Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train-Chapter 229: Research Institute in the Lake

Under the dark night, the vast Shijiu Lake lay eerily still under the starlight, with a gentle breeze rippling across its surface.

The Infinite Train, which had just broken through the eerie tide erupting from Hengshan Pass, was now quietly parked by the tracks along the lakeside. The night wind carried a chill, and the temperature over the Yunjiang Plains began to drop. Wisps of white mist started rising from the connections between the train carriages.

Inside the train, the dim lights flickered as people moved back and forth along the carriage corridors.

In Car No. 5 and the defensive carriages behind it, many people were loading bullets, while in Car No. 12, the PX-05 engineering robots were busy laying out the ammunition belts for the 1130 Weapon Station.

Shu Qin and Luo Ye led their teams, inspecting the condition of each carriage.

In Car No. 3, the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum, which had absorbed the black smoke released by the Black Centipede-like Creature, emitted a faint glow. In the center of its flower core, tiny specks of crimson had begun to appear.

“The Dark Mark is starting to take form.”

Ding Junyi carefully observed the changes in the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum and spoke to Lin Xian behind her. “Judging by the reaction of the station survivors, most people neither accept nor understand the fact that humans can be marked.”

“It’s not that they don’t accept the mark—they don’t accept me.”

Lin Xian spoke in a calm tone. “Trust between people has always been fragile in the apocalypse. That’s why I want to use the Phoenix to spread this information.”

Ding Junyi responded coldly, “Right now, there’s no way to effectively quantify the threat level of the Dark Mark, nor is there a clear method to visualize it. Simply put, while we can use the red glow of the Disaster Flora to gauge the intensity of upcoming attacks, even if others are aware of this, it’ll still be difficult for them to prepare in advance.”

Lin Xian nodded. “Learning to assess the threat of dark entities and raising a gun to fight back is what’s most important. Once people realize that endless escape leads to inevitable failure, the spark of resistance will ignite.”

“You could call it ‘burning bridges’ if you want to sound heroic, or you could just say ‘even a cornered rabbit will bite.’”

Ding Junyi looked at Lin Xian and added, “Interestingly, this might just give us more options in our eastward escape.”

“You mean, whether to kill or run?”

“Exactly.”

Lin Xian neither confirmed nor denied her words. “I worry that if the Dark Mark had a quantifiable threat level, even if we escape the pursuit of powerful eerie entities this time, the next encounter won’t necessarily be any easier. Unfortunately, judging from the marked bait back at the station, this does seem to be the case.”

Seeing Lin Xian’s somewhat pessimistic expression, Ding Junyi spoke up. “Science shouldn’t be rigid, yet your thinking is even more rigid than a textbook. Back when we got marked in the Climbing Passage, all we encountered in Jiazhou City was a massive eerie entity siege. That suggests the Dark Mark has varying strengths and is also influenced by whether powerful predators are lurking in the area.”

Lin Xian’s eyes brightened. “Huh, you’re right.”

Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. “Did you come to me just for this?”

Lin Xian cleared his throat. “Not just that. Aside from checking on the Dark Mark we’ve been stained with, I also plan to investigate that research facility.”

“Do you need me to come with you?” Ding Junyi asked directly.

Lin Xian nodded. “I’ll send in a robot first for reconnaissance. If the danger level isn’t too high—”

“If it’s not too dangerous, don’t bother calling me.” Ding Junyi said matter-of-factly. “You know me—I prefer…”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”

Lin Xian immediately understood. Without further delay, he turned and headed back to Car No. 1, preparing to have KIKI control the PX-05 robot and coordinate with drones to scout the interior of the SIID Foundation laboratory.

Woo~

Two drones took off from the train roof. At the same time, the diligent PX-05 robot launched from the entrance of Car No. 11, swiftly flying toward the damaged sky dome of the test site under KIKI’s control.

“Huh? That’s odd~”

In the Information Center of Car No. 2, KIKI frowned as she controlled the robot while staring at the surveillance screen. “Where is everyone?”

“We won’t know until we enter the underground research facility.” Lin Xian replied.

“It really does look like there was a large-scale evacuation…” Chen Sixuan muttered, puzzled as she studied the screen.

“No way.”

KIKI’s face was full of doubt. “You’re telling me they cleared out an entire research facility just because we showed up?”

Smack!

Lin Xian flicked her on the forehead. “Focus.”

