[All candidates must do their best to deal with the outbreak of Defenders, sealing them within one hour. Otherwise, everyone in the area will have their lifespan reduced by three hundred years.]
[请所有应选者尽力应对抵御者的袭击，将之封印，一小时内解决，否者区域内所有人扣除三百年寿命。]
Yang Zicang, hearing the punishment notification resounding in his mind, had a profound look in his eyes.
听到自内心响起了惩戒通知声的杨子藏目光深沉。
He felt no emotional fluctuation witnessing the pile of fallen people on the stairs. This would have been unimaginable just a few days ago.
他对楼梯上倒了的一地人没什么心里波动，这在几天前是不敢想像的事。
Upon pushing open the door, an odd mixture of various smells confronted him.
推开这扇房门后，混合各种气味的怪异味道迎面而来。
“Don’t kill us.”
“不要杀我们。”
On the floor lay several women ranging in age from teens to their thirties and forties.
地上倒着几名十几至三四十岁的女人。
“We were captured. Please let us go.”
“我们是被抓来的，求求你放我们走。”
Yang Zicang wrinkled his nose, glancing at them. His gaze skimmed over the body of Xiao Xun, who had died wide-eyed in a chair, before fixing on one person ahead.
杨子藏皱了皱鼻子，看了她们一眼。目光在椅子上瞪大双目的肖寻尸身上一扫后，望向前方一人。
The White Shadow Thought-Dragon hovered beside that figure, ready to consume his Psychic Body at any time.
白影念龙悬浮在那人身边，随时可以吃掉这人的念力体。
“Are you from Xiongying Group?”
“你是雄英组的人？”
“No, no. I’m just a member of a small organization. This, this is your Nightmare Beast? I’ll give you all my Time Sequence items. Please, let me go!”
“不，不是。我只是个小组织的成员，这，这是你的恶魇吗，我把所有时序都给你，请放了我！”
“I’m not on your side, so your proposal cannot be accepted.”
“我不是你们阵营的人，所以你的提议无法达成。”
“Huh? Then this Nightmare Beast…”
“啊？那这恶魇。”
A sweeping bolt of light shot forth.
一道折线射来。
“Yang Zicang, we need to leave here as soon as possible. Come with us.”
{杨子藏，我们要尽快离开这里了，你跟我们一起走吧。}
“Has Mu Xiaoyu been sent in?”
[沐小雨送进来了吗。]
“Are you crazy? At a time like this, you still want Xiaoyu to come in and die?”
{你疯了吗，都这个时候了，还要让小雨进来送死？}
“Forget it if she hasn’t. I’m just worried that Ma Chao might come looking for her. Tell her to hold on and not fall asleep.”
[没有就算了，我只是担心马超会去找她。让她撑住千万不要睡觉。]
Yang Zicang looked at the trembling man across from him and said to him:
杨子藏看向对面惊颤的那人，对着他道：
“Contact Ma Chao and tell him to come here. Otherwise, I’ll conduct a time sequence financing in three minutes, instructing everyone implanted with a station to come to me.”
“联系马超，让他过来，否则我三分钟后会进行时序融资，告诉所有被植入站台的人都过来我这里。”
The man opposite wondered if he had misheard something.
对面那人怀疑自己似乎听错了什么。
“I’ll give each of them three hundred years of time sequence and help them eliminate the station implanted in their consciousness.”
“我会给他们每人三百年时序，并帮他们铲除植入意识的站台。”
“But even if I broadcast a call for Ma Chao, how can he get here? Sun Xin has already disappeared… Oh! And there’s Shao Min. But Shao Min—surely you haven’t killed him too, have you?”
“可，就算我广播呼叫马超，他该怎么过来。孙新已经消失了…噢！还有邵敏。但邵敏，该不会也被你杀死了吧。”
What Shao Min? I don’t know any of you people’s names.
什么邵敏，自己可不知道你们这些人的名字。
Yang Zicang snorted coldly: “Ma Chao planted a will station for you. Don’t you know that?”
杨子藏冷哼了声：“马超给你植入过意念站台，你不知道吗。”
The man’s body trembled.
那人身子一抖。
It seemed he hadn’t been aware of this before.
看来他之前并不清楚这件事。
“Don’t worry. If he doesn’t come, in three minutes I’ll give everyone a demonstration of how I’ll remove Ma Chao’s will station.”
“放心，若他不来，三分钟后我会给大家表演，我是如何将马超的意念站台给拔除掉的。”
Chu Qiang, the man opposite, having heard Yang Zicang’s conversation with this person, looked at this man in disbelief through his perceptual perspective—and at the strange creature vaguely floating in the air beside him.
