Laughter and handprints

"Jinghuai Town?"

Fan Shang narrowed his eyes at the sign by the intersection up ahead.

He glanced at the mist beside the road. The convoy was currently at a crossroads.

One road led into the city, while the other led toward its outskirts, and the town sat right at their intersection.

The town had been shrouded in mist a moment ago. Otherwise, there was no way Fan Shang could have missed it.

And there was no way...

"Phew, Brother Tie, you nearly scared me to death. I thought you were taking us into the city. I almost made a run for it. Thank goodness."

Zhou Ping patted his chest and sighed with relief.

Lin Xue was much the same. Though her face remained expressionless, Fan Shang could see that her furrowed brows had relaxed a little.

Seeing this, Fan Shang took the opportunity to speak.

"Zhou Ping, so... neither of you knew where the supply point we were heading to was?"

"Yeah. Before I saw this Jinghuai Town or whatever, I thought Brother Tie was taking us into the city."

At that, Zhou Ping couldn't help feeling a shiver run through his whole body again.

Clearly, the place was that terrifying to him.

But Fan Shang was clearly dissatisfied with that answer, and Lin Xue spoke up just then.

"Don't find it strange, Fan Shang. That's just how Brother Tie is. He always knows when we'll come across a less dangerous supply point,

but we only find out exactly where it is once we get there."

After saying that, Lin Xue spread her hands helplessly.

As for Liu Tie...

He had heard the three of them talking as soon as he got out of the vehicle, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

He walked over and spoke.

"Seriously, Zhou Ping, is that how you've been seeing me all this time? Do you really think I'd go crazy and charge into the city?"

He looked as though he had spotted some rare, bizarre creature.

"I've faced more dangers than you've had hot dinners. You think I don't know what the city's like?

There are horrors everywhere. With our strength, it'd take a miracle for even one of us to get out alive if we went in. I'm not as stupid as you think!"

Liu Tie shot Zhou Ping a fierce glare.

But Zhou Ping clearly had some doubts about what Liu Tie had said.

"Brother Tie, you know how dangerous the city is? You've been into the city? Brother Tie, are you... serious?"

Of course, Zhou Ping wasn't doubting Liu Tie's warning. He was doubting whether Liu Tie had ever entered the city.

Even Liu Tie couldn't help having a vein bulge on his forehead at that.

They were all sharp enough. How could Liu Tie miss what Zhou Ping was implying?

To Liu Tie, Zhou Ping's words sounded just like, Come on, Brother Tie, stop bragging. With your strength, could you really have gone into the city and made it out alive?

Little damage, maximum insult.

"Hey, you looking down on me? Why wouldn't I have been into the city? Back when Captain Li led us in the Hope Convoy..."

But barely had the words left his mouth when Liu Tie abruptly fell silent.

A shadow seemed to cross his fierce, square face, though it lasted only an instant.

"Forget it. Let's not bring it up."

"But Brother Tie, you only got halfway through..."

"There's nothing to say. It's all in the past."

With Liu Tie saying that, Zhou Ping could only drop it.

But Fan Shang's curiosity had been piqued.

Seeing that, Liu Tie grinned.

"Fan Shang, want to know about my past?"

"I do."

"You were in another convoy before, Brother Tie?"

Fan Shang didn't deny his interest, simply asking calmly.

Liu Tie wasn't offended. He merely grinned broadly.

"Sure. Now's not a good time, but you're one of us now, so we can talk when we get the chance. If you want any important information, though, you'll need to trade supplies or other things for it."

"That okay?"

Liu Tie put extra emphasis on "other things."

Fan Shang noticed, but since he didn't yet know what Liu Tie meant, he didn't dwell on it.

He simply nodded and said,

"Trading supplies for information is perfectly reasonable!"

"That's the spirit!"

Liu Tie was clearly pleased by Fan Shang's straightforwardness.

So he wasted no more time.

"All right, we'll leave it there for now. We have half an hour to prepare, then we'll enter the town to gather supplies. Fan Shang, Lin Xue, and you too, Zhou Ping-if you've got anything to prepare, do it now!"

