Chapter 150: The Train

The express train to Xijing had already departed, leaving the survivors scrambling to squeeze onto the slower train heading to the same destination—their final hope for the day.

Although the station announcement continually blared, "Trains will resume tomorrow, please refrain from pushing and shoving," the people were not fools.

After the apocalypse descended, they had continued to dream for months, clinging to their former lives. Now, however, every illusion was ruthlessly ripped away, exposing a blood-soaked reality. No amount of self-deception could keep them going.

The inner city was in utter chaos, with zombies everywhere. If they had to wait out this long night, no one could possibly guess what tomorrow would bring.

Cries, curses, and pleas for mercy echoed through the air, yet none of this moved the armed guards.

Realizing the train was about to move, many people rushed forward recklessly, only to be met by the ruthless, staccato rattle of gunfire.

In an instant, survivors were mowed down in droves. Of course, a few slipped through the cracks, taking advantage of the chaos to board the train and secure a spot.

As the train pulled away, the commotion was gradually left behind. The dust settled, and for those who failed to leave, there would be no more chances today.

Inside the dining car, the attendant served a few plates of home-style stir-fries.

Bai Ge picked up her chopsticks and helped herself. Having tossed and turned all day, she was long starved.

Zhu Youzheng and Wang Lu, sitting beside her, abandoned all courtesy, lifting their bowls and shoveling rice rapidly into their mouths.

Liang Bing, Xueman, and Chang Qing sat opposite them. As infected individuals, they had no interest in human food and could only watch as the others devoured the meal with gusto.

Such a vivid scene of dining had long since vanished from their lives.

Perhaps eating too quickly, Zhu Youzheng suddenly choked, breaking into a fit of coughing.

"Eat slowly, there's plenty of food, no one is going to steal it from you," Bai Ge said with an amused smile.

"I'm just afraid that if I don't eat my fill today, I won't have a life left to eat tomorrow," Zhu Youzheng wheezed, recovering his breath and speaking with absolute conviction.

"What a depressing thing to say. Didn't we all manage to escape?" Wang Lu frowned, disliking such talk.

"Escape? Where can we even escape to? Xijing is probably just as pathetic, if not worse than Nanchuan," Zhu Youzheng said dismissively.

Although the outskirts of Nanchuan were nothing to write home about, the inner city truly felt like an island of illusions—an undisturbed parallel world that allowed people to dream. Now, however, the dream was over, and everything was gone.

The only reason they had boarded the train smoothly today was thanks to Bai Ge. No matter when or where, there would always be special circumstances, special people, and special passages.

Although Zhou Zihao had flown ahead to Xijing with Zhou Shiwen and the others on a private plane, he still worried about Bai Ge and had long since instructed the station staff up and down to lend a hand.

Judging by how the aftermath of various crises had been handled, Zhou Zihao, the young master of the Future Corporation, had indeed provided them with immense help in many ways. Of course, his sole motivation was to win Bai Ge's favor; he cared nothing for the lives of others.

Yet, while Bai Ge accepted his attentiveness, she showed no gratitude, continuing to act entirely on her own terms. Perhaps the young master had always obtained everything too easily, which was why he was drawn to a woman as elusive and difficult to handle as Bai Ge.

"...We might not have escaped yet," Chang Qing chimed in, once again dampening everyone's spirits.

"There seems to be a faint stench of zombies on this train. Who knows, there might be one or two infected people mixed in the crowd whose virus hasn't activated yet..."

"Jinx!" Xueman glared at him.

She was worried about this very thing.

Although they were enjoying the special privilege of a private sleeper carriage during these extraordinary circumstances, the rest of the train was densely packed, with the rear carriages more crowded than during the Spring Festival rush. If the possibility Chang Qing mentioned were to actually happen, an outbreak would spread with terrifying speed.

Chang Qing's words successfully cast a heavy gloom over everyone. Indeed, they could not afford to let down their guard at any time.

Yichen had lost consciousness along the way, and it took the combined effort of Liang Bing and Mu Qing to drag him to the station.

Last time, after fully turning into a zombie to deal with the crawler, he had spent two or three full days bedridden before recovering.

This time, he had forced his body to keep going until he rescued Mu Qing, meaning his recovery time would likely be even longer.

Ling Lan entered the dining car, looking utterly exhausted.

She had just settled Mu Qing and re-dressed the wound on Cheng Xianglong's back, feeling so tired that her bones felt like they were falling apart.

"How is that blonde punk doing?" Chang Qing asked, his eyes roaming lewdly across Ling Lan's chest.

"Aren't you blonde yourself? Use his proper name!" Xueman felt speechless at his nickname for Cheng Xianglong.

"Manman, I generally don't remember men's names, you know that."

"Hearing you say that, you're acting a bit abnormal today," Xueman couldn't help but retort. "You didn't even ask about the new little beauty."

"Do you take me for a fool? That girl is obviously Yichen's type, and I still want to live a long life! Besides, I have you, don't I? I'm content." Chang Qing shrank his neck and offered a lecherous smile.

Xueman stopped entertaining Chang Qing, fearing that she might not be able to resist throwing hands right there in the cramped carriage. Causing any structural damage could affect the train's operation.

Ling Lan took a messy bite of food and brought up Cheng Xianglong's condition.

"His injuries are relatively stable, but he needs a better environment for surgery as soon as possible. The Future Corporation has influence in Xijing, right? Once we get there, find a hospital for his inpatient treatment. With a wound like this, he'll have to lie in bed for at least a month."

"Leave the arrangements to me, as long as he can hold on for the rest of the day," Bai Ge said. Saving lives took priority, and she would not hesitate to make use of Zhou Zihao's connections.

"Mu Qing hasn't eaten in over a day, and her hands and feet were bound for so long. Her mental state is poor as well; she just drank a little saltwater and went to rest... As for her father, no one is to bring it up again. If she asks, tell her we don't know," Ling Lan reminded them, suddenly remembering something.

Mu Qing had learned that her father was murdered, a heavy blow to her. To prevent further complications and spare both parties unnecessary distress, it was better to let the matter of Mu Zongxing colluding with the stalkers against Yichen rest in the past.

Everyone understood Ling Lan's intent and nodded in agreement.

"That little girl Yilin is also a worrisome child. With her brother lying there, she just stares at him unblinkingly, refusing to move no matter how we call her," Ling Lan sighed.

"After all, her mother just passed away today, and now Yichen is her only family left by her side. She must feel terribly insecure," Wang Lu chimed in. A woman's mind was always delicate, with a deeper understanding of emotional turmoil.

Speaking of family, Ling Lan felt as though someone was missing from the table, and her nerves instantly tightened.

"Where's my brother?"

"Ling Zhe said he went to look around a little while ago..."

"What the hell is that idiot playing at?!" Ling Lan's anger flared up instantly. With everything going on, why couldn't at least one of them give her some peace of mind?