对面的楚强听到杨子藏跟这人的对话后，不敢置信的通过感知视角看着这男人，以及他隐约漂浮在空中的怪异生物。
Mastering the ability to render Ma Chao’s dearly cherished power ineffective…
居然能让马超未知珍视的能力失效…
The man was about to spread the model when suddenly his eyes lost focus, as if he had fallen asleep standing, and he murmured, “I’m sleepy.”
那人正要扩散模型，忽然他双眼失去焦距，仿佛站着入睡般，喃喃道：“我困了。”
[Woo——]
[呜——]
The whistling sound of the speeding subway seemed to rapidly approach from a world of nothingness.
地铁疾驰的劲风声似自虚无世界极速靠近。
Yang Zicang waited, about to see this person soon…
杨子藏等待着，就要见到这个人了…
The reddish-yellow train quickly broke through the air and appeared, its front few carriages still somewhat illusory, but by the middle section, they were extremely real.
赤黄色列车快速撞破空气出现，它前面几节车厢还比较虚幻，但到中段已经极其真实。
“Chi~”
“嗤~”
On this twenty-first-floor high-rise building, a carriage came to a steady stop behind this person in the misty backdrop of clouds.
这二十一层高楼上，一节车厢稳稳停在这人身后的云雾幕景里。
The door whooshed open, and a familiar figure appeared at the entrance with a smile.
门哗啦声打开，一个熟悉的身影微笑着出现在门口。
Yang Zicang looked at his face and suddenly said with some murderous intent, “Zhao Bomin!”
杨子藏看着他的脸，忽地带着几许杀意道：“赵博民！”
But Zhao Bomin turned a deaf ear.
赵博民却置若罔闻。
Chu Qiang, seeing this from the other end, finally understood what kind of ability Ma Chao possessed!
楚强在另一端瞧见这幕，终于是晓得了马超是什么样的能力！
He didn’t need people to fall asleep at all; instead, people would naturally fall asleep before he arrived!
他根本不需要人睡着，而是他来到之前，人便会自然入睡！
Zhao Bomin’s gaze changed from warm to dull, and the smile on his face began to fade, eventually becoming the expression of the others controlled on the train:
赵博民的目光从温和变得呆滞，脸上的笑意也开始减退，最终成为列车上其它被控制之人的表情：
“Get on, if you dare.”
“上来，你敢吗。”
Yang Zicang looked out the window.
杨子藏看向窗外。
Far away, voices and cries for help came from all directions. Once they knew that three hundred years of the timeline could be deducted at any time, many people began to resort to any means necessary.
遥远的各处传来喧哗声与求救声，一旦知道随时可能扣除三百年时序后，好多人开始不择手段了。
Perhaps this is the reason why people here are unwilling to inform newcomers about the end-of-month deduction—bloody hunts can erupt at any time.
或许这就是这里的人不愿告知新手月底会扣除时序的原因吧，血腥的猎杀随时会上演。
He looked back at Zhao Bomin, who was now expressionless.
他重新看向赵博民，对方已经面无表情。
“People who get on the train become puppets, right.”
“上了车的人，会成为傀儡对吧。”
The White Shadow Thought-Dragon surged into motion, lunging down to tear at the train.
白影念龙轰然而动，向着列车撕咬而下。
The train’s body stiffened, letting out a strange, muffled roar as the steel of its cars bulged, making it seem as if the White Shadow Thought-Dragon had nowhere to bite.
列车的身躯一挺，它发出声怪异的沉闷嘶鸣，车厢的钢铁鼓起，让白影念龙的撕咬无处下嘴般。
“As I thought, they’re all mental constructs.”
“果然全部都是意念体。”
A quadrangle flickered, and Yang Zicang poured amplified Chrono into the White Shadow Thought-Dragon. Its body turned a faint red, and the train also shifted to the same color.
四边形闪烁，杨子藏第一次给给白影念龙投入增幅时序，它的身躯变得虚红，同时列车也变成了红色。
The voice of Malevolent Nightmare rippled out.
恶魇的声音震荡传出。
{Kill its master!}
{快杀死它的主人！}
The train writhed like a dragon or serpent, and from its vanished front car, a translucent shape emerged, hurtling toward Yang Zicang.
列车如龙蛇般扭动，已经消失的车头浮现出半透明形状向着杨子藏撞来。
Mental speed was incredibly fast before he could react, Yang Zicang found himself inside the train.
意念速度何其之快，杨子藏根本来不及反应就发现自己已经出现在了列车之中。
“Huh, is this the same feeling as when the White Shadow consumed me?”
“呵，被白影吞噬时也是这感觉吗。”
“No, your body is actually here.”
“不，你的身体也在这里。”
The carriage was clean, and from the opposite seat, a young man with both legs planted got up; he was wearing a silver uniform.
车厢很是明净，对面椅子上站起来一个插着双腿，身穿银色制服的年轻人。
A discarded suit of armor lay by his feet.
