The most shameless alchemist in history

Dure has already convinced Grey Falcon to make one choice, and he is trying to get Grey Falcon to make another. Because of his agreement with Linda, he cannot tell Grey Falcon the truth about Linda's body, and can only hint at it indirectly.

"Is this place mine?" Grey Falcon pondered the question, lost in thought.

066 Parting Gift

After obtaining the Grey Falcon's consent, Dure and the Grey Falcon bid farewell to the flock of snow eagles in the grove. Even though the Grey Falcon was reluctant, he knew that Dure was right. Dogo could not speak, and after circling a few times above the grove, it disappeared with the flock of snow eagles.

After sending Snowhawk away, Dure returned to the town. He went to Grey Falcon's house to retrieve his luggage. By this time, Grey Falcon's mother, Linda, was much better and could gradually get out of bed and walk. She insisted on making Dure lunch, which was a small thing she could do from the bottom of her heart.

Dure secretly left behind thirty silver coins, which he had obtained from Seta, and then he headed to the train station alone. He just wanted to leave quietly and not disturb anyone. As for the Grey Falcon family, he had done all he could; the rest was up to them to choose.

But just as he arrived at the train station, bought his ticket, and was waiting for the train to arrive, someone suddenly called out to him from behind. Du Lei was stunned and turned around to see Gray Falcon, covered in sweat, hurriedly chasing after him, shouting loudly as he did so.

"Durey, Durey, wait a minute! I finally caught up with you! You bastard, even if you're leaving, you didn't even say goodbye. That's so unfair! We're friends, and you've helped me so much. Honestly, your train hasn't arrived yet, has it?"

Grey Falcon wiped the sweat from his forehead. By this time, the snow had stopped and the sky was beginning to clear. However, the old folks said that the weather when the snow was melting was colder than when it was snowing. Even so, Grey Falcon was still running barefoot, showing no signs of getting cold. He kept complaining about Dure leaving without permission.

“You’re about ten minutes away from my train. Why did you catch up with me? Shouldn’t you stay home and spend some quality time with your mother?” Du Lei glanced at the clock on the wall at the station. It showed 4:20 p.m., and the second hand was still ticking away.

“It was my mother who sent me to find you. She said she couldn’t thank her benefactor in person and wanted me to convey her gratitude. She also made you an apple pie and asked me to bring it over. Here, this is what my mother asked me to give you. Luckily, I made it in time, otherwise I would have definitely gotten a beating when I got back.” Grey Falcon handed Dure a basket.

“Then I’ll accept it. Please convey my gratitude to Mrs. Linda. Her cooking is the best I’ve ever tasted. I really hope I’ll have the chance to eat it again.” Dure accepted the basket, not refusing Linda and Grey Falcon’s kindness. He knew that accepting it would make them feel much better.

"You didn't even stay a couple more days before leaving in such a hurry. I've been so busy lately that I haven't had a chance to take you out to have some fun. There are so many fun places in Snow Eagle Town." Gray Falcon said with some regret and self-blame. When he first met Du Lei, he thought Du Lei was a liar.

“There will always be opportunities in the future. Besides, I originally planned to stay in Snow Eagle Town for one night and then leave, but now I’ve stayed for three days, which has exceeded my original plan.” Du Lei calculated the days. Fortunately, it was still within a tolerable range. He didn’t leave Hot Spring Village for sightseeing this time.

"Is it all because of our affairs that things have been delayed? You're not much older than me, yet you're so much more capable. It's really frustrating. By the way, Du Lei, I've already talked to my mother. In two months, after she's fully recovered, I'll also be leaving Snow Eagle Town," Gray Falcon told Du Lei.

"Leaving Snowhawk Town? Where do you plan to go?" Dure nodded slightly, indicating his approval of Grey Falcon's decision. Judging from Grey Falcon's expression, Linda must have had a long talk with him while he was away, otherwise Grey Falcon wouldn't have made a decision in such a short time.

