Armed Train in the Apocalypse-Chapter 339 - 235: As Long as It Takes, Do It That Long
Su Huan asked.
"Zhang Qiang in the medical carriage has awoken. Do you want to see him?"
"Zhang Qiang... the one from the Tongzhou Association?"
"Yes."
Su Huan tossed the crab leg he had cleaned onto the table and took the hot towel Yu Yue handed him to wipe his hands.
"Let’s meet him, then have the Iron Mountain Shelter speed up progress. I want to see results by tomorrow."
...
The disaster had subsided, but the sky was still drizzling with a misty rain.
The floodwaters reached as high as the sixth floor, with all the windows on the seventh floor opened up. Steel plates were placed between the reinforced concrete and the armored train’s deck.
To maintain a secure connection, the armored train resorted to an old method, circling the entire building.
Heavily armed soldiers clad in dark green raincoats stood at strategic points on both sides, watching the survivors below move supplies.
Crates of ammunition were moved out from the building and loaded onto the armored train.
At first, the survivors were somewhat displeased, but upon seeing the sea fortress formed by over a hundred train carriages, everyone fell silent.
Qi Zhendong, under the guidance of the soldiers, placed the ammo crates in their designated position on the deck and watched as a mechanical arm descended, clamping the crates and sending them into the train.
Taking advantage of a free moment, he glanced around before turning to Qi Zhenbang and speaking in a low voice, "The train is new, but the craftsmanship is very refined. It doesn’t look like it was hastily made."
A person carrying supplies passed by, prompting Qi Zhendong to fall silent immediately.
Although the Qi family’s past reputation helped suppress the noise within the shelter, their control over it was becoming increasingly precarious.
Were it not for the suppression by the soldiers’ guns, a disturbance would have already erupted in the shelter.
The two returned upstairs, where Iron Old Man was conversing with Qi Jian Country, with Xiaodong standing to the side.
It was a special request from the old man.
"You’re back. What did you see?"
Iron Old Man asked.
Qi Zhenbang sighed, "Very strong, they far exceed our shelter in every way. I even suspect they haven’t suffered any disaster."
Qi Zhendong added, "And there are many skilled individuals. Those who took over our place last night were not all of them; half remained on the train."
"Did you see the device Xiaoyuan mentioned?"
Iron Old Man asked.
Both shook their heads.
"It’s likely a core secret of the armored train. How could they let us see it?"
"Uncle Zhenbang, is it possible that those are Brother Su’s abilities?"
Xiaodong quietly asked from the side.
Qi Zhendong frowned first, "Not likely. Last night, the more I thought about it, the more something felt off. In terms of energy, I should have the most in the entire shelter, but I can’t keep up invisibility by manipulating light for several hours, let alone control lightning on such a large scale."
"You all heard those last few strikes last night. If they truly had that capability, why bother talking? Why not just storm our shelter?"
Qi Zhenbang agreed, "Even though their train is advanced, I didn’t see any heavy firepower. Perhaps they aren’t as powerful as they appear."
"But, wouldn’t Brother Su and his people being stronger mean they can protect more people?"
Xiaodong asked, confused.
Qi Zhendong had an odd expression, "Do you know they killed a hundred people from the shelter last night?"
"Ah?"
Xiaodong’s face turned pale, stammering, "It might...not...Could it be that Brother Su didn’t know?"
Qi Zhendong looked coldly at Xiaodong without speaking.
Xiaodong’s head gradually drooped, the light in his eyes dimming.
Qi Zhenbang rubbed his head, at a loss on how to explain to Xiaodong, but he resolutely said, "The Iron Mountain Shelter must stay in the hands of the Guan Chong People."
"But Brother Su saved us last night."
Xiaodong weakly replied.
The two brothers turned away, no longer arguing with Xiaodong.
Su Huan’s protection of the shelter was simply a landowner’s instinct to protect his property, a slave owner’s reflex to protect his slaves.
At Xiaodong’s age, he was barely beginning to encounter the world beyond black and white.
But he was completely unable to comprehend such complexity.
The two speculated, one word at a time.
Xiaodong opened his mouth but couldn’t join the conversation.
"Perhaps Xiaodong is right."
Iron Old Man suddenly said.
Qi Zhendong did not retort, but instead cast a questioning look at his father.
Iron Old Man calmly said, "You’re not young anymore; you’re limited by past experiences. Nowadays, people can breathe fire and spew water. What’s impossible about controlling lightning?"
"Even if it’s true, should we abandon the shelter?"
Qi Zhenbang asked unwillingly.
