At noon on May 10, the off-road vehicle provided by the Listen Wind Guild was parked in the open space below the inn.
Si Qi had rested well at the inn, so he treated everyone with a pleasant demeanor. After going downstairs first, he smiled and chatted with the vehicle's owner for a while. The two swiftly went from complete strangers to kindred spirits.
The owner clasped Si Qi's hand and sighed. "Yesterday, I got carried away and said I'd lend out my car. I regretted it for a while afterward, but today I realized I made the right choice. I'm definitely making a friend out of you."
Like the Nine Provinces Guild, the Listen Wind Guild's influence in the real world was deeply entrenched and widespread. Though its organizational structure was looser than hobbyist clubs like the "Fishing Enthusiasts Alliance" or "Weight Loss Club," it could still be said to have connections everywhere.
The off-road vehicle had already seen some years. Its owner was an extreme sports enthusiast who, just one day before the final Instance began, had fearlessly set off on a self-driving trip into the nearby plateau that locals called the "Land of Death."
During the final Instance, the struggles among Players in the game had triggered wars, disasters, and Eerie Invasion incidents across the world. Tens of millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of civilians had died by accident. Corpses could not be collected in time, devastation stretched as far as the eye could see, and the world resembled a living hell.
By comparison, the Shangri-La area was strangely peaceful. Aside from a few days of harsher weather and the occasional bizarre dream after nightfall, there had been no further abnormalities.
The owner was broad-minded. Since he was alone with no family or friends, and the outside