“They’re back!” Chu Tianqiu’s expression shifted and he hurriedly went forward to greet them.

Although Chu Tianqiu had some minor flaws, he seemed to value his teammates greatly.

Zhang Shan opened the school gate, and the car slowly drove to the center of the plaza.

Yun Yao was the first to open the car door, running out in a panic. “We almost died, almost died, almost died… They were all ‘ants’… I was scared to death…”

“Yun Yao!” Chu Tianqiu stepped forward and asked, “How was it? Did you find Xiao Nian?”

“No.” Yun Yao stood up in frustration. “We found that taxi Qi Xia mentioned with Xiao Nian’s photo on it, but Xiao Nian wasn’t there.”

“Not there?”

Chu Tianqiu froze for a moment.

“Qi Xia… Did you really see Xiao Nian there?” Chu Tianqiu asked.

“What do you think?” Qi Xia frowned. “That car had that woman’s professional license and photo. Would I make that up?”

“It is indeed very strange.” Yun Yao nodded. “Why would Xiao Nian’s taxi appear in the ‘Land of the End’? That’s not her ‘echo’ either.”

Chu Tianqiu lowered his head and thought for a while before saying, “Regardless, we can almost confirm that Xiao Nian is still alive in the ‘Land of the End.’ As long as we persevere, we’ll find her sooner or later.”

Jin Yuanxun and Little Glasses also got out of the car. Both of them looked exhausted.

“You’ve worked hard.” Chu Tianqiu smiled and said, “You two rest today. The others can take action.”

“How can that work?” Yun Yao decisively shook her head. “Today is the first day Qi Xia and I fight side by side. No matter how tired I am, I have to persist.”

“What?” Qi Xia was startled. “Fight side by side with me?”

“That’s right.” Yun Yao nodded. “This is ‘Heaven’s Mouth’s’ rule. I’ll take you to participate in games and assess your abilities.”

Chu Tianqiu leaned close to Qi Xia at this moment and said quietly, “I’ll say this first—we didn’t have this rule before.”

After hearing this, Qi Xia looked helpless and asked, “What about my teammates? How will they be arranged?”

“You can arrange them yourself if you want.” Chu Tianqiu replied. “If you don’t have any special requirements, I’ll have them participate in some ‘human-level’ games. Some already have complete strategies and can be used for ‘betting lives.'”

“I can arrange them myself?” Qi Xia nodded meaningfully. “There’s a woman in the team named Xiao Ran. She’s thoughtful, gentle, and courteous. There’s also a man named Zhao Haibo. He’s highly intelligent and impartial. I hope these two can be arranged to participate in a ‘Man-Rabbit’ escape game. I’ll draw you the map.”

“No problem.” Chu Tianqiu nodded. “You understand your team members better than I do. I’ll follow your suggestion and arrange for them to go there.”

Qi Xia borrowed paper and pen from Yun Yao again, drew a rough sketch, and handed it to Chu Tianqiu.

“What about the others?” Chu Tianqiu asked after receiving the map. “Anyone else who needs special care?”

“That should be all, but please ensure the safety of the others.”

“Okay.” Chu Tianqiu agreed.

“What about us?” Qi Xia asked. “When we participate in games as members of ‘Heaven’s Mouth,’ is there anything we need to pay attention to?”

“No.” Chu Tianqiu smiled. “Just act according to your own judgment, but ‘Heaven’s Mouth’ has one unwritten rule—bring back all companions’ bodies to the school for burial. I won’t allow my comrades to have their corpses exposed in the wilderness.”

“Okay, understood.” This was a very heavy topic, and Qi Xia didn’t object.

Chu Tianqiu nodded and took out a slip of paper from his chest to give to Yun Yao, saying, “Yun Yao, this is your game arrangement for today. Do it on the way.”

“Okay, I’ll work hard together with Qi Xia.” Yun Yao said.

Qi Xia thought for a moment and said, “If we’re going out to take action, I want to bring along this guy beside me who isn’t wearing a shirt.”

