“Whether it’s a death trap or not, at the very least, based on Song Mingchuan’s current attitude, there’s a real possibility that no King has ever won the final battle. Otherwise, there’s simply no reason for him and Chu Huaijin to go to these lengths.” Yan Qingwen said gravely. “I suspect there’s something wrong with the final battle.”

Du Lai and Fu Miaoxue exchanged a glance.

“Either way, we’re heading to Beijing…” Fu Miaoxue muttered. “We can just tell them when we get there.”

Yan Qingwen turned and walked away. “I’m going back to pack.”

Fu Miaoxue watched Yan Qingwen disappear into the distance and pursed her lips. “Didn’t expect it — that Bai Youwei girl really does have a lot of people who care about her.”

Du Lai smiled. “Jealous?”

“Jealous of her?” Fu Miaoxue rolled her eyes. “As if I’d want that! I heard those two Thai companions of hers left. See — having too many friends isn’t necessarily a good thing. You’re always facing goodbyes. And betrayal.”

Du Lai cupped her face in his hands and gave her a light kiss, smiling. “We will never say goodbye.”

“Of course.” Fu Miaoxue wrapped her arms around his waist.

—

After the Kings departed, the entire base sank into a low, dispirited atmosphere.

Without hope, without purpose, people seemed to have fallen back into the same bewildered state they’d experienced at the very beginning of the world’s upheaval. At this point, the proposal to migrate to the Arctic was raised again.

Chu Huaijin issued an announcement declaring that the game was not the path to salvation — that it was merely the system toying with humanity, and that even entering the final battle would not change the fact that human society had been torn apart and destroyed.

Going to the Arctic might be the last way out.

Some began gathering supplies and preparing to head north. Others decided to stay, or to return to their hometowns.

—

On the winding highway, an off-road vehicle moved at a steady pace.

Snow remained on the road surface, keeping the speed unhurried. Occasional bumps jostled the sleeping passengers inside.

Tan Xiao was sprawled sideways across the back seat, deep asleep, when the car slowed to a stop. He opened bleary eyes, glanced at the scenery outside, then looked toward Shen Mo in the front.

Shen Mo unclipped his seatbelt and opened the car door. Cold air immediately rushed in, and Tan Xiao hastily pulled his down jacket tighter around himself.

“Shen Mo, why are we stopping?” Tan Xiao sat up and asked.

“He says a car’s been following us.” From the passenger seat, Bai Youwei said lazily, sounding as though she’d just woken up herself.

Tan Xiao snapped fully awake, shoved up his sleeves, and leaped out of the car.

“Bandits?! What the hell, tired of living? Just you wait, I’ll teach them a lesson…”

Before he’d even finished speaking, Shen Mo was already waving him off, frowning. “Get back in the car. I recognize that vehicle. It’s nothing.”

Tan Xiao blinked. “Oh…”

He climbed back inside, turned curiously to peer out the rear window. Sure enough, a car had pulled up behind them — stopping at about a hundred meters back. Not moving.

No one got out.

Shen Mo walked all the way up to the car and knocked on the driver’s window. He said evenly, “I figured at first you just wanted to see us off for a stretch — but hasn’t this stretch gone a bit far?”

Inside the car, Shen Fei looked mortified. He hesitated for a moment, then finally got out and came clean: “Bro, I just wanted to help…”

“Does Dad know?” Shen Mo asked.

Shen Fei hung his head in silence.

Shen Mo said: “If you want to help, go home and tell your family first. If your parents have no objections, then you can follow us.”

“But if they find out, they’ll never agree!” Shen Fei said, struggling with himself. “Shen Mo, just let me come. Aren’t you short on people right now?”

“We are short on people, but you need to go back and get your parents’ permission.” Shen Mo said calmly. “If they have no objections, I have no objections.”

Shen Fei made one last desperate plea: “Bro, I’m old enough! I don’t need their permission!”

“The fact that you just said that is proof enough that you haven’t grown up yet.” Shen Mo looked off down the road, then dropped two cold words and turned away. “Go home.”

“Bro!” Shen Fei called after him desperately. “Let me come!”

Shen Mo didn’t look back. He simply raised a hand in a brief wave and said, “Stay safe on the way home.”

—