Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.133 第133章 请再次跳动
第133章 请再次跳动
Chapter 133: Beat Again, Please
左非闲和周立仁蹲在土灶旁不断煽火。
Zuo Feixian and Zhou Liren crouched by the earthen stove, ceaselessly fanning the flames.
烟熏中，周立仁侧首虚著眼：
Smothered in smoke, Zhou Liren turned his head and squinted:
「为什么是老王，不应该是老李吗… 嗯，或许他认错了画像，肯定是老李。」
“Why is it Old Wang? Shouldn’t it be Old Li… Hmm, maybe he misidentified the portrait—definitely Old Li.”
因为是从山中出来，周立仁虽然深切相信王朝光已经死了，却又怀疑会不会是自己的幻觉。
Having just emerged from the mountains, Zhou Liren firmly believed Wang Chaoguang was dead, yet he couldn’t shake the suspicion that it might have been an illusion.
身旁烧锅的左非闲不痛快的嗯嗯两声，手中的扇子扇得更卖力了，将烟灰都扑到了周立仁的脸上，惹得他一阵咳嗽。
Beside him, Zuo Feixian, tending the boiling pot, let out a displeased grunt and fanned the fire even harder, blowing soot right into Zhou Liren’s face, provoking a fit of coughing.
「咳咳，老李，咳咳咳，竟然活了下来，喂你轻点。」
“Cough, cough, Old Li, cough, cough, so he actually survived… Hey, take it easy!”
呼呼呼~
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
「那个缠绷带的，看来已经掌握了进入其中的方法，」左非闲换了个蹲姿道，「否则不会出现那个怪藤，肯定是那座山里的宝物之一。」
“That bandaged one seems to have grasped the method to enter it,” Zuo Feixian shifted his crouching posture and said. “Otherwise, that weird vine wouldn’t have appeared—it must be one of the treasures from that mountain.”
那座山无人能靠近，但接受手术的周立仁的队友却能进入，还从坑道内带出了这样强的植物，强到那些野兽都不是它的对手。
No one could approach that mountain, but Zhou Liren’s team members who had undergone the surgery could enter unhindered, even bringing back such a formidable plant from the tunnel, capable of defeating even those wild beasts.
……
荒原上，一队拖运著水箱的板车队伍，缓缓走向远处。 它身后，另一个方向上，也有类似的队伍。
On the barren plains, a convoy of carts laden with water tanks slowly trudged into the distance. Behind it, in another direction, a similar group could be seen.
它们都来自于大甲方货队旁的那口能够源源不断产出清澈甘泉的水井。
They all came from the well beside the Cargo Crew in the north, which could continuously produce crystal-clear, sweet water.
此刻水井旁喧闹声不断，排队的人群提著水瓢与木桶于周围开心聊著天，天上的一个小光团漂浮，小手撑著脑袋望著下面。
At this moment, incessant clamor surrounded the well. The queuing crowd chatted happily while holding water ladles and wooden buckets. A small ball of light floated in the sky, a tiny hand propping up its head, gazing downward.
人群北方三四十米外，一身穿厚实齐膝长袍的中年男人与两位护在他身旁的跟班，扫眼看著这里的地形。 在此人身侧不远，一名显露五十来岁外貌的女士看向他。
Thirty to forty meters north of the crowd, a middle-aged man dressed in a thick, knee-length robe, accompanied by two attendants protecting his sides, scanned the terrain. Not far beside him, a woman who appeared to be in her fifties looked in his direction.
「元龙棚主，你真要将那枚我们合作才好不容易才稳定好的引擎，投放在这里吗？」
“Yuan Longpenglord, are you really going to place that engine—which we only managed to stabilize with great effort through our cooperation—right here?”
「馨副棚主是有点舍不得吗。」
“Vice Penglord Wang, could it be that you’re feeling a bit reluctant?”
中年男人的嘴角留著两撇淡淡的胡须，他扭头看去王馨，笑了笑后，指著身后的人群，「你听。」
The middle-aged man had two faint wisps of mustache at the corners of his mouth. He turned his head to look at Wang Xin, smiled, then pointed behind him at the crowd. “Listen.”
