Master Zhao stuck his head out and immediately started swearing.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You nearly startled the master!"
Only after a long pause did a response come from the vehicle ahead.
The driver spoke quietly.
"Master Zhao, there's... someone standing in the road."
Master Zhao froze, then started swearing again.
"Someone? I fucking thought you'd run into an immortal... This place lacks everything except people! Is it some muddy-legged laborer or what? Give him some money and get rid of him!"
Unexpectedly,
the man ahead didn't answer immediately. Only after another long pause did he murmur,
"Master Zhao, you should come see for yourself... There's something very..."
"What? Speak fucking English..."
This time, however, before Master Zhao could finish, a withered hand reached out from behind him and dragged him back down. Then an aged voice spoke.
"Whoever it is, run him over."
"Did you hear that? The master said to..."
Before he finished, Master Zhao suddenly froze, then turned his head in disbelief.
"Uh, Master, what did you just say?"
"I said, run him over."
Once he heard those words clearly, Master Zhao's expression became quite a sight.
"Master, he might be a local... You know what these monkeys are like. Hurt one, and the whole village comes after you... We haven't crossed the border yet. Better to be careful. Why don't I get out and talk to him..."
"—Are you questioning my orders?"
Master Zhao shuddered and hurriedly shouted into the radio.
"Did you hear that? The master said to run him over!"
The lead vehicle didn't respond, but several behind it swerved and suddenly charged off the muddy road! Through the heavy curtain of rain, they could see only a blurry figure standing ahead.
One man, a mortal body, facing a truck—even a