“Ow~”

KIKI glared at him before quickly turning her attention back to the robot’s controls.

From a high altitude, the drones revealed that the entire Qingshui Town Test Site was eerily silent. Meanwhile, the PX-05 robot cautiously entered through the passageway Lin Xian had used earlier. The once-busy laboratories, research rooms, and corridors were now completely deserted.

Seeing this, Lin Xian’s expression grew more serious. “This is strange… Could it be that this idiot was actually right?”

A facility capable of capturing large eerie entities for research and experimentation had suddenly become a ghost town. That was beyond strange. But to say they evacuated just because of him? Even Lin Xian wouldn’t believe that.

Still, looking at the scene before him, his mind began to churn.

“Looks like we’ll have to go in and check for ourselves.”

“Could it be an ambush?” Shasha suddenly asked.

“If it was, they would’ve struck already. Besides, we came here looking for them, so it doesn’t really matter.”

Lin Xian’s eyes turned cold as he began organizing the team. “Luo Ye, Huo Ge, Shu Qin, Xiao Niu, and Director Ding, you’re coming with me. The rest of you, stay and guard the train.”

At that moment, Lu Xingchen shot Lin Xian a meaningful glance.

Lin Xian walked over and saw Lu Xingchen looking somewhat conflicted. He leaned in and whispered,

“Brother Lin, would you mind assigning me to guard the train tonight?”

Lin Xian frowned slightly. “You don’t want to go?”

Lu Xingchen’s gaze flickered toward KIKI’s screen, his voice lowering. “To be honest… I have a bit of a thing about enclosed underground spaces.”

Lin Xian thought for a moment before nodding. “Alright, you guard the train.”

"Much appreciated, Brother Lin," Lu Xingchen replied.

Lin Xian didn’t say much. He knew Lu Xingchen wasn’t the type to fear death—if he chose not to go, he must have his reasons. Lin Xian didn’t press for details and instead led Luo Ye, Shu Qin, KIKI, and Ding Junyi off the train.

The main reason for bringing Ding Junyi along was that Lin Xian wanted to see exactly what this research facility had been studying. He also hoped to find some useful scientific equipment to load onto the train.

Hiss—

The cockpit door slid open. Lin Xian and his team stepped down onto the ground, ready to investigate the Foundation’s research facility.

As soon as they disembarked, a damp and chilling night breeze from the lake swept over them.

Ding Junyi followed behind the group, hands casually tucked into her pockets. Despite the nighttime setting and the impending exploration of a dangerous facility, she remained unfazed. Her expression was as indifferent as if she were simply heading to a scientific seminar.

Lin Xian, somewhat uneasy, subtly signaled Shu Qin to keep an eye on their scientist companion.

Even though a small, unassuming green sprout on Ding Junyi’s head hinted that she might have developed an Ability, Lin Xian still classified her as a zero combat power individual.

The five of them piled into a vehicle. Since there was no platform, KIKI used her Ability to lift the off-road vehicle off the train, placing it directly onto the ground. Lin Xian then took the wheel, driving toward the collapsed forest in the distance.

Along the way, Lin Xian noticed traces of vehicles—even aircraft—having once been parked in the area. Scattered around were numerous empty equipment crates, discarded documents, and other debris.

“It looks like they evacuated in a hurry,” Shu Qin observed, her keen eyes picking up on the details. “It’s messy, but there aren’t any signs of a fight or bodies, so I don’t think they were attacked by eerie entities.”

Sitting by the window, Ding Junyi glanced at the disarray outside. “Abandoning a research facility of this size must have required some serious conviction. Maybe they sensed an impending crisis—like, say, some colossal lake monster in these waters, ready to devour the entire research center at night.”

Lin Xian’s hands almost slipped off the steering wheel.

"Hey, Sister Ding, can you not scare us like that?" KIKI shot her a wide-eyed look. "If that’s the case, aren’t we all doomed?"

"Not necessarily," Ding Junyi replied matter-of-factly. "With your combined abilities, at least one or two of you should survive."

Lin Xian: …

They drove through the facility’s broken curtain walls and parked inside what looked like an underground parking area. The research center still had power, with several corridors remaining lit.

Stepping out of the vehicle, the five of them immediately felt the oppressive silence in the air.

Whoooosh—

A strong gust of wind rushed out from the underground corridors, carrying a damp chill.

Ding Junyi, still following at a leisurely pace, remarked, “Probably water intrusion from the lake below, pushing air out. We should be cautious of flooding as we go deeper.”

