"Not even a hundred kilometers in, and you've already run into two groups trying to rob you. Do you think you'll always have such good luck? Besides, there are only two of you. That woman with you probably can't even handle a single zombie. What are you going to do when you run into a zombie horde? Do you have heating equipment? A radar system? After stopping, don't you need a sentry system for safety? A defense system? Transporting supplies might be easy, but what about transportation machinery?"

"And another thing! Humans are fragile. With the global plague running rampant, what will you do if someone gets infected or sick? You'll need doctors and antibiotics, right? Long-term vitamin deficiencies mean you'll need vegetables and fruits. Do you have a medical system? Industrial exoskeletons? A repair system? Drone reconnaissance? And what if you encounter a glacier—do you have an icebreaker shield? If you need to repair tracks, you'll need steel, small railcars, and a track-lifting system, right? Can you handle all of that? Honestly, your so-called Infinite Train Project probably wouldn't last a thousand kilometers before breaking down completely. It'll be game over, shut down, bye-bye!"

Kiki's voice grew more heated, her wide eyes glaring as her chest heaved in frustration. She clenched her neat little teeth over and over again. Hearing Lin Xian dismiss the Dawn Project and stubbornly focus on running his train made her visibly agitated.

Perhaps feeling cornered, her expression became serious. She glanced at the blade above her head, speaking urgently.

Lin Xian was dumbfounded. Instead of getting angry, his eyes lit up with increasing interest.

"Wait… slow down. Sentry systems, defense systems, radar systems, transport machinery, medical systems, industrial exoskeletons, repair systems, drone reconnaissance… What else?!"

His curiosity was piqued. Suddenly, he felt that her words had given him a lot of inspiration for his mechanical abilities.

Kiki's mouth hung slightly open, her wide eyes filled with disbelief. She had poured cold water all over his proud plans, criticizing them from start to finish. But instead of flying into a rage, Lin Xian seemed genuinely excited, as though he were planning to follow her suggestions.

"Did you even understand what I said?!" Kiki shouted, exasperated.

"You…!"

"That's it? Nothing more? Alright then, goodbye!" Lin Xian's face suddenly turned cold, his demeanor shifting so quickly that it was utterly unfeeling.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Seeing Lin Xian rise and prepare to throw her off the train again, Kiki finally lost all composure. She looked up at him in panic, her face full of desperation. "Big Brother! Big Brother! Can't we discuss this? Fine, fine—I'll do it! I'll… I'll be like that woman and let you sleep with me!"

Hearing this, Lin Xian's expression darkened.

"What did you just say?!"

Kiki's eyes darted nervously as she stammered,

"But… but you'd have to wait a few months until I turn 16! Otherwise, it'd be… it'd be harassment of a minor!"

"Sorry, you've got no chest and no ass. Not my type," Lin Xian said with a straight face.

"You—!?"

…

TheInfinitebarreled down the Jiangyu Railway, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, its streamlined form exuding a sleek mechanical elegance.

Inside the 3rd carriage, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Clank!

The sound of the hydraulic liftgate rang out.

Fuming, Lin Xian stomped over and opened the hydraulic tailgate mid-journey. Without hesitation, he grabbed Kiki like a chick by the scruff of her neck and hauled her to the back of the carriage.

"The wilderness should be safer than the city. Good luck," he said coldly, preparing to toss her off.

"Wait!!"

Kiki screamed in terror, completely helpless in his grip. Her face turned pale as she cried out in desperation,

"Handsome guy, handsome guy… What kind of terms do you want? We can negotiate!"

Lin Xian loosened his grip, his expression cold as ice as he stared at her.

"You think you're valuable to my team? You stole food, ambushed me, and I didn't kill you outright—that's already more mercy than you deserve."

Though he said this, throwing her off the train at this moment would essentially be sending her to her death.

But that didn't concern Lin Xian in the slightest.

"I am valuable!" Kiki's wide eyes sparkled with desperation. "Didn't I tell you about my identity? Keeping me around could get you lots of supplies."

"I already said," Lin Xian replied with a chilling smile, his tone utterly unmoved.

