Lin Yebai had never seen a cigarette before, and he instinctively maintained a cautious attitude.
He stared at the cigarette in his fingers, his expression serious, a little curious even.
It smelled unpleasant, stinging his eyes a bit.
The dark red moonlight filtered through the shattered car windows, breaking into many fragmented beams. Under this light, his long fingers held the cigarette, his side profile cold and aloof. The thin smoke curling up created an almost cinematic effect, evoking countless imaginations in the onlookers.
Some people look like world-class paintings even while holding a cigarette, while others—despite having a whole pack—still look like street punks.
Zhou Yuan was undoubtedly an extraordinary beauty, but unfortunately, he had a mouth and was always talking. Excitedly, he said:
"Lin bro, I really want to get you a big gold chain and some black sunglasses. It'd be such a vibe!"
"What vibe?" Lin Yebai asked, confused.
"The big boss vibe!" Zhou Yuan gave him a thumbs up, eagerly hoping Lin Bro would break into some freestyle.
"I actually have sunglasses here. Lin bro, want to wear them? You'd be the brightest star in the room…"
"Are you a devil?" Coach Wang had never expected Zhou Yuan to be so terrifying—trying to put Lin Yebai under a spell like that.
"When did my identity get exposed?" Zhou Yuan's gaze suddenly turned deep, his demeanor changing as though he were someone else entirely.
Coach Wang pondered for a moment, analyzing carefully:
"Probably when Zhang San confessed to you? When he said, 'Woman, you've successfully caught my...'"
Zhou Yuan let out a scream and wildly shook his head.
"Please stop talking about it! Please! I beg you!"
[Uchiha Milk Tea]: Damn! Almost got fooled by Zhou Yuan!
[Braised Pork Ribs]: I'm cracking up
[Soft Cat Ears]: Yebai doesn't smoke! No smoking, please.
[Braised Pork Ribs]: Smoking harms your health.
[Ordinary Me]: Smoking is the best companion when in sage mode. All the unsolvable sorrow, the unbearable fatigue, the consumer-driven society, and the bleakness of life—they all fade away in the short time it takes to finish a cigarette.
[Literary Master]: Ordinary bro, you're so talented. I almost thought it was my second account.
Lin Yebai stared at the cigarette, now one-third gone, still not fully understanding.
"What's that thing ahead?"
Zhou Yuan, sharp-eyed, noticed a massive black shadow about seven or eight meters tall, still moving. It was probably some kind of living creature.
"What is it? I can't see clearly…"
Coach Wang, whose vision wasn't great at night, had been driving for so long without a crash, relying on his instinct like a seasoned driver.
There were no other cars on the road, and they just had to dodge the strange creatures. With Zhou Yuan's timely warnings, they managed to stay safe.
They had already left the city center and were now in the outskirts, heading downhill. Both sides were lined with dense woods, and there were no turns ahead.
The truck was speeding toward the black shape, followed by a massive horde of strange creatures.
"Is it too late to brake now?"
As they drew closer, Coach Wang finally saw some bizarre shapes ahead—fuzzy outlines, dark and monstrous, like a group of giant beasts, patiently waiting for prey.
"Try it," Zhou Yuan said, shrugging. He adjusted his backpack, which contained the things they had saved from the fire—USB drives, drones, common medicines, a tablet, phones, chargers, cables, etc.
The little spiders, who had fallen asleep, were placed in the cat carrier.
Coach Wang glanced at Zhou Yuan and motioned for him to hand the cat carrier to Lin Yebai.
"Mr. Lin, please look after it for a moment."
"Sure," Lin Yebai said, mimicking Zhou Yuan, strapping on the cat carrier. Inside were seven small spiders, soundly sleeping. Despite the loud music and Zhou Yuan's screams, they were undisturbed.
[Braised Pork Ribs]: Yebai has the whole family's future on his shoulders.
[I Am a Little Dragon]: At this moment, Yebai's shoulders must have felt heavy.
Coach Wang slammed the brakes, and the truck suddenly jolted, trembling violently before quickly losing both acceleration and braking power.