“Yeah.” Lin Xian knew this facility was built on the lake’s edge, and beneath it lay the Blackwater Testing Grounds, which were undoubtedly connected to Shijiu Lake. If water was seeping in, it meant the underground structures had been compromised.

“Called it.”

KIKI had stopped by a digital information panel, which still displayed an evacuation notice. “System alert—Basement Levels 11 and 12 have been completely submerged. Looks like flooding was indeed the reason for their retreat.”

The team continued their exploration, finding the entire facility completely deserted. Since the power system was still operational, KIKI immediately pulled out her mobile terminal and began interfacing with the facility’s systems.

“The internal system has been wiped—only the basic operating system remains to keep the facility running.” KIKI’s eyes scanned the screen, her frown deepening. “Wait a second—Qingshui Town Testing Grounds…”

She suddenly looked alarmed, hurrying over to Lin Xian with her terminal in hand.

“Lin Xian, check this out. The containment doors for multiple experiment chambers have failed. The isolation mechanisms between the test site and the main facility have also malfunctioned.”

Lin Xian’s brow furrowed. “So you’re saying the creatures they were keeping here… might have all escaped?”

“Absolutely!” KIKI shrank back slightly, glancing warily at the facility’s vast research zones. “Which means… whatever we encountered in the Qingshui Town Testing Grounds might already be inside this place.”

Bang!

A sudden rush of underground air slammed a research lab door shut with a loud thud, the sound echoing eerily through the empty facility.

Bzzzt—

The corridor lights flickered as the voltage fluctuated, casting long, jittery shadows on the walls. The eerie atmosphere grew even more unsettling.

Feeling the cold tension in the air, Luo Ye tightened his grip on the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun, his eyes scanning their surroundings with heightened vigilance.

“Captain Lin,” Shu Qin asked, “what exactly did you encounter here before?”

“Something that wasn’t quite eerie entities and wasn’t quite zombies either.” Lin Xian’s voice was grim. “I think it was something the Foundation created. There were definitely eerie entities among them, though. I saw a massive one inside a large containment pool.”

Ding Junyi frowned slightly. “So they’re already at the level of developing mutants?”

“That’s just my guess. I can’t be certain.” Lin Xian replied.

By now, they had reached the underground elevator. It was still operational.

Lin Xian turned to KIKI. “If I remember right, we saw that massive Ability Research Hall on Level 9, right?”

KIKI nodded, scrolling through her mobile terminal. “Yeah. And if you’re looking for a medical pod, it should be…”

Before she could finish, Ding Junyi glanced at the screen and immediately said, “Level 7—the Clinical Experimentation Floor.

“Regardless of whether it was for human trials or something else, they should have full-spectrum surgical medical pods there. These pods are highly efficient for treating bone and external injuries. They can even use Serta pulse sequencing to repair cells through DNA sequencing scans.

“Most common diseases take less than five minutes to cure. The only issue is the insane cost and the fact that they require Serta Rare Earth to function, which is highly radioactive.”

Shu Qin gave her a long look before commenting, “That’s the kind of thing only rich people hear about on TV. I heard it can even cure leukemia in thirty minutes—for the low, low price of three million credits.”

“Correct.” Ding Junyi nodded. “Our train’s Gemini-11R Nuclear Power System can support this device’s operation. If we install one, we won’t even need medical personnel anymore. But this kind of equipment is extremely delicate—it breaks easily and requires careful transport.”

Lin Xian felt a headache coming on. He hadn’t expected medical pods to be this complicated—let alone the added issue of radiation hazards.

“Well, let’s check it out first. These are problems for later. Like Ding Junyi said, a piece of equipment this expensive… might have already been taken.”

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Ding—

Lin Xian pressed the elevator button. As the doors slid open, everyone’s expressions suddenly darkened.

A thick, nauseating stench of blood hit them instantly.

Inside the elevator, piles of mangled body parts were stacked atop one another. Blood had splattered across the walls, dyeing the entire cabin a grotesque crimson red. The corpses were still fresh—they hadn’t been dead for long.

“…Were these the research personnel from below?” KIKI took several steps back, her face twisting in disgust. She recognized the Foundation uniforms among the bodies.

“What the hell did they run into down there!?”

Lin Xian scanned the scene coldly before remarking, “Looks like their own test subjects turned on their handlers.”