Of the people who arrived, Bai Youwei recognized three and didn’t know two.

The three she recognized were Yu Yaqing, Yan Qingwen, and Lu Ang.

Of the two she didn’t recognize: one was dark-skinned and powerfully built, solid as a lump of charcoal; the other was pale, round, and bald.

The three familiar faces needed no introduction. Shen Mo introduced the latter two:

“This is Luo Bin — a sports institute student, specializing in weightlifting, discus throwing, and sprinting.

This is Zhao Mingdeng — a sales agent and also the webmaster of a gaming strategy site, expert at creating game guides.

If the numbers are filled by tomorrow, we’ll enter the game the day after. If not, we’ll evacuate tomorrow evening.”

Tan Xiao puzzled over this. “But isn’t it already full? Five on this side, five on our side — that’s exactly ten. We can enter.”

“We’re still two short,” Shen Mo replied evenly. “According to the information about Game #21, the single biggest challenge is that extraordinarily fast ragdoll cat. So this time, I’m only bringing people with sharp physical reflexes. Teacher Cheng and Xiaoxin will stay behind.”

Pan Xiaoxin blinked, then said “Oh,” and quietly accepted the arrangement.

He was young — that was a disadvantage inside the game. And with Game #21 being this dangerous, it made complete sense that Shen Mo wouldn’t take him.

Teacher Cheng, on the other hand, looked a little crestfallen, and let out a silent sigh.

Yan Qingwen smiled lightly. “Zhu Shu originally wanted to go, but Shen Mo wouldn’t have her.”

Yu Yaqing added with a small smile: “Zhu Shu has been through two mazes — her physical conditioning is actually quite good. She just hasn’t trained before, so she lacks experience.”

“That’s what you’d call lacking game sense,” the pudgy man said, as if it were nothing new. “Very normal — most people are like that. Some people see a monster and just start swinging wildly, while others calculate cooldown timers, consciously plan out the sequence of each big attack, find the right combinations. *That’s* game sense, you know? Game sense~”

Tan Xiao frowned at the pudgy man, then looked over at Shen Mo, unable to stop himself from asking: “Mo-ge, didn’t you say… you were only taking people with sharp physical reflexes?”

“Hey, don’t underestimate me!” The pudgy man patted his belly and demonstrated a hula-hoop motion. “Sure, I’m a bit on the heavy side, but I’m very *nimble*, all right?”

The flesh on his belly rippled up and down at extraordinary speed.

The athlete beside him gave him a look of distaste, then glanced at Bai Youwei and spoke up: “I should say upfront — I didn’t know you were bringing a disabled person along. If something happens to her in the game, I won’t be going to save her. In there it’s life or death, and I’ll only be looking out for myself. Don’t blame me for being heartless later.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Yan Qingwen said lightly, patting the young man’s shoulder, his tone gently teasing. “Even if you *wanted* to save her, I doubt it’ll be your turn. Relax.”

Yu Yaqing almost laughed but caught herself — Bai Youwei was puffing up with indignation, which made this feel like a bad moment for laughter. She raised her hand to cover her mouth awkwardly.

Shen Mo said: “Since we’re all entering this game together, we have one goal: clear it. As for everything else, do as you see fit. No need to feel any obligation.”

Bai Youwei turned to Shen Mo and asked: “You’re still two people short. How are you planning to solve that?”

The game required at least ten players to trigger. One less and it wouldn’t work.

Beside them, Cheng Weicai hesitated and opened his mouth: “Actually… actually… I could also…”

Shen Mo cut him off. “Teacher Cheng, Game #21 demands a lot physically, and the terrain is complex. Please stay behind and wait for news with Xiaoxin.”

Teacher Cheng: “Ah… sigh…”

Bai Youwei thought for a moment and turned to Yan Qingwen. “How is Su Man’s injury?”

Yan Qingwen slowly shook his head. “You know what she’s like. If she could come, she’d already be here.”

“No rush,” Shen Mo said calmly. “We still have one more day. Let’s wait a little longer.”

—