“My mother said that my father once mentioned to her that his hometown was a place called the Land of Iron. She hoped that I could find my father. To find him, I had to understand his past. She told me to go to the Land of Iron and see if there were any clues about my father there,” Gray Falcon said carefully.

"The Land of Iron? I've heard of that place too. It seems to be a place that produces high-quality iron ore and has excellent blacksmiths. But are you sure you'll be okay going alone?" Dure couldn't help but ask, after all, Grey Falcon was only a child of about ten years old.

"It's not me alone. I've never been far from home before. I don't even know the way. It's a blacksmith from town who's going to the Land of Iron. My mother asked him to take me with him because he used to be my father's friend. He promised to take care of me on the way."

Grey Falcon waved his hand and continued speaking. To him, Dure was trustworthy, so he could tell Dure anything.

“I see. It’s good that someone is guiding you. But it’s a long way to the Land of Iron, so you have to be careful. Don’t cause trouble for others or get into any trouble on the way.” Dure nodded and gave Gray Falcon another word of advice.

"Oh, I know everything. What are you babbling about? You talk as if you're much older than me or have traveled a lot. We're all in the same boat. I just don't know when we'll be able to see each other again." Gray Falcon gestured to Du Lei to stop talking. After all, kids don't have much patience.

"There will definitely be a chance to meet in the future, right? The train has arrived at the station, and I have to get on soon." Du Lei checked the time; it was already 4:28. He could even hear the vibrations of the tracks, indicating that the train was on its way to the station.

"Are you leaving already? Oh, right, Dure, where are you going? Maybe I can stop by and see you." Gray Falcon asked reluctantly, his eyes shining. After these two days, he also considered Dure a very important person.

"I'm going to Maple City to learn about magic energy. Although Maple City isn't the capital of the Snow Kingdom, it's the most important magic energy research center in the Snow Kingdom, home to a large number of magic energy research institutions and magic energy academies," Dure told Gray Falcon about his destination.

"Ah, Maple City? I've heard of that place. It's very famous. It seems we're not going that way. I won't be able to see you then. We'll have to meet again sometime." Gray Falcon said with some regret, his head drooping, and he sighed softly.

"Don't worry, I have a feeling we'll meet again soon. I hope you'll be a great person by then and won't disappoint me," Du Lei said with a smile, offering some words of comfort to Grey Falcon.

"I understand. I will work very hard and I will definitely not lose to you. The train is coming to the station. Take care." Gray Falcon clenched his fist and made up his mind. At this moment, with a long whistle, the train slowly arrived at the station, and the passengers began to have their tickets checked and board the train.

"Well then, we'll part ways here. After you go to the Land of Iron, remember to write to your mother regularly." Du Lei instructed him before turning to board the train.

"Oh, right, Dure, wait a minute," Grey Falcon called out to him at that moment.

"Is there anything else?" Du Lei turned around and asked, as the ticket inspector ahead was already urging them on.

“This is it. It’s something my father left me. You love reading, right? I don’t have anything else to give you, so I’ll just give you this.” Grey Falcon took a small booklet out of his pocket and handed it to Dure. The booklet was very old, written on old-fashioned parchment scrolls, and had been around for quite some time.

“Since it was left by your father, you should keep it safe. I can’t accept it.” Du Lei shook his head and did not take it.

“My father left behind more than just this. There are other notes and such, all records related to smelting. I’ve read most of them and can barely understand some of them. But this seems to be about alchemy, which I really can’t understand. There’s no use keeping it.” Gray Falcon shook his head.

"Alchemy," Dure frowned, paying particular attention to the word.

“That’s right. Anyway, I’m going to see my father soon. I can just ask him if I don’t understand something. Du Lei, you’re so smart, you might be able to understand it. It’s a waste for me to keep it here. Anyway, get in the car, goodbye.” Gray Falcon forcefully stuffed the booklet into Du Lei’s hand.

