Guo Yun: Plays Ye Shunguang, teammate Ye Shiyuan

The highway did not stretch straight to the horizon as I had imagined.

After meandering for about three kilometers, it began to turn southeast in a gentle arc and gradually climbed, plunging into a range of rolling gray-brown hills ahead.

The mountain is not steep, but it carries a desolate and silent sense of oppression.

The rocks are bare and the vegetation is sparse, with only some extremely drought-resistant thorns and lichen-like plants stubbornly squeezing out a few specks of green from the cracks in the rocks.

The highway was no longer smooth; it had become a winding mountain road, meandering upwards along the contours of the mountain, and the road conditions had become even worse.

The road surface was partially covered by rubble from the landslide, and cracks crisscrossed like gaping mouths. Some sections were even completely blocked by the slid-off soil and rocks, and people could only carefully detour by stepping on loose stones.

"The ether concentration is rising steadily and continuously." Zhou Liming stared intently at the screen of the analyzer on his wrist. The eerie blue light illuminated his tense face, and the numbers on the screen climbed steadily, already exceeding the warning threshold for safety. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the analyzer, his fingertips turning slightly white, afraid that he might be ambushed by a monster lurking in the shadows if he wasn't careful.

Chen Jianjun occupied a slightly higher pile of stones at the front side of the group, the rough edges of the rocks digging into his knees, but he was completely unaware.

The sniper rifle's scope, like the most acute eye, slowly scanned every corner, crevice, and hilltop that might conceal a threat. The scope's barrel reflected a cold light, taking in every suspicious shadow.

"Visibility is severely limited." His voice was low, transmitted through the tactical headset to everyone's ears, as calm as ever, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible gravity. "The mountain road has too many turns and too many blind spots. If those 'toothed beasts' or something even more troublesome are lying in ambush here, we'll be at a great disadvantage."

The fingers gripping the gun tightened slightly, the knuckles turning bluish-white from the force, the butt resting firmly on his shoulder, as steady as a rock.

Ye Jianguo walked at the front of the group, his pace slow but each step exceptionally steady. He wore heavy tactical boots, which rustled softly on the gravel. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, not only watching the road beneath his feet but also observing the inconspicuous marks on the road and the mountains on both sides—dented hoofprints, broken claw marks, and dark purple marks left by some kind of viscous substance after it had dried.

"Maintain the highest alert level." He ordered in a deep voice, his tone resonating through his throat, carrying an undeniable authority. "Ye Shunguang, focus on your senses. You protect Zhou Liming. Zhou Liming, monitor all energy fluctuations except for concentration. Report even the slightest anomaly immediately."

"Understood," Ye Shunguang replied, his voice clear and crisp.

The comments in the live stream were much sparser than before. The viewers seemed to feel the invisible pressure through the screen, holding their breath and watching their every step, afraid of missing any detail or seeing any heart-stopping scene.

"This mountain road is suffocating... I feel like something might jump out at any turn."

"It's so oppressive! It's much more uncomfortable than being in the open wilderness, at least you can see further in the wilderness."

"Team Leader Ye and the others walked so carefully, every step felt like walking on a tightrope, it made me so nervous."

"The numbers on that analyzer keep going up, they're almost off the charts, aren't they? Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"

"Have faith in our players! They are the most professional team we've faced in this crucial national event; they definitely have a solution!"

"Am I the only one who thinks Miss Ye Shunguang seems more wary? Her tail hardly moves anymore; it used to wag occasionally."

"Oh no, could there really be a monster? No, no, please let us be safe!"

"Damn it, can the person upstairs shut up? If you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all!"

In this tense silence, the team trudged uphill for nearly an hour. Sweat soaked through their tactical uniforms, clinging to their skin with a sticky discomfort, and their breathing became heavy, but no one stopped. They simply helped each other up, step by step, climbing towards the higher ground.

Finally, a relatively wide bend appeared ahead. After turning that bend, it seemed that we could reach the highest point of this mountain road.

"Turn ahead, blind spot, I'll scout first," Chen Jianjun whispered. His body moved as nimbly as a cheetah, silently moving to the edge of the bend. Using a protruding rock as cover, he carefully peeked out his sniper rifle a little, adjusted the angle, and used the scope to carefully observe the movement on the other side.

The mountain breeze brushed against his hair, bringing a touch of coolness, but it did nothing to dispel the vigilance in his heart.

A few seconds later, he put his gun away and made a "safe" gesture behind him.

The four of them made their way through the bend quickly and methodically, their footsteps extremely light, as if afraid of disturbing anything. The moment they stepped onto the relatively flat surface on the other side of the bend, everyone involuntarily stopped, their expressions freezing instantly.

They stood at a gap in the ridge of a not-so-high mountain, where a fierce wind howled past, whipping their clothes into a fluttering motion.

The sight before them caused even seasoned veterans like Ye Jianguo and Chen Jianjun, who remained calm and composed even in the face of adversity, to have their pupils shrink violently and their eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

Zhou Liming gasped sharply, feeling as if an invisible hand was gripping his chest, and the analyzer in his hand almost slipped from his grasp and crashed heavily to the ground.

Below them was no longer the relatively "normal" wasteland they had come from, but a much larger basin with a more fragmented terrain.

