Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Evolutionary plants like the ”Fertile Soil Heart,” though highly toxic, have a significant growth-promoting effect on other plants.

Su Yi washed his hands, and according to the teacher’s instructions, pressed his small hand on the fungus carpet on the train wall for the final sterilization process.

Then he heard the sound of footsteps, and when he turned around, it was indeed Liu Qiyue.

The four-year-old Liu Qiyue was extremely energetic, running around like a playful little puppy every day.

”Su Yi, shall we go eat?”

Qiyue invited.

”How long until class ends?”

”Just one more session.”

Ya said from the side.

When Su Yi returned to the classroom, everyone was seated, but the atmosphere was much more lively compared to the beginning of class.

He looked around for Su Yan and the others in the crowd, seeing that they were surrounded by many older kids. Seeing their friendly expressions and Qi Cheng nearby, Su Yi returned to his seat.

Liu Yu came in, cleared his throat, and said, ”Next, we’ll talk about the origin and history of the train...”

Su Yi noticed that his classmates quickly quieted down, each looking at the teacher with eager eyes, making him even more curious.

What Liu Yu just mentioned, the ”origin” and ”history,” were new concepts for him.

”This is the story you all anticipate the most—the story of the train conductor!”

Even Su Yi’s eyes began to gleam with excitement.

He often heard stories of his never-seen father from his mother, aunt, uncles, or even everyone on the train.

Some would mention him with great respect, others would recount interesting tales between him and the conductor, some praised him as a great hero, yet others would sigh complexly.

In his impression, his father’s image was fragmented into many parts by these snippets, making his concept of Su Huan always very vague.

Today he could finally hear his father’s story systematically, so Su Yi listened attentively.

”The Conductor’s Story” was a new course developed by Liu Yu on a whim, with the content mainly depending on what was to be taught next.

If the subject was train-related knowledge, he’d talk about how the conductor built the train and survived the tide of corpses.

If it was cultural knowledge, he’d narrate how he got acquainted with the conductor and the Storm Zone’s exam interception that seemed more like a robbery, where those who did well in the test got on the train, while those who didn’t were left outside exposed to the elements.

In any case, the conductor’s image was ever-changing, sometimes an intellectual impressing Director Xu and Professor Ma with his vast knowledge, sometimes a hero attracting the three brothers onto the train with his charisma, and even saving He Jie and Mountain Goat from peril.

In any case, with the conductor’s temperament, he’d never bother explaining anything to these little sprouts, isn’t it all just stories he made up?

At this age, kids are pure and naive, believing whatever they’re told. Belief in the conductor has become a trending culture among them, with everyone flaunting who knows more about the conductor’s stories.

”... This is the free will of the strong. I hope he becomes strong, so I will not interfere with his choices.”

”These were the last words the conductor said to Colonel He before the Four Nations War.”

Liu Yu solemnly concluded his passionate narration.

Seeing the amazement and longing in the eyes of the little radishes below, a sense of satisfaction welled up within him.

No matter which lab he was in or whom he met, he’d always be seen as Vice President Deng’s student rather than a department head. Only in front of these kids did he find some joy in pretending to be superior.

This was also why he was willing to stay here and teach.

”Alright, that’s it for today, class dismissed!”

On hearing the class dismissal, the kids awakened from their dreams and surged out, running joyfully while imagining themselves as the legendary conductor or He Jie, the commander of the Armed Corps in the Four Nations War.

Su Yi lingered, mentally replaying Liu Yu’s words.

The phrase ”Free Will” left him with a confused yet awe-inspiring feeling.

”Su Yi, it’s lunchtime, let’s go eat!”

Qiyue ran over again, leaning excitedly on his desk. Behind her, Ya, Qi Cheng, Qi Encounter, and the younger siblings were waiting.

A few teenagers looked at him longingly, but said nothing, just quietly bypassing and walking out of the classroom.

Not every kid was entitled to eat the meals cooked by Yu Yue in the dining car ahead.

Su Yi nodded, just about to leave when he saw a little sister still sitting at the table, with an iron box revealing a piece of green bread inside, next to some dark sauce.

Su Yi had seen green bread before, made from the flour of rough grass, the most common and cheapest ingredient on the train. Because it’s so coarse, it’s mostly used for making noodles. Though making it into bread preserves it longer, it is extremely rough on the throat.

Yu Yue never made them, and Su Yi only saw them in the outside dining car. Out of curiosity over its novel color, he demanded to try, and Yu Yue, unable to resist, gave him a small piece. Just this tiny piece nearly choked the ”train prince” to death, and since then, Su Yi had never touched such green food again.

Now seeing the girl take this out, he was naturally surprised.

”Why aren’t you eating?”

The little girl looked at him puzzled, then at her lunch box, pinched off a piece of green bread, dipped it into the dark sauce, roughly chewed it, and then tried hard to swallow it, a small bulge appearing on her slender neck.

After taking a small sip from her water bottle, she managed to swallow it down.

As she was about to pinch off another piece, Su Yi couldn’t resist holding her hand, puzzled, ”Why not eat in the dining car?”

The little girl plainly replied, ”No points.”

”What are points?”

Su Yi’s face was filled with confusion and shock.

The prince had no concept of what points were; on the train, he ate whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, without anyone ever asking him for anything, which led to his misunderstanding of the train’s basic rules.

”They can be exchanged for food, clothing. Aunt works every day just to earn points.”

Just as Su Yi was about to say something, a clear voice rang into the classroom.

”Xiaoyi, why haven’t you gone to eat yet? Your mother has been waiting for a long time.”

Su Yi turned his head and saw a tall and upright young man standing in the doorway, his hair just past his eyebrows, dressed in a loose black shirt, with a smile both gentle and serene.

”Brother Xiaoba.” Ya immediately ran over and affectionately hugged his arm.

Xiaoba came closer, and when his gaze fell on the girl, he paused. This was one of the children he sponsored, initially sought out by the girl’s aunt, hoping he would adopt her, which led to the embryonic form of the train school.

For three years, he had maintained minimal support for the girl.

”Are you Jiang Zhuo?”

Xiaoba crouched down and asked.

When the little girl saw Xiaoba, unlike her indifference to Su Yi, she stood up with gratitude in her eyes, ”Yes.”

Xiaoba looked at the green bread in her lunch box. Although he had expected this, seeing it firsthand still pained him a little.

”Do you eat this every day?”

The little girl tilted her head, ”Not every day; sometimes I get to eat something nice with Mr. Liu.”

”From now on, go eat in the dining car. I’ll talk to your aunt about it later.”

After saying that, Xiaoba called Su Yi, but the little guy didn’t move and instead turned around to ask him, ”Can’t she eat with us?”

Xiaoba was no longer the reckless child he once was; at seventeen, he was already the strongest on the train and a Tier Four Evolver known in Donghuang.

But faced with Su Yi’s question, he didn’t know how to respond.

Others bullied her, little Su Yi gave her food.

He asked the teacher why there was a class system, but the teacher had no answer.

Xiaoba’s answer: the conductor can shelter everyone, and Su Yi also wants to become the conductor.

At the dining table, everyone asked him.

Xiaozhao’s camera broke, Hu Shuo found out the ND filter was not removed.

Then they discussed going home, the three little ones, plus Ya, Su Han.