This kind of game—experiencing it once was a lifelong shadow. No one wanted a next time!

Tan Xiao held the badge, feeling it was particularly hot to handle.

The other few people stood in the middle of the road, their expressions varied, also not speaking.

A gust of wind blew past. The leaves at the roadside rustled. The leather tassels on Tan Xiao’s motorcycle flew messily in the wind.

Shen Mo looked up at the dark clouds on the horizon and said flatly: “Get in the cars. Let’s leave here first.”

With dolls all around, no one wanted to stay in this kind of place. Everyone stopped talking and got into their vehicles one after another.

Houzi sat in the same car as Hui Ge and Citou. He threw the two people who had turned into dolls out of the car. Two thuds—the humanoid dolls fell onto the road surface, rolling a few times and getting covered in a layer of dust.

Shen Mo saw this and frowned slightly but ultimately said nothing, starting the car.

…

The thunderstorm clouds came very quickly.

About a quarter-hour later, the wind grew stronger. Sand and stones flew on the road, dark clouds gathered, and the cloud layer pressed down heavily and darkly, making rumbling sounds, as if it would swallow all the buildings and trees.

Bean-sized raindrops struck the car windows, and torrential rain poured down.

They stopped when passing a toll station.

Tan Xiao rode a motorcycle with no cover, drenched like a drowned rat.

Not far away was a flat building complex—the dormitories and cafeteria for toll station workers. Everyone drove their cars over to take shelter from the rain.

Like the service area, this place had no electricity or internet, and not a soul could be seen. Everyone walked around inside and out, finding some old newspapers and wooden tables and chairs to light a fire for warmth and illumination.

A sudden rainstorm in summer wasn’t anything unusual, but after experiencing a life-and-death game and then encountering this rain, it seemed to take on an extraordinary significance.

Like a warning from the heavens.

The torrential rain obscured the road ahead. People’s faces unconsciously showed hesitation and confusion, as if even the direction in their hearts had been obscured by the heavy rain.

No one knew what awaited them on the road ahead.

Houzi lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

Tan Xiao sat by the fire drying his clothes, borrowed a cigarette from him, and together they puffed away quite skillfully.

“When the rain stops, where are you planning to go?” Tan Xiao asked Houzi.

Houzi and Citou both followed Hui Ge’s lead. Now that Hui Ge was gone, Houzi might not still go to their original destination.

“East, to Taizhou.” Houzi flicked his cigarette ash, saying flatly, “My hometown’s over there. Going back to take a look.”

He then asked Tan Xiao: “What about you? What are your plans?”

“Uh…” Tan Xiao looked blankly at the fire. “Haven’t thought it through. I heard there are no dolls in Yangzhou, so I wanted to go see… My motorcycle doesn’t have much gas left. I’ll probably find a place to stay for a while.”

“Want to come with me to Taizhou?” Houzi suddenly asked.

Tan Xiao was somewhat baffled, staring at him blankly.

Somehow, Houzi looked over at Shen Mo and Bai Youwei on the other side and asked: “How about it? Want to consider? My third uncle’s family runs a farm. Come with me to Taizhou—food and water definitely won’t be lacking. Everyone can look out for each other. Even if we encounter another game, we’ll have peace of mind.”

The flames reflected in his eyes, revealing some madness in the brightness.

He was sincerely inviting them, while the elderly and frail Teacher Cheng wasn’t within his consideration.

Bai Youwei sat in her wheelchair, scoffing disdainfully and closing her eyes, ignoring him.

Shen Mo was silent for a moment, then replied: “We’re going to Yangzhou to find someone.”

Houzi smiled. “No problem. If you ever want to come to Taizhou in the future, you’re always welcome.”

He wasn’t speaking empty courtesy. He found paper and pen and carefully wrote down an address, handing it to both Shen Mo and Tan Xiao.

Tan Xiao was completely confused and asked directly: “Houzi, what do you mean? We’re not related—who would go to Taizhou with you for no reason?”

“What do you think the game is?” Across the firelight, Houzi’s face twisted faintly in the heat waves. “Don’t you understand yet? This is a selection of all humanity… and we won. We’re the chosen ones! We’re destined to shoulder the mission of changing the world!”