The brownish-yellow earth was crisscrossed with ravines, as if it had been cleaved by a giant axe, but what truly captured their attention was not the dilapidated landscape itself.

It's hollow!

Numerous holes!

With a diameter of several kilometers, it is like scattered ink dots embedded in the basin.

There are at least ten at a glance!

"Empty...hollow..." Zhou Liming's voice was so dry it almost sounded like his own, his throat felt like it had been rubbed with sandpaper. His wide eyes were fixed on the nightmarish scene below, his eyeballs bloodshot. "So many?! This...how is this possible?! My previous guess...it's actually...true..."

His lips trembled, and he couldn't utter the rest of his words. Previously, he had only guessed, based on scattered information and the concentration of ether at the scene, that the voids in this world might exist in clusters. He never imagined that he would actually see them.

Ye Jianguo's face was ashen, even more so than the rocks beneath his feet. His gaze swept rapidly across the area below, his eyes sharp as knives, as he roughly estimated the number and distribution of the cavities. "More than ten... maybe more than twenty." His voice was heavy as if filled with lead, each word carrying suppressed anger and helplessness. "The distribution has no obvious pattern... it's chaotic, like it appeared randomly."

What does this mean?

This means that the danger and complexity of this so-called "forbidden zone of national destiny" far exceeds any of their previous estimates! It is not just an unknown area waiting to be explored, but more like a land that has been completely eroded by some kind of disaster and is slowly dying!

The appearance of the voids is completely random, which means that every step they take could be a trap, and they could fall into the bottomless darkness at any time.

Chen Jianjun had already adjusted the sniper rifle's scope to observation mode, magnified it to the maximum, and slowly rotated the scope, scanning the nearest few small holes. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his eyes were frighteningly serious.

"No..." He shook his head, his voice low. "The scope can't see if there's anything inside. It's too deep, all black mist. And there are very few signs of life at the edge of the cavity. It's too clean, abnormally clean."

This cleanliness is more unsettling than a ground littered with bones.

Ye Shunguang appeared to be the most "calm" of the four. She simply gazed silently at the scarred earth below, the wind ruffling her bangs to reveal her smooth forehead.

A closer look reveals that her lips are pressed into a very thin line, her face is paler than usual, and her brown tail is completely still, pressed tightly against her side, as if suppressing something.

This scene is all too familiar.

Although it felt somewhat incongruous, after all, there were far too many holes, far exceeding her understanding of the number of holes on the ground from the scenes she remembered.

However, this isn't the original game; it's a mod that added a forbidden area to the national destiny system. This means that something truly terrible has definitely happened in this world…

Hopefully, the new Avery can hold on.

She prayed silently in her heart, a barely perceptible worry flashing in her red eyes.

Dragon Kingdom live stream chat:

"………………………………………"

"(A barrage of meaningless symbols flooded the screen, leaving viewers speechless with shock)"

"What...what did I see...am I seeing things?"

"Those...are all empty holes?! So many?! They're so densely packed, it's giving me trypophobia!"

"My God! This isn't an adventure map! It's a drawing of hell! It's terrifying!"

"They're everywhere?! What's the point of exploring?! One wrong step and you'll fall in! It's practically a death sentence!"

"The Japanese players died in the hollows! They were all wiped out after entering one hollow, and there are dozens of them here?!"

"No wonder it's called 'Forbidden Land'... This is practically a no-go zone for life! It's hell on earth!"

"Can our athletes... even continue? This is practically suicide!"

"If that town exists, wouldn't it be surrounded by these empty spaces?! Are there still people living in that town?"

"Hell difficulty! This is true hell difficulty! More dangerous than any previous area!"

"Daybreak's prediction has come true... the voids really do spread... Does this mean that these voids will continue to expand and increase in number?"

"I cried. I felt so hopeless for our players... It's been so hard for them, so incredibly hard."

"Go China! Be careful! Nothing bad can happen!"

An eerie silence fell over the studio.

Bingbing's mouth was agape, her face as pale as a sheet, and she couldn't utter a single syllable for a long time. Her hands gripped the microphone tightly, her knuckles white, and her eyes were fixed on the basin full of holes on the big screen, filled with fear and worry.

Major General Zhao Weiguo was numb. He had experienced too many shocking things in the past few days, but none of them had made his heart stop for a moment like this.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest, his brow furrowed, his face grave.

Professor Li Jianming slumped back into his chair, looking utterly dejected. His glasses slipped down to the tip of his nose, but he didn't bother to pick them up.

He muttered repeatedly, "How are we supposed to survive? If humans exist here, how are we supposed to survive? What... what should the contestants do..."

His voice grew softer and softer, filled with despair.

"Professor Li!" Major General Zhao Weiguo's low shout interrupted Li Jianming's almost-spoken pessimistic deduction.

He took a deep breath, his chest heaving, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said to Bingbing in a hoarse but firm voice, "Host, calm down. Our contestants need to calm down even more. Convey this situation to them objectively. Remind them that although this means extreme danger, it may also contain... crucial information about the causes and patterns of voids. Exploration must be doubly cautious, but... we cannot stop."

This was an order, and also a choice made out of desperation. Exploring the forbidden area of ​​national destiny concerned the fate of the entire Dragon Kingdom; they had no way out.