The truck, already going downhill, wouldn't slow down even if the engine cut out.
It was completely out of control!
"The engine's off, but with this momentum, we might just crash right through it," Coach Wang said, his voice heavy, preparing for the worst.
The truck had a safety charm hanging inside, with "Safe Travels" on one side and "Smooth Sailing" on the other. Coach Wang glanced at it a few more times.
"Bang!"
Before the truck could hit the giant shadow ahead, its tire exploded.
The whole vehicle shook violently, and the back door broke off. A plump, bald hen tumbled out of the cargo space.
The hen landed without injury, bouncing slightly.
It looked back and saw a horde of strange creatures charging toward it.
"Cluck cluck cluck!"
Even with its tired legs, the hen bolted into a full sprint.
"I almost forgot about this chicken. If I could do it all over again, I'd have cooked it the first time I saw it…"
Zhou Yuan, hearing the chicken's cluck, clenched his fists.
At this moment, Lin Yebai finally saw what the black mass ahead was.
Fruits and vegetables had twisted into grotesque shapes, magnified hundreds of times. Dark vines from different species were intertwined, looking like giant snakes.
Zhou Yuan, who thought he had seen everything and wouldn't be shocked anymore, couldn't help but swear when he saw a three-to-four-meter-long cucumber coming toward them.
"Holy crap—!"
The truck crashed into the vines, tipping over, and explosions rang out around them.
Below the highway, there was a vast field of chili plants.
Each chili tree stood seven or eight meters tall, with one- to two-meter-long red chilies hanging from them. As the truck's shockwave hit, the nearest chili tree exploded. The explosion's force wasn't small, and the juice splattered everywhere.
Other chili trees started to explode, and a faint reddish mist spread through the air. The vehicle's interior was soon engulfed.
As the chili mist enveloped them, Lin Yebai's vision became blurry.
"Lin bro, wear the sunglasses!" Zhou Yuan pulled out a pair from his bag and helped Lin Yebai put them on. It offered a little protection against the chili mist.
This place had not only chili but also other bizarre plants. Thick vines quickly began to wrap around them, trying to capture live prey for nourishment.
Some chili trees provided them with a buffer, and the three of them managed to avoid injury, escaping the truck.
Coach Wang and Zhou Yuan weren't skilled at handling the vines, so Lin Yebai used his bone knife to clear the way.
The hen, as though it had seen a savior, rushed over, flapping toward Zhou Yuan, acting overly familiar.
"Cluck cluck cluck—"
Zhou Yuan, in a hurry, didn't have time to scold it.
The hen, however, had set its sights on him. Its cries were desperate, as though it had been abandoned by a heartless lover.
Reluctantly, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to let the hen leap into his arms.
"Damn, it's getting heavier."
"I'll definitely cook you one day…"
Zhou Yuan grumbled, holding the hen, while using his tail to lash at the encroaching vines.
A massive wave of strange creatures soon arrived, which greatly alleviated their pressure.
"The truck might explode, Mr. Lin, hurry!"
Coach Wang could smell the burning, his eyes swollen from the chili mist. He couldn't see clearly but, relying on instinct, followed behind Lin Yebai.
"Old Wang, I'll pull you," Zhou Yuan said, gripping the hen by the neck with one hand and holding Coach Wang's hand with the other, trailing behind Lin Yebai.
The vines were too thick, slowing their progress.
The chili grove wasn't large, but it took several minutes for them to get out. They entered a tomato field next. The ripe tomatoes hung from the vines, their juices swollen, ready to explode at the slightest touch.
Having been poisoned by the chili mist, none of them wanted to repeat that painful experience. They carefully avoided the mature fruits.
Up ahead came the sound of a heavy object rolling. Lin Yebai adjusted his sunglasses and saw a cucumber, several meters long, coming straight toward them. It rolled like a boulder, thundering forward with unstoppable momentum.
"Damn, the world's largest cucumber!" Zhou Yuan's pupils dilated.