Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.107 第107章 晨曦闪逝之光
第107章 晨曦闪逝之光
Chapter 107: The Fleeting Light of Dawn
货物清点完毕已是后半夜，荒车大货队的人几乎全灭，此刻地上这些尸首们缓慢聚集出了一团团黑色晶体。
By the dead of night, the inventory was finally tallied. The Grand Wagon Freight Crew was nearly wiped out, the corpses on the ground slowly gathering clusters of black crystals.
「失念Moexl。」
“Lost Thought Moxel.”
杨子藏拿走了属于荒车大货队的那部分两百多枚，其他战死的六十多号人的失念Moexl则让宋棚主安置。
Yang Zicang took the over two hundred tokens belonging to the Grand Wagon Freight Crew, while Song Penglord was tasked with handling the Lost Thought Moxel of the sixty-plus dead men.
稍微休息了半天，宋棚主一行人帮忙送这些物资回到了宁洋的棚区。
After brief rest of half a day, Song Penglord and his entourage helped haul the supplies back to Ning Yang’s Peng Zone.
「这次真是死里逃生。」
“We barely escaped with our lives this time.”
一天半后，看到熟悉建筑的宁洋感觉仿佛重生了般。
A day and a half later, laying eyes on the familiar buildings, Ning Yang felt as if he had been reborn.
来迎接的男男女女比想像中的多出不少。
Far more people than expected came out to greet them, a mix of men and women.
「不是说都跑了吗。」 宁洋对著跑出来的贾队问道。
“Wasn’t it said they all bolted?” Ning Yang asked Jia Dui, who came running out.
「这不是听说你们灭了荒车大货队，他们又回来了嘛，除了那几个抢你屋子的畜生。」
“Well, word got out you wiped out the Grand Wagon Freight Crew, so they’ve slunk back—except for those bastards who looted your house.”
宁洋愤怒不已。
Ning Yang was seething with rage.
「把那些人的消息给我传出去，让这附近的棚区都小心点他们，我看这些畜生能活几天！」
“Spread the info on those pieces of trash far and wide. Let every Peng Zone around here keep an eye on them. I want to see how long those bastards survive!”
「好，就等你这句话。」 贾队道。
“Good, I was waiting for you to say that,” Jia Dui replied.
他看著这一车车的货物，眼中冒著绿光，随后他看到了车上的那熟悉身影，身体一个哆嗦。
His eyes glinted with greed as he stared at the cartloads of goods. But then he spotted a familiar figure on the cart and shuddered.
「还不快去道歉。」
“What are you standing there for? Go apologize.”
宁洋冷著脸看向这位在地球上便是好哥们的男人道。
Ning Yang looked coldly at the man who had been his good buddy back on Earth and spoke.
「等等，阿雅呢，没受伤啥的吧。」
“Hey, what about Aya? Did he get hurt or anything?”
「没有没有。」
“No, not at all.”
说罢，贾队如扭捏的小姑娘般往杨子藏几人的方向走去，随著他的还有好些人。
With that, Jia Duo shuffled toward Yang Zicang and the others like a shy little girl, followed by a number of people.
宋棚主笑看著这一切，他已经完全了解过前几日这边发生过什么事了，看著这一幕只觉得又滑稽又无奈，还好甲子间不是漠视生命之人，否则这个小聚集地的毁灭已经注定。
Song Penglord watched all this with a smile, having fully understood what had transpired here a few days prior. He found the spectacle both comical and exasperating, grateful that Jiazi Term was not someone who treat life lightly; otherwise, this small settlement’s destruction would have been sealed.
夜晚，棚区前所未有的热闹，宁洋将还剩余的以及还回来的食物尽数拿出来招待客人，席间更不用说是如何再三感恩杨子藏一行人的相助。
That night, Peng Zone was livelier than ever. Ning Yang brought out all the remaining food and the provisions that had been returned to entertain the guests, and words fell short of describing how repeatedly they thanked Yang Zicang’s group for their help during the feast.