Bingbing pinched her thumb hard, the intense pain barely pulling her back to her professional composure from her shock.

She swallowed hard, moistening her dry throat. Her voice still trembled, but she struggled to speak clearly: "Dear viewers... as we see... the Dragon Kingdom team has discovered... an extremely shocking and unsettling sight. In the basin below, there are... an unspecified number of cavities. This confirms our previous speculation that the cavities might be capable of spreading, and it raises the danger level of our exploration of this forbidden area to an unprecedented level."

Her gaze was fixed on the four-person team on the screen, her eyes filled with worry: "Right now, everyone's heart is with our players. Trust their judgment and courage, and let us face this heavy discovery together..."

……

There was a near minute of silence, the mountain wind howling through, carrying a biting chill. Ye Jianguo finally spoke, his voice heavy with determination, as if squeezed out from between his teeth: "The situation has exceeded expectations. But the goal remains unchanged."

His gaze swept over the three men, his eyes resolute. "The basin below is the only way through; there's no way around it. Everyone, pay attention: every step from now on must treat the Void as the highest priority threat."

"At dawn, your analyzer is now our eyes. Any energy anomalies in the cavities, even the slightest ones, must be reported immediately. Chen Jianjun, expand the perimeter and focus on observing the areas around the cavities for signs of biological activity, especially the edges of the larger cavities."

He paused, looking at Ye Shunguang with a complex expression, a hint of worry mixed with trust: "Ye Shunguang... you should have a fairly broad knowledge of this world. So now you are our most important addition. If you feel that a certain route or area is 'not right,' speak up immediately, without any hesitation."

"Understood." Ye Shunguang nodded, a hint of determination flashing in his red eyes.

……

"On the right hillside, be aware of that area of ​​dark-colored rocks. The concentration of residual ether in the soil is three times the safe level. There may be incomplete or unstable spatial distortions. Do not approach it under any circumstances."

Zhou Liming's voice came through the tactical headset, slightly dry from tension and focus. His eyes were fixed on the screen of the analyzer, his fingers moving rapidly across it, constantly analyzing the surrounding ether concentration and energy fluctuations, planning the safest route for the team.

Chen Jianjun's sniper rifle muzzle adjusted slightly as his gaze moved, like a vigilant falcon searching for any predator that might pounce out from the dark purple aura.

His breathing was even and long, each breath in sync with his heartbeat, ensuring he was always in peak shooting condition.

Ye Jianguo walked at the front, after all, he was carrying an automatic rifle and could fire at any targets that appeared ahead.

Ye Shunguang stayed behind, because in everyone's eyes, although she was quite strong, she had not yet shown overwhelming combat power. She was someone who could protect Zhou Liming, but was easily injured in high-level combat scenarios.

And so, the four of them proceeded at an extremely slow pace from the ridge into the basin. Every step they took was cautious, as if walking on thin ice.

With each approach to a void, even if it appears quiet and harmless, like a sleeping behemoth, the invisible pressure increases dramatically, making it hard to breathe.

The viewers in the live stream almost forgot to send comments. Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the screen, their hearts rising and falling with the players' cautious steps, afraid that they might accidentally fall into that bottomless abyss.

They descended to the edge of the basin along a path that appeared to be an old mountain trail. The terrain there was relatively flat, but the desolate and dilapidated scenery was even more shocking.

The collapsed utility poles lay crookedly in the ground, their wires long broken and hanging down like giant black pythons; rusty vehicle wreckage, half-buried in the soil, was everywhere, some reduced to mere frames, others twisted and deformed beyond recognition; and countless other unrecognizable pieces of metal and concrete lay scattered on the ground, silently recounting the past disaster.

In the open space in front of the roadblock, several human skeletons, already highly decomposed and gnawed to pieces, were found discarded!

The flesh on the skeleton had long been gnawed away, leaving only white bones. Some bones were broken, and some still bore inhuman teeth marks.

Judging from the tattered clothes and several deformed empty cans scattered around the skeletons, these people had not been dead for very long, at most no more than a month.

This place may have once been a bustling hub.

Looking at the scene before him, Zhou Liming couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

As they passed through a cluttered area surrounded by several abandoned buses that seemed like a natural barrier, Ye Jianguo, who was walking in front, suddenly raised his fist—a standard gesture to stop and remain silent.

Everyone froze instantly, their movements perfectly synchronized, without making a single extra sound.

Immediately afterward, they quickly sought cover, taking refuge behind abandoned vehicles. Chen Jianjun slipped behind the cab of an overturned truck; the heavy metal body shielded him. He swiftly set up his sniper rifle, pointing it in the direction Ye Jianguo had warned him of, his eyes sharp as knives.

Zhou Liming and Ye Shunguang immediately crouched down, hiding behind a rusty bus, holding their breath and vigilantly observing the movements ahead.

About fifty meters ahead, there is a relatively narrow pass, with severely weathered rock walls on both sides, tens of meters high, as if cleaved by a giant axe, forming a natural barrier.

This should have been a smooth passage, but now it is mostly blocked by man-made obstacles.

The obstacle, nearly two meters high, was made of discarded tires, wooden planks wrapped with rusted barbed wire, and twisted metal frames. Despite its chaotic appearance, it effectively blocked the way. The tires were flat and cracked, and the barbed wire on the planks gleamed coldly, inspiring fear in those who saw it.

