Chapter 6: Do Not Insult Animals

Director Liang clearly overestimated his own combat prowess; how could a thick, reinforced security door ever be opened by a fifty-year-old man whose mind was filled with nothing but depravity? Yet, he suddenly calmed down and stopped kicking the door, fearing that the excessive noise might attract monsters and leave him trapped by his own folly.

He rolled his eyes, then called out to the room with a sinister, wheezing tone: "It’s fine, Teacher Chen. I happen to have some canned meat left over. As a gesture of good faith, I’ll leave it at your door in a moment. It’ll be dark soon anyway; either you open the door and eat, or... you let those monsters have a feast."

"Who knows? Maybe tonight, after you’re dead, I’ll find your corpse and enjoy it while it's still warm... Urgh!"

Before his threats could finish, a dull, visceral thud of flesh being cleaved echoed outside the door.

Liang Wei, who had just been spewing filth, suddenly went silent.

*Thump.*

The sound of a body hitting the corridor floor followed.

Chen Sixuan’s expression flickered with shock. Trembling, she approached the peephole once more. When she pressed her eye against it and saw the scene outside, her pupils dilated in terror!

Outside, a somewhat familiar young man was pulling his blade out of Liang Wei’s head!

Lin Xian!

That Director Liang had actually been cracked open by him with a single strike!

Chen Sixuan gasped, but before she could react, a voice came from outside.

"Teacher Chen, if you’re still alive, I suggest we don't waste time."

Lin Xian’s voice sent a shiver down Chen Sixuan’s spine. He was here—he had come to take her away!

A visible glimmer of hope lit up Chen Sixuan’s face. Watching Liang Wei get cut down brought a surge of relief, and driven by an unknown courage, she opened the door without hesitation.

"Student Lin..." she whispered instinctively. Then, seeing the blood-drenched short blade in Lin Xian’s hand, she involuntarily took two steps back, her eyes a mixture of surprise and fear.

Glancing over, she saw Liang Wei, his skull split nearly to the brow, lying on the ground with his eyes wide open, blood and brain matter pooling around him—a truly gruesome sight.

*Gag!*

Chen Sixuan finally couldn't hold it back; she clutched her abdomen and dry-heaved. But having not eaten for two days, her stomach was empty, and nothing came up but bile.

Lin Xian looked at the haggard Chen Sixuan—a far cry from the vibrant, sophisticated teacher he remembered from class—and felt a pang of melancholy.

Today, Chen Sixuan was wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, and a light windbreaker. Perhaps she believed this was the appropriate attire for survival.

"Guys like him are no better than animals. Don't let it weigh on your conscience. Is your luggage packed?" Lin Xian’s gaze swept over the rows of high heels on the shoe rack, finally landing on her feet, only to realize she wasn't even wearing shoes.

"Yes... I’m ready!"

Chen Sixuan stifled her internal turmoil, quickly adjusting her state to avoid appearing like a burden to Lin Xian. She bent down to put on her shoes, keeping her eyes averted from the corpse.

Lin Xian didn't waste words. He walked inside, rummaged around, and grabbed a cardboard box. He tossed her kitchen’s coffee machine, juicer, and other small appliances into it, then handed the box to her.

"Hold this."

"Huh? Why take these?!" Chen Sixuan took it, her mind a mix of tension and curiosity; she couldn't understand why he wanted these things.

But now, Lin Xian was her savior. Since he didn't answer, she set aside her questions and obediently followed behind him, clutching the box.

Chen Sixuan’s entire luggage consisted of one small travel bag. Aside from a few articles of clothing, there was nothing of real importance inside.

Except for a box of condoms.

Though she had no experience in such matters, as a highly educated woman, her views were relatively open, and she had made a habit of protecting herself since adulthood. Now, in this apocalypse, pregnancy would be equivalent to entering hell. No matter what she was about to face, this was her final line of defense.

Other than that, she had no food or water left.

Apartment 1203 upstairs belonged to Director Liang. The door was locked, but Chen Sixuan didn't know what Lin Xian did; he simply placed his hand on the door, performed some operation, and it swung open.

Liang Wei had claimed his home was stocked with food and water. Lin Xian, preparing to flee, would never pass up such an opportunity to scavenge.

But as soon as the door opened, a foul stench rushed out. Chen Sixuan, peering from behind Lin Xian, nearly fainted, her stomach churning violently.

*Gag!*

It wasn't just her; even Lin Xian’s face went pale, his brow furrowed in disgust.

