While Zhao Linong was still processing the scene before her, He Yuesheng reacted quickly, pulling her along as they turned to run back toward the train.
As they fled, Zhao Linong caught sight of what was propping up the carriage—it was another giant plant, growing at an alarming rate. Part of its stem had been damaged, but rather than appearing weakened, it exuded a menacing vitality that sent shivers down her spine.
“There must be railway police in the front car!” He Yuesheng said, glancing ahead. Gritting his teeth, he continued, “They’ll have weapons. We need to get there. We’re not far from the Ninth Base. If we can hold out a little longer, we might have a chance.”
Instead of running in a straight line, He Yuesheng led Zhao Linong diagonally, clearly trying to circumvent the giant plant before it could completely pierce through the coach. He was careful to stay on the gravel-paved railway track, avoiding the more treacherous ground outside.
Others rushed past them, also seeking a chance at survival. Zhao Linong noticed the terror on their faces—pale, drenched in sweat, with pupils constricted in fear—yet they kept running, driven by sheer willpower.
Scenes like this were rare in real life, and even in movies or TV dramas, it was uncommon to witness such realistic and terrifying scenarios.
Zhao Linong lowered her gaze to her left hand, where He Yuesheng’s tight grip had lifted her sleeve, revealing her wrist. She could see goosebumps forming slowly on her skin. The question gnawed at her: Why was her body reacting so strongly in a dream?
Another person passed them, blood splattering in the air as they ran. The crimson liquid sprayed over Zhao Linong’s shoulder. These were the people closest to the monstrous plant, and they had witnessed death firsthand, fueling their frantic escape.
Zhao Linong glanced behind her, noting that the plant that had pierced the coach was now unfurling its swaying green leaves. It seemed to have been injected with a booster, rapidly growing and differentiating. The stem appeared alive, twisting in their direction.
She tugged at He Yuesheng, who was running with his head down. “It’s coming our way.”
They stopped, realizing it was too late. Without the train’s protection, the plant’s stem snaked toward them with frightening speed.
The plant wasn’t just a single entity; it could sprout five leaves from its stem in an instant. In the blink of an eye, it was upon them.
The sound was like a water balloon bursting, but mixed with the sickening crunch of breaking bones. Zhao Linong stood on the gravel track, slowly blinking.
The man, who had been running just ahead of them, was now impaled by one of the green leaves. His body, still clinging to life, tried to keep running, but after half a meter, he collapsed.
The umbrella leaf that had pierced him split into triangular, broad capsules, sucking the blood from his body. The green capsules swelled, turning a faint blood-red. Only after draining him completely did the stem withdraw, searching for its next prey.
Zhao Linong raised her right hand, touching the corner of her eye, and looked at the blood smeared on her hand. It was warm and belonged to the person who had just died in front of her.
This nightmare was growing more horrifyingly real.
“Duck!” He Yuesheng’s voice rang out in alarm as he yanked her down.
But Zhao Linong was slow to react. She followed He Yuesheng’s gaze, looking sideways.
The murderous umbrella leaves were so close, she could smell the grass mixed with blood. She couldn’t tell if it was the blood of others or her own.
Just as the plant seemed ready to strike, the stem suddenly fell to the ground. It had been severed, and the capsule hadn’t even formed.
Zhao Linong looked at the fallen stem, where milky white sap, tinged with blood, seeped from the wound.
She looked up and saw a young man holding a Tang sword in his left hand. He was dressed in a black SWAT uniform, his face obscured by a mask, with only his sharp, cold eyes visible. His long legs, clad in military boots, pinned the broken stem to the ground. 1
(T/N: dun dun dun the ML).
The stem tried to thrash about, but the man’s foot held it firm.
Realizing the danger, the other four leaves turned to attack him.
With a quick movement, the man released the broken stem. As soon as he did, the plant tried to lash out at him, but he was too quick. He jumped onto the stem, using it as leverage to leap, and with a swift motion, cut down the attacking leaves with his Tang sword. Before the plant could react, he landed, drew his pistol, and fired at the plant’s root while simultaneously slicing through the last leaf pursuing him.
White sap mixed with blood rained down, and as the sword flashed in the sunlight, the scene was etched into Zhao Linong’s memory.
The young man didn’t even glance at the fallen stems and leaves. He sheathed his sword and held his pistol with precision, his black half-finger tactical gloves gripping the weapon tightly.
The plant, shot and slashed, withered rapidly.
Gunshots rang out from the front and back of the train. Another person jumped onto the train roof, firing with a rifle.
The young man turned, his sharp profile accentuated by the sunlight. Even with his face covered, his high nose and long lashes were visible.
On his arm was a badge that originally should have said “SWAT,” but now it read “Guardian.”
“It’s a Guardian. We’re saved,” He Yuesheng exhaled in relief.
Zhao Linong turned, meeting He Yuesheng’s thoughtful gaze. They both paused before speaking simultaneously.