王馨转动眼眸看去，依稀声音传来。
Wang Xin shifted her gaze, catching faint voices carrying over.
「免费，不要挤，哎呀你们挤个得儿挤，这水井又不收费…」
“It’s free, but don’t push! Damn it, what’s the rush? This well doesn’t charge a dime…”
「…排好队，喂，你小子口痰吐远点啊。」
“…Stay in line. Hey, you there, spit your phlegm farther away.”
「哎哟，我过去撒泡尿，老哥你帮我占下位置，我桶放这里…」
“Oh, I’m off to take a piss, big bro. Watch my spot for me; I’ll leave my bucket here…”
王馨收回眼眸，轻轻吸了口气，目光略微飘渺像是陷入了沉思。
Wang Xin withdrew her gaze, took a soft breath, and her eyes grew slightly distant, as if lost in thought.
「要是到处都能这样和谐就好了。」元龙棚主旁的一名年轻人不由自主的叹道。
“If only it could be this harmonious everywhere,” a young man beside Yuan Long couldn’t help but sigh.
「是的。」中年人点点头，」虽然甲子间货队长本意是想赚时序，但他对这些人好也是真的。你们也看出来了吧，这里如果一直有人气会有什么样的潜质。」
“Indeed,” the middle-aged man nodded. “Though Leader Jiazi of the Term Cargo Crew initially aimed to earn Chronos, his kindness toward these people is genuine. You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? Imagine the potential this place could hold if it remains populated.”
王馨收回思绪道：
Wang Xin snapped out of her reverie and said,
「话虽是这样说，但这片山林恐怕明年一二月份就会彻底消失了。到时候也就没有这些所谓的人气。」
“That’s true, but this stretch of forest will likely be completely gone by January or February next year. Then all this so-called vitality will vanish as well.”
「你以为甲子间货队长没有想过这件事吗，」元龙笑道，「可那年轻人，来的第二天就埋下了这口井。」
“Do you think Leader Jiazi of the Term Cargo Crew hasn’t considered that?” Yuan Long chuckled. “But that young man dug this well on his second day here.”
「所以你才想把引擎埋在这里？我还是劝你不要冲动，毕竟一间稳定好的异界房屋，可以长存许多年不变成恶魇，哪怕是个小型棚区有这样一个建筑，也具备迟早成为大棚的潜质。」
“So that’s why you want to bury the engine here? I still advise you not to act rashly. After all, a stabilized otherworldly dwelling can endure for many years without turning into a nightmare. Even a small Peng Zone with such a building holds the potential to eventually become a full-fledged greenhouse.”
她看了眼周围如同流浪般聚在一起嬉笑取水的人群，淡淡道：
She glanced at the crowd gathering around, laughing and fetching water like itinerants, and said flatly,
「放在这里，虽然以后也能供取水之人使用，但有点不值得如此大的建筑。我也同情他们，但那屋子，若成为棚区的根基可以有更大价值，保护更多人。」
“Putting it here will allow people to draw water in the future, but it hardly warrants such a grand structure. I sympathize with them, but that building—if it becomes the foundation of a Peng Zone—could hold far greater value and protect far more people.”
听闻此话，元龙身旁的青年看了看自己手中的这枚小巧的引擎。
Upon hearing this, the young man beside Yuan Long glanced down at the compact engine in his own hand.
有着三个小巧缸帽的晶莹引擎里，一片朦胧的山峦背景象下，略有破损的砖石结构房屋屹立，仿佛已经存在了数百年。
Inside the crystalline engine, which boasted three delicate cylinder caps, a layer of hazy mountain scenery unfolded in its backdrop, where a brick-and-mortar house—bearing a few traces of ruin—stood firm, as if it had existed for centuries.
引擎的画面缓缓浮现着它的影像，像是在展示自己的存在，想要吸引人让自己在新的土地获得新生。
The engine’s projection slowly revealed its image, as though showcasing its presence, seeking to lure someone into granting it a rebirth on new soil.
