Chapter 29: Insect Corpse

Clang~ Clang!

The carriage fell silent once more.

Lin Xian gritted his teeth and looked up—the massive ao tooth was still embedded in the armored grating. His heart clenched; he spun around to check and saw a metal coupling, thick as a fishing line, dragging half of the giant insect’s severed tail, leaving a horrifying trail on the rails—the tail had been torn to shreds, pulped with blood and flesh.

“Dead?!”

At that moment, Kiki finally lowered her hand, jerking her head up—but too abruptly, her skull slammed squarely into Lin Xian’s chin.

Thud! A sharp crack echoed through the carriage.

“Ow!” Kiki cried out, instinctively clutching her head.

“Damn it!” Lin Xian also reeled from the impact, gripping his chin and grimacing in pain.

Neither had time to confirm whether the giant insect was truly dead—they both clutched their injured spots, groaning in agony.

“This hurts like hell, you bastard!” Kiki glared at him.

“Is your skull made of iron?!” Lin Xian roared back.

There was no time to argue with this brat—he gritted his teeth, stood up, and stared at the motionless insect corpse outside the carriage. His tense heart finally eased by half.

To confirm, he slowed the train gradually, sword in hand, and crept to the rear car, peering out—the insect’s body, once clinging to the train’s side, had been ground down to nothing but a thin layer of abdominal skin and countless tiny claws; half its corpse had already been torn off and hooked onto the coupling.

Squeak!

At that moment, Lin Xian slowly brought the “Infinity” to a stop.

“It’s really dead!” Kiki, seeing the train halt, rubbed her head and jumped up excitedly, rushing over—then, upon seeing the scattered insect remains, her face turned green and she gagged: “What a disgusting giant bug!”

Lin Xian turned to look at Kiki, his gaze wary.

But then, two thin streams of crimson blood slowly trickled from Kiki’s nostrils—yet she paid no mind. Seeing Lin Xian’s gaze, she wiped the blood casually across her cheek, tilted her small face up, and smirked at him: “See? I told you keeping me around was useful.”

“You know how to use your ability now?”

“I think I do…”

“When?”

“Just now—when I saved you,” Kiki blinked. “See? I told you I’m actually a good person.”

As she spoke, more blood poured from her nose; her face had turned an unhealthy pale white. She looked at Lin Xian: “But it’s strange—just using it once made my head ache and spin…”

Lin Xian studied her—he knew this was due to extreme energy depletion. He grew serious, glanced at the rear ramp, then grabbed a towel and tossed it to Kiki: “Wipe your face.”

“Is everyone okay?”

After the train stopped, Chen Sixuan rushed over, pale with relief—then, seeing the carnage in Car 3, she gagged instantly.

The insect corpse emitted a foul, pungent stench—even the strongest minds couldn’t help but frown.

Lin Xian looked at Chen Sixuan—he had to admit, Chen Laoshi was far smarter than he’d imagined; in that moment of peril, it was she who devised the solution.

“Thanks to you,” Lin Xian said seriously.

Chen Sixuan averted her gaze, slightly embarrassed.

“It had nothing to do with me.”

Lin Xian replied frankly: “How could it not? Without your idea, I wouldn’t have known how to deal with this monster.”

“Hey!” Kiki planted her hands on her hips, indignant. “Why doesn’t anyone thank me?”

As she spoke, another trickle of blood dripped from her nose.

Lin Xian frowned, noticing her pallor: “How are you feeling?”

“I—”

Before she could finish, Kiki’s eyes narrowed, her body swaying as she collapsed forward onto Lin Xian. Her face pressed against his chest; before losing consciousness, she reached out weakly, gripping his arm, whispering: “Don’t… don’t leave me on the train…”

Lin Xian’s expression shifted slightly. Watching Kiki, now unconscious, the tension in his chest eased a little more.

She clearly understood her situation—when life and death were at stake, she could still be useful. Thinking this, his wariness toward her lessened somewhat.

He raised his eyes and met Chen Sixuan’s gaze.

“Watch her. I’ll check the surroundings. If it’s safe for now, we’ll wait here till dawn.” “Okay.” Chen Sixuan glanced at the wreckage of Car 3 and the dark wilderness beyond, nodding uneasily.

Lin Xian took a flashlight from the carriage’s toolbox, jumped down from the rear ramp, and frowned at the shattered insect corpse.

