312: Chapter 312 Coconut Palms and Setting Sun, Post-War Joy!

This banquet could hardly be called grand.

There were no delicacies from land or sea, nor were there free-flowing drinks.

The only things worth mentioning were the Blue-veined Coconuts, black-veined goji berries, and some specialties brought from the deep sea by Octopus Xiaoba.

Before the apocalypse, a gathering like this wouldn't even compare to a university club's farewell dinner.

But deep in the desert of the Third Stage, after having just experienced a bloody battle against a swarm of insects, these few things were already quite luxurious.

Lin Xiao stood on the island in the middle of the swimming pool on the roof of Car 07, holding a glass of mixed coconut juice.

Or rather, a coconut cocktail.

The rays of the setting sun poured down from the edge of the tempered glass fence on the roof, passing through the wide, feathery leaves of the coconut trees, cutting countless tiny, golden spots of light onto the surface of the pool.

After the ambient temperature dropped, over a thousand people gathered on the roofs of the three carriages: 06, 07, and 08.

Many girls were playing in the pool, while other passengers either leaned back on beach chairs drinking coconut juice or stood in twos and threes by the railings, enjoying the rare evening breeze.

Captain Lu Gongda's engineering team had somehow dug up several strings of decorative lights, wrapping them around the coconut tree trunks. The warm yellow lights flickered on one by one in the twilight, merging with the remnants of the afterglow on the horizon.

Lin Xiao leaned against the edge of the bar, looking at the scene before him, feeling a momentary trance.

The swaying coconut trees, the rippling pool, the rising and falling chatter, and the occasional burst of laughter.

Everything seemed so peaceful, like a resort in a foreign land, like some carefree summer evening.

If not for the icons forever floating in the corner of his vision, and if not for the desert filled with wind and sand outside the Astral Express [ Coating ], he would have almost thought he was truly living in a time of peace.

But it was only a thought.

Suddenly, a shout interrupted his thoughts.

Xiao He, leading the agricultural team he had assembled, walked over from the direction of Car 08.

About twenty people were pushing several modified flatbed carts, stacked with freshly picked Blue-veined green coconuts.

Thanks to the stardust fertilizer and the desert climate of the Third Stage, this batch of coconuts was a size larger than before.

The flesh was thick, the juice was sweet, and the yield per tree was as high as a hundred.

The three coconut groves had produced a total of over three thousand fruits, and the agricultural team had been busy all afternoon to finish harvesting them.

During this time, the Merfolk Tribe were a huge help.

The coconut tree canopies were too high, making it time-consuming and laborious for human passengers to climb.

But for the Merfolk Tribe warriors, who had honed their skills since childhood, twenty-meter-high trunks were no challenge at all.

As a reward, Lin Xiao had Captain Lu Gongda build an exclusive water bar for the Merfolk Tribe by the pool on Car 06.

The Heze-style furniture blueprints retrieved from the Qitian Temple ruins had been crafted into physical objects by the engineering team.

Several strangely shaped solid wood tables were placed around the island in the middle of the pool.

And standing behind the water bar was none other than Octopus Xiaoba, nicknamed the "Deep Sea Infatuation Bartender."

Eight tentacles were flying simultaneously behind the bar.

Mixing drinks, settling bills, and restocking—all three tasks were being handled at once.

That round face wore a smug expression that made people can't help but chuckle.

Brother Ma from the merchant caravan had also brought out long-treasured supplies from a wooden crate.

A box of dried Sea Windbell Grass and three large barrels of green liquor fermented from deep-sea bubble algae.

"This is my bottom-of-the-chest stash!"

Brother Ma slammed the barrel onto the bar, his tone filled with the exaggerated regret typical of a merchant.

"I've been saving this for over a hundred years; these are the last three barrels. Once they're gone, that's it!"

Xiaoba began mixing drinks according to a modified traditional recipe.

A small cup of green liquor was mixed into five hundred milliliters of coconut juice, a pinch of powdered Sea Windbell Grass was added, and then several ice cubes, frozen on the spot by passengers skilled in ice-type abilities, were tossed in.

After rapid stirring, the liquor swirled into a dark green vortex within the coconut juice.

When the vortex dissipated, the color shifted from dark green to a cloudy bluish-white, with a layer of fine foam rising to the top.