Behind the roadblock, several figures could be vaguely seen moving about, their actions furtive, as if they were monitoring the situation at the pass.

What's even more striking is that next to the narrow gap in the middle of the roadblock, just wide enough for one person to barely pass through, stands a rough wooden pole with a dirty rag covered in distorted patterns painted with unknown paint, resembling a flag.

"Are they human?" Zhou Liming lowered his voice, his eyes wide with disbelief and astonishment as he stared at the skeletons, a chill running through him.

In this dead land filled with hollows and monsters, how could one possibly encounter other living people? But the scene before one's eyes did not evoke any joy of "meeting an old friend in a foreign land," but rather a strong sense of vigilance and unease.

Ye Jianguo didn't speak, but simply gestured for Chen Jianjun to observe through the scope.

Chen Jianjun immediately adjusted the focus, aiming the scope at the figures behind the roadblock, carefully observing their every move. A moment later, a deep voice came through the team's communication system: "Vital signs confirmed behind the roadblock, five people. Their equipment is mixed, including homemade machetes and iron spears, as well as a few standard firearms, which look like hunting rifles. Their condition... doesn't look good; they're emaciated and pale, but their eyes are fierce, full of vigilance and greed. The flag pattern... is unidentifiable, not the symbol of any known country or organization."

It's not an army, not an official rescue team that might exist in this world, but more like... an armed group that spontaneously formed among the survivors of the apocalypse.

Moreover, judging from the skeletons, this group was definitely not benevolent. The skeletons were in extremely gruesome condition, clearly murdered and then dumped here to feed the monster.

In the brief few dozen seconds they observed, the people behind the barricade clearly spotted them as well. After a commotion, the sound of a gun being cocked came from behind the barricade, along with some people muttering curses. Then, a tall, bald man wearing patchwork leather armor, carrying a modified hunting rifle, stepped out from behind the barricade and stood brazenly in front of the gap.

His leather armor was patched and stained with grease and dust, and a hideous scar ran from his forehead to his chin, making him look even more menacing. His eyes swept over the four men, filled with hostility and greed, like a wild beast spotting its prey.

Behind him, four more figures wielding various weapons appeared. They were all emaciated and had cloudy eyes, yet they exuded a fierce aura, staring intently at the four men as if ready to pounce and tear them apart at any moment.

"Hey! You over there! Got enough looking?" The bald man's voice was rough and hoarse, with a heavy accent, his tone full of undisguised hostility and a certain condescending arrogance. "This is 'Triumphant's' territory! If you want to pass through here, you have to follow 'Triumphant's' rules!"

Triumphant ones?

He raised his hand, signaling his team to remain concealed. He then slowly stood up from behind the truck, keeping most of his body hidden behind cover, only revealing half of his head to show he was harmless, while also remaining vigilant so that he could immediately retreat if the other side made any unusual moves.

"We're just passing through, we mean no harm," Ye Jianguo replied in a deep voice, which wasn't loud but carried clearly. "We're going to the town ahead, we just need to borrow some road access."

"A town? Ha!" The bald man scoffed as if he'd heard the funniest joke, his voice rough and unpleasant. The men behind him joined in with mocking laughter, as if laughing at their overestimation of their abilities. "Another fool trying his luck in 'Wildfire Town'? It's practically dead there! Full of monsters and hollows. What's the point of going? To die alongside those sickly bastards?"

The information revealed in his words stirred something in Ye Jianguo's heart: Wildfire Town! It seemed that what Ye Shunguang had dreamed about was real. Moreover, judging from his tone, this "Triumphant Ones" organization knew a lot about Wildfire Town and was full of contempt for it. It seemed that the situation in Wildfire Town was even worse than they had imagined.

"No matter what we're going there for, we just want to pass through." Ye Jianguo remained calm and continued negotiating, his fingers already subtly gripping the pistol at his waist. "We can offer some compensation, such as food and medicine."

Food and medicine are undoubtedly the most precious resources in this apocalyptic world.

"Passing by? Sure!" The bald man's eyes lit up instantly at the words "food and medicine." He scratched his bald head with the barrel of his shotgun, revealing a greedy grin full of yellow teeth. "The rules of 'The Triumphers' are simple: leave your equipment, food, medicine... anything of value. Then, men can leave, and women..."

His gaze swept past Ye Jianguo, seemingly searching for the others in the group. When he vaguely caught sight of Ye Shunguang's silhouette at the back of the bus, a lewd glint flashed in his eyes. He licked his dry lips and said in a lewd tone, "He has to stay and serve our Lord Lucius!"

"Lucius?" Ye Jianguo caught the new name and frowned even more. It seemed that this so-called "Triumphant Ones" organization did have a leader named Lucius.

"Shut the fuck up!" The bald man seemed impatient, taking a few steps forward and raising his shotgun higher, pointing it directly at Ye Jianguo. Although the shotgun's accuracy was questionable at this distance, the intimidation was undeniable. "Hurry up! Throw everything out! Don't force me to take action! See those bones over there? That's what happens when you don't follow the rules!"

His four accomplices behind him also raised their weapons: machetes, iron spears, and an old-fashioned pistol. They pointed the guns at the four men, their eyes fierce, as if they were ready to fire at any moment!

