Bai Youwei blinked her eyes. “Then what should we do?”

Shen Mo said: “Their gasoline was probably collected from abandoned vehicles in the urban area. We can go look for vehicles near the game zones. No residents dare approach those areas, so we should be able to collect quite a bit.”

“Mm.” Bai Youwei nodded. “And we can play games while we’re at it~”

Shen Mo looked at her sideways: “What, addicted?”

Bai Youwei spread her hands: “No choice. To exchange for puzzle pieces we need items, to get items we need to play games. In the end, I’m also doing it to save all of humanity~”

Shen Mo found it amusing and pinched the tender flesh on her face. “That person was right just now, this mouth of yours…”

Bai Youwei wasn’t pleased and slapped his hand away, complaining: “Big brother, if you’re going to get handsy, can you change the body part? My face is getting loose from all your pinching!”

Shen Mo froze slightly.

Tan Xiao on the side nodded honestly: “I also think Brother Mo has been too handsy with Weiwei lately.”

“Have I…” Shen Mo touched his nose.

…

They were chatting idly here, completely unaware that on the other side, people were discussing them.

The dark and chubby uncle carried two barrels of gasoline as he walked back, complaining as he went: “That brat’s cursing was too vicious. I’ve never been cursed at like that before.”

“Qingwen, why did you stop us earlier?” The woman in red was also dissatisfied. “If we’d really fought, we wouldn’t necessarily have lost.”

“What if we won?” Yan Qingwen gave them an indifferent glance. “Wasting items and stamina on these people—what benefit is there for us? Don’t forget, this area isn’t safe. We could enter a game at any time. Moreover…”

He paused and looked back at the fog in the distance.

“Moreover, once they enter the maze, they may not come out alive.”

The woman in red sneered: “True, no need to waste time on people about to die.”

“Ugh, let’s hurry back.” The chubby uncle said irritably. “If we’re late, Li Li will start nagging again. Annoying!”

“Ever since meeting that Zhu Shu, he hasn’t had a clear moment.”

“Alright, say less when we get back.”

“…”

…

Because of the dispute at the crossroads, Shen Mo and his group’s entry into the fog was delayed slightly.

At two-thirty, they arrived at the edge of the fog and did a final check of their bags, preparing to enter.

At that moment, the little boy from this morning arrived.

Panting heavily, carrying a heavy backpack, he ran over.

He wiped the sweat from his face, his round black eyes staring at Bai Youwei as he asked: “What you said this morning—does it still count now?”

“It counts…” Bai Youwei looked him up and down, her gaze landing on some bruises, questioning: “But are you sure you can enter the maze in your current condition?”

He had many injury marks on his body, as if someone had beaten him up.

The little boy shook his head: “I’m fine.”

Shen Mo also reminded him: “After we go in, we’ll help you, but when danger occurs, we might not be able to look after you.”

“I understand.” The little boy adjusted the backpack on his shoulders and said, “I’ll try to run as fast as possible.”

Shen Mo gave him one last look, said nothing more, and pushed the wheelchair forward: “Then let’s go.”

They continued walking deeper into the fog.

Teacher Cheng fell behind and gently patted the child’s backpack. “Is it heavy? Let me carry it for you.”

“…No need, I can carry it.” The little boy replied sullenly. “Thank you.”

Tan Xiao was quick to act, lifting the bag with one hand. “Let me take it. You’re just a little guy—with such a heavy backpack, how will you run fast when it’s time to escape?… Huh, what’s this?”

While lifting the backpack, his finger hooked a thin string around the little boy’s neck, pulling it up slightly to reveal a whistle at his collar.

“No-nothing…” The little boy hurriedly stuffed the whistle back, stammering: “Just brought it along randomly, might come in handy…”