Chapter 216: Perfect Gun Mount

(PS: Many friends commented that 2k-word chapters are too short and hard to break; starting today, I'll switch to longer chapters of 3–4k.)

Hssss~ Wu ！

The infinite-class electric motor roared to life; the heavy train, docked all night, began moving forward as crew members in each car sprang into action.

Lin Xian sat in the cockpit, monitoring work inside each car.

"Cars 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, plus the Twin Star nuclear locomotive—all checked, no issues," Shu Qin's voice came through the comm.

"Cars 6 and 7, the dining cars—no problems," Chen Sixuan reported promptly.

"Xian-ge, car 5 and Director Ding's cars 3 and 4 are all clear," Da Lou added.

"Car 2's fine too," Sha Sha chirped, full of energy.

Lin Xian picked up the comm: "Girl, keep an ear on the survivor frequency—there might be other teams approaching Hengshan Pass."

"Got it~"

Whoosh~

On the orbital ring, the Infinite-class sped forward; at 6: 0, daylight broke. Outside the windows, the once dark and eerie forest had transformed into lush, verdant grasslands.

Before the train stretched an endless plain of fertile land, like a new world—dawn's pale light carried a crisp chill, as if it were a spring morning.

"After all this running, I'd forgotten how beautiful this world still is."

"Without those monsters, the world has always been beautiful," Lin Xian said with a wistful gaze. "Who'd want to drift into space? My original train plan was just to outrun sunset."

"I know," Chen Sixuan pointed to the route map. "We'll reach Hengshan Pass in about three hours. Want to rest?"

Lin Xian shook his head. He'd slept a few hours last night; though he and Ding Junyi had been busy, the energy release from the Hell Black Chrysanthemum had left him utterly refreshed—he'd gained real benefits.

"The radio broadcast's out. People will start noticing us now."

In the cockpit, Lin Xian watched the track ahead with caution.

"The Silver Star and Longshan No. 1 definitely passed through Hengshan Pass. But the Palma Grasslands erupted with an S-class anomaly—don't know if they rerouted. Since all these apocalypse trains passed through, ours isn't rare anymore." Chen Sixuan's tone implied he shouldn't worry.

"We'll need to stop at Hengshan Pass for at least a day—wait for Phoenix Society news, and check conditions on the Palma Grasslands. If we get close to the Wei River, we'll switch to the northern route via Xilan; otherwise, we keep heading east," Lin Xian said.

Chen Sixuan nodded. "Right. After Hengshan Pass, the nearest big city is over two thousand kilometers away. It'd be good to trade for more supplies there."

Lin Xian smiled. "Trading alone won't cut it." His gaze swept outward. "We've got so many people now, and it's broad daylight—we need to send out several teams to scout and gather supplies. Otherwise, are they just going to sit on the train and eat?"

"True."

Chen Sixuan smiled, looking at Lin Xian. "I want to go too."

"Don't rush," Lin Xian told her. "Shu Qin and the others are all skilled. You've improved too, but you can't have a sniper roaming the streets scavenging. Wait—I'll build you a powered exosuit. Then I'll feel better."

He knew Chen Sixuan had evolved in perception, but her speed and strength still lagged, and her combat skills were practically zero. On the train, relying on fortifications as a sniper was fine—but if she had to fight zombies up close, he genuinely worried.

"You're afraid I'll die?" Chen Sixuan lowered her head, speaking suddenly, her eyes not on Lin Xian.

She remembered when she first boarded, Lin Xian had told everyone—men and women alike—that they all had to scavenge, that everyone bore responsibility. Back then, he'd sounded like a cold, emotionless commander of the apocalypse. Now, he'd lost that chill—he cared about her far more.

Lin Xian's gaze flickered. He said nothing, sighing inwardly.

In Jiang City, he'd been alone. Anyone's death meant nothing to him—he only wanted to survive. Everyone who boarded had to contribute value, obey orders.

But now, as the crew grew, he found it harder to treat them like expendable pawns.

At first, he thought deaths were normal. But when they left Jiazhou City, just as Shu Qin's big truck convoy joined, the Zhong Jiahao family died.

He'd never met them, didn't know them. He'd used every ounce of strength to protect the team. No one blamed him.

Yet inside, Lin Xian felt something called guilt.

He knew those people were his teammates now. He knew there must have been better choices back then.

That incident quietly changed his mindset. Even though he knew casualties on future trains were inevitable, Lin Xian now desperately wanted to use his abilities to protect everyone on board, to raise survival rates.

Chen Sixuan was already his woman—she had walked beside him through countless life-and-death moments. He could no longer see her as merely "a woman who provided some value."

So Lin Xian planned to use his mechanical ability to develop customized gear for his teammates.

For Chen Sixuan, if he could build her a powered exosuit like his own, boosting her speed and mobility, letting her lift her heavy sniper rifle effortlessly, her survivability would skyrocket. Add smart targeting gear and an electrified sniper goddess would be born.

