Chapter 118: Wait... |
The blizzard made visibility extremely poor. The train's blackout panels were fully opened, casting light onto the snow-covered plains.
After the life-or-death escape, everyone was utterly exhausted. Lin Xian, KIKI, and Chen Sixuan discussed the next steps and decided to temporarily house Ding Junyi, Zhao Yan, and Xu Wen in Car 5, which was originally Car 3—the storage carriage.
Once they confirmed they were out of immediate danger, Lin Xian set about reorganizing the train with the others.
His first priority was devouring the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive. Now that he had the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive, the train's power supply would be completely secured.
For safety reasons, he decided to place the nuclear locomotive at the very end to push the train forward. With the two engine carriages at the front and back, their maneuverability would improve. The two Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriages were moved behind Car 2, becoming the new Car 3 and Car 4.
As for the two flatbed trailers, he planned to devour them as well and use their materials to reinforce the train’s armor.
Lin Xian set up a temporary rail track on an empty patch of land beside the train to facilitate carriage swapping. The Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive was retired and placed behind the nuclear locomotive. The two newly added Kor-3 research carriages were successfully connected behind Car 2.
However, due to differing coupling and electrical standards, it took Lin Xian quite some time to get everything properly linked.
The moment he stepped into the research carriages and switched on the lights, everyone was stunned by the pristine laboratory setup—filled with high-tech research equipment.
He planned to repurpose the space—not for research, but for growing crops.
It might seem like a waste of advanced equipment, but in the apocalypse, survival took precedence. Besides, precision instruments were too fragile for a high-speed escape mission. It was far more practical to grow fresh fruits and vegetables to ease the food crisis.
By the time everything was set up, it was deep into the night. The storm had intensified.
Lin Xian told KIKI and Chen Sixuan, who were half-asleep, to go rest, while Luo Shasha stood guard in Car 7.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian prepared to devour the two flatbed trailers and the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive. He estimated that this upgrade would push him to Level 3, triggering his first awakening.
Afterward, once he had recovered some energy, he would build a protective armor system for the nuclear locomotive.
The entire group—including Zhao Yan and Xu Wen—fell into deep sleep from exhaustion.
Luo Shasha kept watch in Car 7, while Lin Xian remained inside Car 3 and Car 4, scanning the precision instruments one by one.
This had become a habit—even if he didn't immediately need the machines, adding them to his Blueprint Repository meant they might come in handy someday.
[Scan Complete: Blueprint Acquired – Desktop Cryogenic Centrifuge]
[Scan Complete: Blueprint Acquired – Horizontal Electrophoresis Equipment]
21:30.
Inside Car 4's laboratory, Lin Xian glanced outside.
The storm finally seemed to be weakening—just a little.
That was a relief. If the blizzard continued at this rate, by morning, half of the Infinite Train would be buried in snow.
The Kor-3 research carriages were incredibly well-insulated, equipped with temperature-regulating systems that provided a far more comfortable warmth compared to the standard heating in Car 1 and Car 2.
Outside, it was freezing hell.
Inside, it was cozy and silent.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed through the train car.
Lin Xian looked up.
Ding Junyi, still wearing a white lab coat, had entered the carriage. Her gaze swept across the pristine research equipment.
"Even though I’m a biologist," she said, "logic tells me that these things are completely useless during an escape. If you actually want to research dark energy, you’d need an entire scientific team to sustain it. And clearly, you don’t have the resources for that."
"Who said I’m researching dark energy?" Lin Xian replied calmly, turning his attention back to the plant cultivation chambers.
"My main goal is to grow crops. At most, I’ll experiment with Blood Scourge Flora—see if it can be cultivated here."
"...Crops?"
Ding Junyi raised an eyebrow.
She hadn't expected such cutting-edge biological equipment to be repurposed for farming.
"Yeah."
"...Fine."
She fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What do you plan to do with us?"
"Yubei City."
Lin Xian turned to face her.
"There are quite a few survivor convoys there. And if I’m not mistaken, an Iron Guard Battalion is stationed nearby. If you seek help from an official organization, you might be able to contact the Phoenix Federation."
That was the most he could offer.
Besides, it was on the way.
Ding Junyi nodded. "Thank you for your generosity. If not for your rescue, the three of us would already be dead."
"It’s just cooperation."
Lin Xian shrugged.
"But if I had to choose again…"
He sighed.
"...I definitely wouldn’t have come to save you."
The shadow of the Deep Abyss Behemoth still haunted him.
If he had known beforehand what he was up against, he would have run without hesitation.
Ding Junyi studied him and said seriously, "We didn’t hide the truth. When we were trapped in the lab, we had no knowledge of what was happening below Level 89."
"There’s no point discussing it now."
"I think it’s necessary," she insisted.
"In times of crisis, maintaining trust is crucial for psychological stability."
Lin Xian frowned, eyeing her in disbelief.
"...Are you trying to be friendly with me?"
"Not entirely."
Ding Junyi took a step forward, her fingers reaching for the buttons on her lab coat.
Then, she removed it.
Underneath, her slender figure was fully visible—and she was undoing the buttons on her shirt.
She spoke softly, but clearly:
"Aside from that... I’m also offering you sex."
Lin Xian: ?
He froze.
A second later, he stared at her in shock.
"...Wait, what?"
Ding Junyi continued unbuttoning her shirt, her expression calm and composed.
"My body has just experienced an intense adrenaline rush from our near-death escape. It triggered an extreme hormonal response, likely influenced by estrogen levels."
She looked him directly in the eyes.
"If you don’t refuse, I’d like to engage in sexual activity with you."
Lin Xian: ?!?!?!
His mind blanked out for a second.
Then, his expression twitched.
"...This is way too much of a personality shift, lady."
Ding Junyi blinked. "What do you mean by ‘personality shift’?
"As a mentally stable, fully grown woman, isn’t it normal to seek sexual gratification from an attractive male?"
Lin Xian felt every hair on his body stand on end.
Ding Junyi took another step forward, continuing to unbutton her shirt.
"Physically speaking," she continued, "I undergo monthly medical exams. My health is perfect, I have no genetic disorders or infectious diseases, and my body conforms to scientific standards of attractiveness…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—WAIT."
Lin Xian’s eyes twitched violently.
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