这就是这几天中，自己的棚区与黄昏大棚之人合力于山内所稳定的一处比较完好的异界建筑。而这枚价值数千甚至上万时序的大地型建筑引擎，却被元龙棚主放话，要送给这片驻地。
This was a fairly intact otherworldly structure, one that had been stabilized within the mountain over the past few days by the power of his own Peng Zone and the people of the Dusk Canopy. But this Continental Building Engine, worth several thousand or even over ten thousand Chronos, had been declared by Penglord Yuan Long to be freely gifted to this settlement.
「老板。」年轻人看向中年人，欲言又止，「黄昏副棚说得对，成为棚区才有价值…」
“Boss.” The young man turned to the middle-aged leader, hesitant to speak further, “Deputy of Dusk Canopy is right—it only holds value if it becomes part of a Peng Zone…”
元龙摇头指向前方，道：「放下去，就在那里。」
Yuan Long shook his head, pointing ahead, and said, “Set it down. Right there.”
「元龙棚主，三思。」
“Penglord Yuan Long, please reconsider.”
「我意已决，去吧。」
“My mind is made up. Go.”
「唉。」青年看了看身旁的另一个跟班，一人拿着晶莹剔透的引擎与小锄头，另一人拖着口木箱子，里面配着收集来的金系与土系魔晶石石簇。
“Sigh.” The young man glanced at the other lackey beside him. One was holding a crystal-clear engine and a small hoe, while the other dragged a wooden box filled with collected gold-type and earth-type magic crystal clusters.
锄头在地上两三下挖出小坑，青年再次看了看手中的晶莹如水晶的引擎，有点不舍的看了眼那结实的房屋结构后，将它埋入了土里，又拿锄头刨了刨泥将它覆盖好。
The hoe dug a small pit into the ground in just two or three strikes. The young man looked once more at the engine in his hand, gleaming like crystal, then reluctantly cast his eyes over the sturdy house structure before burying it in the soil. He scraped some dirt with the hoe to cover it properly.
啪！木箱盖子掀开，哐啷声响中，一堆土黄与暖金的魔晶跌落。这声音吸引了周围人的目光。十来个在井边聊天的人挪步过来，双手插在袖口里看着这里的动静。
*Smack!* The wooden box lid flew open, and amid the clatter, a pile of earthy yellow and warm gold magic crystals tumbled out. The noise drew the attention of those nearby. A dozen or so people chatting by the well stepped closer, hands tucked into their sleeves, watching the commotion.
「这是在干嘛？」
“What are they doing?”
「那些魔晶石堆在地上，难道是要启动什么引擎吗？」
“Those magic crystals piled on the ground—could they be… about to activate some sort of engine?”
之前保管失念引擎的青年蹲在地上，一手撑在地面，微微闭目。
The young man, who had previously been in charge of the Shin Engine, crouched down, one hand braced on the ground, his eyes slightly closed.
「我，开始启动失念引擎。」
“I shall now begin the activation of the Shin Engine.”
胸前Moexl微微闪动。
The Moxel on his chest flickered faintly.
[我，神秘的三角形，开始沟通失念引擎。]
[I, the Mysterious Triangle, commence communication with the Shin Engine.]
[三角形引擎，请再次跳动你的心脏…于…失频之地。]
[Triangular Engine, let your heart beat once more… here… in the Shibin Wastes.]
箜咚…
*Thump…*
周围所有人似乎都幻听了下，仿佛地下有什么在苏醒，下一秒。
Everyone around seemed to hear a phantom sound, as if something deep underground was beginning to stir. In the next moment…
轰！
*Boom!*
烟尘翻滚中，大地上一间厚重的砖石房屋拔地而起！周围的人感觉自己之前站立的地面仿佛被无形大手撕开，露出藏匿其中的古代岩石建筑。
Dust and smoke billowed as a heavy brick-and-stone house rose abruptly from the ground! The people around felt as if the earth beneath their feet had been torn apart by an invisible giant hand, revealing an ancient rock structure hidden within.