他脚边摆放着套随意丢弃的盔甲。
Ma Chao lifted his chin slightly, “You came up alone? Where’s the master of that Malevolent Nightmare?”
马超下巴微翘，“就自己一个人上来？那条恶魇的主人在哪里。”
The look he cast at Yang Zicang showed an extreme, almost arrogant detachment.
他看向杨子藏的目光中闪动着极度自负般的超然。
“Are you Ma Chao?”
“你就是马超？”
“I asked you a question. Are you deaf?”
“我在问你话，你耳聋？”
{Its master is the one before you!}
{它的主人就是眼前之人！}
The train once again rang with a deafening telepathic voice.
列车再次响起震聋发聩的心念之声。
Ma Chao’s emotions flickered with a trace of disturbance.
马超的情绪出现了丝波动。
“Did you acquire the telepathy?”
“获得念力的是你？”
YangZicang said coldly, “Your horse has better eyesight than you.”
杨子藏冷然道：“你家马儿比你有眼力劲。”
As he walked forward, he proactively severed the Mental Link with Chu Qiang, whose mind had been struck hard, and instead connected with Mori.
他边往前走边主动断掉了与心灵遭受暴击的楚强进行着的心灵链接，转而与莫里相连。
Chu Qiang still couldn’t believe that the person who was just a newcomer yesterday was now facing off against one of the top powerhouses of the Hero Unit!
楚强到现在还不敢相信，那个昨天还只是新人的人，现在尽然在与雄英组数一数二的强者对决！
Unfortunately, the Mental Link was cut off, and he had no idea what would happen next.
可惜心灵链接断掉了，自己不知道后面会发生什么。
Would he die?
他会死吗？
……
On the train.
列车上。
In the young man’s hand appeared a palm-sized dark red kaleidoscope, with a blood-red eye on it.
对面年轻人手上出现个巴掌长的暗红万花筒，它上面长着只血红的眼睛。
The model flickered, and the kaleidoscope expanded into countless beautiful patterns, like a flowery garment enveloping both Ma Chao and the train. The attack from the White Shadow Thought-Dragon outside was instantly like gnawing on cotton.
模型闪动，万花筒扩展开无数美丽的花纹，如同一件花衣服般将马超连同列车笼罩，外面的白影念龙的攻击顿时如同啃在棉花上。
“I underestimated you. In just three or four days, you’ve gained an extra ability — you’ve been to the Complete Stamp Emblem world, haven’t you?”
“我倒是小看你了，短短三四天而已，你竟然拥有了额外能力，去过完整邮徽世界了吧。”
“What kind of equipment is this, able to resist mental attacks?”
“这是什么装备，竟然可以抵抗念力攻击。”
Ma Chao raised his hand, and from the carriage behind him, a blank-faced person walked over, holding a longsword with both hands.
马超手一伸，身后车厢走过来名面容呆滞的人，他双手拖着长剑。
“Looks like there’s no way for us to communicate.”
“看来我们是没办法交流了。”
Energy surged behind YangZicang, and the phantom of the White Shadow Thought-Dragon appeared.
杨子藏背后能量翻滚，出现白影念龙的虚影。
Whoosh! Ma Chao’s legs shot out like rockets, and the sword blade in his hand sliced through the air at lightning speed.
嗖！马超双腿如同火箭般冲刺而出，手上剑锋速度奇快地划破空气。
YangZicang nimbly sidestepped on the spot, without even using the model’s ability, dodging the blade’s attack by a hair’s breadth.
杨子藏灵动地在原地晃身，他连模型能力都没用便在毫厘之间避开这刀锋的攻击。
“That’s not the kind of strength and skill you can develop in a year or two. You’ve been to the Stamp World too.”
“这不是一两年能练出来的力度与技巧，你也去过邮徽世界。”
The two figures twisted past each other as they crossed.
交错而过的双方身影扭转。
A fist wreathed in red phantom flames flew toward him. Yang Zicang blocked it with his left hand, and the impact sent both of them stumbling backward.
对面带着红色虚焰的拳头砸来，杨子藏左手一档，两人相撞的瞬间彼此后退。
[I’ve neutralized 15000 N.]
[我已抵消15000N.]
Ma Chao’s expression shifted. With a single clash, he had already half consumed his timestream reserves.
马超神色一动，一次相触，他已经消耗掉了身上的半数时序。
“Why didn’t you bring Zhang Fei’s armor along? Oh, those hypocrites took it away, didn’t they? Let me give you an offer—join the Heroic Elite.”
“为什么不带着张飞铠甲过来，喔，是被那些伪君子们收走了对吧。给你次机会，加入我们雄英组。”
“Not unless you make me your leader.”
“除非让我做你们的王，否则免谈。”
“You’re not even fit to shine Lü Bu’s boots.”
“你给吕布提鞋都不配。”
Bang! Yang Zicang chopped down with his palm, leaving a trail of afterimages. Ma Chao twisted every joint in his body, which cracked audibly, as he contorted out of the way.
