The train pulled out of Jiang City Station and left the city. Gradually, the surroundings grew quieter, with only the faint hum of the rails echoing in the air.
Lin Xian looked up at the massive cloud formation looming over Jiang City. The ominous cluster hung motionless in the sky, evoking a deep sense of dread every time he saw it. Many people had seen it, and there was no doubt that some kind of atmospheric creature resided within—something far more terrifying than zombies or eerie entities.
No one knew what it was. For humans, the only choices were to cower in fortresses or flee in panic. Who would dare investigate the true form of such an apocalyptic being?
Outside the city, the scenery gradually transformed into mountains and farmlands. The blood-soaked, desolate, and smoke-filled landscapes faded away, offering a fleeting illusion of having escaped the apocalypse.
Lin Xian had assumed it would be rare to see any people along the way.
Unexpectedly, a dirt road running parallel to the railway began to reveal scattered vehicles—mostly off-road jeeps. A few sedans, caked in mud and loaded to the brim with belongings, roared down the road as their drivers floored the gas pedal.
When one of the jeeps noticed the train passing by, its window rolled down. A middle-aged man stuck his head out and shouted, “Holy sh*t, a train!”
“D*mn, that’s amazing!”
Another jeep, covered in makeshift paint designs, opened its roof hatch. A buzz-cut young man emerged, clutching an AK rifle. He fired a burst into the air, the gunshots echoing loudly.
“Train crew! Got any food or water? Want to join our Oasis convoy?” the young man shouted at the train.
But in the cockpit, Lin Xian ignored him entirely, staying focused on operating the locomotive.
“F*ck,” the buzz-cut youth cursed under his breath when he got no response and slumped back into his seat.
“Brother Yong, should we let Brother Liu Wei in the front know?” said a yellow-haired youth in the passenger seat, his voice slow and deep.
Zhang Dayong waved it off nonchalantly. “Why? So we can all hop on the train or something?”
The yellow-haired youth’s eyes widened as he responded with a peculiar expression, “Brother Yong, the fuel.”
Hearing this, Zhang Dayong suddenly realized. He slapped his thigh and spat, “Sh*t, you’re right!”
A functioning train could hold thousands of liters of fuel. Even if it didn’t have that much, a few hundred liters would be enough to sustain their convoy for a couple of days.
He immediately grabbed his walkie-talkie.
“Brother Wei, Brother Wei, there’s a big one heading along the Jiangyu Line—it’s a train. I think it’s carrying a lot of fuel.”
“A train?” A raspy voice responded over the walkie-talkie, sounding intrigued.
“Yeah, I figure it’ll reach Yushan Station in about ten minutes. What do you think?”
“I’ll block it. Second team, circle around from behind.”
Ten kilometers ahead of the convoy, a small team of vehicles was speeding along. Leading the group was a modified Raptor truck. In the backseat sat Liu Wei, with his square, stern face and a scowl that made him look menacing. A heavily made-up young woman clung to him as he surveyed the road ahead.
“Third Brother, take the next turnoff. That big one is headed for Yushan Station.”
In this convoy, Liu Wei’s word was law.
Before the apocalypse, Liu Wei wasn’t some crime lord. He was just a small-time vendor at a local market. But after the apocalypse, he unexpectedly awakened an ability, which instantly elevated him to a position of power.
Friends and relatives, once dismissive of him, now groveled for his protection. Liu Wei, a cunning man, used his newfound abilities to recruit a group of hardened, armed survivors. Soon, others began offering him supplies and valuables in exchange for his protection.
In just a few days, Liu Wei had gathered over twenty loyal followers, living like a self-proclaimed king. Even the high-class women who had once looked down on him now threw themselves at him. His nights became filled with parties and indulgence, and his confidence soared.
Now, hearing his men report that a massive train had dared to operate in his territory without “offering tribute” and was even attempting to leave Jiang City under his watch, his pride was bruised. He immediately prepared to play the role of a roadblock… after all, this was already part of his plan when leaving Jiang City.
Back on the train, Lin Xian furrowed his brow at the sound of the rifle shots from earlier. Out of caution, he increased the train’s speed slightly. Compared to vehicles navigating dirt roads, the train had a significant advantage in speed on its smooth rails.
“That Oasis convoy… I just heard them on the radio earlier. Their leader is said to be an ability user as well,” Chen Sixuan said, her voice tinged with worry after hearing the gunfire.
“I heard too,” Lin Xian replied. “But they’re traveling by road, and we’re on the railway. We should stay out of each other’s way and avoid any conflict.”
Despite his calm words, the mention of another ability user left Lin Xian uneasy.
The Infinite Train project had many advantages but also one glaring weakness: it was far too conspicuous. A massive train rumbling across the tracks was impossible to miss and bound to attract attention from survivors.
“We also need to recruit more teammates. If everyone starts targeting us, it’ll be tough to handle,” Chen Sixuan remarked, giving Lin Xian a surprised look before quickly lowering her gaze.
“I saw the posts you shared before. I think if people don’t know about your ability, they won’t easily believe in your plan.”
“I know.” Lin Xian spoke boldly, “It’s quality over quantity when it comes to teammates. My ability isn’t meant to make me everyone’s chauffeur. I’m not letting just anyone on this train. If someone isn’t valuable, I’d rather not create more trouble for myself.” He glanced at Chen Sixuan and grinned. “And, of course, they need to be someone I approve of.”
Chen Sixuan’s face turned inexplicably red. She thought Lin Xian was flirting with her and immediately felt a bit awkward.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Lin Xian coughed lightly. “I’m not talking about good looks, but things like character and personality...”
His clarification only made Chen Sixuan’s face turn even redder. She avoided his gaze entirely, keeping her head down and pretending to be busy recording something in the logbook.
Clang clang, clang clang.
The train sped across the flat plains.
It was then that Lin Xian, with his enhanced vision, spotted something far ahead on the tracks near Yushan Station—a damaged car deliberately placed across the rails. The positioning was so precise it was obvious that it had been intentionally set up to block the train.
Lin Xian’s expression turned serious. He shouted to Chen Sixuan, “Get to the back! Quick! Hold on tight!”
Realizing the imminent danger, Chen Sixuan’s face changed. She obeyed without hesitation, running toward the rear to Carriage No. 1. There, she saw the young girl who was still asleep and, without thinking, ran over to embrace her tightly for protection.
Meanwhile, behind one of the columns on the Yushan Station platform, Liu Wei and his men were already in position, armed to the teeth. Hearing the rumble of the approaching train, Liu Wei peeked out to assess the situation. But when he saw that the train showed no signs of slowing down, his face twisted in fury. He bellowed, “Open fire! Make the b*stard stop!”
At his command, his men sprang out from behind the columns, wielding a variety of rifles and shotguns. Without a word, they unleashed a hail of bullets toward the rapidly approaching train cockpit.
Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang! Bang bang!
Gunfire erupted in an instant.
Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian gritted his teeth and hunched down behind the control panel, gripping the handles tightly. Rather than slowing down, he willed the train to accelerate even more.
F*ck you all! Lin Xian cursed in his mind. The whole reason I chose to drive a train is so I can crush bastards like you into dust!