Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train-Chapter 177: Candlelight

Strange things were happening. Lin Xian’s mind was filled with unease.

The preparation center on his wrist lit up, and Lin Xian quickly glanced at the material conversion progress. The materials needed for the 1130 Close-In Weapon System were mostly ready.

“Better build one soon, or I won’t be able to sleep peacefully,” he muttered to himself.

As he walked into Carriage No. 2, KIKI’s voice greeted him. Chen Sixuan and Shasha were gathered around the information center, staring at the live footage from KIKI’s drone.

“Come take a look,” Chen Sixuan called out to Lin Xian.

He walked over, and his eyes narrowed when he saw the drone’s feed. It was heading toward a small town far off the station platform. Strangely, under the night sky, faint lights flickered in several houses—like gas lamps or extinguished candles.

Lin Xian furrowed his brows. “Is this town inhabited?”

“This is strange,” KIKI murmured, her legs crossed as she floated on the stool, zooming in on the drone’s footage. Due to the distance, she could only make out faint outlines of buildings. “If it’s survivors, why would they light lamps like that?”

Lin Xian immediately understood. The dim lights didn’t seem like a post-apocalyptic survival setup—they resembled what you'd see in a town that had experienced a power outage. It didn’t look like a place that had suffered through the end of the world.

“This town’s strange. Not only are there people, but the dark creatures can’t get in either. Could there be some special ability user there?” KIKI thought aloud, her chin resting in her hand.

“An ability like that would make someone invincible,” Shasha chimed in, her eyes wide in exaggerated disbelief. “One person could protect everyone!”

Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian, her expression questioning. “Lin Xian, what do you think?”

Lin Xian shook his head, still unclear. “I’m not sure, but for now, we’re safe here.”

He then turned to Shasha. “What did you find up ahead?”

“A chemical tanker train. We just need to move it out of the way. The road ahead is clear.”

“Good.”

“Should we go to the town and check it out?”

“No need.”

Lin Xian glanced again at the distant, eerily quiet station and the small town. “Even if we did, we should wait until daybreak. Let’s move the tanker and keep the track clear for the train. We’ll see how things go tonight. Someone deliberately redirected us to this side track, so I’m cautious—better to stay put for now and avoid attracting attention in the dark.”

Chen Sixuan and KIKI nodded in agreement. Lin Xian’s cautious nature was a comfort in this strange situation. Rushing to explore the town in the dark was definitely not a wise decision.

The doors to the cockpit opened, and Lin Xian and KIKI stepped out, followed by Da Lou and Lu Xingchen, who began their patrols at the station’s edge.

The Rain Town station was a large chemical cargo platform, with a closed warehouse on one side. Under the moonlight, the platform was shrouded in a soft, pale glow. It was eerily quiet—almost too quiet.

Lin Xian quickly made his way down the tracks toward the tanker train, activating the Mechanical Heart to begin scanning the entire train.

Within moments, the scanning process was complete. The train rumbled as Lin Xian started the tanker. KIKI helped by switching the track, and under the lights of the Infinite Train, they moved the tanker off the tracks, clearing the path ahead.

The task was easier than expected. The only sound came from the distant chirping of insects, but there were no unexpected complications. Once everything was in place, Lin Xian wasted no time and called everyone to board the train.

Just as he was about to step back into the cockpit, he froze. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he turned and looked back at the empty, dark platform. There was an odd feeling, as if something unseen was watching them.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Sixuan’s voice came quietly from behind.

Lin Xian didn’t answer right away. His gaze lingered on the station, but he didn’t see anything. He turned and boarded the train.

Once inside, the cockpit doors closed with a heavy thud. The familiar hum of the Infinite Train’s systems offered a sense of safety, but Lin Xian’s unease didn’t dissipate. It was as if something was lurking just out of sight, watching them.

“Tonight, I’ll stand guard. Chen Sixuan, Shasha, you both should get some rest. Shu Qin and I will keep watch,” Lin Xian instructed, his tone firm and practical.

“I’m not sleeping,” KIKI replied, her energy evident. “You’re setting up the 1130 Close-In Weapon System and the engineering robots tonight, right? I can help you calibrate the systems.”

Lin Xian gave her a glance and nodded. “Alright.”

At that moment, he noticed Shasha’s expression was a little off. He walked over to her. “Shasha, what’s wrong?”

“Lin Xian…” Shasha’s brow furrowed slightly. “This place feels... creepy. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.”

“I feel the same,” Chen Sixuan added, her voice low. “Even though those creatures are gone, this town just doesn’t sit right with me.”

Lin Xian nodded, his expression hardening. “We’ll stay in the train until daylight. I’ll seal off the train. Only I can open the doors. You all get some rest.”

Though Lin Xian felt unsettled as well, he didn’t want to transmit his unease to the others. As the leader, he had to maintain a sense of calm. After assigning roles, everyone reluctantly settled into their duties.

“Lin Xian.”

After everyone left, Chen Sixuan called out to him from the door of Carriage No. 1. “Be careful.”

Lin Xian nodded. “I will.”

He turned back to the device in his hand—the anomalous cube—and activated it for another scan.

[Ding! Non-mechanical force reflection detection in progress.]

[Detection successful. No fear risks inside. Dark forces have been blocked.]

Next, Lin Xian grabbed the Soul Wave Detector, pressing the button.

[0]

“Everything inside and out seems clear,” Lin Xian muttered to himself.

But despite the reassuring results, an uncomfortable feeling lingered. He couldn’t quite shake the suspicion that something was wrong.

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“Could the anomalous cube... be blocking the influence of an ability user?” he wondered aloud.

Then it hit him. He had a sinking feeling—what if this was some kind of forbidden object?

Lin Xian’s mind raced. If survivors had such abilities, they would be virtually invincible, far more powerful than his own Mechanical Heart. But if it were a forbidden object…

His thoughts were interrupted as he looked back at the anomalous cube. He couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that this was something far more dangerous.

“Forget it,” Lin Xian muttered. “We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

He picked up the communicator, checking the system, and began walking down the train’s carriages.

Carriages No. 11 and No. 12 were quiet, with most of the passengers in Carriage No. 11 asleep. Shu Qin and the others had already turned off the lights, waiting patiently in the corridor.

KIKI followed Lin Xian into Carriage No. 11, where three vehicles and a motorcycle were parked—future equipment for mobile operations. Carriage No. 12 was empty, and Lin Xian had plans to turn it into a weapons station, starting with the 1130 Close-In Weapon System.

Inside Carriage No. 12, the lights were bright, but it was eerily silent. KIKI, sitting at the control panel, looked up at Lin Xian. “You can make a Gatling gun now, can’t you? Why don’t we build a few more? Our firepower will be much stronger.”

Lin Xian gave her a dry smile. “You think I’m a factory? I don’t have that much time.”