「哇！是房子！」
“Wow! It’s a house!”
「你们是什么人啊，这是你们稳定的房子吗？」
“Who are you folks? Is this your secure house?”
看着这些热情的人，王馨暗暗摇了摇头。她不远处，元龙棚主转头笑着点点头，随后目光落在了远处集市赶过来的一队人，其中正有这集市的主人，杨子藏。
Watching these enthusiastic people, Wang Xin shook her head discreetly. Not far from her, Yuan Long Penglord turned and nodded with a smile, then his gaze fell on a group hurrying over from the market. Among them was the market’s owner, Yang Zi Cang.
「如果我没记错，你是丽疆大棚的元龙棚主？」杨子藏靠近看着这房屋道。
“If I’m not mistaken, you’re Yuan Long Penglord of the Lijiang Greenhouse?” Yang Zi Cang approached, eyeing the house.
最近来的人实在太多，但像这种棚主与副棚主亲至的人物，杨子藏还是注意着他们的姓名，而陈老师就是专门被他拉过来负责与这些人接待的人。
The recent influx of people had been overwhelming, but for figures like a Penglord and Vice Penglord visiting in person, Yang Zi Cang made a point to remember their names—and Professor Chen had been specifically brought in to handle their reception.
「正是在下。这位是黄昏大棚的王馨副棚主。这间屋子是我们共同在山中所稳定，以后它就属于甲子间货队长你们了。」
“Indeed, I am. This is Wang Xin, Vice Penglord of the Dusk Greenhouse. This house was jointly secured by us in the mountains, and from now on, it belongs to you, the Jiazi Term Cargo Crew.”
「什么，送我们栋异界建筑？」
“What… you’re giving us an otherworldly building?!”
跟在杨子藏身边的陈老师顿时吃惊的推了推眼镜，好好打量起了这栋屋子。此刻已经有很多人凑近左右细看，有人已经忍不住钻入了其中。
Professor Chen, standing beside Yang Zicang, was startled and pushed up his glasses, taking a careful look at the building. At this moment, many people had already gathered around to examine it closely, and some couldn’t resist slipping inside.
「这屋子…」杨子藏看了眼这虽然仅一层楼高，但却比较宽大的建筑，「如果在棚区的话，它的作用更大吧。」
“This house…” Yang Zicang glanced at the structure—only one story tall, yet rather spacious—”would be far more useful if it were in a Peng Zone.”
每隔一年左右，棚区就要翻新一次自己的木屋，否则指不定哪天就会变成吃人的恶魇，但这种由失念引擎造出的稳定过的房屋，就不会有这种问题。
Roughly once a year, the Peng Zone has to rebuild its own wooden huts, otherwise they might one day morph into a nightmare of a man-eater. But this stable dwelling, crafted by the Shin Engine, would never have such issues.
「是的，理论上在中小棚区，它的价值更大。基本上，我认识的所有大棚内，都至少有一两间这样的房屋，这代表着它们从小至大的根基，是棚区的历史与来路。」
“Indeed, theoretically, its value is even greater in a medium or small Peng Zone. Basically, among all the large zones I know, every one has at least one or two such houses. They represent the foundation from the small to the grand—the essence and history of all Peng Zones.”
一些人惊叹过后，过来道：「元龙棚主大手笔啊，这样的建筑说送就送。」
After exclaiming in wonder, some people came over to say, “Yuan Long Penglord is generous with his gesture, giving away a building like this without a second thought.”
「不愧是大棚区的老板。」
“No wonder he’s the owner of a big Peng Zone.”
「可惜，山林半年后就会毁坏，否则的话，这里若是出现个棚区就好了。」
“It’s a shame these mountainsides will be ruined in six months. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be nice if a Peng Zone emerged here?”