Just then, the train was about to depart again. This train would only make a brief stop in Snow Eagle Town. Gray Falcon waved to Dure and then jogged out of the station.

"Then I'll accept it. Goodbye." Dure nodded, accepted Grey Falcon's parting gift, and boarded the train.

With a long, drawn-out whistle, the train slowly departed, heading towards the winding, distant horizon.

067 A chance encounter

The train slowly moved along the pre-laid tracks on the mountain road. Before the train appeared, towns like Snow Eagle Town were almost completely isolated from the world. Few people visited them. Countless towns were like densely packed dots, each self-sufficient and rarely connected with each other.

But with the advent of the train, it became like a line connecting all the points, deepening the world's connections and shortening the distance between continents. Places that used to take half a month or even a month to reach could now be reached by train in just one or two days.

It can be said that the train ushered in a new era of change. Even a remote place like Snow Eagle Town was impacted and transformed by the times. Du Lei sat in the train carriage, holding a newly published book on world geography, which described the discoveries made around the world.

"My seat is here. Excuse me, could you help me? My suitcase is a bit heavy, and it's difficult for me to put it on the luggage rack by myself." Just as Du Lei was engrossed in his book, someone next to him asked for help. Du Lei, interrupted, put down his book and looked over.

The speaker was a boy who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. He was very thin and had a gentle demeanor. He wore a pair of glasses on his high nose, which were a new product. His white hair was particularly eye-catching. He stood on tiptoe and tried to push his suitcase onto the luggage rack.

"One, two, three, wow, finally done! You really helped me a lot. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do. By the way, my name is Bai Ye. What's your name?" With Du Lei's help, the white-haired boy finally pushed the suitcase onto the luggage rack.

He breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Dure. He looked at his ticket, sat down next to Dure, and they were seatmates.

"It was nothing, just a small favor. My name is Du Lei." Du Lei replied politely. The boy named Bai Ye was about the same age as him and seemed to be traveling alone as well. He was gentle and polite, and had a natural affinity that made a good impression.

"Is this how you spell Du Lei? I need to write it down." Bai Ye took out a notebook, found a pen, and began to write down Du Lei's name in the notebook. He looked very serious. The scene outside the window rushed past. The train had just left another small town and continued to travel on the tracks.

“That’s right. May I ask what you’re doing?” Du Lei nodded, confirming Bai Ye’s spelling, but he really didn’t understand Bai Ye’s actions. Bai Ye was the easy-going type, so he couldn’t help but ask one more question.

"Because you helped me today, Du Lei, I'm going to remember it. If I ever meet you again and you need my help, I will definitely repay you," Bai Ye replied earnestly to Du Lei, a response that surprised Du Lei.

“But I helped you not to ask for anything in return. We just met by chance. Any ordinary person would do the same. What’s the point of you writing this down?” Du Lei frowned. Bai Ye’s actions seemed incomprehensible and even absurd to him.

"No, Dure, no one in this world is obligated to do something for someone else. Everyone who helps others does so by giving a bit of trust. Perhaps for most people, it doesn't matter if they betray that trust, since they won't see each other again anyway."

After putting his suitcase away, Bai Ye sat down next to Du Lei. Since few people from the nearby town boarded the train, the carriage was relatively spacious and not too crowded. There were only about ten people in their carriage. Outside the window, they could see snow-capped mountains, all white.

"But as trust is betrayed more and more, there will be fewer and fewer people willing to help others, even with the smallest favors, right? So I will never betray anyone's trust. No matter how insignificant the matter is, I will remember it and repay it one day."

Bai Ye closed his notebook, his expression focused and serious. This attitude stunned Du Lei for a moment, and he did not refute him.

"I think I was just expressing my own opinions. Actually, everyone is different. I'm just sticking to my own beliefs and I don't want to impose them on others. If I said anything wrong, please don't be angry, Du Lei." Bai Ye realized belatedly.