“Zeqi.2 
”
“Ye Changming!”
After they finished speaking, Zhao Linong and He Yuesheng looked at each other, puzzled.
Zhao Linong had only heard of Zeqi, also known as Five Clouds or Cat’s Eye Grass, but she had never heard the name from He Yuesheng.
Euphorbia helioscopia, or Zeqi, is a common annual herbaceous plant from the Euphorbiaceae family. When the stem is broken, it exudes a milky white substance. Although commonly seen on roadsides and wastelands, she had never encountered such a giant euphorbia before. The plant she had just seen up close matched all the characteristics of Zeqi.
He Yuesheng, however, was not interested in what Zhao Linong said. He let go of her arm, leaned in, and whispered, “He doesn’t have a rifle but carries a Tang sword. It must be Ye Changming. We’re lucky to have run into him.”
Zhao Linong glanced at the tall man walking away, then looked down and rubbed her right eye.
“I heard…” He Yuesheng noticed Zhao Linong’s actions and came closer, alarmed. “What’s wrong with your eye?”
Her face was smeared with blood, which she had tried to wipe off. There was a deep red spot on her right eye that looked unsettling.
“It’s from the blood splatter,” Zhao Linong explained, rubbing her eye. Tears mixed with the blood, making it clear that this was not a dream.
“Stop rubbing it. You need to rinse it with water. I’ll find some for you later.” He Yuesheng looked around. Guards were stationed at the front and rear of the train, and the giant plants’ stems and leaves were withering under gunfire.
The chaos subsided as people began to gather, seeking comfort in the semblance of order.
Heavy armored off-road vehicles arrived quickly. The first vehicle braked sharply, while the following three formed a protective circle around it.
“It’s Luo Fanxue!” He Yuesheng said excitedly, bumping Zhao Linong.
Despite the discomfort in her eyes, Zhao Linong tried to calm the confusion within her and looked up at the vehicles.
People in black special police uniforms emerged, protecting a young girl who stepped out of the central vehicle.
The girl had striking features but a cold expression. Her long, curly hair was tied back, and she wore a white windbreaker and camel-colored hiking boots. Carrying a black backpack, she approached the withered giant plant, indifferent to the surrounding corpses. 3
She extracted plant liquid with a syringe, cut open the plant, and collected samples in a petri dish. Then she walked over to the young man talking to the conductor.
Luo Fanxue said, “It’s Zeqi, a C-level mutant plant. Most plants enter their growth period in March. The base post road needs more protective liquid.”
The young man glanced at the crowd, his gaze briefly landing on one person before he turned away. Luo Fanxue and the conductor didn’t notice his reaction.
Zhao Linong, feeling discomfort in her right eye, rubbed it absentmindedly, unaware of the scrutiny she was under.
“I’ve heard Ye Changming will be Luo Fanxue’s guardian,” He Yuesheng said, filled with envy. “I wonder if we could become such researchers in the future.”
Zhao Linong didn’t understand, so she stayed silent, absorbing the information.
She looked down at herself, noticing unfamiliar clothes and accessories, and realized she must have traveled to a new world with dangers unknown to her previous one.
“Hey, which base are you from?” He Yuesheng asked suddenly.
Zhao Linong responded calmly, “What about you?”
He Yuesheng winked and said, “Seventh Base. If you need any tea or coffee, I’m your guy. I have connections.”
Zhao Linong processed the information. Bases were identified by numbers in this world.
Despite the recent danger, He Yuesheng seemed to have recovered his composure.
“Student Zhao, which base are you from?” he asked again.
“Central Base,” Zhao Linong said, recalling the advertisement on the train and fabricating a story. “I don’t have access to seeds.”
He Yuesheng looked at her oddly. “The seeds from Central Base are controlled by the Luo and Shan families. You wouldn’t have any.”
More information was absorbed.
The guards who had appeared suddenly vanished after dealing with the plants. The armored vehicles departed, leaving only their tracks behind.
The conductor began organizing everyone. “Freshmen, the rescue vehicle will be here soon. Please line up in two lines and wait.”
Zhao Linong looked around and noticed that all the people disembarking were young. It seemed like she was a freshmen in this world.
He Yuesheng swiped the silver dial on his wrist, revealing a light blue screen. “I’m unlucky this year. Running into a mutant plant on the Yidao Railway before school even starts. It’s dangerous to be an agricultural student.”
Zhao Linong, lining up with the crowd, turned to He Yuesheng, her composure slipping. “Agricultural student?!”
He Yuesheng stopped, looked her up and down, and said, “Did your parents knock you unconscious and send you to the Ninth Agricultural Base? Your reaction is so strong.”
Agricultural Base!
Zhao Linong felt a rush of despair. Her parents had wanted her to stay away from farming, and her name, “Linong,” seemed to mock her fate.
She realized that she had been destined to be a farmer in both lives, thanks to her name.
