Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train-Chapter 194: Killing

"You’re right."

Lin Xian agreed. After escaping the chemical plant, it had already been nightfall, and that monster hadn’t pursued them. Besides, KIKI had tried to uproot that Lantern Flower only to find it deeply rooted in the deep pool beneath the chemical storage tank. They had no idea how massive its main body was, but hearing Ding Junyi's explanation, it did align with the characteristics of coral species.

"So, what’s our next move? If that’s the case, those people who saw us return must have their eyes on us by now."

KIKI added, "Some people are deliberately making things difficult. They won’t just let us deal with that chemical plant monster so easily."

"And we still don’t know how many factions we’re dealing with."

"It doesn’t matter how many." Lin Xian spoke calmly. "Anyone still living in this town is on the same boat. As long as our goals conflict with their interests, we’re already their enemy."

"So what do we do?" KIKI crossed her arms. "This town isn’t big, but our enemies are hidden while we’re exposed. We have a giant monster to deal with, Impostor Parasites to watch out for, and now we have to guard against those bastards trying to backstab us. Moving forward won’t be easy."

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Lin Xian’s gaze turned cold. "Then we root them out first—eliminate them!"

Minute by minute, time passed. The dark freight station remained eerily still, like the calm before a storm. There were no further sightings of Impostors, and everything had fallen into an unsettling silence.

The tense atmosphere aboard the train gradually eased. Seeing this, Lin Xian ordered KIKI to deploy drones for reconnaissance. The cameras scanned the entire freight station, but no movement was detected.

In the distance, the town still had scattered candlelights flickering, casting an eerie and mysterious glow.

"Looks like returning was the right call. At least, for now, we’re safe."

In Carriage No. 2, Chen Sixuan let out a relieved sigh and sank into a chair.

Shu Qin, KIKI, Luo Ye, Shasha, and Lu Xingchen had all gathered there as well. Lin Xian went over everything they had just learned, making sure everyone was up to speed before discussing their next steps.

"If that’s the case, then unless we eliminate the chemical plant monster, the Mark on us will only increase the longer we run. In the end, we won’t be able to escape being devoured." Shu Qin furrowed her brows. "So that’s the root of it all."

Lu Xingchen scoffed, crossing his arms with a contemplative look. "Then the townsfolk must have figured this out too. That’s why they gave up on escaping."

Shasha, however, bluntly said, "Nothing that complicated. They’re just a bunch of cowards, too scared to fight back. Siding with the Night Beasts—shameless!"

KIKI nodded. "Exactly. Running isn’t an option anymore, so let’s clear this place out and let them suffer the consequences of their choices."

"Lin Xian, what’s your plan?" Chen Sixuan looked at him.

Everyone turned their eyes toward him, waiting for his decision.

Lin Xian hadn’t made a reckless choice in returning. After hearing Director Ding’s theory, the others had come to agree with his decision.

"KIKI is right. Right now, our enemies are lurking in the dark while we’re out in the open. And we’re not just up against one threat. But there is one thing we all share—it’s nighttime. Just like us, they can’t do much either. That gives us an entire night to rest and prepare a plan."

After an exhausting day of combat, the team’s ammunition was running low, and both KIKI and Lu Xingchen needed rest. Fortunately, Lin Xian had gathered enough intel to take control of the situation instead of blindly reacting. Now, they had the chance to recover before striking back.

"What’s the plan?" someone asked.

Lin Xian’s gaze darkened. "Purge."

"We came back to save ourselves. So at dawn, we split into three teams—

Chen Sixuan hesitated. "You want to charge straight into the town and kill those monsters? Isn’t that too dangerous?"

"It doesn’t matter. I’ll handle it." Lu Xingchen was completely unfazed. With a relaxed expression, he declared, "These deceitful creatures, hiding behind human skins… they shall be purified by my divine flames. If not—then we burn this entire town to the ground! Let the heavens stop me if they dare!"

Everyone: "…"

Lin Xian’s expression remained calm as he looked at Shu Qin.

"Actually, killing the parasites isn’t the main objective. Your priority is to create as much commotion as possible—the bigger, the better. Draw their attention. If those bastards try to intervene, you fall back immediately. Minimize casualties."

"Distraction, huh?" Lu Xingchen raised an eyebrow. "Fine."

"Wait—" Shu Qin, who had been strategizing how to take down the Impostors, was suddenly caught off guard. "Aren’t we supposed to wipe them out?"

Lin Xian shook his head. "Take down the leader first. If we exterminate the main parasite, then we can slowly deal with the small ones afterward."

What he didn’t say was—if killing the big one really erased the Mark, then there wouldn’t even be a need to fight the smaller parasites. Storming into buildings carried immense risks, and unless there were rewards like Eerie Blood Crystals, it wasn’t worth it.

"If Ding Qing’s group attacks you in town, that’ll actually work in our favor," Lin Xian continued. "It would mean they don’t realize we’re targeting the big parasite."

Shasha tilted her head. "I mean, who the hell would think we came back just to hunt that monster?"

She had a point. In a normal scenario, survivors wouldn’t escape a death trap only to willingly return. To most people, facing a monster that massive was a suicide mission. Only a rare few survivors even knew about the Mark’s existence.

"Not necessarily." Lin Xian’s tone was calm. "Even if they don’t know about the Mark, that monster is the reason Rain Town is still standing. To them, it’s basically their guardian deity. Now tell me—will they just sit back and let us kill it?"

"True… Bastards." Shasha had quickly learned the term "bastards" from KIKI and used it with gritted teeth.

Chen Sixuan understood Lin Xian’s logic but still looked worried. "But those Impostors won’t be easy to deal with. I’m worried about Shu Qin’s team…"

"I know." Lin Xian reassured her. "As long as you avoid entering buildings, the Impostors won’t be much of a threat. The only real danger is their ability to blend in."

After saying that, he raised his hand, and a small device materialized in a flash of light. He handed it to KIKI.

"This is a voiceprint detector I extracted from the Sentry System. The easiest way to identify Impostors is through their heartbeat patterns—which are completely different from humans. Set up a sample, and Shu Qin’s team can scan from a distance."

KIKI’s eyes lit up as she grabbed it. "Damn, that’s genius! Why didn’t I think of that? That fake woman’s breathing and heartbeat were totally off! With this, we won’t even have to risk close encounters!"

Shu Qin and the others immediately felt more confident.

"Understood, Captain Lin," Shu Qin said firmly. "I know what to do."

Lin Xian nodded. "One more thing—keep communication open at all times. The big parasite has a special breed of Bone Worms that can temporarily mimic our own teammates. Keeping constant contact is the safest way to counter it."

The Impostors were dangerous, but their true threat came from deception. As long as they had the means to expose them, they wouldn’t be that difficult to handle.

Lin Xian considered every possible scenario, refining his plan.

Shu Qin nodded. "Understood."