He then realized that he had been talking too much while Dure remained silent. Fearing that he had angered Dure, he quickly apologized to him.

"I'm not angry about such a small thing. How should I put it? I think you're really amazing, Bai Ye." Du Lei shook his head gently and smiled kindly. Although he didn't agree with Bai Ye's point of view, and the two of them were even on completely opposite paths, he respected Bai Ye's attitude.

"Wow, this is the first time I've heard someone say that about me." Bai Ye was quite surprised by Du Lei's evaluation.

"Because sticking to one's beliefs is a rare quality. Too many people get lost in the world's hustle and bustle. Our views may not be entirely the same, but I hope that you, Baiye, can continue to stick to your beliefs. Even if the result is not what you want, at least you tried."

Du Lei wasn't just making polite remarks; he genuinely admired Bai Ye. He believed that if they were in each other's shoes, he wouldn't be as composed as Bai Ye. In fact, Bai Ye was the first interesting person he had met since leaving the hot spring village, and he left a deep impression on him.

"It's so great to have your understanding, Du Lei. It's like having a kindred spirit. Everyone else says I'm being silly and stupid, like an idiot." Bai Ye smiled easily. Even if people questioned him, he could accept it without getting angry.

"Just stick to your beliefs and keep doing it. Why care about other people's attitudes? You just said it yourself, people are different." Du Lei smiled, picked up his book and continued reading. Although he and Bai Ye got along quite well, they were ultimately just strangers who met by chance.

"Yes, Du Lei, are you reading? I love reading too. Are you reading world geography? Oh, what's going on?" Bai Ye rarely met someone who could talk to him so much. His goodwill towards Du Lei increased greatly. He glanced at the book in Du Lei's hand and decided to chat with Du Lei about geography.

But at that moment, a loud "boom" suddenly came from ahead, causing the carriage to shake violently, and Bai Ye almost fell to the ground.

068 Attacked

The tremor came suddenly, and screams erupted in the carriage. Even Du Lei, who was reading a book, stumbled forward and almost hit his head on the train. The train then began to slow down, and the rumbling sounds from ahead continued. No one knew what was happening.

"Hey, what's going on? Why did it suddenly stop? We're not even at our stop yet. Can you please stop this scare people like this?"

"Could the train have broken down? Please don't let that happen. This is a desolate mountain with snow. If we get stuck here, it will be terrible."

"Have you heard any strange noises? The carriage keeps shaking. Could something have happened?"

The passengers in the carriage whispered among themselves, discussing amongst themselves. Some opened the windows, trying to see what was outside. A gust of cold wind rushed in, and the cold wind made them more awake. The light outside was dim; it was dusk.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! I almost fell to my death! What happened? This is my first time riding a train. Du Lei, do you know what happened?" Bai Ye struggled to get up from the ground. The fall had really hurt him, and he almost got a head injury. He asked Du Lei if he knew anything.

"This is my first time on a train too, but the train has come to a complete stop. Did it encounter an emergency and stop? Even after it came to a complete stop, there was this noise. Could it be..." Du Lei frowned. Although it was his first time on a train, his hunter's instincts allowed him to sense something.

"Could it be something like Du Lei? Tell me quickly!" Bai Ye immediately pressed, and the atmosphere in the carriage was tense.

"They might have been attacked," Dure said in a low voice, glancing around at the passengers nearby who were still cursing.

"What attack?" Bai Ye was startled. He wasn't the kind of person with a strong mentality, so he immediately raised his voice.

"Keep your voice down. I'm just guessing. There's no concrete evidence yet. Don't shout to avoid causing unnecessary panic," Du Lei quickly covered Bai Ye's mouth, afraid that he would spread the news. If the passengers started to panic, the problem would become troublesome, especially since it was still unconfirmed.

"I understand, but an attack? This is a train! Who would attack a train for no reason?" Bai Ye realized his lapse in composure and quickly lowered his voice. He couldn't understand who would dare to attack a train so openly, especially since it wouldn't bring any benefits.