Xiaoba gave this cocktail a name.

It was called: [ Deep Sea Odyssey ].

This was the very glass Lin Xiao was holding in his hand.

He took a sip.

The initial taste was the icy, refreshing sweetness of coconut juice, with a hint of faint saltiness.

It was like a carefree summer in his Remembrance, playing happily by the sea with his friends.

Immediately after, the alcohol hit from the root of his tongue, carrying a strange fruity aroma.

His throat felt as if it had been washed by cold ocean waves, yet a fire burned in his stomach.

This fire made one briefly forget the desert, the Calamity Creatures, and the unknown tomorrow.

One only remembered that they were still alive.

"This coconut juice is better than any cup I've ever had in Sanya."

Fan Sinian had also ordered a glass, tilted his head back, and downed it, his face full of enjoyment.

"That's because you didn't have to pay for it," Zhou Jun added from the side.

That's right; all food expenses for tonight were being covered by Lin Xiao.

Fan Sinian was about to retort when he caught a glimpse of Lin Xiao setting down his glass and standing up.

"Brother Lin, leaving already?"

Lin Xiao nodded. "There are still some things that need to be dealt with."

This was true.

But on the other hand, it was because the new passengers seemed too intimidated.

Every time they saw him, their expressions and movements would visibly flinch.

In this atmosphere, the party had turned into another form of inspection.

Lin Xiao clinked glasses with Fan Sinian and waved a greeting to Chen Pingan and the other team leaders.

Afterwards, while passing the bar, he tossed a stack of supply vouchers to Xiaoba as a tip for the drinks tonight.

Xiaoba caught them with a tentacle, performed an exaggerated tentacle-over-chest salute, squeezed a brilliant smile onto its round face, and shouted, "Long live Lord Sovereign!"

Lin Xiao smiled, turned, and left the pool island, leaving the liveliness to those who needed it.

The laughter behind him gradually faded.

Jiang Wanwan was the first to notice his departing figure.

She put down the food in her hand, exchanged a glance with Wen Yiran, then pulled Tian Xiwei and Jing Hua up, walking through the groups of people gathered by the pool toward the spiral staircase.

"Brother Lin, what's so urgent? Can't you stay and play a bit longer?"

Wen Yiran chased after him, still holding a half-finished coconut in her hand.

Lin Xiao slowed his pace to wait for them to catch up, smiling, "I'm heading back to the territory to take stock of today's harvest and prepare for tomorrow."

Jiang Wanwan trotted forward to link her arm with his, her tone carrying a perfectly balanced amount of teasing, "Wow, as expected of our Train Conductor Lin, so diligent!"

Tian Xiwei caught up from the other side, simultaneously handing over a green coconut that emitted a sweet fragrance, with an opening already made.

"You've worked hard, Brother Xiao."

Her voice was as soft as ever, but her actions were much more generous than before.

After handing over the coconut, she didn't immediately pull her hand back but leaned against his shoulder, tilting her face up to wait for his response.

Lin Xiao took the coconut and lowered his head to kiss her soft cheek.

"Thank you."

"Brother Lin is so biased!"

Wen Yiran's voice immediately rang out from behind.

She ran to the front, turned around, and spread her arms wide, blocking the middle of the corridor like a puffed-up little kitten, her chestnut twin-tails swaying in the evening breeze.

"I want a kiss too! I want one, I want one..."

Lin Xiao looked at this girl who always acted coquettishly regardless of the occasion, reaching out to ruffle her cute, chestnut-colored head.

"I'll reward you properly when we get back, alright?"

Wen Yiran tilted her head up, her eyes twinkling as she blinked, and finally satisfied, she stepped aside to continue drinking her coconut juice.

Lin Xiao looked at Jing Hua, whose cheeks were puffed up.

This Merfolk Tribe leader, who was always working herself to the bone, had finally not locked herself up next to the Rune Array to work overtime today, having been dragged by Jiang Wanwan to soak in the pool for a while.

The color in her face had recovered quite a bit, but the edges of those fine, pale purple scales on the back of her neck still bore a few faint, lingering traces of dryness.

"Jing Hua, I'll have to trouble you with the potions again tonight."

Jing Hua swallowed the food in her mouth and crossed her hands over her chest.

"It is no trouble, My Lord; Jing Hua is ready at any time."