55

They had instant noodles with luncheon meat, and half an apple before dinner.

It was the best meal they'd had since they started traveling. Youche licked the pot clean, and even in his dreams, he savored the taste of the broth and apple.

Following Chu the Elder was truly the best choice.

Game Day 16 – 12:30 AM

Chu Yian instantly woke as her phone buzzed by her ear.

The entire city had lost power.

Every place—from office buildings to residential blocks and wide streets—was pitch black, with only a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Luckily, she had charged her phone using a car battery beforehand.

Using the screen light, she located Youche and gave him a couple of shakes.

"You, Chu… Elder?" he murmured, eyes barely open. Thankfully, he still clutched his nunchaku.

"We must find a working car tonight."

Daytime was too dangerous—too many eyes watching them. At night, they had a better chance. Without a usable vehicle tonight, they'd be stuck in this city another day.

Humans can go seven days without food, but those starving beyond limits… are no longer quite human.

The further this game progressed, the more dangerous it became.

At night, the city seemed even more chaotic than during the day.

The alleyways were filled with distant footsteps and scuffles—maybe people running.

All was dark; they didn't dare use their phones for fear of exposure. So they groped along the rows of parked vehicles.

Most cars were locked. Without keys, they didn't have the skills to hijack one like in the movies.

After searching for a while, Youche found a car with its door slightly ajar.

He quickly opened it—into a stench of rot and mold.

A corpse, poorly arranged, tumbled out, and inside the car was packed with bodies.

Youche's hand brushed against cold, stiff corpse skin—covered in fuzzy mold. He immediately choked.

Chu Yian didn't need to look; by his reaction, she knew exactly what had happened.

She grabbed his arm and led him on, continuing their search amid the vehicles.

Then—a headlight beam roared through the dark.

Headlights in a blackout city were painfully obvious.

Chu Yian yanked Youche into a nearby store. Two minutes later, a lit car convoy passed by.

Only one vehicle's headlights were on, but the convoy had three cars.

They drove past the shop and into an intersection—straight into an ambush.

A small gang, now organized in the city, stepped out from hidden positions.

They turned on their own car lights, flooding the spot in bright glare.

When they saw three vehicles containing visible food, their faces lit up.

They'd been patiently waiting for two days—finally, reward.

Over twenty armed men surrounded the cars.

The convoy's three doors abruptly swung open—nine towering, muscular men emerged, all armed. Some wore short sleeves revealing bulging biceps.

The gang hadn't counted on this.

A buzz-cut leader shouted, "Leave the cars or leave your lives—choose one!"

Leave what?

Bai Sinian—eyes narrow—scanned the crowd, then swiftly lunged forward.

Before the buzz-cut could react, Bai Sinian stabbed a short blade up through his jaw and into his skull. Blood sprayed everywhere.

He pulled the blade out and wiped it clean.

"Cars stay. People go."

The eight behind him roared and surged forward with their weapons.

The gang, a panicked ragtag group, lost composure—their leader down, they were no match.

The tide reversed, and the convoy turned the ambush into a massacre.

From a hidden corner, Chu Yian watched and instantly recognized the bloodied lunatic wiping blood off his blade.

Damn… she thought her treasure chest had crushed him already.

He sensed someone's gaze—looked straight at her hiding spot.

Chu Yian recoiled like a turtle withdrawing its head.

But Bai Sinian—a predator—turned and walked in her direction, knife still in hand.

Shit.

Chu Yian's heart pounded as she gripped her crossbow—sweat beading on her palm.

She braced herself for another confrontation.

"Help! Help! He's killing people!"

A terrified woman bolted toward Bai Sinian, hitting his injured leg. The collision stopped him mid-step.

She grabbed his arm, sobbing:

"Big bro, please help me—I'll do anything!"

As she begged, she began desperately unclasping her clothes and pressed herself against him.

A trick she had used before—using her looks to cling to power. Now she pinned her hopes on the stronger, more handsome Bai Sinian.

He grabbed her face and looked coldly at her.

"No. You're too ugly."

That was the last she heard before the blade plunged into her chest. Bai Sinian then strode away.

Meanwhile, a parked car roared to life, speeding directly at Bai Sinian.

He dodged it effortlessly.

The car screeched to a halt within the crowd, shifted into reverse, and sped off along its entry path.

Bai Sinian finally saw who was inside—the player who had escaped him before.

Chu Yian.

Inside the car, she stared him down, then slowly raised her middle finger in defiance.

Time to go!

With a sharp drift, she spun the car around and sped off toward X City.

Bai Sinian watched the car's taillights vanish into the distance.

His long fingers brushed over his bloodied blade as a cold, dark smile formed on his face.