Inside Liang Wei’s home, there was no food or water. The entire room was stained with blood and filth. In the kitchen lay half a butchered body; a glance was enough to tell it was a middle-aged woman. It wasn't hard to guess that this unfortunate soul was the original owner of the apartment—Director Liang’s wife.

"I apologize to animals; calling him an animal is a grave insult to them," Lin Xian said coldly. "Let's go! Stay close to me and try not to make a sound." Realizing there was nothing useful to be found, he turned and left without hesitation.

"Okay!" Chen Sixuan’s face was ashen; she was paralyzed with fear.

"There are many dead outside. Do not scream."

"Okay!"

"At all times, watch your step. Do not fall."

"Okay!"

Having witnessed such a horrific display of inhumanity, Chen Sixuan listened to every word like an obedient student. Her intuition told her that following Lin Xian was the right choice.

*Slice!*

In the station, Lin Xian crushed the skulls of several zombies as he led Chen Sixuan down the narrow path. Chen Sixuan’s face remained ghostly pale, her stomach churning as she followed him. She had never imagined the world outside had turned into such a hellscape. The scene in Director Liang’s home would surely become an inescapable nightmare for her.

In the dark tunnel, only the sound of their breathing filled the air. Before long, the dim track lights revealed the silhouette of a massive train. Chen Sixuan’s mouth hung open in surprise. As Lin Xian approached, the heavy train suddenly roared to life, its headlights beaming and engulfing Chen Sixuan in light.

"Don't just stand there. Get on."

"Okay."

Lin Xian took the small appliances from her and grabbed her hand, pulling her onto the train.

They entered the driver's cab and slammed the heavy iron door shut. The interior was brightly lit, and as they were encased in steel walls, a wave of immense relief washed over Chen Sixuan.

"Student Lin... can you really drive a train?"

"Do you think I pushed this thing here?"

Lin Xian gave a faint smile. Once the door was closed, his expression relaxed. He placed his hand on the floor, channeled his "Mechanical Heart" to kill the train’s headlights, and then led her to Carriage No. 1. He rummaged through the supplies, found a bag of bread and a bottle of water, and tossed them to her.

"You look like you’ve been starving for days. Eat."

Chen Sixuan’s eyes reddened with emotion. Silent tears streamed down her face. She bit her lower lip, struggling to hold back a breakdown, and said tremulously, "Th-thank you..."

She was indeed famished. Without even putting down her backpack, she tore open the bread packaging and began to eat ravenously, tears still flowing.

Lin Xian sat opposite her, recovering his energy while observing her. Seeing a familiar face brought him great comfort. In this apocalyptic world where life was left to fate, no one could resist the encroaching fear of death and loneliness, and he was no exception. Humans were social animals, and with the internet gone, the isolation was agonizing.

Operating the "Infinite" and using his "Wind Cannon" skill consumed a vast amount of his energy. It was hard to describe, but using such power placed a heavy burden on his body.

"Chen Si—" Lin Xian’s gaze flickered. "Forget it, I’ll just keep calling you Teacher Chen."

Watching Chen Sixuan devour the bread, Lin Xian began to set his rules.

"First, I’ll tell you: I am an Esper. No one but me can operate this train. If I die, you die. Since I brought you on board, it means that from today on, we are allies and teammates. You must trust me unconditionally and follow my arrangements, or your fate will be miserable."

Chen Sixuan swallowed a mouthful of bread, looked at Lin Xian with teary eyes, and nodded firmly. "I understand. From today on, I will listen to you."

Lin Xian nodded. "As for what my ability is, you don't need to know. This train is our fortress. It’s sturdy, but it might not withstand those monsters. Of course, there will surely be bad people who covet our supplies. When pushed to the edge, human hearts can be more terrifying than demons."

"So, there will be many times when I need you to help me solve problems, scavenge for supplies, point out routes, and guard the gates."

"Okay." Perhaps it was the food, but Chen Sixuan began to regain her strength.

"Also, Teacher Chen," Lin Xian stood up slowly, looking at her with a serious expression. "You should prepare yourself. I am definitely going to sleep with you."

Chen Sixuan’s body shuddered visibly at these words. She gripped the bread tighter, her messy hair shielding her panicked eyes as she sat on the floor. Hearing her former student speak to her so bluntly still sent a shock through her heart.

She bowed her head and whispered a faint "Mhm" in response. Then, she continued eating the bread, her heart thumping wildly.