Obstruction

The train pulled out of Jiang City's central station and left the urban area behind, the surroundings slowly quieting down, with only the gentle hum of the tracks echoing.

Lin Xian looked up. The massive cloud mass hanging over Jiang City remained motionless, its sight always sending a shiver down his spine. Many had seen it, and there was surely some kind of colossal creature within, far more terrifying than any zombies or eerie horrors.

But no one knew what it was. For humanity, besides hunkering down in their fortresses, all that was left was panicked flight. Who would dare investigate the true form of such world-ending beings?

After leaving the city, the scenery gradually shifted to mountains, rivers, and fields. The pervasive decay, bloodshed, and smoke lessened, giving a fleeting illusion of having escaped the apocalypse.

Lin Xian had initially expected to see very few people along the way.

Unexpectedly, along a dirt road near the railway, several cars appeared one after another. Most were off-road jeeps, and the few sedans that were present were caked in mud, their occupants frantically accelerating, laden with their belongings.

Upon seeing a train pass by, the window of one of the off-road vehicles rolled down, and a middle-aged man leaned out, shouting, "Holy crap, a train!"

"That's awesome!"

Another jeep, covered in various paint jobs, opened its sunroof. A young man with a buzz cut popped his head out, holding an AK, and fired a burst into the air.

"Hey!"

"That train, do you have any food or drinks? Wanna join our 'Oasis' convoy?!"

The young man yelled towards the train. Lin Xian, in the driver's cabin, paid no attention, remaining focused on operating the train.

"Damn it."

Seeing no response, the buzz-cut youth cursed under his breath and sat back down.

"Brother Yong, should we notify Big Brother Liu Wei up ahead?" a dyed-blond guy in the passenger seat asked in a muffled voice.

Zhang Dayong looked unconcerned. "What for? Are we all switching to the train?"

The dyed-blond subordinate's eyes widened, and he looked bewildered. "Brother Yong, the gas."

Hearing this, Zhang Dayong immediately realized and slapped his thigh, spitting, "Holy crap, you're right!!"

A functional train, at best, could hold thousands of liters of fuel. Even if it wasn't that much, a few hundred liters would be enough for their convoy to last a day or two.

So, he immediately grabbed his walkie-talkie.

"Brother Wei, Brother Wei, a big rig just passed by along the Jiangyu Line, a train. I reckon there's a good amount of fuel on board."

"Hmm, a train?" a hoarse voice came through the walkie-talkie. Judging by the tone, the other party seemed somewhat intrigued.

"Yeah, I estimate it'll pass Yushan Station in about ten minutes. What do you think..."

"I'll intercept it. Second team, you flank from behind."

"Roger that!"

About ten kilometers ahead of the convoy, a small-scale convoy was speeding along. Leading the pack was a modified Raptor. Liu Wei, a man with a stern face, sat in the back seat, looking fierce, with a heavily made-up young woman draped over his arm.

"Third brother, turn into the fork ahead. A big rig is coming towards Yushan Station."

"Understood, boss!"

The entire convoy followed Liu Wei's lead without question.

Liu Wei wasn't actually a triad boss. Before the apocalypse, he was just a small market stall owner. But after the end of the world, he unexpectedly awakened an ability, which instantly elevated him to a position of power.

Seeking protection, his former relatives and friends groveled at his feet. But he was also a shrewd individual. He used his ability to recruit a large group of heavily armed tough guys, then waited for others to gather resources and present them to him.

In just a few days, he had recruited over twenty subordinates, living like a local emperor. Even the high-society beauties who once disdained him now threw themselves at him. For a time, Liu Wei was filled with bravado, indulging in nightly revelry, exceedingly pleased with himself.

Hearing his subordinate's report now, that there was a big rig in Jiang City that not only hadn't 'paid tribute' but was actually escaping right under his nose – this was an affront to his authority! He immediately prepared to act as a highwayman... after all, this was his plan when he left Jiang City.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Lin Xian frowned at the sound of Zhang Dayong's rifle shot. Out of caution, he slightly increased their speed. A clear track allowed for much faster travel compared to vehicles on a dirt road.

"'Oasis' convoy. I just heard on the radio, their leader seems to be an ability user too," Chen Sixuan said, sounding a little worried upon hearing the gunshot.

"I heard it too. But they're on the road, and we're on the tracks. As long as we mind our own business, we shouldn't run into each other."

Hearing Chen Sixuan mention other ability users, Lin Xian felt a pang of worry.

His train plan had many advantages, but its drawbacks were also very obvious: it was simply too conspicuous. A massive train would attract the attention of many survivors.

"We need to find more teammates. If everyone targets us, it'll be hard to handle."

Chen Sixuan looked at him with surprise, then lowered her gaze. "I saw the posts you sent before. I think if others don't know about your ability, they'll have a hard time believing your plan."

"I know,"

Lin Xian said casually. "Teammates are about quality, not quantity. My ability isn't to be everyone's chauffeur, I'm not just picking up anyone. Unless they're valuable, it's better not to cause yourself trouble." He glanced at Chen Sixuan and smiled, "And I have to deem them worthy."

Chen Sixuan's face inexplicably flushed. Thinking Lin Xian was flirting with her, she felt a bit awkward.

"I didn't mean it like that," Lin Xian coughed lightly. "I don't mean looks, but character, personality, that sort of thing..."

His explanation made Chen Sixuan's face even redder. She avoided looking at Lin Xian, burying her head and recording something in the logbook.

Clang, clang, The train sped across the flat wilderness.

Just then, Lin Xian's enhanced vision spotted a damaged car lying across the tracks ahead at Yushan Station. The car was placed so deliberately, it was obvious at a glance that this was intentional, meant to block any passing train.

An ambush!

Lin Xian's expression tightened. He shouted to Chen Sixuan beside him, "Get to the back, quickly, hold on tight!"

Chen Sixuan also realized the danger. Her expression changed, and she obediently ran to carriage number one at the rear. Seeing the sleeping girl there, she simply ran over and hugged them both.

Behind the pillars of the Yushan Station platform, Liu Wei and his men had already laid in wait, fully armed. As they heard the approaching rumble of the wheels, he peeked out. To his surprise, the train showed no signs of slowing down. Enraged, he roared, "Open fire! Make this son of a bitch stop!"

His subordinates, receiving the order, emerged from behind the pillars. Wielding various firearms, they immediately unleashed a barrage of fire towards the cockpit of the speeding train without a word.

Bang! Bang! Bang-bang-bang! Bang-bang!

Gunfire erupted. Lin Xian, gripping the controls in the cockpit, gritted his teeth and hunched over. His mental control over the train, however, caused it to accelerate instead!

Damn it, the reason I chose to drive this train was to smash all these damn roadblocks into smithereens!

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