[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train":3,"chapter-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-168":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Apocalypse: I Built an Infinite Train",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2261932,4414,"Chapter 168: This Is the Doom Train! (5000-Word Bonus, Requesting Monthly Votes)","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>“What? What rumor?” Kiki, hearing their conversation, asked in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Qin looked at Kiki with a complex expression, then turned to Lin Xian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re talking about the herd-hunting effect rumor—haven’t you heard it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Herd-hunting effect?” Lin Xian’s gaze sharpened: “Is it related to what’s happening here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Qin’s eyes darkened slightly: “It’s just baseless gossip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baseless gossip?” Zhou Yixuan, hearing this, stepped forward urgently: “Didn’t we just suffer a zombie tide the same night we joined Quan Guan and Old Xu’s group?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t I already tell you it was the Black Crows team?” Shu Qin snapped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about the blood ghosts? We lost four vehicles that night,” Zhou Yixuan grew more agitated: “And why does Yubei City have so many zombies and monsters? Many think it’s too unusual—it must be because too many survivors gathered there, triggering the herd-hunting effect. So far, we haven’t seen any other convoys—only the Fireline convoy got hit here. They merged three teams. Qin Jie, isn’t that the truth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lin Xian immediately understood—he’d also considered this theory, not just Zhou Yixuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the herd-hunting effect means the more people there are, the more strange entities come to hunt—is that it?” Chen Sixuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Qin nodded, speaking gravely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. There have always been rumors on survivors’ radios: the larger the survivor group, the more strange entities and monsters they encounter. But there’s another interpretation: if two fleeing prey meet, what does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means two hunters are following behind,” Lin Xian replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. Either way, it shows the bigger the group, the greater the danger. Many survivors are now constantly merging—maybe that’s exactly what the monsters want,” Zhou Yixuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They want to wipe us all out!” another girl added, her face filled with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian’s expression cleared—he found this theory plausible, even leaning toward the hunter interpretation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the red centipede’s pursuit, to the white giant’s chase, to the atmospheric mica targeting the Taitiewei—whether coincidence or rumor, there seemed to be something to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I get it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian nodded: “You’re saying if we merge, we’ll attract more danger, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Dui…” Shu Qin started to speak, but Lin Xian waved her off, signaling her to let him finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Lin Xian’s words, Zhou Yixuan’s earlier agitation froze. He opened his mouth, then closed it, his gaze flickering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they first entered the repair shed, he hadn’t been eager—he’d noticed that not everyone in Shu Qin’s team shared this view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, Lin Dui, that’s not what I meant…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yixuan’s face turned pale, his voice trembling: “Everyone thinks joining powerful psychics or large convoys increases survival chances—and yes, that’s true. Like the Silver Star, Longshan No.1, even the Phoenix Society. But for ordinary people like us, merging recklessly increases risk far beyond our strength. I’m just worried… worried we’ll become a burden to your Infinite No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, everyone in Shu Qin’s convoy wore complex expressions, their gazes varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian looked at Zhou Yixuan—and saw through his lie at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worrying about being a burden was fake; fearing becoming a psychic’s cannon fodder was real. His concern wasn’t entirely groundless—if the herd-hunting effect held, combining powerful psychics or large convoys meant disaster for ordinary teams, even an unjust one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But under a collapsing nest, thinking so delicately about survival had become extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, normal people wouldn’t think like Zhou Yixuan—even if they did, they wouldn’t say it aloud. It wouldn’t change anything. Merging, clinging to power, avoiding danger—these are human instincts. Zhou Yixuan’s words, however, showed fear had overwhelmed his reason. He blamed Shu Qin’s alliances for every hardship they’d faced, convinced that joining Infinite No. would bring greater disaster—and that disaster would fall squarely on ordinary people like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deaths of Zhong Jiahao’s family had made this escape mindset all the more concrete for Zhou Yixuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian looked at Zhou Yixuan, then at the others. The highway now reeked of thick blood. He spoke sharply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether the herd-hunting effect is real or not, unity is humanity’s way of amplifying individual impact. So I respect your choices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shu Qin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian looked at Shu Qin, whose expression was complex: “There are plenty of usable vehicles here—including heavy trucks. It’s still early. We can reach Hengshan Pass before dark. If you want to join us, you’re welcome—but you must be ready to die. The monsters we’ll face will be worse than before. If you have doubts, choose a vehicle and leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhou Yixuan’s mind cleared slightly—but now he hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him stood the fully equipped heavy trucks of the Fireline convoy. According to his beliefs, this was a real opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yixuan looked at Shu Qin. She merely regarded him calmly: “I respect your choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Qin Jie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yixuan’s face tightened, his whole demeanor heavy. He said nothing more, returned to his vehicle, and began packing. Three others followed his lead. The four loaded into one heavy truck and one SUV, bid farewell, and drove off into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Qin’s convoy fell into a bleak silence. Lin Xian watched, sighing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first formed his team, he’d prepared for members to leave at any moment over life or gain—including Chen Sixuan, Kiki, and Daliu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how foolish their reasons seemed, each choice was theirs alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this ruined apocalypse, talking about human nature is naive. Whether ordinary or not, all they care about is survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shu Qin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian looked at her, his expression grave: “What about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m following you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Qin spoke solemnly: “If you don’t want me, I’ll take them and leave right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Shasha nervously gripped Chen Sixuan’s sleeve. The Infinite No. team felt the atmosphere grow heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who remained from Shu Qin’s team all stared at Lin Xian, their longing unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of their reasons, everyone who stayed now yearned to join Infinite No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian looked at Shu Qin, then at the others, his gaze sharp: “Whether the herd-hunting effect is real or just rumor, tonight we might all die like the Fireline convoy. If you want to ride with me, prepare for death now. Survivor unity is the inevitable trend. If even unity can’t win, we betray the sacrifices of the Airport Guard Corps and the Taitiewei.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So now, look closely!” Lin Xian suddenly pointed loudly behind him at the black armored train: “This isn’t a safe passenger train. This is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The DOOM TRAIN!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1082,"2026-06-19T18:20:04.953Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c968e7135a4f923305d48b640a0b9023475bff2983659819587ac54a5e328fe5","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-169","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-167",541,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-cover.jpg"]