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Bonus chapter! Thank you to Somebody for the donation! ^^
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The insects were too fast—in the blink of an eye, they swarmed toward the crowd. But the train's aisle was too narrow, and the packed bodies made it impossible for everyone to flee quickly.
Those who fell behind had no choice but to climb onto the train's roof, including Ruan Qing, who had initially been at the front. Now, in the escape, he found himself at the very back.
Also lagging behind was the male student Ruan Qing had saved earlier.
The boy's leg was injured, making his steps unsteady, and climbing was even more difficult. His face was twisted with deep fear and terror.
He wanted to move faster, but the searing pain in his ankle made it impossible. At one point, he nearly lost his grip and almost fell.
He glanced down at the squirming insects crawling up from below, then at Ruan Qing, who was just a short distance ahead of him. A cold, ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
If someone fell, the insects would swarm them instantly—maybe even abandon the chase altogether.
Desperate times reveal a person's true nature. Even if the other had just saved him, survival could justify betrayal.
Human nature had always been this way.
He didn’t want to die. If anyone was to blame, it was Ruan Qing for being soft-hearted enough to save him in the first place. Silently, the boy reached out toward the unsuspecting figure.
And grabbed nothing but air.
The moment he stretched out his hand, the person just half a body length ahead of him gripped the edge of the train’s roof and flipped over in one smooth motion, landing firmly on top.
The movement was sharp and effortless, his figure cutting a graceful arc through the air—so breathtaking it could make hearts skip a beat.
The male student’s expression went blank, his outstretched hand frozen mid-air.
…Wasn’t he supposed to be… weak? Too frail to even run…?
Ruan Qing had landed in a crouch. Still in that position, he looked down at the boy, the corners of his lips curving slightly as he offered a gentle, melodic reminder:
“Classmate, the insects are about to reach you.”
The wind atop the train was fierce, blowing back Ruan Qing’s slightly long hair and revealing his stunning, delicate features.
His eyes were faintly curved, his face softened by a faint smile—so radiant it could dim the world around him.
Even this decaying, horrifying world seemed gentler in his presence.
The boy was too close. When Ruan Qing smiled, his pupils dilated, his expression slackened, and his mind went completely blank.
What was he saying again? Something about insects.
Insects? What about them?
Quick, quick... they're crawling onto him!!!
The male student's eyes widened in realization. He pressed his foot down hard on the train, using the momentum to leap up and land steadily on the other end of the roof.
The movement didn’t seem like something a person with a leg injury—or even an ordinary student—could pull off.
Ruan Qing wasn’t the least bit surprised. He slowly stood up.
The wind whipped through their hair and clothes as they faced each other across the gaping fissure, beneath which swarmed countless climbing insects.
It was like a blade hanging over their heads, death lurking at every moment.
The fear on the male student’s face had long vanished, replaced by features matching those of Xiao Mingyu from the photograph.
He looked at Ruan Qing and spoke coldly, "When did you figure it out?"
"The second the train accelerated," Ruan Qing replied softly.
"Too much of a coincidence."
Ruan Qing never believed in coincidences. When too many piled up, they were inevitabilities orchestrated by someone.
His entry into the spatial explosion was inevitable. The train accelerating just as he was about to board was inevitable. The train’s front section collapsing and malfunctioning was also inevitable.
And the purpose behind these inevitabilities was clearly to kill him.
"You want me dead." Ruan Qing’s voice held no fear, no unease—not even anger or resentment.
"Why?"
Xiao Mingyu didn’t answer. He gave Ruan Qing a long, deep look, then quickly retreated several steps to the edge before leaping down and vanishing into the darkness.
Ruan Qing immediately gave chase, but he was a fraction too slow. By the time he crossed the fissure, Xiao Mingyu was already gone.
Lowering his gaze, Ruan Qing stared calmly at the spot where Xiao Mingyu had disappeared, his mind undisturbed.
It didn’t matter.
If he was the target, Xiao Mingyu would reappear eventually. Sooner or later, he’d get another chance to corner him.
The insects were nearly upon the roof now. Ruan Qing broke into a sprint across the train, catching up with the other students ahead.
The main problem with these insects wasn't their strength—they weren't particularly strong, and the train's windshield was enough to block them. The real issue was their overwhelming numbers.
Without hesitation, Ruan Qing leaped down and pried open the door of the carriage below. Seeing this, the other students quickly followed, rushing inside the train and sealing all the entrances behind them.
Only after confirming the insects couldn't get in did the fear on their faces ease slightly. They collapsed into their seats, still shaken.
Ruan Qing glanced around the carriage. There were over a dozen fewer people than before, but a few unfamiliar faces had appeared—likely passengers from other carriages.
The train's front had been overrun, and countless insects were still chasing them. Aside from waiting helplessly, there seemed to be no other options.
Some students sobbed quietly as despair and tension filled the carriage.
"Whose nightmare is this?" one student suddenly stood up, his gaze icy as he scanned the group.
"I hope you'll step forward on your own."
His eyes swept over every person in the carriage, as if trying to identify the culprit. "You wouldn’t want to drag the entire train down with you, would you?"
The nightmare world existed because of the dreamer. If the dreamer died, the nightmare would vanish.
They might not wake up in reality, but entering someone else’s nightmare couldn’t possibly be worse than this—at least the danger wouldn’t be as extreme.
After the student spoke, the carriage fell into dead silence. No one stood up. No one spoke.
Maybe the dreamer wasn’t in this carriage. Or maybe the dreamer was too afraid to come forward.
Because everyone knew: if the dreamer revealed themselves, they would die.
At worst, the other students would kill them on the spot. At best, they’d be thrown off the train and devoured by the insects outside. Either way, death was inevitable.
But if the dreamer stayed hidden, the entire train would be doomed along with them.
The terror of death made the students suspicious of one another. Their gazes turned wary, filled with doubt and distrust.
The most suspicious of all was a student cowering in the corner, trembling uncontrollably.
Many knew this student had once jumped in fear at the sight of a snake in the real world.
Already on the verge of breaking down, the student reacted violently when the suspicion fell on them.
"It’s not me! I’m not afraid of insects! This isn’t my nightmare!"
But to the others, the outburst only seemed like a guilty plea.
