Chapter Summaries

After the Intelligence System’s warning about the coming apocalypse proved true with an eruption and earthquake in Sakura Country, Su Chen began preparing to escape Changcheng with Su Xi. He took the company’s refrigerated truck and stocked it with supplies, then received another call from Gao Yue.

• Su Chen verified the system’s prediction when news confirmed a volcanic eruption and magnitude 8 earthquake in Sakura Country.
• Su Chen learned that Changcheng would become a Weird zone and decided to evacuate with Su Xi, his disabled younger sister.
• After Gao Yue fired him and demanded the truck keys, Su Chen refused to return the truck while the company withheld three months of wages.
• Su Chen drove the refrigerated truck to a supermarket and bought water, filtration and dew-collecting equipment, food, cooking gear, and medicine.
• With three hours left before the apocalypse, Su Chen drove home to gather clothes and bedding, but Gao Yue called him again.

Su Chen moved out after his landlady, Sister Fan, tried to raise his rent and keep his deposit, then picked up his disabled younger sister, Su Xi, to leave the city ahead of the apocalypse. He outfitted his refrigerated truck with solar panels and batteries, warned the repair-shop owner to flee, and drove away just as a police car arrived.

• Sister Fan demanded a five-hundred rent increase and refused to return Su Chen's deposit, so he packed the rental's furniture and appliances into his truck and sent her a photo of the key.
• Su Chen picked up Su Xi from Changcheng Special Education School and promised to find the field of rye she dreamed of, while leaving the school's other students and teachers behind.
• Su Chen stopped at Old Yang's Auto Repair Shop and paid Yang Defa to secure solar panels and batteries to his refrigerated truck.
• Su Chen loaded empty fuel cans into the truck and warned Yang Defa to leave the city if anything seemed wrong that night.
• Su Chen drove away with Su Xi, and a police car arrived at the repair shop moments later.

Gao Yue and police officers Huang Wei and Zhang Xiaomeng pursued Su Chen through the city, gathering evidence of his wage and deposit disputes while trying to catch him. As they headed after him along the national highway, Yang Defa and Wang Xiumei saw a strange red moon and decided to leave Changcheng.

• After Su Chen failed to return the refrigerated truck, Gao Yue reported him to the police, who sent Huang Wei and Zhang Xiaomeng to track him down.
• At Su Chen's rental, Fan Hui accused him of taking her air conditioner and refrigerator over an unpaid deposit, while Gao Yue complained that he had taken the company's truck over unpaid wages.
• Huang Wei questioned Yang Defa at the auto repair shop and learned that Su Chen had bought solar panels and batteries and said he was fleeing a disaster.
• After Yang Defa pointed them toward the national highway, Huang Wei and Gao Yue resumed the pursuit, with Fan Hui riding in Gao Yue's car.
• Yang Defa saw a huge red moon with twisted shadows, then urged Wang Xiumei to leave Changcheng for the countryside.

Su Chen fled Changcheng with Su Xi as the red moon and red fog appeared, while other drivers encountered strange creatures and the police followed his truck. A pileup stopped the traffic, and Yang Defa invited Su Chen to his village, where the Intelligence System announced new information about the location.

• Su Xi noticed the red moon, and Su Chen warned her not to look at it while they drove away from Changcheng as red fog spread behind them.
• Huang Wei and Zhang Xiaomeng saw the red moon and fog, lost their phone signals, and spotted Su Chen's truck; Fan Hui and Gao Yue encountered a strange figure, while Yang Defa and Wang Xiumei escaped a human skin creature.
• Yang Defa followed the police car, and Su Chen realized that Gao Yue's car was following it, making him suspect the police were pursuing him.
• Su Chen braked at a multi-car pileup on the national highway, leaving him stuck near Changcheng as the red moon brightened.
• Yang Defa invited Su Chen to his nearby village and offered to install his solar panels, and the Intelligence System identified the place as a safe location and issued new intelligence.