"I have no interest in your suggestions."

"I'm telling the truth!"

"I don't need it."

"Goodbye."

Lin Xian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his patience completely gone. Activating his Mechanical Heart, he instantly commanded theInfiniteto begin slowing down.

Screeeech—

It didn't take long before the train slowly came to a halt. Lin Xian, his face dark, forced Kiki to retreat step by step toward the door.

"Get off," he said coldly.

Kiki froze when she realized Lin Xian had actually stopped the train. Finally scared, her big eyes filled with tears as she glared at him with resentment. She struggled internally for a moment before turning around with a stubborn expression. But as she reached the edge of the carriage, she suddenly stopped, turned back, and looked at Lin Xian with panic in her eyes. Biting her lip, she asked,

"Are you testing me?"

Lin Xian frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Kiki's gaze turned icy. "You're testing my ability, aren't you?"

Lin Xian's pupils contracted slightly, but he remained silent.

Seeing his lack of response, Kiki's expression suddenly softened. The fear in her eyes was replaced by a sly glimmer, and she looked at him with intrigue. Despite the tears still on her face, she let out a sly laugh.

"If you really wanted to kill me, you would've done it right from the start. You're just testing me, aren't you?"

The young girl, as if realizing something, perked up and walked directly in front of Lin Xian. Tilting her chin slightly, she looked at him with pride, refusing to back down.

"You know I have abilities, don't you?"

"Do you?" Lin Xian asked with a faint smile.

"Of course I do," Kiki replied seriously. "You know I survived a helicopter crash and managed to reach your shelter unscathed in the dead of night. My ability must be powerful—strong enough to fend off the night's monsters and giant bugs. That's why you're curious about me, cautious even. You pretended to throw me off the train just to test me, right!?"

Lin Xian silently observed the girl in front of him, who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen. His expression remained calm, but his mind was racing.

She had guessed correctly.

If it had been anyone else, he would've killed them without hesitation.

That night, when the girl had called for help, Lin Xian hadn't intended to respond at all.

The fact that she had managed to survive the monster-filled night and make her way to his shelter was beyond comprehension. The shockwaves from that night had left a deep impression on him. If the girl hadn't displayed her powerful ability by breaking through his door, he never would've risked taking her onto the train.

But now, seeing that the girl hadn't immediately used her ability to fight back, Lin Xian was even more perplexed. While he had no interest in a "flat-chested little girl" or the so-called Dawn Project, Kiki's sudden display of power that night intrigued him deeply. Of course, there was also a trace of wariness.

That's why he hadn't gone straight for the kill—he was deliberately testing her, trying to figure out her intentions and why she was pretending to be clueless about her own ability.

At this thought, Lin Xian's tone turned cold, and the casual smile he'd been wearing disappeared.

"Weren't you testing me too?"

"What… what do you mean?" Kiki's smile froze at his words.

"You first pretended to be innocent, trying to see if I was some pervert who'd take advantage of you. When that didn't work, you shifted tactics, offering benefits to negotiate with me. Let's be honest—you were testing my limits because you were afraid I'd harm you."

Lin Xian slowly pulled out a short knife, his face emotionless.

"Well, let me tell you—my limit is right here!"

With that, his expression darkened, and he suddenly lunged at Kiki with the knife, fully intending to end her life in one strike.

Kiki's face turned pale, her pupils shrinking in terror. Backed into a corner with nowhere to run, she shut her eyes tightly and raised her hands to shield her face, crying out in panic,

"Stop! Stop! I was wrong! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"

Shhhk!

The surroundings fell silent. For a moment, Kiki felt as though even her breathing had stopped. She cautiously opened her eyes and saw the cold blade hovering just inches from her face.

Lin Xian's face was icy and unreadable. He had put his full strength into that strike, even secretly activating his wind cannon ability. Yet, at the brink of death, the girl hadn't used any ability to counterattack. This puzzled him deeply.

Suppressing the killing intent in his heart, Lin Xian stopped his hand.

"Speak!" he demanded coldly.