"We'll only have half an hour to gather supplies once we're inside. Whether you've made it out by then or not, the convoy will leave immediately."

"After all... this place is too close to the city. We'll also be leaving the highway then."

Everyone nodded in understanding.

Having said his piece, Liu Tie promptly took a megaphone from the vehicle and began shouting.

"...We only have half an hour."

"...We only have half an hour."

"...We only have half an hour."

Just like that, twenty minutes soon passed.

Fan Shang, Zhou Ping, and the others were ready, as were the survivors.

Those short on supplies would enter the town to gather more, while those who had enough were afraid of the danger and refused to go in, no matter what.

After all, they really could encounter horrors inside.

Splash!

As the sound of something thick pouring down rang out, an indescribable, unusual fragrance drifted from the front of the vehicle.

Zhou Ping set down the pot lid, then looked at everyone watching eagerly in front of him.

"This porridge will fill your stomach and boost your stamina and strength for a short time. Anyone who wants some can come over."

"But you'll have to give me twenty percent of the supplies you gather inside this time."

Zhou Ping said.

The survivors were all tempted, but the thought of handing over twenty percent of their supplies made it seem rather less worthwhile.

"Lord Zhou Ping, could you lower it a little? How about we repay the supplies you used, with a little extra, once we get back?"

They began bargaining, but Zhou Ping clearly had no intention of haggling with them.

He simply folded his arms, looking as though they could take it or leave it.

As for the foolish suggestion he had just heard, Zhou Ping merely gave a cold chuckle and said nothing.

A little extra? Do they think I'm running a charity? They might not even come out alive. Who'd cover my losses then?

If Zhou Ping hadn't been on a noncombat Sequence, he would have gone into the town to scavenge himself.

Seeing that Zhou Ping wouldn't budge, some survivors reluctantly decided not to drink any.

But they were only a minority. Most chose the option that gave them a better chance of survival.

Twenty percent it is, then. Better than losing my life.

That was what most of the survivors thought.

"You'd better not think you can dodge payment. I've memorized all your faces."

By the time he finished warning them, the pot had been scraped clean.

Fan Shang paid no mind to Zhou Ping's actions.

After all, this was one way for support Sequence Users to obtain supplies.

"Now that we've settled who's coming, get ready to enter the town."

Liu Tie spoke, then looked back at the group of survivors following them.

His scarred face was utterly cold.

"One more reminder before we enter. Same rules as always: if you want to follow us, hand over twenty percent of your supplies once you're out. Of course, you can refuse to pay, but I'd better not find out who you are!"

Despite those cold words, few survivors objected.

This wasn't the first time, after all.

Following Sequence Users did offer some measure of safety. Though Sequence Transcendents wouldn't go out of their way to protect them, surely they would fight back if they encountered horrors?

But that wasn't actually the most important part. What mattered most was the peace of mind it gave them.

That was why most survivors chose to follow Sequence Transcendents.

As for why no one protested, it was because Liu Tie really had killed someone, in front of the entire convoy.

A sleazy fellow who liked smoking had followed Liu Tie to reap the benefits. When he encountered a horror, he led it toward Liu Tie and nearly got him killed. Then, after they escaped, he still tried his luck and refused to hand over the supplies.

He ended up with his head driven straight into the ground by Liu Tie.

That was why no one protested.

Liu Tie really would kill people.

Fan Shang found that perfectly reasonable. Sequence Transcendents weren't running a charity, after all. Anyone who wanted to follow them naturally had to pay for protection.

Don't want to pay? Then don't follow.

With that thought, Fan Shang and the others entered the town.

True to its name, the town was filled with locust trees. Even under the blazing midday sun, it felt chillingly cold.

There was no one in town, only the occasional rustle of locust leaves and the clatter of sheet metal in the wind. It was somewhat noisy, yet in this deserted town, it felt so quiet.

There was no sign of anyone.

The swaying locust trees cast shadows across the ground. Fan Shang saw no one, but for some reason, he kept feeling that someone was watching him from those shadows scattered throughout the town.

It was deeply eerie.

"Fuck, why does this place feel so creepy?"

Fan Shang rubbed his arms.

Liu Tie's expression was grave as well, but he remained composed.