"At the very least, they’ve promised to make sure we have enough to eat."
"But we’re losing our freedom."
"What’s the use of freedom! You’re not commanding soldiers now, but ordinary families, groups of the old, the weak, women, and children!"
Iron Old Man uncharacteristically lost his temper.
Qi Zhenbang closed his mouth.
"It seems I’ve come at a bad time."
The voice of Hu Shu came in from the doorway.
Everyone in the room stood up, and Iron Old Man stepped forward, his voice gentle, "What instructions does Crew Chief Hu have?"
Hu Shu waved his hands repeatedly, "You’re flattering me; I’m just here to pass on a few words from the train conductor."
...
A moment later, the sound of several people gasping could be heard in the room.
Iron Old Man’s eyes sparkled, "Everyone can become an Evolver?"
Hu Shu corrected, "All those who work for the armed train will have a chance to become an Evolver. This opportunity is offered only once; whether you succeed or not, you must work for the armed train."
Qi Zhendong cautiously asked, "What about the time? Before, you only said something about salvaging, but you didn’t mention a specific time."
"As long as it takes, for as long as it takes."
"What if the thing you’re building is never finished?"
Hu Shu smiled, "As long as it takes, for as long as it takes."
"..."
"We’ll do it."
Iron Old Man decided.
"I need everyone on the deck by 10 o’clock. Your work efficiency will determine the number of people who can become Evolvers."
"Alright."
After Hu Shu left, Iron Old Man turned to Qi Zhendong and said, "Let Xiaodong’s family know that he’ll be with me during this time."
Qi Zhendong didn’t have many questions this time; he agreed decisively and turned to leave the room.
"Huh? Grandpa Tieshan..."
Xiaodong was taken aback for a moment.
Iron Old Man rarely smiled and patted Xiaodong on the head, "I’m getting old and sometimes muddle-headed, with a bad memory. Stay by my side during this time, and remind me of things every day."
Xiaodong breathed a sigh of relief and nodded emphatically, "I can do it."
Qi Zhenbang watched the old man and the young man thoughtfully.
Qi Jian Country hadn’t said a word all along.
This man, who hadn’t been fazed even when overwhelmed by Liang Kuan, had been harshly humbled earlier by his own son.
The whole aura around him had become much more subdued.
"Let’s go, get to work!"
Iron Old Man straightened up considerably.
...
Su Huan arrived at the secondary medical car No. 15.
There were dozens of beds here, but most of the time, only Zhang Qiang lived here.
Besides him, only Doctor Lin Xia and a nurse came to see him daily.
Daily care was also completed by the two of them.
Although doctors are not supposed to do such work, the armed train was not staffed well enough to have a dedicated caregiver.
Moreover, when it came to Zhang Qiang’s condition, Lin Xia was more concerned than anyone else.
He would make rounds more than a dozen times a day, wishing he could move his bedding to stay next to Zhang Qiang.
Strictly speaking, Zhang Qiang was the first person he managed to save in his life.
And it happened when he was in a dire state.
Naturally, it was of extraordinary significance.
Lu Xiao doesn’t count; Lu Xiao wasn’t sent away purely because of his immense physical resilience.
Though he hadn’t treated many patients, as soon as Su Huan stepped into the ward, he seemed to smell the peculiar scent of death and life unique to hospitals.
The car’s decorations adopted the usual hospital style, stark white and somewhat gloomy.
Zhang Qiang lay on the bed at the far end, and as he walked in, he could see his lips moving.
Stopping Lin Xia who wanted to get up and greet him, Su Huan quietly walked to the bedside.
He could faintly hear Zhang Qiang saying something.
Zhang Qiang felt as if he had been having a long nightmare.
In the dream, he was disgraced, lost all his current privileges, and was captured as a traitor.
They also tied him to an iron chair and tortured him by cruel means.
Cutting into his flesh slice by slice, forcing him to confess why he did things that harmed the train.
He wanted to confess but couldn’t open his mouth.
He wasn’t sure how long passed before the association president came to save him!
Zhang Qiang was moved to tears, clutching his hand tightly, but what puzzled him was that the president’s hair had grown, and his shoulders had become broader.
Zhang Qiang felt slightly uneasy.
"President, let’s hurry and escape; if the train conductor finds us, we’re doomed..."
The president remained unmoved; he tried to pull, but couldn’t move him at all.
He felt a bit confused.
"President?"
"What happens if the train conductor discovers you?"
A gentle voice reached his ears.
Zhang Qiang saw a pair of long, blade-like eyes watching him with a faint smile.
