Chapter 18: The Stumbling Block

The train had just left the Jiang City terminal and was moving out of the urban area, the surroundings gradually quieting down, with only the faint clatter of the tracks echoing through the air.

Lin Xian looked up and scanned the sky above Jiang City, where a massive cloud formation loomed motionless. Every time he gazed at it, a chill ran down his spine. Many had seen it, and within that cloud surely lurked some kind of atmospheric creature, far more terrifying than any zombies or strange entities.

But no one knew exactly what it was. For humanity, aside from retreating into fortified strongholds, the only option was frantic flight. Who would dare to investigate the true form of such an apocalyptic being?

Once outside the city, the scenery gradually shifted to mountains and pastoral fields, the pervasive stench of decay, blood, and smoke fading away. It gave a fleeting illusion of having escaped the apocalypse.

Lin Xian had thought it would be difficult to spot any signs of life along the way.

Unexpectedly, on a dirt road running near the railway, several vehicles appeared, mostly rugged off-road jeeps. A few rare sedans, caked with mud, sped along, packed with belongings as their drivers floored the accelerator.

When a train passed beside them, one of the jeep windows rolled down, and a middle-aged man stuck his head out, shouting,

“Holy crap, a train!”

“Awesome,” came a reply.

Another jeep, covered in graffiti, opened its rooftop window. A young man with a crew cut raised an AK-47 and fired a burst of shots into the air.

“Hey!”

“That train—got any food or drink? Want to join our ‘Oasis’ convoy?!”

The young man called out to the train, but Lin Xian, sitting in the locomotive cab, paid no heed, remaining focused on operating the train.

“Damn it.”

The crew-cut youth muttered in frustration and sat back down.

“Yong, should we tell Liu Wei up ahead?” asked a stocky blond-haired companion from the passenger seat.

Zhang Dayong, with an indifferent expression, replied, “Why? Are we all switching to trains now?”

The blond-haired companion glared, face twisted in confusion. “Yong, fuel.”

Hearing this, Zhang Dayong suddenly realized and slapped his thigh, spitting in astonishment.

“Holy crap, right!!”

A functioning train could carry thousands of liters of fuel. Even if it had only a few hundred liters, that would be enough to keep a convoy running for a day or two.

He immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie.

“Wei, Wei, there’s a big rig rolling along the Jiang-Yu line—a train. I’m guessing it’s stocked with a lot of fuel.”

“Hmm, a train?” a hoarse voice responded over the radio. The tone suggested growing interest.

“Yeah, probably passing Yushan in about ten minutes. What do you think…”

“I’ll go block it, Team Two, you circle around from behind.”

“Roger that!”

About ten kilometers ahead, a small convoy was speeding along. Leading was a modified Raptor truck. Liu Wei, broad-shouldered and imposing, sat in the back seat with a fierce look, his arm draped around a heavily made-up young woman.

“Third, take the side road ahead. A big rig’s coming through Yushan station.”

“Got it, boss!”

Everyone in the convoy looked to Liu Wei for direction.

Liu Wei was no mob boss before the apocalypse; he had been a small market vendor. But after the disaster, he surprisingly awakened a supernatural power, instantly elevating him above others.

Seeking protection, his former relatives and acquaintances grovelled to him, but he was clever—he used his abilities to recruit a heavily armed crew and waited for others to scavenge supplies and bring them to him.

Within days, he had gathered over twenty subordinates and ruled like a local kingpin. Even high-class women who once scorned him now threw themselves at him. Flush with power, Liu Wei reveled in nightly debauchery, intoxicated by his newfound status.

Hearing the report, he was furious that a big rig in Jiang City had not ‘paid tribute’ and was fleeing right under his nose. This was a direct insult to his authority, and he intended to play the role of a roadblock—just as he had planned upon leaving Jiang City.

Meanwhile, Lin Xian frowned at the gunfire from Zhang Dayong’s side. Out of caution, he slightly increased the train’s speed. The smooth rails allowed the train to move far faster than the vehicles on dirt roads.

“The ‘Oasis’ convoy—I heard on the radio just now—their leader might also have supernatural powers,” Chen Sixuan said anxiously upon hearing the gunshots.

“I heard that too, but they’re on land routes while we’re on rails. As long as we keep to our own paths, we shouldn’t cross them,” Lin Xian replied.

Despite this, Lin Xian felt uneasy whenever other powered individuals were mentioned.

His train plan had many advantages but one glaring flaw: it was too conspicuous. A long, roaring train would inevitably attract the attention of other survivors.

“We need to recruit more allies; otherwise, everyone will be watching us, and it’ll be hard to handle.”

Chen Sixuan glanced at him in surprise, then lowered her gaze.

“I saw the post you made earlier. I don’t think anyone would believe your plan unless they knew about your powers.”

“I know,” Lin Xian said casually. “It’s not about quantity, but quality. My powers aren’t for hauling everyone around. I won’t pick up just anyone—only those valuable enough. Otherwise, it’s just trouble.”

He glanced at Chen Sixuan with a smile. “And they have to be people I approve of.”

Chen Sixuan’s face flushed, mistakenly thinking he was flirting. She felt awkward.

“I didn’t mean that,” Lin Xian cleared his throat. “Not looks, but character, personality…”

Her cheeks reddened further as she avoided his gaze, focusing on jotting notes in the logbook.

Clang, clang.

The train thundered across the flat plains.

Suddenly, Lin Xian’s enhanced vision spotted something ahead on the tracks near Yushan station—a small wrecked car was deliberately placed perpendicular to the rails. Its precise position made it clear this was a trap, meant to block the passing train.

An ambush!

Lin Xian’s expression tightened. He shouted to Chen Sixuan,

“Get to the rear, quickly! Hold on tight!”

Realizing the danger, Chen Sixuan’s face changed. Obediently, she ran to the first carriage at the back. There she found the sleeping girl again and scooped her up protectively.

Behind a pillar on Yushan station’s platform, Liu Wei and his men lay in wait, fully armed. As the sound of the rolling wheels grew louder, he peeked out and saw the train maintaining full speed. Rage flared within him.

“Open fire! Stop that bastard!”

At his command, the men emerged from cover, weapons ready. Without hesitation, they unleashed a barrage of gunfire toward the speeding locomotive.

Bang! Bang! Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang!

Gunshots erupted. Lin Xian bit down hard, gripping the controls and ducking low. Using his mind to control the train, he paradoxically accelerated.

Damn it! The reason I chose to drive a train was to smash all these damn roadblocks to pieces!