这样热闹的动静，甚至在天上出现了粒小光团。
Such a clamorous bustle even caused a tiny ball of light to appear in the sky.
｛哼。｝
{Hmph.}
瞧见杨子藏仰头盯来，光团内的小精灵哼了哼飞向了天空。
Upon seeing Yang Zicang look up intently, the little spirit inside the ball of light snorted and flew off into the sky.
青年笑了笑，他将新鲜果汁倒在干净小杯子里，趁着席间良久未尝过酒味的众人跟洛宾酩酊大醉之时，走到一边，小声对着天空道。
The young man smiled, poured fresh juice into clean glasses, and, while the crowd—who hadn’t tasted wine in ages—was getting dead drunk with Robin Lo, he stepped aside and whispered toward the sky.
「要不要尝尝我们的好东西？」
“Care to try some of our good stuff?”
｛你想贿赂我吗，粒粒牙可不会上你的当哦，嗯，不过粒粒牙也是可以稍微尝尝的。｝
“Are you trying to bribe me? Little Lili Tooth won’t fall for that—hmm, but she could take just a tiny sip.”
小光团飞下来，幻化出指头长的穿着小裙子的仙子，两只小手伏在杯子边埋着头吸了一小口。
The little ball of light fluttered down and morphed into a finger-sized fairy in a small dress, placing both tiny hands at the rim of the cup and lowering her head to take a delicate sip.
｛呸呸呸，味道太重啦。｝
“Bleh bleh bleh, way too strong.”
它嗖地冲上天际。
It shot straight up into the sky.
｛哼哼，气死你，大坏蛋。｝
“Heh heh, that’ll drive you crazy, you big meanie.”
杨子藏露出牙齿笑了笑，摇摇头往桌子走去。
Yang Zicang bared his teeth in a grin, shook his head, and walked toward the table.
｛歪，小气鬼不说话了吗。好吧，我承认它还是挺好喝的，再见啦，藏有坏心思的大名人。｝
“Hey, stingy, not talking anymore? Fine, I admit it was still pretty tasty. Goodbye, you famous schemer with bad intentions.”
光团徐徐往上，缓缓消失。
The sphere of light drifted slowly upward and gradually faded away.
杨子藏看着它消失的方向，将杯子里的果汁尝了一小口。
Yang Zicang gazed at where it disappeared, then took a small taste of the juice from his cup.
晚上，两三天没休息好的杨子藏不打算赶路，而是好好睡觉养精神，至少这里的石屋比帐篷舒服。
That evening, Yang Zicang, who hadn’t rested well in two or three days, decided not to proceed further but to sleep soundly and recharge. At least this stone dwelling was more comfortable than a tent.
跟小雨和梁喜等人互相通了会话后，杨子藏爬上了软软的大床。
After exchanging a few words with Xiaoyu and Liang Xi, Yang Zicang climbed into the soft, big bed.
有了荒车大货队贡献的物资，宁洋等人为他准备了不输于地球的休息区。
Thanks to the supplies donated by the Desert Truck Cargo Crew, Ning Yang and the others had prepared a rest area for him that rivaled Earth.
盖着厚毛毯的熟睡中，杨子藏忽然发现自己清醒了过来。
He was fast asleep under the thick woolen blanket when suddenly Yang Zicang found himself wide awake.
这种感觉太熟悉了，现在是梦中。
This feeling was all too familiar; he was in a dream now.
但屋子还是那个屋子，而左非闲则静静坐在打开的门口，神色苍凉的望着外面。
Yet the room remained the same, with Zuo Feixian sitting silently at the open door, his expression bleak as he gazed outward.
杨子藏坐起身来：「你好。」
Yang Zicang sat up and said, “Hello.”
「嗯，这段时间感觉怎么样。」
“Hmm, how have you been feeling lately?”
「什么意思？」
“What do you mean?”
左非闲转过头，脸庞依然是那张脸，看上去却显露着种幽远的，难以琢磨与接触的高远。
Zuo Feixian turned his head—his face still the same—yet now it bore a distant, inscrutable and aloof demeanor, as if dwelling on some lofty height.