Su Chen learned that Banyan Tree Village was only temporarily safe and contained several warding materials, including an anomalous butcher’s knife, then followed Yang Defa there for a meal. As more people entered the village, Gao Yue stayed nearby while Huang Wei dealt with the deadly highway pileup and the injured survivor.

• Su Chen read the intelligence about Banyan Tree Village’s 12-hour safety window, dangerous banyan tree and graves, and warding items, including Butcher Yang’s anomalous knife.
• Su Chen accepted Yang Defa’s invitation and followed him into the village, while Gao Yue sent Fan Hui to find the police and drove after them.
• Yang Defa brought Su Chen and Su Xi to his family’s home, where the power and phone network were out and the family began preparing dinner by firelight.
• Gao Yue returned to Huang Wei after confirming Su Chen had stopped in the village, while other vehicles followed the cars onto the country road.
• Huang Wei found a doctor to treat the severely injured woman, arranged for the doctor to take her for emergency care, and moved the deceased beneath the banyan tree before seeking help from the village chief.

Huang Wei learned that Changcheng’s police bureau was in danger but continued toward Su Chen’s location to finish his duty. At the Yang family home, Su Chen warned that danger would reach Banyan Tree Village in twelve hours, traded a promise to save Yang Defa and Wang Xiumei for Old Yang’s pig-slaughtering knife, and everyone was alarmed when Black Dog barked.

• Zhang Xiaomeng showed Huang Wei the bureau chief’s message warning officers to escape Changcheng, but Huang Wei continued following Gao Yue to deal with the matter at hand.
• At dinner, Su Chen told Yang Defa that something would come to Banyan Tree Village in twelve hours and warned him to avoid the banyan tree and graveyard.
• Su Chen said black dog blood, glutinous rice, and ancestral-hall incense ash could help protect Yang Defa’s parents, who refused to leave the village.
• Su Chen discovered that Yang Defa’s father, Old Yang, was Butcher Yang and asked to buy his pig-slaughtering knife.
• Old Yang offered Su Chen the knife and a Pig-Slaying Knife Technique in exchange for a promise to save Yang Defa and Wang Xiumei once each.
• As Old Yang went to fetch the knife, Black Dog barked urgently, startling the family despite Su Chen’s warning that danger was twelve hours away.

Su Chen faced Huang Wei, Gao Yue, and Fan Hui over the refrigerated truck as a Walking Corpse appeared outside Yang Defa’s home. With Gao Yue and Fan Hui barricaded inside, the others were trapped outside, and Su Chen examined the bloodied pig-killing knife for guidance.

• Huang Wei came to discuss the refrigerated truck, and Su Chen refused to return it, offering to give up his wages and deposit instead.
• Yang Defa backed Su Chen and warned Huang Wei and the others that there was no going back to Changcheng.
• Zhang Xiaomeng recognized a figure in the dark as the body from the car crash beneath the banyan tree, and the Walking Corpse approached the group.
• Gao Yue and Fan Hui rushed inside Yang Defa’s home and bolted the door, leaving Yang Defa’s wife and the others outside.
• Old Master Yang cut Black Dog to put blood on his pig-killing knife, then asked Su Chen how to use it as Su Chen watched the Walking Corpse.

Su Chen and the others killed a Purple Stiff by running it over, then burned the corpse and its mutating tree roots while Su Chen’s Pig-Killing Knife consumed some of the flesh and evolved. When Su Xi cried for help from inside the house, Su Chen broke the lock and forced the door open.

• Su Chen read the intel on the Pig-Killing Knife and Purple Stiff, learning that the corpse feared light and that the knife could evolve by consuming flesh.
• Huang Wei illuminated the Purple Stiff with the police car’s lights, then ran over it repeatedly until it was reduced to minced flesh.
• Su Chen identified the tendrils as banyan tree roots, and the group burned the remains after the Pig-Killing Knife absorbed more than half the flesh and rose nine places in rank.
• Su Chen considered the danger posed by the village’s banyan tree and graveyard, then heard Su Xi crying for him from inside the house.
• Su Chen struck the lock with the Pig-Killing Knife, snapped its cylinder, and pushed the door open.