「这里有水井，现在又有了长存千百年的屋子，啧啧，以后这里该不会出现个大棚区，甚至，出现个小镇吧。」
“There’s a well here now, and the durable house that could stand for a millennium. Tsk-tsk, who knows—maybe a huge Peng Zone or even a little town might appear here in the future.”
众人议论声不断，幻想着这里的未来，唯一可惜的是这里的人气迟早消失，就在明年一二月以后。
The crowd murmured endlessly, fantasizing about the future of this place. The only pity was that the liveliness here would eventually fade, disappearing after January and February of next year.
在这样的声音中，元龙靠近杨子藏，低声道：
Amidst such voices, Yuan Long approached Yang Zicang and whispered:
「甲子间货队长，你有没有考虑过，在这里建立棚区的想法呢？」
“Captain of the Jiazi Term Cargo Crew, have you ever considered building a Peng Zone here?”
「我？」杨子藏看了眼周围的人，也小声道，」实不相瞒，我自己有片稳定好的地块，所以并没有在此建立棚区的想法。」
“Me?” Yang Zicang glanced at the people around him and also whispered, “To be honest, I already have a stabilized piece of land of my own, so I have no plans to establish a Peng Zone here.”
最主要的是，这里离枢纽镇还是有点远，自己有列车无所谓，但对没有车的人来说，五六百里地就太过遥远了。
Most importantly, this place is still a bit far from Hubville. For me, with a train, it’s no big deal, but for those without a vehicle, five or six hundred li is just too far.
元龙眼中一亮，「那岂不是说，我元龙有可能是那个在这里接手棚区的人？」
Yuan Long’s eyes lit up. “Doesn’t that mean I, Yuan Long, might be the one to take over the Peng Zone here?”
「元龙棚主这话是什么意思？」
“What does Kuroda Pengloff mean by that?”
「甲队长，我也实不相瞒，在下有个恳请。」
“Captain Jia, to be honest with you as well, I have a request.”
他低声在杨子藏身边说完后，杨子藏眼中一震。
After he finished speaking quietly beside Yang Zicang, Yang Zicang’s eyes widened in shock.
如果说自己之前搜刮周遭草药制作香丸售卖，对左非闲、徐秀川与王翀等人来说是个冲击，那么此刻元龙口中的提议，就相当于另一个冲击，不过是对自己。
If my previous act of scouring the area for herbs to make and sell incense pills was a shock to Zuo Feixian, Shiu Siuchuan, and Wang Chong, then Yuan Long’s proposal now was another shock—but this time, for me.
「你… 能成吗？ 那可不是个小数目。」
“You… can you pull it off? That’s no small matter.”
杨子藏有点心肝颤的看了眼远处的几匹山。
Yang Zicang’s heart trembled a little as he glanced at the several peaks in the distance.
「我一人之力当然不行，但如果集合大家之力，倒也不无可能，只是希望能以甲队长你的名义，召开个会议。」
“Of course, I’m powerless alone, but if we pool our strength, it’s not impossible—I just hope we can call a meeting under Captain Jia’s name.”
「行，那我立即召开个会议，位址的话… 就这间屋子吧。」
“Alright, I’ll call a meeting immediately. As for the venue… let’s use this room.”
元龙脸上微愣后，突然哈哈大笑。
Yuan Long’s face went briefly blank, then he burst into laughter.
「哈哈哈，好好好，不愧是甲队长，执行力真是高！」
“Hahaha, great, great, great! As expected of Captain Jia, such high execution efficiency!”
……
「什么，开会？」
“What? A meeting?”
袁昆抬手指了指自己，看著感应画面中的棚主道，「张傲不是过来了吗，为什么不是他去开会。」
Yuan Kun raised a finger to point at himself, then stared at Penglord on the screen, saying, “Isn’t Chang Ao here? Why isn’t he attending the meeting?”
｛你是货队长还是他是货队长？ 我看你是越活越回去了。｝
{Are you the Cargo Crew leader, or is he the Cargo Crew leader? I think you’ve been slipping backward more and more the older you get.}
袁昆缩了缩脖子。
Yuan Kun shrank his neck.