"Holy shit! Scum! These beasts! They actually set up a roadblock in a place like this to rob people?!"

"The Triumphers? What kind of bullshit organization is that! Never even heard of it! And who is Lucius? Is he the boss of this organization?!"

"They know Wildfire Town! It sounds like things are really bad there... monsters and hollows everywhere, how can anyone survive?"

"Want things and a woman too? Dream on! Miss Ye Shunguang isn't going to stay!"

"Team Leader Ye, take them down! Brother Chen, snipe them! These scum don't deserve to live!"

"Calm down! There are five of them, all armed, and they have the advantage of the pass. A direct assault will inevitably result in casualties!"

"And the gunshots could attract monsters from the surrounding area, which would be troublesome!"

"Can we negotiate? Give them something in exchange for passage? Like some compressed biscuits or something?"

"What's the point of dealing with scum like this? Giving them things will only make them think you're easy to bully and push their luck!"

"What should we do? What should we do? Will fighting attract monsters? If we don't fight, we won't be able to get past this stage!"

"I'm so worried! Captain Ye, please think of something!"

The tense atmosphere almost froze; the mountain wind seemed to have stopped howling, and the air felt as if it were on fire, ready to explode at the slightest spark. Ye Jianguo's mind raced, weighing the pros and cons.

A direct assault? The enemy occupies the strategic pass, has rudimentary cover, and is well-prepared; a direct attack would inevitably result in casualties. Moreover, the gunfire could attract nearby monsters, leaving us vulnerable from both sides and making the situation even worse.

Compromise? Hand over equipment and supplies? That's absolutely impossible! Equipment is their second life, and supplies are their guarantee of survival. Giving them up would be tantamount to cutting off their own path to death. Moreover, the other side is eyeing Ye Shunguang—that's an absolute line they cannot tolerate!

"Hey! What are you dawdling for!" The bald man lost his patience, his smile vanishing, replaced by a ferocious expression. He took a few more steps forward, the muzzle of his shotgun almost touching Ye Jianguo's forehead. "If you don't move, I'll shoot you, the leader, first!"

Behind him, a skinny henchman wielding a machete shouted arrogantly, his voice shrill and grating: "Boss, why waste time talking to them! Just rob them! There looks like a girl over there, looks pretty good! Grab her and give her to Lord Lucius, he'll definitely reward us handsomely!"

These insulting words, like the last spark igniting a powder keg, instantly set Ye Shunguang's anger ablaze.

Ye Shunguang, who had been crouching behind the truck, flashed a barely perceptible red light in his eyes, and his aura suddenly turned icy cold.

Upon hearing the name Lucius, her dormant memories were awakened, and fragmented images from long ago flashed through her mind.

In short, this guy named Lucius was a complete scumbag in the main storyline of the game that she remembered.

The story begins by using underhanded tactics to force the protagonist into a trap, nearly killing him. Later, the protagonist is poisoned, a despicable act that kills Pompey, the leader of the victorious army. Moreover, the protagonist does this not to seize power, but for personal gain. This behavior is akin to a minister in the Ming Dynasty who, knowing there are better resources overseas, would poison the emperor and those in power to allow foreign capital to enter the market and profit from it.

Such scum doesn't deserve any sympathy.

And now that little minion has said something that infuriates her so much, he's practically asking for death.

So without looking at Ye Jianguo or asking for permission, her body acted before her mind could.

Before anyone—including her teammates and millions of viewers watching on screen—could react, she emerged from behind cover like a ghost. Her speed was so extreme that she left a faint afterimage; even the mountain wind couldn't keep up with her pace.

This move was too sudden and too unexpected. The bald man and his men were clearly stunned. The ferocity and greed on their faces had not yet faded before being replaced by astonishment. They seemed not to have expected that this seemingly slender "woman" would dare to rush out alone.

"Hey! What do you want to do?" The bald man subconsciously took a step back, frantically pointing the muzzle of his shotgun at Ye Shunguang, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Ye Shunguang didn't speak, only stared coldly at him, her red eyes flashing with icy killing intent. The next second, her figure vanished from the spot once again.

"Bang!"

The bald man felt a blur before his eyes, and a tremendous force slammed into his abdomen, as if he had been hit by a speeding truck.

He didn't even see how Ye Shunguang made his move. He was sent flying more than ten meters away like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the roadblock with a dull thud.

The wooden planks on the roadblock broke upon impact, and the barbed wire tore through his leather armor and pierced his flesh, causing blood to gush out instantly.

The hunting rifle in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter, and he curled up on the ground, clutching his abdomen, groaning in pain, his face pale, unable to speak.

The four henchmen behind them hadn't reacted yet, their faces still showing astonishment.

Ye Shunguang's figure had already appeared in front of them, her speed as fast as teleportation. She didn't use any weapons, but simply raised her hand, and her hand blades, as fast as lightning, struck the necks of the four men respectively.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

Four muffled thuds sounded almost simultaneously. Before the four henchmen could even scream, their eyes rolled back, and they fell straight down, unconscious.

The whole process took only a few seconds.

From the moment Ye Shunguang rushed out of the cover to the moment she took down the five people, it was so fast that it was dazzling, and people couldn't even see her movements clearly.

The live stream room fell silent instantly, followed by a flood of comments that covered the entire screen.

