Chapter 32: The Foggy Station

The Infinite Train roared through the mountains, speeding forward. However, before long, what should have been a gradually widening view was obscured by a dense layer of white fog. Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan kept a close eye on the situation displayed on the radar, her brows furrowed. “Snowfall and fog this thick... something feels off...” “It’s also a blessing,” Lin Xian remarked, his gaze fixed on the fog ahead. “A train this large entering the city would definitely attract the attention of survivors. This fog saves us a lot of trouble.” Chen Sixuan glanced uneasily toward Carriage No. 3, where Kiki was enthusiastically tuning the motorcycle. “Do you trust her?” Compared to Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan’s established relationship, Kiki was an unexpected guest. Both of them could sense a layer of inscrutable pretense around her, so Chen Sixuan was always skeptical of what she said. Lin Xian’s expression remained calm and unreadable as he replied flatly, “She’s a smart person and knows this train can’t move without me. Unless she has a better survival strategy, cooperating with us is her best option if she wants to stay alive.” Hearing this, Chen Sixuan nodded slightly. Just as she was about to say something, Lin Xian abruptly pulled her into his arms and kissed her firmly on the lips. The sudden move left her blushing and her heart racing. “What are you doing?!” she stammered, her voice shy yet playful. “Ms. Chen,” Lin Xian said, looking at her with admiration. “Thank you for last night.” Hearing his words, Chen Sixuan, though silent, felt a surge of joy in her heart. Despite her outward gentleness, she had always been a strong-willed woman who refused to be treated as just a pretty face. In this life-or-death situation, hearing Lin Xian’s acknowledgment gave her a deep sense of validation. “Don’t underestimate me. I’m still your teacher, after all...” Her tone carried a hint of playfulness, but as soon as she said it, she realized how ambiguous the phrase sounded given their current relationship dynamic. Her face flushed deeper. Lin Xian chuckled softly. “Indeed. They say teachers are the navigators of life, and now, you truly are the navigator of this train.” Clang, clang... The train passed over a track switch and began to slowly approach a fog-covered station. Visibility was extremely low—barely a few meters. To avoid colliding with any trains possibly parked at the station, Chen Sixuan quickly pulled the brake lever. “I’ll stay to guard the train, right?” Lin Xian nodded. “Yes. Right now, we don’t have many options for defense. I feel better with you staying here.” While it meant one fewer person searching for supplies, Lin Xian couldn’t risk leaving the Infinite Train, their only means of survival, unguarded. Everything they owned was on the train, and Chen Sixuan, being neither an ability user nor armed, was best suited for guarding it. Chen Sixuan nodded firmly. “Don’t worry. I won’t open the door for anyone.” Lin Xian looked at her and added, “If there’s an emergency, go to the electric locomotive’s cockpit and start the train. I taught you how to do it, remember?” At the same time, he handed her a white remote control. “This is the emergency brake for the electric locomotive. It can be used to start or stop the train using reserve power in a critical situation.” “Ah, this...” Chen Sixuan was momentarily taken aback. The idea of her driving the train surprised her, but it also warmed her heart. She knew this was a sign of Lin Xian’s trust in her. Without hesitation, she took the device and looked at him with a determined expression. “Got it.” After briefing Chen Sixuan, Lin Xian checked the time. It was 4:50 PM, leaving about two hours before nightfall. Wasting no time, he headed to Carriage No. 3. By now, Kiki was already seated on the motorcycle, wearing a pair of goggles Lin Xian had prepared for her. With her long legs and slender waist, she straddled the bike with ease. The sight of her in her short shorts and crop top, exuding a punk biker girl vibe, was striking. “Just waiting on you now. But heads up, there’s not much fuel in this thing.” Lin Xian tucked a short blade into his belt and activated his ability to lower the tailgate. He approached the motorcycle, his brow furrowing slightly at the sight of Kiki’s slim figure. “With fog this thick, don’t ride too fast.” “Ugh, stop nagging!” Kiki shot him a look of mock annoyance and patted the back seat. “Hop on already.” Lin Xian sighed as he climbed onto the back seat. Just as he hesitated over where to place his hands, Kiki grabbed them and placed them on her slim waist. With a huff, she remarked, “You were so harsh about kicking me off the train yesterday, but now you’re being shy about holding my waist? Hmph, hypocrite!” Lin Xian: “...” The outside temperature had already dropped below freezing, but Kiki remained in her usual outfit: shorts and a cropped top. The only warm piece of clothing she wore was a baseball jacket. Lin Xian’s hands rested on her waist, feeling her smooth, supple skin. It was cold to the touch, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you cold dressed like this?” “Do I look like I have other clothes to wear??” she retorted, rolling her eyes at him before starting the engine. With the bike in gear and the brake released, the motorcycle roared forward. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan quickly retracted the hydraulic tailgate, lowered all the blackout panels, and turned off the interior lights. The train vanished into the fog like a ghost, completely concealed. Woooooo— The white beam of the motorcycle’s headlight pierced through the dense fog, leading them onto a city-bound road. In the eerie silence of the mist, the only sound was the roar of the bike’s engine. It triggered guttural howls from zombies lurking in the fog. The road was littered with abandoned cars, their roofs dusted with snow, and trash scattered everywhere. As Lin Xian felt the biting wind, his worry deepened. While the passenger compartments of the train had a heating system, they were decades old and had never been activated. Repairing or installing new heating equipment would be a major project. Even then, the energy consumption would significantly strain their resources. Last night’s battle had already pushed Lin Xian to his limits. If not for the reserve energy of the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive, he wouldn’t have had the strength to fight the giant insect while driving hundreds of kilometers. The extreme cold presented far more challenges than he had anticipated. In front of him, Kiki had mounted her phone on the handlebars, displaying a map she had set up earlier. Although the navigation system no longer worked, she seemed to have memorized the route. Lin Xian couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you seem so familiar with this place?” “Tch, I’ve got a great sense of direction. This place only has a few streets—how complicated could it be? Hold tight!” With that, she twisted the throttle, accelerating the bike. However, after only a few hundred meters, Kiki suddenly slammed on the brakes. SCREEECH! The screech of tires echoed down the empty streets, followed by the increasingly close howls of zombies. “What’s wrong?” Lin Xian asked. Kiki frowned, staring into the dense fog ahead. “There’s something up ahead.”