didn’t enter the carriage; she glanced around theirs, her gaze soon focusing on Yang Xiao.
Without further action, she turned after another glance and left.
This scene was caught by Takagi Reina’s peripheral view, "Hm? That girl seemed to be observing you."
As Takagi Reina recounted the event, Yang Xiao’s face changed instantly; he suddenly understood.
"Did the girl leave?" Yang Xiao asked, keeping calm.
"She left." From Takagi Reina’s vantage, she could see the connecting door.
"Listen, don’t get disoriented. We’re in trouble; they’ve set us up." Yang Xiao took a deep breath, "Someone boarded."
"Damn..." Takagi Reina quickly understood, her expression turning dark, "Tonight it wasn’t Watanabe Gou; it was Yandeta Chiyoda. She’s the one who got the Ghost Train Ticket. Watanabe Gou was just a decoy, a Blinding Technique to mislead us!"
"That old lady is Yandeta Chiyoda in disguise; she’s waiting to catch us; she’s on board. This old witch..." This clever ploy caught Yang Xiao off guard.
The girl observing through the window was searching for someone, for Yang Xiao. After confirming his position, she went back to inform the disguised Yandeta Chiyoda.
And now the train was in the tunnel, too late to escape, meaning they were doomed to be entangled in the Ghost Train supernatural event tonight.
Just the three of them on the train, but one must die.
"What did they say last night, how long after entering the tunnel until something happens?" Yang Xiao asked.
"Not long, just a few minutes. First, the tracks shake, then the Ghost Train appears at the end of the tunnel, catching up to us. At the moment of the collision, we’ll be swapped onto the Ghost Train," Takagi Reina spoke quickly.
As soon as she said this, Yang Xiao felt the carriage floor begin to vibrate, growing increasingly pronounced.
"Move, change carriages." Yang Xiao decided on the spot; their position was exposed, staying would likely lead to being found and killed.
They were currently in carriage 5, while Yandeta Chiyoda and the girl were in the front, specific position unknown. But considering their boarding position and distance, carriage 2 or 3 seemed most likely.
"It’s best if we split up; one to carriage 6, one to carriage 4."
"Going to carriage 4 risks exposure during movement, but if successful, it offers better concealment compared to carriage 6. On the other hand, carriage 6 poses less risk, you choose first." Yang Xiao offered Takagi Reina the choice as a token of appreciation for her partnership.
"I’ll go to 6." With life or death at stake, Takagi Reina chose the safer hiding place.
"Alright, you go first. Once you’re hidden, I’ll make my move. If I’m exposed, I might run to the front carriages; as for you... feel free." Yang Xiao was direct in his words.
"Same here, I might not just stay in carriage 6," Takagi Reina replied, "My dad said staying put is cowardly."
"Your uncle’s got a sense of humor." Yang Xiao quipped as he stood up.
They both understood; they couldn’t hide together, nor should they know each other’s hiding spots. If one was caught by Yandeta Chiyoda, their fragile camaraderie wouldn’t stand in the way of survival.
"Good luck." Yang Xiao nodded to Takagi Reina.
"Same to you."
