Chapter 167: The Destroyed Convoy (5000 Bonus, Request Monthly Tickets!)

"Dressing room?"

Kiki frowned at him: "What does a big guy like you need a dressing room for?"

"Hmph."

Lu Xingchen crossed his arms and turned to face her: "You wouldn't understand. As a god, one must maintain decorum." He swept back his bangs with supreme confidence: "Even in chaotic times, there's a way to conduct oneself—don't be reckless."

"Pfft." Kiki looked at him with disgust: "Then why do you burn your shirt off every day? Just go naked—it's a waste of clothes."

Lin Xian also thought there was some sense to that.

"Or maybe I can equip you with a full-coverage armor later—boosts your firepower and keeps you from going shirtless, protects you from stray bullets."

"Brilliant suggestion, Lin Brother!"

Lu Xingchen turned to him eagerly: "Better yet—custom-fitted. Won't interfere with my Fire God power. You're the God of Machinery, so this should be easy for you."

Lin Xian stared at him, about to speak, then fell silent: "Wait your turn."

Lin Xian had indeed planned for custom full-coverage armor.

Full-coverage armor differed from battle mechs: the former was a fully enclosed exoskeleton, like Iron Man's suit; the latter were war machines—large, heavy, high firepower.

His original plan was to scan the Taitiewei's exosuit, make minor improvements, or upgrade it through the R&D center.

Once built, he'd use it himself—to unleash his mechanical combat talents. His Wind Spear and Ice Wall were clearly inadequate now.

Then he could customize armor for everyone: Kiki's power was strong, but it didn't enhance her physical body—she was frail. That red mark he'd left on her forehead with a single finger hadn't faded yet…

But time was tight at Yubei Airport—he hadn't scanned any complex exoskeletons. He'd have to find another plan.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh~

The Infinite Train raced along the high-speed track, sunlight bright overhead, silence filling the intercom.

Shu Qin's convoy followed closely behind, never letting down their guard.

Leaving Jiazhou City, the track entered a mountainous forest, the route complex, several highways appearing parallel to the rails.

Abandoned cars and wandering zombies began appearing in view.

Perhaps because they'd just survived the insane flock of corpse crows in Jiazhou, now seeing those howling zombies, they felt no fear—only a strange sense of familiarity.

"Zombies are showing up. Looks like there are no corpse crows around anymore."

In the cockpit, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan sat on either side of the controls.

"Lin Xian, do you have a direction yet?"

Lin Xian stared at the endless Star-Circle Track ahead and shook his head: "I knew the world would eventually be swallowed by darkness—but only when the Phoenix Society's countdown appeared did I truly feel despair. One year and ninety-six days… If those Taitiewei soldiers knew the survivors they protected might not live a year, what would they think?"

"That's not true."

"Huh?"

Chen Sixuan looked at him, her gaze gentle: "When they gave up retreat, they stopped weighing gains and losses. Even if they only let us live until tomorrow, it was victory."

"Because courage isn't measured by distance—it crosses time, crosses dimensions."

"So why is it 'the one year and ninety-six days humanity faces extinction,' and not 'the one year and ninety-six days humanity prepares to counterattack'?"

Lin Xian paused, then smiled: "You're right. One year and ninety-six days isn't for us to flee—we still have much to do." The Infinite Train emerged from a vast mountain range, now over a hundred kilometers from Jiazhou City.

"Pukou Station should be near."

Chen Sixuan glanced at the navigation screen, then her expression changed: "Lin Xian, look!"

Lin Xian had been dozing in the driver's seat, seizing rest. He snapped his head up—and saw the main track entering a small station, nestled in a valley, where over thirty survivor vehicles stood neatly parked beside a wide highway.

But from afar, many doors hung open, blood splattered across hoods and windows—yet not a soul inside.

Lin Xian's face darkened. He recognized these vehicles—they were the same convoy that had boarded the skyway with them at the airport.

Squeak~

The train slowed to a stop at the platform. Shu Qin's convoy pulled up behind. Shu Qin stepped out, stunned: "Isn't this the Fireline Convoy?"

"You know them?" Lin Xian and the others disembarked.

"Of course," said Lu Chang, a young man from Shu Qin's team, frowning: "We fought alongside them in Zone C at the airport. And it's not just Fireline…"

"Go take a look."

!

Lin Xian led the group forward. The convoy included two modified heavy trucks—still well-equipped overall.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh~

Wind howled through the valley, whistling through the open cab doors of the heavy trucks. The entire convoy stood silent, orderly. They checked each vehicle carefully—no one was inside.

Shu Qin pulled a pocket knife from her belt, scraped a bit of dried blood from a SUV's window, held it up, then frowned.

"Died last night. But no bodies. Some signs of corpse crow feeding, but not severe—definitely not killed by them."

"That's strange," Kiki walked over, scanning the area: "There were at least a hundred people here. How could there be zero resistance? It's like…"

"Everyone froze," Lu Xingchen said, detective-like: "Something unnatural is here."

Sha Sha hid behind Chen Sixuan, shivering at the neatly parked cars: "Did they encounter some terrible monster?"

Chen Sixuan said nothing, her gaze fixed on Lin Xian.

"I don't know," Lin Xian turned to Shu Qin: "Are there other convoys here?"

Shu Qin walked over and nodded: "Three convoys merged here—all came from the airport with us. They escaped the Jiazhou corpse crows too, but not as badly as we did. So they must've encountered something else."

Lin Xian's expression grew grim: "All these vehicles are intact. Even if internal corruption occurred, someone would've fought back—or driven away. But not a single vehicle moved."

Kiki said: "Then they stopped here to rest at night—but something happened."

At that moment, Lin Xian heard murmurs. He turned—and saw a few men and women from Shu Qin's group, including a young man named Zhou Yixuan.

"What are you talking about?"

Their faces were pale, eyes wide with shock—as if terrified by the scene.

"Qin… Qin-jie, isn't this… the thing people whispered about…"

"Zhou Yixuan, don't speak nonsense!" Shu Qin cut him off sharply.

(End of Chapter)