Su Chen stopped Fan Hui and Gao Yue from hurting Su Xi, then discovered that Su Xi was beginning to awaken a Sequence with an unknown price. He took his unconscious sister back to the truck and stayed wary of the women, while Fan Hui began scheming to steal his refrigerated truck.

• Su Chen entered with a butcher knife, slapped Fan Hui, pinned her down, and threatened her while Huang Wei tried to stop him.
• Su Xi fainted, and Su Chen checked her before using the Intelligence System to discover that her Sequence awakening was in progress.
• Su Chen carried Su Xi back to the truck despite Yang Defa's mother's offer to prepare a bed, and Gao Yue and Fan Hui remained in their vehicle.
• Fan Hui complained about Su Chen and proposed stealing his refrigerated truck, but fell silent when he appeared carrying Su Xi.

Su Chen discovered that Huang Wei had begun the same Sequence Awakening as Su Xi while he prepared to leave the village. Old Yang gathered supplies and urged his family to flee, but he and Mother Yang chose to remain behind as the village’s dangers grew.

• Su Chen returned for Su Xi’s wheelchair, and Old Yang promised him a knife manual while Yang Defa offered to install solar panels.
• Huang Wei suddenly fainted, and Su Chen’s Intelligence System showed that he was undergoing Sequence Awakening like Su Xi.
• Old Yang gave Su Chen a booklet titled “Guide to Slaughtering Live Pigs” and set out to gather supplies and warn the village’s remaining young people.
• Su Chen and Yang Defa installed solar panels while Mother Yang packed provisions for her son and daughter-in-law.
• Old Yang returned with incense ash and black dog blood, but refused Yang Defa’s plea to leave the village.
• Old Yang urged Mother Yang to leave with their son and daughter-in-law, but she chose to stay, and Old Yang told them to set off early the next morning.

Su Chen received an escape map and intelligence warning that Weird Entities were tracking the group and that someone in Banyan Tree Village had become a disguised Tree Person. He led a convoy out toward Xintang Town, while Gao Yue and Fan Hui chose to head back toward the national highway.

• Su Chen read the updated intelligence, including escape routes, supplies and an Anomalous Object in Xintang Town, and learned that Weird Entities were tracking them.
• Su Chen warned Old Yang and Yang Defa that Tree People might be among the villagers, then prepared to leave with Huang Wei, Zhang Xiaomeng, and the others.
• The villagers gathered for breakfast, and Su Chen watched them for signs of Tree People but could not identify anyone suspicious.
• Su Chen led the convoy out of Banyan Tree Village, with Zhang Xiaomeng following in the police car and Yang Defa driving the supply truck.
• Gao Yue and Fan Hui rejected following Su Chen and drove toward the village entrance to return to the national highway.

Su Chen drove past the hill as its white mist awakened, while the banyan tree at the village entrance trapped and transformed people into Tree People. Old Yang fought the creatures and vowed to defend Banyan Tree Village until Su Chen and the others returned.

• Su Chen drove past the hill, ignoring classmates and villagers drawn toward it by illusions, while Black Dog barked and helped some people break free.
• Fan Hui and Gao Yue found the village entrance blocked by the expanding banyan tree, whose roots trapped people and turned them into Tree People.
• Gao Yue escaped the grove with Fan Hui and drove after Su Chen, passing Old Yang as he fought a Tree Person with an axe and fire.
• Old Yang used incense ash, black dog blood, and burning gasoline to stop pursuing Tree People.
• At sunrise, Old Yang revealed he was Yang Ling, a veteran of the Vietnam War, and vowed to guard the village while waiting for Su Chen and the others to return.

Su Chen’s convoy escaped the fog and returned to the national highway, while a Tree Person briefly pursued Gao Yue’s car. Su Xi awoke with the Sequence One ability Machine Soul Master, and the chapter ended with the convoy stopping before a gas station.