"Damn, that's awesome!"

"Fine, fine, serves you right for disrespecting Sister Ye!"

"color!"

Ye Jianguo, Chen Jianjun, and Zhou Liming were also stunned, staring at Ye Shunguang, who was standing in front of the roadblock, dusting off his hands, his eyes filled with shock.

They knew Ye Shunguang was quite strong, but they never expected her strength to be this formidable!

Ye Shunguang turned around, shrugged at the three of them, and said in a relaxed tone, as if he had done something insignificant: "Sorry, I couldn't help myself."

Ye Jianguo came to his senses, gave a wry smile, and shook his head.

He glanced at the bald man groaning on the ground, a cold glint in his eyes: "Tie him up, ask him for directions. And while you're at it... find that Lucius."

We must never be lenient with scum like this.

Chen Jianjun and Zhou Liming immediately sprang into action, taking out ropes from their backpacks and binding the four unconscious henchmen tightly. Then they dragged over the bald man who was wailing incessantly and tied him to a wooden stake.

"Speak! Where is Lucius?" Zhou Liming squatted in front of the bald man and asked coldly, holding a military shovel in his hand, the tip of which gleamed coldly.

The bald man stared at the military shovel in front of him, then at the expressionless Chen Jianjun and the cold-eyed Ye Jianguo. Remembering Ye Shunguang's terrifying speed and strength just moments before, he was terrified. He dared not hide anything and hurriedly said, "In...in the small house behind! In the cave behind the pass, there's a small wooden hut. He...he's enjoying himself in there!"

"Enjoying life?" Ye Shunguang raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery flashing in his red eyes.

"Yes...yes!" The bald man nodded hurriedly, his voice trembling. "He stole a lot of food and medicine, and...and several women, they're all there! We were just...just guarding the door for him!"

Ye Shunguang's eyes grew even colder. Just as he remembered, he was an absolute scumbag.

"Take us there," Ye Shunguang said coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The bald man dared not utter a single word of refusal, nodding frantically, "Yes, yes, yes! I'll take you! Please... don't kill me!"

Ye Jianguo gestured for Chen Jianjun to keep an eye on the bald man, then said to Ye Shunguang and Zhou Liming, "Let's go see what kind of person this Lucius really is."

Behind the pass, there was indeed a hidden cave, its entrance concealed by dense thorns. If it weren't for the bald man's guidance, they would never have discovered it.

The cave wasn't very deep, and it was quite dry inside. Sure enough, at the deepest part of the cave, there was a simple little wooden hut.

Ye Shunguang's eyes instantly turned icy cold, and she kicked open the door of the wooden house.

"Bang!"

The wooden door was kicked to pieces, and wood chips flew everywhere.

Inside the wooden cabin, there was no sign of the man; he seemed to have already slipped away.

"Tsk...you slipped away pretty quickly." Zhou Liming said somewhat resentfully from behind.

Chen Jianjun found a large amount of food, medicine, and weapons, as well as some gold and silver jewelry, in a corner of the wooden house. Clearly, Lucius had stolen all of this.

"Take these things with you; you might need them later," Ye Jianguo said.

Zhou Liming nodded and began to pack up the supplies.

……

The four continued forward. The roadblocks at the pass had been completely cleared away, and the twisted metal and planks covered with barbed wire were piled up haphazardly to the side, like a pile of useless garbage.

The bald man, bound and with his men, were left on the open ground outside the pass. Their weapons were destroyed, and although they could still move, they could barely survive.

Ye Shunguang glanced back, his eyes devoid of any emotion. To pity these scoundrels who acted as accomplices in the apocalypse would be to be cruel to oneself.

They passed through the pass, and the path beneath their feet changed from a bumpy, gravel road to a relatively smooth dirt road. This road meandered and twisted, leading to a cluster of buildings faintly visible in the distance. A wind blew from afar, carrying a faint smell of blood and decay, making one want to vomit.

Ye Shunguang's red eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the increasingly clear outline of the town in the distance, his expression complex.

That's Wildfire Town.

The Wildfire Town I remember, though not exactly bustling, was at least full of life.

Although the game reduced the number of personnel to save costs, the fact that a single restaurant in Chitopia can attract a large number of people still makes it a large town.

But now, even from a great distance, she could feel a deathly atmosphere permeating that small town.

After walking for about an hour, the sun gradually began to set in the west, casting very long shadows of the four people.

The outline of the town ahead became clearer, with low houses arranged in a staggered pattern. A main street ran through the entire town, which had a peculiar topography, divided into two levels. What they were seeing at this moment was the upper level.

"We're almost there," Ye Jianguo said in a low voice, a hint of wariness in his tone. He could sense the presence of people in the town, but those presences were very faint, like candles flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

Zhou Liming nodded, put away the analyzer, and gripped the pistol at his waist. Chen Jianjun also adjusted the angle of his sniper rifle, aiming it at the entrance to the town.

Ye Shunguang's heart beat slightly faster as he looked at the familiar houses. The scenes in his memory and the scene before him kept overlapping and separating.

It looked similar to what she remembered, yet it seemed completely different.

Although there were still people on the street, small groups of people moved about in the shadows of the houses, like a group of frightened mice.