Qiao Jiajin awkwardly crossed his arms and smiled at everyone. “So can I go put on a shirt first?”

Seeing Qiao Jiajin run off in a panic, Yun Yao smiled. “That guy is so cute.”

Qi Xia glanced at Yun Yao and asked, “Who are you bringing? Will just the three of us be taking action?”

“Who can I bring?” Yun Yao looked pitifully at the several men beside her. “Little Glasses and Jin Yuanxun don’t like to talk to me, and Chu Tianqiu has to stay here and hold down the fort. Tell me, how did a perfectly good idol like me end up in this situation?”

“Huh? Sis, when did I not talk to you like that…” Jin Yuanxun was startled.

“Look at that.” Yun Yao pointed at Jin Yuanxun and said to Qi Xia, “Did you hear what this person called me? He called me ‘sis.’ I’d rather he not talk to me at all.”

“I…” Jin Yuanxun was completely dumbfounded. Already not good with words, he indeed couldn’t handle Yun Yao.

Little Glasses was also smiling apologetically on the side. “Miss Yun, it’s not that I don’t talk to you. It’s just that the two of us really don’t have much in common.”

“You hear that.” Yun Yao patted Qi Xia’s shoulder. “How resounding those three words ‘Miss Yun’ are. I haven’t heard that title in about twenty years.”

Qi Xia sighed helplessly. “It sounds like you don’t want to talk to them, not that they don’t want to talk to you.”

“It’s all the same.” Yun Yao took out a lipstick and applied it to her lips. “Anyway, they and I mutually don’t talk to each other.”

The two honest men were made so uncomfortable by Yun Yao’s words that they sat on pins and needles, making Chu Tianqiu not know what to do either.

At this moment, Qi Xia suddenly thought of a question—why could Yun Yao become the number two figure in “Heaven’s Mouth”?

Was she stronger than most people here?

Before long, Qiao Jiajin came downstairs dressed. What puzzled Qi Xia was that someone was following behind him—Tiantian.

“What’s going on?” Qi Xia asked in a low voice.

“Uh… let her tell you herself.” Qiao Jiajin scratched his head, finding it difficult to speak.

“Are you two going out to participate in ‘games’?” Tiantian asked.

“Yes.”

“Take me with you.” Tiantian said with a troubled expression. “I can’t stay here. This place can’t accommodate me.”

“This…” Qi Xia immediately understood what Tiantian meant, but he didn’t agree right away.

Tiantian always believed that no one here would look up to her, so she would subconsciously gravitate toward him and Qiao Jiajin.

This pitiful woman didn’t have much desire to survive. She was very likely to die in the games.

Although the two of them weren’t very close, Qi Xia hoped she would live well. Her life had already been difficult enough; there was no need to continue torturing herself.

“It’s okay if it’s not convenient.” Tiantian seemed to notice Qi Xia’s predicament and changed her words. “I’ll go out and wander around by myself. Maybe I can bring back some ‘Dao’ for everyone.”

After saying this, she felt her pocket and then looked at Qi Xia again. “Can you lend me a ‘Dao’?”

Qi Xia only had one “Dao” on him, but he didn’t want to give it to Tiantian. This “Dao” would harm her.

“Forget it… Come with us.” Qi Xia shook his head. “If we obtain ‘Dao,’ I’ll give you a share.”

“Really…” After hearing this, Tiantian didn’t seem very happy. Qi Xia knew she didn’t want “Dao,” but just wanted to find a legitimate reason to join the team. “In that case, I need to make it clear to you first. I’m taking action with you only for the ‘Dao.’ You don’t have to trust me…”

“Okay, I understand.” Qi Xia nodded, then looked at Yun Yao. “Idol, the three of us are dirt poor. Are you sure you want to go with us?”

“Qi Xia, today I’ll let you experience what it feels like to be kept by a rich woman.” Yun Yao patted her bag. “I’m paying for today’s tickets. You just need to provide the ‘brain.'”