「整体的感觉，从你离开你们的世界。」
“The overall feeling, since you left your world.”
杨子藏想了想道：「非常不好，但，又有着种说不出的意味。」
Yang Zicang thought for a moment and replied, “Terrible, but… there’s an indescribable quality to it.”
左非闲笑了，但笑得很是涵蓄。
Zuo Feixian smiled, but it was a smile filled with restraint.
「果然，对力量与长生的追求，是刻在人类的本源中的。无论在任何时间，任何地点都是如此。」
“Indeed, humanity’s pursuit of power and immortality is etched into its very essence, regardless of time or place.”
杨子藏有点不认同这话，自己对力量的追求是来自外在的压迫。
Yang Zicang didn’t quite agree with that; his own quest for power was driven by external pressure.
但左非闲道：「你不想承认，是因为你还当作自己是个正常的…地球人。这个词，还真是难念呢。」
But Zuo Feixian said, “You don’t want to admit it because you still see yourself as a normal… Earthman. That word is a real mouthful to say.”
听到这话，杨子藏才意识到对方说的是自己的语言，而「地球人」这发音，对他来说显然是才刚扭转而来。
Hearing this, Yang Zicang realized that Zuo Feixian was speaking his language, and the pronunciation of “Earthman” seemed like a recent twist for him.
「你还期望着回去，可是。」
“You still hope to go back, but…”
这人转头盯着自己：「如果你一觉醒来，发现自己就躺在曾经屋里的床上，这一切不过是个梦，你会不会怀念这些曾拥有过的力量呢？」
This person turned to stare at him: “If you woke up one day and found yourself lying on the bed in your former home, with all of this being nothing but a dream, would you ever miss the power you once possessed?”
「我…」
“I…”
杨子藏细细一想，想到若自己真的回到地球，回到自己的家里，每天上学，写作业，打球，毕业后找份工作，上班下班，跑业务或者整理工作资料。
Yang Zicang thought it over carefully, imagining himself returning to Earth, to his own home—going to school every day, doing homework, playing basketball, finding a job after graduation, commuting to and from work, handling business or organizing work documents.
他突然有点抗拒继续想下去。
He suddenly felt a faint resistance to continuing that train of thought.
「你一直会说我的语言吗？」杨子藏转移话题道。
“Have you been able to speak my language all along?” Yang Zicang shifted the subject.
「学会很久了。」
“Learned it a long time ago.”
「有多久？」
“How long ago?”
左非闲想了想：「我忘了，那属于我另一半的记忆。」
Zuo Feixian thought for a moment: “I’ve forgotten. That belongs to the memories of my other half.”
杨子藏道：「如果我筹够一万时序，会去往什么地方，你清楚吗？」
Yang Zicang said, “If I gather ten thousand Chronos, do you know where I’ll be sent?”
「编织新命运的地方。」
“To a place where new fates are woven.”
左非闲看向走过来的杨子藏：「有新就有旧，我就属于旧。」
Zuo Feixian looked at Yang Zicang, who had drawn closer: “For there to be new, there must be old. I belong to the old.”
杨子藏整理好自己的心情，不论能不能回去，现在自己是真的来到这世界了。
Yang Zicang composed himself; whether he could go back or not, he had truly arrived in this world now.
眼下应该应对的是真实发生在身上的灾难。
What he should deal with at the moment was the disaster that was actually happening to him.
「之前我遇到了个月影怪物，他似乎知道很多，但你却叮嘱我不要让他说话，这是为什么？」
“Earlier, I ran into a Moon Shadow monster. He seemed to know a lot, but you told me not to let him speak. Why was that?”
他抓紧这难得的机会询问。
He seized this rare opportunity to ask.
「你不是有所猜测了吗？这个问题不要问我，因为我的任何答案，都属于‘旧‘，而不是新的。某些大人都懂的信息，对如白纸般的孩子来说，却是毒药，懂吗。」
“Haven’t you already guessed? Don’t ask me this question, because any answer I give belongs to the ‘old,‘ not the ‘new.‘ Certain information that adults can understand is poison to a child as blank as a sheet of paper, understood?”