But the entire town was deserted and lifeless. The figures who saw them quickly retreated into their houses and closed the doors, their expressions wary.

A faint smell of blood and decay filled the air, along with an inescapable sense of despair, sending a chill down one's spine.

"stop!"

A loud shout suddenly broke the silence of the town.

At the entrance to the town stood two guards. They wore tattered leather armor, held rusty spears, and their faces were filled with weariness and vigilance.

They were all very thin, with sallow complexions, and looked like they hadn't eaten in a long time.

One of the guards stepped forward, gripping his spear tightly, and demanded sharply of the Dragon Kingdom squad, "Who are you? Where did you come from? What are you doing in Wildfire Town?"

His voice was somewhat hoarse, with a slight tremor of unsteadiness. In this apocalyptic world, the arrival of any stranger could mean danger.

Ye Jianguo stopped and looked calmly at the two guards.

He originally planned to use the excuse that he was a refugee from the surrounding area to get by, since the identity of a refugee is the least noticeable and least likely to arouse suspicion.

He had already thought of his words, his tone tinged with weariness and pleading, recounting his arduous struggle for survival in the wilderness, hoping only to be able to find food and rest in Wildfire Town.

Just as he was about to speak, Ye Shunguang suddenly stepped forward and said first, "We stumbled out of the cave by accident and wanted to rest in Wildfire Town."

Her voice was clear and crisp, with a unique charm, making it stand out exceptionally well at the entrance to this quiet town.

Ye Jianguo was slightly taken aback, then understood. So, was this how they were trying to attract their attention and make them think they were talented?

Upon hearing the word "hollow," the two guards exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes: "They came out of a hollow?"

He looked the four of them up and down, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

"However, I'm very sorry." The guard took a deep breath, his tone tinged with helplessness and determination, "Since the Hollow Disaster broke out in the northern part of New Elidu, the various settlements in the outer ring have become the choice of many refugees."

We have now taken in some refugees. The town's supply chain is on the verge of collapse, with extreme shortages of food and medicine.

"If you come here to rest, we can give you some abandoned houses, but as for supplies, forget it!"

His words carried a hint of apology, but more so of determination.

"We just need to rest and repair here; we don't need your supplies," Ye Shunguang said, shaking his head.

"A hollow disaster has broken out in the northern part of New Elidu..." Ye Shunguang muttered to himself, but in a very low voice, so no one heard him.

New Elidu, where a hollow disaster has broken out? And in the north no less?

It seems that the situation in this world is far worse than she imagined.

She composed herself and continued, "Furthermore, I would like to meet your overlord."

"Overlord?" Upon hearing this, the two guards' expressions turned even more grim.

One of the guards retorted sharply, "The overlord isn't someone anyone can just see! Especially now, under these special circumstances! Hmph! I think you're just here to cause trouble! Get out of here now! Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!"

As he spoke, he raised his homemade spear, pointing the tip at Ye Shunguang, his eyes filled with hostility. Another guard also raised his spear, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, watching the four of them warily.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Chen Jianjun frowned slightly, his hand resting on the trigger of the sniper rifle.

He would not hesitate to fire if the other side made any sudden movement. Zhou Liming also gripped his pistol tightly, leaning slightly forward, ready for battle. Ye Jianguo remained standing, calmly watching the two guards without saying a word.

Ye Shunguang looked at the two guards in front of her and sighed softly. She knew that with her current status, she couldn't persuade them.

They were just the lowest-ranking guards in Wildfire Town, with no authority or ability to make decisions.

Just then, a clear female voice suddenly came from the house next door: "Wait!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating power, instantly suppressing the tense atmosphere at the entrance.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the wooden door of the stone house creak open, and a slender figure quickly walked out.

The girl wore a neatly tailored black crop top, the tight fabric outlining her smooth waistline, with a belt tied around her waist featuring a pig nose buckle, the spade pattern faintly visible in the slightly dim light.

She paired her outfit with red knee-high socks and black boots, the boot shafts also adorned with spade elements. Her split-toe hoof shoes made a crisp clattering sound as they stepped on the cobblestones.

What's most eye-catching is the hat on her head, which resembles a Prussian military helmet. The brim is slightly tilted, making her golden side ponytail even more dazzling. A few strands of hair fall beside her cheeks, adding a touch of liveliness.

The person who came in was Lucy, the undisputed second-in-command of Wildfire Town. She had just been planning various government affairs in her room when she was disturbed by the arguing at the door, so she decided to push the door open and see what was going on.

Lucy's gaze had been casually sweeping over the two opposing sides, but when it landed on Ye Shunguang's slightly aloof face, her pupils suddenly contracted, as if gripped by an invisible force.

Her eyes widened as she stared intently at Ye Shunguang, her shock almost overflowing. Her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

The figure before me bore a striking resemblance to the one I remembered, the one who had been publicly bestowed the title of "Virtual Hunter" by the mayor in the news.

The two guards immediately became respectful when they saw Lucy emerge. The guard who had just harshly reprimanded Ye Shunguang quickly suppressed his anger, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Miss Lucy, why have you come out? These people are of unknown origin and have the audacity to demand to see the Overlord. We are trying to persuade them to leave to avoid causing trouble for the town."