He was also thinking about how to train Kiki, Sha Sha, Da Lou, Shu Qin, Lu Xingchen, Lu Chang, Miao Lu, even Ding Junyi—he was considering how to strengthen his whole team. The Infinite-class's combat power was his own.

In this apocalypse, solo survival was no longer the way. Lin Xian stood up, smiled at Chen Sixuan: "Of course I'm afraid you'll die. You're my Chen Laoshi."

He stressed the words "my."

Then he walked toward the rear cars to begin manufacturing.

Hearing him, Chen Sixuan gazed at the scenery ahead, a faint smile curling her lips—joy spreading in her heart.

Whoosh~

The Infinite-class raced along the track. Lin Xian had Chen Sixuan drive from the cockpit while he prepared to build the G3 electromagnetic railgun in car 2.

This device was much larger than the 1130 system. Good news: he could build it in two separate subsystems—the main cannon and the ultra-capacitor unit. Since they'd soon encounter many convoys in the city, he dared not slack off. He activated the manufacturing plant, converted materials, and began production.

Kiki sat on a swivel chair, watching Lin Xian clear space for the main cannon, welding wire boxes. "We're almost in the city. Can you finish it?"

"No."

Lin Xian estimated—even with his current mechanical rank—it would take seven or eight hours to complete the full railgun system. They had less than three hours until Hengshan Pass. There was no way he could finish.

"If you can't finish, why build it? Aren't you afraid something'll happen when we enter the city?" Kiki asked.

!

Lin Xian pointed upward. "I'm building the base and frame first. The accelerators and ultra-capacitors come later."

"Huh?" Kiki frowned. "You're just building an empty frame?"

"Is that not allowed?" Lin Xian smiled meaningfully.

Kiki's big blue eyes blinked, then slowly curved into a sly grin. She looked at him. "Oh, so you've become this sneaky? When did you learn to bluff people?"

Lin Xian shrugged helplessly. "You said we need to build a reputation, right? We broadcasted. If some bandit convoy is thinking of attacking us, one 1130 won't be enough to scare them off."

If you want customers, offer good wine. If you face wolves, raise your rifle. It's both deterrence and advertising.

The Jianxu Weifeng Group's Silver Star carried four vehicle-mounted electromagnetic railguns and various heavy defenses. That mobile city of thousands deterred all but the boldest bandits.

Lin Xian finally understood: when the team was small, stay hidden. Now that it's grown, strike first—prevent a hundred blows.

Click-click-click~

Lin Xian seized every second. Sparks flashed in his hands; materials flew out, assembled, forged!

For large weapon systems, Lin Xian could build subsystems separately—advantage: modular progress, step-by-step accumulation. Disadvantage: it consumed all his free time, turning him into a full-time manufacturing slave.

Clang-clang-clang! Soon, a massive black electromagnetic cannon took shape. Materials streamed endlessly from the manufacturing plant and disassembly center, forming a fearsome, imposing gun platform that stirred the heart.

Kiki watched Lin Xian build the railgun, her face glowing with excitement—already imagining how satisfying it would be to blast monsters with it.

"Whoa! If we'd had this when we fought that giant red bug before…"

Lin Xian smiled. "Back then I had nothing but a rusty knife. Just surviving was a win."

"That's all thanks to me, hmph! You even tried to kick me off the train back then~" Kiki wrinkled her nose. "Now you know I'm a treasure, right?"

"Lighthouse Alliance broadcast: The entrance fee to Dawn City is now three Level-1 Blood Essences per person. Those eligible for military service: one Blood Essence. Psychics need no Blood Essence but must join the Federal Garrison for training. Those who don't qualify, reroute immediately. Many convoys have set up defenses near Jinhai due to the pack-hunting effect—risk is extremely high. Avoid gathering there."

At that moment, a message came through the survivor frequency.

Kiki sneered. "You have to pay to enter a city? Ugh—capitalism's true nature exposed. And apparently, lots of people are still going. Don't they fear Dark Markers?"

"It's the capital of China, the Federation's main city now. It probably won't fall easily," Lin Xian said gravely. "I just didn't expect the fee to be three Level-1 Blood Essences."

"Yeah, that's insane! That's three red centipedes per person. With that kind of power, who'd bother with that dump of a city?"

Three Level-1 Blood Essences was a huge value—enough to feed a ten-person convoy for nearly half a month. Now it was just the price of one person's entry into Dawn City.

If you calculated the Infinite-class's crew, they'd need at least a hundred. A hundred—Lin Xian would have to kill a hundred white giants or centipedes. It was downright insane.

"If we go to Xingcheng later, we might have to disembark."

Lin Xian said. "Otherwise, entering with the whole train would cost us too many Blood Essences—we'd be total suckers."

"You're afraid we'll get nothing and they'll steal our nuclear locomotive and that potted flower?" Kiki asked.

Lin Xian nodded. "Knowing those people? They'd do it."

(End of Chapter)