[{"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-423":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},2262187,4414,"Chapter 423: Evil Deceit","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-423",423,"\u003Cp>18:35.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once lifeless Haiyan Island seemed submerged by the deep ocean; the air reeked of salty seawater, mixed with rust and decay, like the slow exhalation of some ancient creature, seeping into every inch of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This despair felt even more terrifying than on land, as if the entire island had suddenly sunk into an endless abyss, filled with fear and suffocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the station, the empty streets suddenly echoed with rustling sounds—countless eerie whispers, like countless wet limbs dragging across concrete, or some viscous liquid oozing slowly from a sewer opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A drop of black liquid fell from the platform ceiling, striking the rail and instantly corroding into a wisp of greenish smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the second, the third…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire city seemed awakened by some indescribable presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far out on the sea, darkness surged like a tide, swallowing the last traces of daylight; beneath the surface, countless twisted shadows slowly rose—formless, sometimes human, sometimes arthropod-like, or merely writhing masses of black flesh, coated in viscous fluid that glistened with unnatural oil under the moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giggling…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low, grating sound, like bones scraping together, came from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The streetlights outside the station flickered once, then snapped out. In the dark, something climbed along the walls, sharp claws screeching against metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Infinite’s engine shut down. No lights were turned on. All window shades were lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vanessa’s voice was low and taut; through the gap in the shade, she stared at the platform outside. Inside the silent station, countless sounds began to rise around them. On the platform ahead, a “figure” slowly rose—though whether it could still be called a “person” was debatable: its limbs were grotesquely distorted, its head hung low, its neck bent backward as if broken, revealing a face devoid of features.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, it snapped its head upward, its hollow “face” fixed directly on the train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chilling cold surged straight toward them; the Infinite’s bulletproof windows instantly frosted over. A hand pressed onto Vanessa’s shoulder, pulling her away from the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since leaving the Fifth Star Abyss, Lin Xian hadn’t felt this fear of nightfall in a long time—but now, he too sensed an eerie weight that tightened his spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fall back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage, all team members wore grim expressions, their breathing suppressed. Chen Sixuan, feeling the icy chill, whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s like a hundred ghosts marching at night—how can there be so many? And… are they moving somewhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Chen Sixuan finished speaking, the entire Infinite carriage jolted violently—something had climbed onto the exterior, emitting heavy, muffled pressure. The whole carriage shuddered hollowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every breath inside the carriage froze. Lin Xian frowned, raised his hand to signal silence, and prepared for immediate counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian’s heart was heavy. Viola had not yet completed her cleanup at the East Harbor, and sailing at night was extremely dangerous. He didn’t want to trigger the Infinite’s midnight escape unless absolutely necessary. Given the spectacle outside—the hundred ghosts on the march—he feared even retreat might not be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giggling…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast station now felt as crowded as it had been in peak hours; eerie sounds echoed from every platform and corridor. Alongside the Infinite, countless black shadows passed by, their piercing scrapes against the carriage’s armor sending chills down everyone’s spines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the noise outside grew louder—more monstrous forms were climbing onto the Infinite. Rows of eyes slid across the armored plating. Everyone held their breath—until the rescued Mexican girl raised a hand to signal Lin Xian to be silent, and the Black woman beside her gestured for calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then pointed to her wrist, where a small screen displayed a countdown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>5, 4, 3, 2, 1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the countdown on Gedi’s wrist ended, the strange entities outside the station erupted in agitation—strange, guttural shrieks rose continuously, and the commotion intensified, as if all of them accelerated toward a single direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the darkness, the Infinite’s crew exchanged glances, listening to the dense clamor outside, none daring to breathe loudly. Shasha, standing beside Kiki, pinched her nose. Mo Xiaotian beside her held his breath as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian sensed the anomaly. Slowly, he lowered the hand signal he’d been about to give for attack, and calmed himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, after the violent commotion outside, silence quickly returned. Though faint eerie sounds still lingered in dark corners, the earlier dense, predatory surge was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the surroundings quiet, Lin Xian’s gaze flickered toward the Black woman and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lure agent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black woman introduced herself: “Gedi. This is Vanessa. Thank you for letting us into your sanctuary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Xian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian reached out to shake her hand—but when she heard his name, Gedi’s eyes widened sharply. She gripped his hand and spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Xian? The Infinite?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Do you know me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re really Lin Xian?” The girl named Vanessa stepped forward, slowly pulling down her hood, studying him closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s me. What’s the problem?!” Lin Xian snapped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vanessa and Gedi exchanged glances, then broke into incredulous smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my God—we’ve met the Swordbearer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lin Xian immediately understood: after the Phoenix Society’s global broadcast, his identity was no longer secret. He’d long grown used to it—but since entering the Oceanic Sector, he now felt he might need to keep a lower profile. The Crimson World’s descentist Phoenix factions hadn’t been fully purged; he couldn’t rule out being targeted by someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me the situation,” Lin Xian lowered his voice. “Why are there so many strange entities after nightfall? And what’s your story?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many? This is normal,” Gedi replied calmly. “These entities come from the seabed. Even without darkness, they can move underwater. At night, they swarm onto the island’s landmass—so their numbers are immense. It’s both a march and a hunt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder…” Lin Xian murmured. He recalled the indescribable entities beneath the Taku Deep Harbor. The sea floor was already teeming with them—hidden like snow beneath a blizzard. Once night fell, Haiyan Island was already surrounded by a tide of strange entities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did those monsters detect a target?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Monica, perceptive as ever, noticed the sounds outside were converging toward one direction. She whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that the effect of your lure agent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Vanessa said. “After nightfall, the entities are too dense. Even without dark markers, you’re easily spotted. So we use a lure agent—synthesized from cold-dark reagents and biological enzymes. It slightly amplifies your marker signature. Just a tiny amount is enough to trigger attacks across a wide area.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1092,"2026-06-19T18:20:07.351Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1b226601850b03fc87d3d2e149e88b02d4abb76c0a32dd81dfbfa24b155408c0","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-424","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-422",541,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-cover.jpg"]