Lucy seemed not to have heard him at all, still staring intently at Ye Shunguang. Her eyes, which usually shone with intelligence, were now filled with disbelief.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment; even the wind at the entrance of the town stopped, leaving only the sound of everyone breathing and the faint, mournful sound of the wind in the distance.

After a long while, Lucy seemed to finally find her voice, which trembled violently and contained a sob she herself didn't even realize: "You...you are Ye Shunguang?"

Upon hearing these five words, Ye Shunguang's body stiffened abruptly.

No? This...she knows me?!

Seeing that Ye Shunguang didn't deny it, Lucy's shock deepened. Unable to contain her excitement any longer, she quickly stepped forward, circling Ye Shunguang and scrutinizing her closely, as if confirming the return of a lost treasure. From her drooping brown tail to the barely perceptible red glint in her eyes, every detail perfectly matched the figure in her memory.

"Miss Ye... no, Lord Xu Shou! How did you end up here? I remember you were fighting the Hollow Disaster in the northern part of New Elidu, when the disaster suddenly expanded and you were swept into a spatial rift, disappearing for three whole months?"

Ye Jianguo: !?

Chen Jianjun: ?!

Dawn: ?

Two guards: !!

[System notification: Role-playing value increased by 10%, current role-playing level is 20%.]

[Unlocking the sword box can largely prevent the backlash from the Azure Nether Sword and is used to store the Azure Nether Sword. It can be released freely.]

Ye Shunguang: Little friend, do you have many questions?

Meanwhile, in the live stream room far away in China, the chat had completely exploded. A dense barrage of question marks and exclamation marks instantly filled the entire screen, a dizzying display of messages.

"????????????"

"What?! Did I hear that right? Lord Xu Shou?"

"Wait, wait?! My mind is a mess, let me sort this out! Miss Ye Shunguang is actually from this world?"

"You mean... our contestant Ye Shunguang, and the Ye Shunguang who fought against the void disaster in this world, are the same person?!"

"Wow, this is too much information! My CPU is fried!"

"New Elidu? There's actually such a big city here? But it sounds like it's been almost completely destroyed by the Hollow Disaster!"

"You've got the wrong focus! Shouldn't the focus be on why Ye Shunguang was recognized by others and has such an impressive title?"

"Lord Xu Shou... just hearing that name makes me think he's so cool! Could Miss Ye Shunguang be a hidden master in this world?"

"Then why is she on the national team of athletes from China? Is there some hidden story behind this?"

The amount of information contained in that sentence was so great that the comments section was flooded with messages for a long time without stopping.

Bingbing and Major General Zhao Weiguo in the studio were also shocked, exchanging speechless glances, clearly still reeling from this earth-shattering news.

At the entrance to Wildfire Town, Lucy finally snapped out of her shock.

She whirled around, glaring fiercely at the two guards. Her bright eyes were now filled with malice as she snapped, "How dare you two be so disrespectful to Miss Ye! Put your spears away right now!"

The two guards were already terrified by the name "Virtual Hunter," and when Lucy scolded them, they turned even paler. They hurriedly picked up the spears that had fallen to the ground and held them respectfully at their sides, not daring to raise their heads, their faces full of fear.

Little did they expect that the person they had stopped was the legendary Lord Xu Shou! Their actions just now were tantamount to provoking a tyrant!

After Lucy finished berating the guards, she turned around, the fierce look on her face instantly disappearing, replaced by a bright smile. She bowed slightly to Ye Shunguang, her tone full of respect: "Miss Ye, I'm so sorry to have made you laugh. These two guards are ignorant and don't recognize you, please don't take it to heart."

She paused, then introduced herself: "My name is Luciana Oxis Theodore de Montef, you can call me Lucy."

I know Ye Shunguang's name. Ever since Weifei Land was swallowed up, Yunkui Mountain sent you to eliminate the voids in Weifei Land. Although the Lemnian Void was not eliminated, you were still awarded the title of "Virtual Hunter" by the mayor for eliminating many medium and large-sized associated voids.

At this point, Lucy paused slightly, a troubled look on her face, and carefully said, "You want to see the current overlord, right? But I'm sorry, Caesar hasn't been feeling well since he was rescued after the last Hellfire Ride. These days he keeps saying he's feeling better, then he'll writhe in pain after just a few steps... really..."

"Ahem, I've been too talkative... If you still insist on seeing her, it's not impossible, but... I need to be with her to avoid upsetting her and aggravating her wounds. Please understand."

After a moment of distraction, Ye Shunguang snapped out of it and quickly said, "Thank you for your help."

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all!" Lucy quickly waved her hand, her smile widening. She stepped aside to make way, gesturing for her, her tone respectful and enthusiastic, "Miss Ye, please come with me. I'll take you to see that guy Caesar right away."

Ye Shunguang nodded slightly and followed behind Lucy.

Ye Jianguo, Chen Jianjun, and Zhou Liming exchanged glances, all seeing deep surprise and a hint of confusion in each other's eyes.

They never expected that Ye Shunguang would have such a prominent identity in this unfamiliar world.

Lord Xu Shou… that title alone sounds extraordinary. And what kind of person is that overlord named Caesar?

They were filled with questions, but they didn't ask any more. They simply followed Ye Shunguang silently, walking along the stone-paved road on the upper level of the town, step by step, into the depths of Wildfire Town.