Chapter 32: The Misty Station

The "Infinity" train sped through a range of mountains, but soon the once gradually opening view was engulfed by a thick white fog.

Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan watched the radar closely, her brows tightly knit.

“Snowfall followed by such heavy fog… something feels off…”

“Could be a blessing in disguise,” Lin Xian said, his gaze fixed on the dense mist ahead. “A train this large entering the county will definitely draw the attention of many survivors. This fog spares us a lot of trouble.”

Chen Sixuan glanced uneasily toward carriage number three, where KIKI was excitedly tuning a motorcycle.

“Do you trust her?” she asked.

Compared to the relationship between Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan, KIKI was more of an uninvited guest. Both of them sensed an impenetrable layer of disguise around the young girl, so Chen Sixuan always took her words with a grain of skepticism.

Lin Xian’s expression remained calm and unreadable. “She’s smart and knows this train won’t move without me. Unless she has a better survival strategy, cooperating with us is her best chance to live.”

Hearing this, Chen Sixuan nodded slightly, about to respond when Lin Xian suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed a fierce kiss to her lips. Chen Sixuan instantly blushed, her heart racing.

“Hey… what are you doing?” she murmured shyly.

“Ms. Chen,” Lin Xian said, looking at her with admiration, “last night, I was lucky to have you.”

Chen Sixuan, held in his embrace, didn’t say a word but felt a surge of joy in her heart. Though she never appeared domineering, she had always been a strong-willed woman who refused to be a mere ornament. In the face of life and death, Lin Xian’s recognition gave her a profound sense of validation.

“Don’t underestimate me. After all, I’m still your teacher...” she teased playfully, then realized how ambiguous that sounded in their current relationship and flushed slightly.

Lin Xian smiled faintly. “Indeed, teachers are the navigators of life. Now, you truly are the navigator of this train.”

Clang, clang—

The train passed through the switch and slowly pulled into a fog-laden platform where visibility was less than a few meters. To avoid colliding with other trains at the station, Chen Sixuan quickly pulled the brake valve.

“Should I stay on guard?” she asked.

Lin Xian nodded. “Yes. For now, there’s no better way to defend ourselves. I feel more at ease if you’re here.”

Though losing a teammate to scavenge was a drawback, all his belongings were on the "Infinity." Leaving it unattended would make him uneasy.

Chen Sixuan was a delicate woman without any supernatural abilities or weapons, so guarding the train was the best option.

She nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry. I won’t open the door for anyone.”

Lin Xian looked at her. “If things get dangerous, you can start the train from the electric locomotive’s cockpit. I taught you that already, right?”

At the same time, he pulled out a white remote control. “This is the emergency brake for the electric locomotive. It can be used to start the train or apply brakes using reserve power in critical moments.”

“Ah, this…” Chen Sixuan’s expression shifted in surprise. The idea of Lin Xian entrusting her with driving warmed her heart. She accepted it without hesitation, her eyes steady as she said, “Okay, I understand.”

After the instructions, Lin Xian checked the time—4:50 p.m.—still about two hours before nightfall. He hurried to carriage three.

KIKI was already astride the motorcycle, wearing a pair of windproof goggles Lin Xian had prepared. Her long legs and slender waist balanced expertly as she pressed the clutch, embodying the image of a seductive biker girl.

“We’ve been waiting for you. There’s not much fuel left on this bike.”

Lin Xian clipped a short knife behind his back and activated his ability to lower the tailgate slowly. Standing beside the motorcycle, he frowned as he looked at KIKI’s slender frame.

“Don’t ride too fast in this fog.”

“Ah, enough with the warnings!” KIKI patted the back seat disdainfully. “Get on.”

Lin Xian exhaled and mounted the rear seat. Just as he hesitated where to place his hands, KIKI grabbed his hand and placed it on her slim waist, teasing, “You were so enthusiastic when you spanked me, but now you’re shy about holding my waist? Hypocrite!”

Lin Xian was speechless.

Outside, the temperature had dropped below freezing, but KIKI was dressed in ultra-short shorts and a cropped top, the thickest garment being a baseball jacket.

Lin Xian clasped her waist, feeling her fair skin—soft and supple but chillingly cold. He couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you cold dressed like this?”

“Got other clothes to wear?” she retorted, rolling her eyes at him before revving the engine, shifting gears, and releasing the brake. The motorcycle roared forward.

Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan, tasked with guarding the train, quickly retracted the hydraulic tailgate, lowered all the blackout panels, and switched off the interior lights. The entire train vanished into the mist like a ghost.

Woo~ woo~

The locomotive’s white lights pierced the fog, entering a road leading into the city.

All around was silent except for the roar of the engine, which stirred howls from zombies scattered in the distance.

The roadside was littered with abandoned cars, and a thin layer of snow covered the trash strewn across the street. Lin Xian shivered in the biting cold, his worries deepening.

The passenger cars had a heating system, but the "Infinity" was decades old, and Lin Xian had never turned it on. Repairing or upgrading the heating would be a significant undertaking.

Besides, running the heating would drain the power supply faster.

Last night’s fierce battle had been sustained only because the Star Ring 7F electric locomotive’s reserve energy assisted him. Without it, Lin Xian’s stamina would have been insufficient to fight the gigantic insect and still escape hundreds of kilometers.

The troubles brought by the severe cold were far worse than he had anticipated.

Ahead, KIKI mounted her phone on the locomotive, displaying a preset map. Although the navigation system was down, she seemed to have memorized the route, maneuvering swiftly through the fog.

Lin Xian rode behind, curious. “You seem like you’ve been here before.”

“Pfft, I have an excellent sense of direction. This place only has a few streets; the roads can’t be that complicated. Hold tight!” she said.

With that, she twisted the throttle, accelerating again. But after a few hundred meters, KIKI suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Screech!

The tires screeched against the pavement, and behind them came the rapid approach of zombies.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Xian asked.

KIKI frowned, staring into the mist ahead. “There’s something up ahead!”