杨子藏感觉背脊一阵酥麻。
A tingle of numbness ran down Yang Zicang’s spine.
「如果你期望在我这里获得更多问题的答案，我当然可以，也很乐意告诉你，可惜的是，听众不止一个。」
“If you expect to get answers to more questions from me, of course I can, and I’m happy to tell you—but unfortunately, the audience isn’t just one.”
左非闲双手插在一起，抵住后脑勺倒了下来，随着他的动作，屋子消失，成为了个平台。
Zuo Feixian clasped his hands together, rested them behind his head, and lay back. As he moved, the room vanished, transforming into a platform.
杨子藏抬头看向天空，永远似暮色的午夜消失了，取而代之的是真正的星辰，它们比任何时候都要清澈美丽，不像现实能出现的东西。
Yang Zicang looked up at the sky. The eternal twilight-like midnight had disappeared, replaced by true stars. They were clearer and more beautiful than ever before, unlike anything that could exist in reality.
「你找我有什么事吗？」
“What did you want to see me about?”
看了几秒星空，放弃了一堆问题的杨子藏转头看向身旁的人。
After gazing at the starry sky for a few seconds, Yang Zicang set aside a pile of questions and turned to look at the person beside him.
「看星星。」
“Watching the stars.”
「看星星？」
“Watching the stars?”
「在我的记忆中，很久很久以前，也这样躺在地上跟一个像你一样的人看着星星，我很想念那个时候。」
“In my memories, a long, long time ago, I lay on the ground like this, watching the stars with someone just like you. I miss those times.”
「这片星空就是属于我的，为数不多的美好记忆。」
“This starry sky is one of my rare, cherished memories.”
杨子藏也这样看了看星星，他躺下来，感受着平台的坚硬。
Yang Zicang watched the stars like that as well. He lay down, feeling the hardness of the platform beneath him.
「那个时候的我笨笨的，什么也不懂。」
“Back then, I was foolish and understood nothing.”
「当然，他也比我懂不了多少，字都不识几个。唉，谁能想到，这样的组合，最后能走到今天。」
“Of course, he wasn’t much better off than me—barely knew any characters. *Sigh*, who could have imagined that such a pairing would eventually make it this far?”
略有时间加速的痕迹，不知过了多久，天空变得混沌。
There were subtle hints of time acceleration as, after an unknown span, the sky grew chaotic.
「那你能告诉我你的真名吗？」
“Could you tell me your real name, then?”
「我叫星渺。」
“It’s Xing Miao.”
杨子藏感觉梦境在快速消退，自己快要陷入迷蒙的沉睡，但他脑海中还死死记着这句话——这样的组合，走到了今天。
Yang Zicang felt the dream rapidly receding, himself on the verge of falling into a dazed slumber, yet one phrase remained etched in his mind: this pairing—had made it this far.
｛你准备去往别的棚区地，将我的其余身体部分寻找回来。｝
{Prepare to head to another Penguin Zone and retrieve the remaining parts of my body.}
模糊中，类似左非闲的声音出现在心间。
Hauntingly, a voice reminiscent of Zuo Feixian echoed within his heart.
为什么？睡梦中，杨子藏下意识的想到。
*Why?* In the midst of sleep, Yang Zicang subconsciously pondered.
｛我等待的或许要来了。｝
{What I’ve been waiting for may be close at hand.}
声音与画面都缓缓消失，不知道过了多久，杨子藏睁开眼。
Both sight and sound faded slowly, and after an unknown length of time, Yang Zicang opened his eyes.
枕头旁，趴着的男性小精怪嗖的飞起，它看了杨子藏的脸一眼，略略略~做了个鬼脸后穿过房顶消失不见。
A small male spirit, which had been lying by his pillow, shot into the air. It took a look at Yang Zicang’s face, stuck out its tongue with a teasing *nyeh* sound, and then vanished light through the ceiling.
