One Maze, only one King permitted to enter at a time.

Neither Bai Youwei nor Shen Mo had anticipated this, and for a moment they both stood frozen, unable to make a decision.

They were short on people.

If it were a single Maze, having Bai Youwei and Shen Mo bring along Tan Xiao, Pan Xiaoxin, and Yu Chaohui would have been more than sufficient. But now, having to split into two groups, each side suddenly felt thin on numbers.

Some subjects drifted over, trying to negotiate with them: “Looking to recruit?”

These were players who had been demoted from King to subject. With no one recruiting them, they could only wander around the rest hall, looking for an opportunity.

If Bai Youwei and Shen Mo hadn’t been short-handed, they wouldn’t have considered recruiting strangers either.

Fortunately, Bai Youwei wasn’t completely without acquaintances. She spotted Ashalina in the crowd and immediately waved. “Ashalina!”

“Oh, it’s you!” Ashalina saw Bai Youwei too, and came over with a cheerful stride, bringing two of her underlings along. “Hey! Need recruits?”

“Going into the Maze — want to come?” Bai Youwei asked.

“Yes!” Ashalina didn’t stand on ceremony, and immediately named her price: “Two puzzle pieces, plus one defensive item. If you recruit all three of us together, I’ll cut you a deal — one puzzle piece per person.”

Bai Youwei smiled and said, “I can give you two puzzle pieces each, but the items I have are all support-type. I don’t have many defensive items.”

Ashalina thought for a moment, then nodded. “Deal!”

……

Shen Mo managed to recruit two young men as well.

He remained uneasy about Bai Youwei and wanted to post someone capable beside her. Yu Chaohui had originally been the most suitable candidate, but considering that Yu Chaohui harbored resentment toward Bai Youwei, he could only keep him by his own side.

As for Tan Xiao — she was highly adaptable, but far too erratic. Not suited for protecting someone.

Pan Xiaoxin was even less suitable. He was still a child.

While Shen Mo was working through the problem, Bai Youwei had already recruited three subjects. She told Shen Mo: “Let Xiaoxin come with my group. He’s young, and if there’s danger, I can send him into the dollhouse.”

Shen Mo considered it briefly, then nodded, gripping her shoulders to add a warning: “Be careful once you’re inside.”

“Mm.” Bai Youwei took hold of Shen Mo’s hand too, reluctant to let go. “You be careful too.”

Shen Mo led Yu Chaohui, Tan Xiao, and the two newly recruited subjects to the Maze near Qingdao.

Bai Youwei brought Pan Xiaoxin, Ashalina, and Ashalina’s two underlings to the Maze near Zhoushan.

As she was about to step in, she couldn’t help but glance back.

Whether by some unspoken connection or mere coincidence, Shen Mo happened to be looking back at her at that very same moment.

Both of them broke into a warm smile.

Ashalina, standing beside her, saw it and leaned in curiously. “That’s your boyfriend, right? Pretty handsome~”

It was a perfectly ordinary remark, but somehow it swept away the shadow that had weighed over Bai Youwei’s heart since last night and all through today.

She smiled and tilted her head in acknowledgment. “Yeah — he’s pretty handsome~”

Ashalina sighed wistfully, “If only I had a boyfriend that handsome someday…”

One of the underlings in front turned around: “Big Brother Jiwang, you said you’d wait until after the surgery…”

“Shut up!” Ashalina snapped furiously, raising her hand and knocking both of them on the head! “Since when do you two need to remind me of anything?!”

The other underling rubbed his head, aggrieved: “I didn’t even say anything…”

Pan Xiaoxin watched from the side, stifling a laugh.

Bai Youwei laughed too, pushing her wheelchair in the direction of the white mist. “Let’s go. Into the Maze.”

The scenery shifted before her eyes. Her center of gravity suddenly gave way — and with a loud thud, she tumbled out of her wheelchair!

The others who had entered behind her all lost their footing and fell as well!

Then Bai Youwei felt sea wind. And the salt-tinged air. The damp, cold deck beneath her. And the violent, relentless crashing of waves.

She propped herself up on her arms and looked ahead.

This time’s Maze was set on the open sea?

—