"I'm not entirely clear on the specifics, but I think we'll know the outcome once we wait a bit longer." Du Lei shook his head. He didn't dare to make any rash judgments before figuring out the whole story, since he was currently trapped inside the carriage and unable to move at all.

"What if we wait a little longer?" Bai Ye said worriedly. It was getting darker and darker, and the area was a desolate, snowy mountain with no one around. If something happened in such a place, it would be extremely fatal. The passengers' dissatisfaction was growing.

"Look, there are staff coming over there! Hey, what's going on? Why did the train suddenly stop? What happened up ahead?" Passengers saw train staff coming from the back of the carriage and immediately surrounded them, demanding an explanation.

"Make way! Don't get in the way, you busybodies. Hurry up and go to the front to provide support!" A group of uniformed train police officers rushed over from behind the staff. They were all carrying gunpowder guns and shouted loudly, which startled the passengers who were blocking the staff. They quickly made way.

"Why are all these train police officers carrying guns and talking about providing support? What's going on?" Passengers avoided the officers upon seeing this. Amid their panicked gazes, seven or eight train police officers rushed forward, and soon gunshots rang out from ahead.

"Everyone, please calm down. There's been a slight mishap with the train, but everything will be fine. Please stay in your seats and don't leave." The gentle train attendant soothed the passengers' agitation, and the carriage briefly quieted down.

But the atmosphere was unusually heavy, because everyone knew that something terrible must have happened ahead, and panic quickly spread throughout the carriage.

Meanwhile, at the front of the carriage, the doors had been opened, and more than a dozen train police officers rushed out with gunpowder guns. They fired forward, and in the gloomy weather, the flashes from the muzzles of their guns were particularly eye-catching, and the piercing gunshots were crisp and loud in the open snow.

"Damn it, how could we encounter such monsters? What bad luck! Shoot them all away! This area is too open, and the temperature will drop very low at night. The train's fuel won't be enough to keep us here all night, and the passengers will freeze to death!" the train conductor shouted towards the front.

The passengers in the carriage didn't know what was going on, but he knew perfectly well that the train had stopped because something was blocking the tracks, preventing it from moving forward. Although it was dark, he could still clearly see the snow piled up ahead.

Of course, if it were just snow caused by an avalanche, all you need to do is clear the snow. However, on the side of the snow, a large number of snowmen gathered around. They varied in size, with the larger ones being three or four meters tall, comparable to a locomotive, and the smaller ones only about one meter tall. There were a great many of them.

The train police officers who rushed out of the carriage raised their gunpowder guns and fired at the snow creatures. Under the spray of the gunpowder guns, many snowmen were smashed into piles of broken snow and fell to the ground. However, the interval between the gunpowder gun shots was too long, and there were too many snowmen, even though they were moving very slowly.

However, their numerical advantage allowed them to quickly approach the train police officer. Before the officer could even raise his gun and fire a second shot, the snowman swung his fist and slammed it down, smashing the officer to the ground with an angry roar. The overwhelming force instantly killed the officer.

"No, there are too many of them. We can't possibly defeat them. If this continues, they'll all die. We have no choice but to retreat temporarily and hide inside the train until they leave. They won't be able to get back inside." Realizing the situation was dire, the train police officer immediately ordered his men to retreat back inside the train.

“Baz, didn’t I just tell you? The train doesn’t have enough fuel. If they stay inside and it gets cold at night, everyone will die. We have to get them out of here immediately.” The train conductor and the police officer were old friends, and he knew all too well the disastrous consequences that the change in time would bring to the train.

"Are you going to send my men to their deaths one by one? Calm down, call for backup immediately. As long as we hold on, there's bound to be a way." The old train police officer named Baz pulled the last young train police officer back into the carriage and slammed the door shut. The sky was getting darker and darker.

069 Snowfield Monster