He hurried back inside, dragged out the small crane, and pried the giant ao loose from the armored grating—only then did the remaining abdominal carcass fall from the train’s side to the ground.

Then he walked to the rear, unhooked the severed tail from the coupling, and pulled it back aboard.

“This’ll take some fixing.”

Lin Xian stared at Car 3 after the battle, his face grim.

“Just as that girl said—this train needs weapons and defense systems. Running alone won’t cut it.”

If not for Chen Sixuan’s quick thinking, Lin Xian wouldn’t have known how to handle the beast tonight.

His wind rifle could match firearms at close range, but its power dropped sharply at distance—and whether the white giant or today’s red insect, both were thick-skinned monsters.

Conventional weapons stood little chance against them.

Conventional weapons gain little advantage against it.

As Lin Xian finished clearing the debris and prepared to return to the train, he suddenly felt a tremor beneath his feet—as if something stirred underground.

Instantly, a rustling sound filled his ears. He shone the flashlight toward it—black mist surged from the giant insect corpse, but instead of rising into the air, it was being sucked downward by some strange force.

Lin Xian frowned and stepped closer. The rustling grew louder—like thousands of voices wailing and crying, sending chills down his spine!

Lin Xian frowned and stepped forward; the rustling sound beside his ear suddenly intensified, as if thousands upon thousands of people were wailing and screaming, sending a chill down his spine!

Lin Xian recoiled several steps, putting distance between himself and the black smoke—the wailing faded back into faint rustling.

Within mere breaths, the black mist vanished entirely, leaving only the corpse behind, reeking of decay.

“Did I imagine that?” Lin Xian stared in shock. He had clearly heard human cries near the mist—heart-rending, as if the victims devoured by the insect were screaming in unison. It was unnatural.

“Did I imagine it?” Lin Xian stared in shock. Just moments ago, as he neared the black mist, he had clearly heard human sobs and cries—heart-stopping, as if the victims swallowed by the giant insect were screaming in unison, utterly bizarre.

Back on the train, Lin Xian tried raising the rear ramp.

Though the train’s body was cracked in several places, the hydraulic system for the ramp held firm. After activating his Mechanical Heart to lift it, he surveyed the wreckage of Car 3—tools lay scattered everywhere.

Including the welder, the small crane, and his own motorcycle.

These were vital—damaging them would make repairs difficult.

Lin Xian’s mechanical repair and fabrication abilities were linked—he needed proper materials and considerable time.

After the fierce battle, he was utterly exhausted. Fortunately, they were in the wilderness—no massive horde of corpses had been drawn by the commotion—allowing him a moment to catch his breath.

He checked the time: 21:15. He’d been fleeing and fighting the giant insect for over two hours.

He checked the time: 21:15 at night. He had just fought and fled from the giant insect for over two hours.

Seeing Lin Xian close the door and approach, Chen Sixuan stood up.

“Safe—for now.” Lin Xian picked up a bottle of water from the storage rack and drank a third of it in gulps.

His gaze swept over—Kiki, now asleep on the sofa, supported by Chen Sixuan. Clearly, though her newly awakened ability was powerful, it drained her energy enormously.

Lin Xian’s expression grew complicated. He’d just saved her; they’d fought side by side—but this girl was cunning. Since awakening her ability, he wasn’t sure he could defeat her. The thought troubled him.

Lin Xian’s expression was complex. Though he had just saved her and they had fought side by side, the girl was truly cunning. After awakening her ability, he felt he couldn’t be certain of defeating her. Thinking of this, he began to feel troubled.

Chen Sixuan noticed the blood on his hands and face, and asked.

“Superficial wounds.” Lin Xian sighed, looking at her. “We ran far tonight. Tomorrow, depending on conditions, I want to rest at Beiwan Station.”

“Superficial wounds,” Lin Xian sighed, looking at Chen Sixuan. “We ran far tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll see how things are—I think we should rest at Beiwan Station.”

“Beiwan Town isn’t large—conditions probably won’t be too complicated. After Beiwan Station, the next major city is Yubei. From there, we truly enter the Ring Star Track. Road conditions…”

She’d been about to say the Ring Star Track’s road conditions might be better—but she hesitated. So far, avoiding broken rails and debris had been sheer luck—who knew what lay ahead?

She had wanted to say the orbital route might have better conditions, but now she wasn’t sure. After all, having avoided broken rocks and shattered rails this far was already lucky—who knew if the road ahead would be better or worse?

(End of Chapter)

(End of Chapter)