The sun slanted gently across the clear sky, its rays illuminating the snow-covered Yu Chi Station. A heavily armored train rested on the tracks, surrounded by a dozen zombies.
In the post-apocalyptic world, zombies had become an ever-present backdrop, a macabre part of the scenery. They clawed persistently at the train's armored plates, their scritch-scratch sounds filling the air, though their efforts didn’t leave even the slightest mark.
Whether drawn by the activity inside the train or the tantalizing aroma of cooked meat, the zombies let out occasional groans, seemingly stirred by remnants of their human memories.
Inside Car 1, an unusual afternoon calm reigned.
The table was laden with braised pork, canned fruit, seaweed soup, and cola—luxuries in these times.
"Oh no, we’re eating so well while KIKI’s asleep. She’s going to be mad when she wakes up," Shasha said after sipping her soup, glancing toward the unconscious KIKI.
"She won’t be," Lin Xian replied with a meaningful smile. "When she wakes up, I’ll treat her to a special feast."
Shasha nodded enthusiastically. "That’s right, that was amazing yesterday! KIKI-jie made us fly!"
Lin Xian turned to see Chen Sixuan, fully geared up in a thick coat and carrying an automatic rifle on her back. Her face betrayed a hint of excitement.
"Chen-laoshi, you seem pretty eager," Lin Xian remarked.
"A little," she admitted earnestly. "You’ve always had me stay on the train before, but now I can join you and actually help. Of course I’m excited."
Lin Xian had originally planned to leave Chen Sixuan behind to guard the train again, but with the daylight hours limited and more hands needed, he decided to bring her along this time. Besides, the cockpit door locks had been replaced with mechanical structures that only he could operate, making it relatively secure. With her now armed, she could hold her own in a pinch.
"Alright, just remember: don’t fire your weapon unless absolutely necessary. We’re here to scavenge, not fight. Let me handle any danger."
"Understood," Chen Sixuan nodded firmly.
After finishing their first proper hot meal since fleeing eastward, the four prepared to head into the city.
Lin Xian instructed Big Luo and Shasha to take the off-road vehicle, which had more space for hauling supplies. He and Chen Sixuan opted for a motorcycle. The plan was simple: find a truck in the city and load it with supplies, then tow it back to the train. Lin Xian could even devour the vehicle for resources.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the group set off. Armed and ready, they drove off the train’s flatbed trailer: one team in the off-road vehicle, the other on the motorcycle. Engines roared as they sped along the road toward Yu Chi City.
The city, nestled on a plain at the foot of the mountains, lay bathed in sunlight yet shrouded in deathly silence. Along the way, they passed countless wrecked and abandoned vehicles, corpses, and scattered luggage buried under thick snow.
Seated in the passenger seat, Shasha exhaled onto the frosted window, her small face filled with worry. "The snow’s getting heavier."
"Shasha," Lin Xian called out from his motorcycle as he passed the car. "Look for warm items—blankets, beds, clothes—whatever you can find."
With more people to care for, the need for warm supplies was growing. The items Lin Xian had scavenged from Jiang City’s furniture store had made Car 1 livable, but now Car 2 housed two people, and Big Luo kept watch in Car 5. More supplies were essential.
"Got it!" Shasha replied, lowering the car window to nod earnestly.
Big Luo slammed on the brakes. A few cars were piled haphazardly across the street, blocking the road ahead.
Lin Xian pulled up alongside the off-road vehicle on his motorcycle. The street was eerily quiet, the distant wails of zombies echoing from the shadows of dark alleys.
Nearby, a dirt truck sat parked on the roadside, its door ajar. The rotting corpse of its driver hung limply from a seatbelt. Lin Xian climbed up, cutting the belt with his blade. The corpse tumbled out stiffly as he inspected the truck.
Using his Mechanical Heart, Lin Xian quickly assessed its condition and smiled. "Big Luo, help me load the motorcycle into the truck’s bed."
He then pulled Chen Sixuan up into the passenger seat.
"We’re using this truck to haul supplies?" Chen Sixuan asked, surprised.
Lin Xian grinned and nodded. A truck this size could carry a significant load and also double as a barrier-clearing vehicle.
Big Luo loaded the motorcycle into the dirt truck’s empty bed. Lin Xian shut the door, revved the engine, and shouted to Big Luo outside, "Hop in! I’ll lead the way in this truck."
The off-road vehicle followed as Lin Xian steered the dirt truck straight into the jumble of cars blocking the road. The powerful engine roared as it plowed through, clearing a path.
The truck barreled through the debris, the deafening noise echoing through the silent streets of Yu Chi City. Zombies from surrounding alleys turned at the commotion, drawn toward the chaos.
Under the setting sun, the dirt truck rumbled forward, smashing through vehicles and attracting the attention of more zombies. In its wake, the streets filled with the relentless groans of the undead converging from all directions.
As Lin Xian pressed the gas pedal to the floor, the Mechanical Heart went into overdrive, pushing the dirt truck’s engine to its maximum RPMs.
If he were fighting alone, the destructive power of his Mechanical Heart and related skills would be quite limited. However, when wielding industrial machinery, the difference was night and day—transforming him into a true force of nature.
The dirt truck led the way, with the off-road vehicle following close behind. They soon roared into what used to be a bustling shopping district. The area, lined with malls and restaurants, was now a shattered ruin. Sparse groups of zombies wandered through the alleys and storefronts, their movements sluggish and uncoordinated.
“This is the place,” Lin Xian announced over the walkie-talkie. Once they cleared the road, the vehicles split up as planned.
Shasha and Big Luo headed toward the malls and electronics stores, while Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan drove toward the suburban transformer station.
In the truck’s passenger seat, Chen Sixuan gripped the handle above her head tightly, her other hand clutching a rifle. Seeing her tense expression, Lin Xian reassured her,
“It’s daytime. There shouldn’t be any of those creatures.”
Chen Sixuan exhaled deeply. “I... I’m just a little nervous.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry,” Lin Xian replied with a nod.
The dirt truck barreled down the road, its roaring engine attracting a growing horde of zombies in its wake. Soon, the transformer station appeared in the distance, its perimeter marked by a chain-link fence and concrete walls.
“That’s it,” Lin Xian said, yanking the steering wheel to the side. The truck mounted the curb and smashed through the fence, heading straight for the station's outer wall.
With a deafening roar, the dirt truck rammed through the wall, sending bricks and debris flying in every direction. A massive hole now marred the station’s perimeter.
Lin Xian wasted no time. Stepping out of the truck, he approached the breach, raised both hands, and activated his ability. Instantly, steel bars materialized, flying into place as they formed a sturdy makeshift barrier.
Thanks to the speed boost from his upgraded mechanical manufacturing ability, the simple structure took only moments to complete. In mere breaths, a reinforced steel grate wall stood where the breach had been, with steel nails anchoring it firmly into the remaining brickwork.
Chen Sixuan had just climbed out of the truck when she saw the gap they had driven through was already sealed off.
“Uh... What?” she muttered, stunned by the rapid transformation.
Zombies began swarming to the newly constructed barrier, clawing wildly at the steel grates. Their decayed hands scraped uselessly against the reinforced metal.
Lin Xian’s movements were calm and practiced, his mechanical ability now more refined than ever.
"How is this even possible?" Chen Sixuan asked, still marveling at the feat.
Lin Xian cast a quick glance at the pressing horde and replied indifferently,
“No point in killing them all—it’s just a waste of time.”
Turning away from the fence, he motioned for Chen Sixuan to follow as he headed deeper into the station to begin scavenging.