"Split up and search. There's definitely danger in this town. We only have half an hour. Grab what you can and leave before those horrors react."

With that, Fan Shang and the others immediately split up.

Fan Shang had no intention of investigating the town's secrets, nor did he have the slightest interest in its horrors.

He had entered the town solely to gather supplies.

Once he had enough, he would run without a moment's hesitation.

After all, awakening didn't mean Fan Shang would eagerly go looking for horrors. He wasn't that reckless.

His immediate priority was scavenging supplies.

"Hmm... I'll search the convenience store first."

With that thought, Fan Shang set his sights on the convenience store he had glimpsed out of the corner of his eye.

Without hesitation, he skidded to a stop and rushed inside.

He began scavenging.

The shop was small, with shattered glass all over the floor. It looked as though it had already been searched.

That was normal, though. A shop like this was an obvious target.

So Fan Shang wasn't after the few things left out front, but its stored stock.

He carefully opened the partition door, checked once more for danger, then immediately began searching.

Judging by the few unopened cartons of milk lying on the shop floor and the footprints, Fan Shang estimated that no more than five groups had scavenged this store.

Otherwise, there couldn't possibly have been any milk left.

And just as he had expected, there were still plenty of supplies behind the partition door.

A case of water, a large pack of braised beef instant noodles from Baixiang, some expired spicy gluten strips, vacuum-packed chicken feet and drumsticks, small bags of potatoes...

While Fan Shang gathered supplies, Liu Tie and the others were scavenging too.

Before long, one of Fan Shang's large bags was full.

He hefted the bag on his back. It was rather heavy.

"It's almost time."

Fan Shang muttered.

Then he walked out of a breakfast shop.

Since it was almost four o'clock, the sunlight was no longer as strong as before.

The shadows of the locust trees along the street had stretched out.

And just as Fan Shang was feeling relieved that he hadn't encountered any horrors this time,

a scream suddenly rang out from nearby.

"Aaaah! No, a horror! No, stay away!"

The voice came from across the street, not far from Fan Shang.

It was a man who had been following him. The supplies he had gathered were scattered all over the ground.

He had fallen to the ground in terror.

Yet on the empty ground in front of him, there was nothing at all.

Yes, Fan Shang saw nothing.

But the contorted terror on the man's face could not be faked.

His body kept inching backward, his legs too weak for him to stand.

It was as though some terrifying monster in front of him was slowly drawing closer.

When he saw Fan Shang looking his way, the man seemed to have found his savior.

He reached out.

"L-Lord Sequence User, h-help... help me..."

The man pleaded.

But Fan Shang had no intention of staying. Though he couldn't see anything, he wasn't about to take any chances.

As for saving the man?

What a joke. Fan Shang had never considered himself a good person. Reaching out in a situation like this could very well get him killed too.

So Fan Shang's first instinct was to run.

And that was exactly what he did.

Without a moment's hesitation, Fan Shang sprinted straight for his car.

As he ran, Fan Shang kept watching the man out of the corner of his eye.

And because of that, he saw it.

Yes, he saw it.

As despair and terror filled the man's eyes.

A small, blood-red handprint appeared on the man's back.

Then came-

The sound of an infant's giggling and crying.

"Hee-hee..."

At the sight, Fan Shang felt a chill surge from the soles of his feet through his entire body.

Then he saw the man's body begin to shrivel at a speed visible to the naked eye.

A spectral figure emerged.

It was the figure of an infant covered in blood.

It was lying on the man's shoulder.

Its head hung low, as though it were sucking something out of him.

Perhaps sensing Fan Shang's gaze, the infant turned to look at him as well.

Then Fan Shang saw it.

A withered, elderly face with pitch-black eyes.

A streak of bloody tears slid from its eye sockets, and its lips stretched into a grin.

He couldn't tell whether it was crying or smiling.

"Hee-hee..."

Without the slightest hesitation, Fan Shang got into his car and floored the accelerator.

And at the sound of that giggle, the town seemed to come alive. The survivors who had been relieved that they hadn't encountered anything supernatural this time-

Their screams began ringing out, one after another.

"Aaaah!!"