「该死的记者。」
“Damned journalist…”
杨子藏笑着吐槽了下那小东西，自己刚才被稍微惊到了下。
Yang Zicang chuckled at the little creature’s remark, still a bit startled from the moment.
任谁刚睡醒，脸旁边突然蹿出个东西都会被吓一下子的吧。
After all, who *wouldn’t* be scared by something suddenly shooting up beside their face just as they woke up?
随后他脸上带起沉思之色。
Then, a contemplative look settled upon his face.
早饭后，众人将左非闲快要供起来似的，请他留在这边，但左非闲摇头，任何诱惑都不为所动。
After breakfast, everyone almost treated Zuo Feixian like a deity, begging him to stay here, but Zuo Feixian shook his head, unmoved by any temptation.
「这里没有前途。」
“There is no future here.”
换了身新衣服的蓬头男直言不讳。
The disheveled man, now in a new set of clothes, said bluntly.
换做往日的宁洋早就鼻子都气歪了，但现在他不敢说半个不字。
In the past, Ning Yang would have been fuming with rage, but now he dared not utter a single word of dissent.
就昨天，他分明看到这左大师跟徐秀川身上都冒着红光，将陈老师两人护在身后，仿佛两尊大神。
Just yesterday, he clearly saw this Master Zuo and Shiu Siuchuan both glowing with red light, shielding Professor Chen and the others behind them like two towering deities.
这让他扼腕叹息，自己差点就能成为大棚主，可惜可叹。
This made him sigh with regret, realizing he had almost become a great Lord of Penglai—what a pity, what a lament!
趁着有大批的货物材料，今日杨子藏并未回去自己的驻地，而是趁着人多开始炼制生活物资类失念引擎，直到夜晚来临。
Seizing the opportunity with a large batch of cargo materials, Yang Zicang did not return to his own station today; instead, he took advantage of the crowd to begin crafting daily-life Shin Engines, working until nightfall.
「甲子兄弟，以后常来玩啊。」
“Brother Jiazi, come visit us often!”
宁洋真心的挥着手道。
Ning Yang waved his hand sincerely and said.
「会的。」
“I will.”
列车消失在风中，带走的还有成堆的货物。
The train vanished into the wind, taking with it piles of cargo.
转眼间，宁洋发现自己又成了穷光蛋，连储备的食物都消耗得精光。
In the blink of an eye, Ning Yang found himself penniless once again, his stored food completely exhausted.
……
晨曦，匡雨明坐在小院里。
At dawn, Kuang Yuming sat in the small courtyard.
他身前的水泥圆桌上摆着几个小菜，这些都是从交错区域内采集到的新鲜蔬菜所作。自从接受李弥的安排后，这些日子他看上去过得很是惬意。
On the cement round table before him were several small dishes, all made from fresh vegetables gathered from the overlapping zones. Since accepting Li Mi’s arrangements, these days he appeared to live quite comfortably.
「不知道食物能不能诞生恶魇。」匡雨明喝了杯酒后想到。
“I wonder if food can give birth to Nightmares.” Kuang Yuming thought after taking a sip of wine.
忽地，若有所感，他抬头看向星辰稀疏的空中。
Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked up at the sparsely starry sky.
那里似有颗新的星星正在诞生。
It seemed as though a new star was being born there.
「那小子的动作不错，竟然真的让吕布注意到了我。」
“That kid’s move wasn’t bad—he actually made Lyu Bu take notice of me.”
脸上布满风霜的男人心中情绪翻涌。
A storm of emotions surged within the weather-beaten man.
匡雨明笑著摇摇头，叹息口气看向酒杯，为自己斟上了最后这一杯酒。
Kuang Yuming smiled and shook his head, let out a sigh, and looked at his wine glass before pouring himself the last cup.
恰似天地间无形的天门开启道缝隙。
It was as though an invisible heavenly gate in the cosmos had cracked open.
一丝光芒垂直落下，闪逝熄灭。
A sliver of light fell vertically, flashing and vanishing.