​​Chapter 18: Exodus to Starlight Horse​

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"Sherry's recruited a hundred villagers for you, Zou Yidao," Jason said, counting coins in his palm.

Zou Yidao flicked ash from his cigarette. "Split them into teams. They won't defy me—not yet."

"And after that?" Sherry asked.

"Starlight Horse, the free market. Safe zone rules—no PvP inside."*

Jason grinned. "Perfect. We'll stock up on gear."

​

Bai Er stood at the edge of the forest, his black umbrella—a lethal weapon disguised as fashion—glistening in the moonlight. "Testing the waters tonight. See how strong I really am."

Sherry touched her flawless face, healed after Han Bin's death. "I'm reclaiming the city. Join us?"

Bai Er smiled faintly. "Need a ride?"

​

In the ​​Void Space​​, Jason sparred with shadows. Time flowed differently here—days compressed into hours.

"Found a bug," he admitted. "Can train for weeks in here without aging."

Outside, he looted ​​Earth Elementals​​ and ​​Goblins​​, pocketing a ​​Hawk-Eye Rune​​ and a crate of live crabs. "Who knew farming bugs could be this lucrative?"

​

Under a starlit sky, the team celebrated with stolen wine and stolen laughter. Bai Er, cornered by Jason's drinking challenge, downed shot after shot. "Dad… Dad…" he slurred, collapsing into giggles.

"That's my boy!" Zou Yidao roared, clapping Bai Er's back.

​

At the ​​Life Tree​​, Bai Er vanished with a whisper: "Starlight Horse."

Zou Yidao lit a cigarette, gaze distant. "Marked cities are death traps. The real power lies in the unclaimed lands."

"Like the Abyss?" Sherry asked.

"Hell on earth," Zou Yidao growled. "But that's where the real loot is."