嘭！杨子藏一掌劈下，手上带出数道掌影，马超将全身骨节扭动得咔咔作响，身体扭曲地避过。
He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. What kind of Stamp World had this guy been to?
他不禁暗叹，这个家伙到底去了什么样的邮徽世界。
Logically, even after undergoing extended training in those worlds, one still needed time outside to develop a body capable of replicating the strength from those dreams.
按理来说哪怕在那些世界中经过漫长的训练，出来后也要一定的时间才能将身体锻炼出在梦中的程度。
A red light flashed across Ma Chao’s chest. Several distorted, translucent threads shot out from the carriage walls. The White Shadow Thought-Dragon materialized quickly, snatching these incoming strands in its mouth.
马超胸前红色光线闪动，车厢墙壁射出几道扭曲的半透明丝线，白影念龙快速具现而出，一口将这些射来的丝线扯住。
“Looks like you’ve come with quite the arsenal, haven’t you.”
“还真是做足了准备啊。”
Ma Chao gripped his sword in silent fury, charged forward, and slashed rapidly as he closed in.
马超暗怒地握紧长剑，手上快速挥动着冲来。
Yang Zicang stepped forward into an archer’s stance; the kick felt as solid as a grandmaster’s, radiating an overwhelming pressure as his hand shot out into a punch in a blast of wind.
杨子藏弓步踏出，这一脚仿佛武道大师般坚硬，充满压迫气息，手上拳头带着劲风。
A faint gray-white phantom flame fist shot straight toward Ma Chao’s face.
一道灰白虚焰拳影直冲马超面门而去。
“Get lost!” Ma Chao raised his longsword and dispersed the fist shadow with an upward slash.
“滚！”马超长剑上扬将拳影批散。
But in that instant, the gale exploded violently, and his charging body was immediately thrown backward, knocked over by the powerful blast.
但这刹那狂风猛烈爆炸开来，他前冲的身体瞬间后仰被强劲的风浪掀翻。
[I have offset 999N.]
[我已抵消999N.]
Ma Chao twisted his body, performed a backflip, and landed steadily, a slight freeze flickering across his expression.
马超扭动着身体空翻着稳稳落地，他的表情微微凝固。
[I invest 7000N for Mori!]
[我为莫里投资7000N！]
[Mori wants to invest 9000N for me.]
[莫里想要为我投资9000N.]
“I didn’t expect you to be this strong already. Since that’s the case, I’ll let you see my full strength.”
“没想到你已经这么强了，既然如此，就让你见识下我的全部实力好了。”
A deep, strong surge of energy swirled around Ma Chao as he wiped the corner of his mouth.
浑厚的劲气旋转着出现在擦了擦嘴角的马超身体四周。
Yang Zicang let out a faint snort. “I figured a ranked member of the Xiongying Unit wouldn’t be this feeble. So this is the secret technique you’ve cultivated. Not bad, it has thirty years of power behind it.”
杨子藏淡哼了声，“我就说雄英组排得上号的人不至于如此，这就是你所修炼的秘技。还不错，有三十年功力了。”
“Bastard, who do you think you are to judge me?”
“混账，凭你也配点评我。”
Swoosh! The longsword swung, carrying a fierce, tiger-like sword aura.
簌！长剑裹挟着凶猛如虎的剑气挥动。
They pushed forward inch by inch; the red phantom flames slithered through the space but did not dissipate, instead lingering along the path they had traveled.
它们寸寸递进，红色虚焰划过空间后却并未消散，而是停留在经过的路线上。
As Ma Chao’s figure moved, the red lines spread around him like a silk cage.
随着马超的身影晃动，红色线条仿佛丝绸牢笼密布在四周。
Yang Zicang’s heart tensed. Attacks whose trajectories could freeze in the air—even if only for a few seconds—were incredibly hard to evade.
杨子藏心中一凛，攻击轨迹竟然能凝固在空气中，哪怕仅仅只是几秒也是难以避让的事。
“No wonder so many people fear you.”
“难怪这么多人惧怕着你。”
“Still trying to dodge? Can your wind fist shatter my shackles!”
“还想躲，凭你那风拳能打碎我的枷锁吗！”
Ma Chao’s sword grazed past Yang Zicang several times, but red phantom afterimages lingered around him, ready to trigger at the slightest misstep.
马超的剑虽然数次与杨子藏擦肩而过，可随之则有红色虚影留在他身体四周，只要他稍有不慎就会触碰。
Yang Zicang coldly watched the crimson flame blade hurtling toward his face, the sword aura flickering on either side of his head.
杨子藏淡漠地看向这在自己头颅两边晃动剑气后，直冲面门而来的红焰利刃。
“Why would I need to shatter them?”
“我为什么要打碎它们。”