• Su Chen drove out of the fog at sunrise as Yang Defa, Zhang Xiaomeng, and Gao Yue caught up with the convoy.
• Gao Yue escaped a woman in white inside her car, then a Tree Person struck her vehicle and chased her as she tried to reach the front of the convoy.
• Su Chen sped up and led the convoy past villages until they returned to the empty national highway, leaving the Tree Person behind.
• Su Xi woke in Su Chen’s truck, and Su Chen’s Intelligence System identified her as a Sequence One Machine Soul Master whose ability let her sense machines’ condition.
• Su Xi told Su Chen that she could hear the vehicle was happy, then spotted a gas station ahead.
• Su Chen stopped the convoy some distance from the gas station.

Su Chen stopped the convoy at a gas station after his intelligence revealed a powerful nearby Weird Entity, a need to find a generator, and two hidden Tree People among the passengers. With Huang Wei awake and able to identify the suspected Tree People, Su Chen prepared a plan to expose them while arranging to refuel and leave quickly.

• Su Chen received intelligence warning that Weird Entity 70546 was nearby, that a generator powered the gas pumps, and that two Tree People were hiding in his convoy.
• Su Chen woke Huang Wei, learned he was a Sequence One Werewolf, and asked him to help find the Tree People.
• Yang Defa identified Eighth Master as suspicious, while Huang Wei singled out a skinny woman in the convoy.
• Su Chen spotted Gao Yue and Fan Hui trying to drive toward the gas station despite orders and whispered a plan to Huang Wei.
• Yang Defa pocketed portions of black dog blood and incense ash, and he, Su Chen, and Huang Wei went to Gao Yue and Fan Hui's car.

Su Chen tested whether the Tree People could understand him, then helped defeat two of them when Gao Yue’s car struck them. Huang Wei awakened the werewolf sequence during the fight, while Su Chen revealed that he had the prophet sequence, and the convoy refueled before continuing.

• Su Chen ordered Lord Eight and the skinny woman to guard Gao Yue’s car while the others refueled, and Fan Hui urged Gao Yue to run them over.
• Fan Hui pressed Gao Yue’s foot onto the accelerator, and the car struck Lord Eight and the skinny woman, revealing them as Tree People who attacked the vehicle.
• Yang Defa slowed the Tree People with incense ash and black dog blood, while Huang Wei transformed and fought them; Su Chen suggested using an axe and petroleum to finish them.
• Huang Wei and Yang Defa kept the Tree People from escaping as they burned, and Huang Wei returned to normal after the fight.
• Su Chen told Huang Wei that he had awakened the werewolf sequence and disclosed his own prophet sequence, then directed Gao Yue and the others to refuel.

Su Chen suspected that the road had been altered by supernatural forces when the convoy found an unmarked town near the highway. He warned everyone not to stop, but some travelers stayed behind, and Fan Hui decided to enter the town despite Gao Yue’s refusal.

• After the convoy left the gas station, Su Chen heard a roar and suspected a Weird Entity had emerged from underground.
• As the convoy drove toward Xintang Town, Su Chen noticed the highway did not match his expectations and wondered whether supernatural roads and false towns had appeared.
• Su Xi spotted a town missing from the escape map, and Su Chen warned the convoy to keep driving without stopping.
• Yang Defa and Huang Wei followed Su Chen, while some travelers stopped near the town; Gao Yue also kept driving at first.
• Hungry, Fan Hui chose to go into the town, while Gao Yue refused and stopped her car.

After the convoy avoided a false town made of flesh-eating mushrooms, Su Chen led them to Xintang Town, where his intelligence warned of a Haunted Zone, survivors, and danger after dark. He decided to use the meal break to establish a hierarchy for the convoy.

• Fan Hui refused to enter the apparent town, and Gao Yue drove back after seeing tooth-covered mushrooms immobilize and devour the people who approached.
• Su Chen and the others realized the town had been a deadly illusion, while Huang Wei reconsidered his confidence after his senses failed to detect the danger.
• Su Chen continued toward Xintang Town and thought about keeping the convoy at a manageable size and creating rules for supplies and leadership.
• At Xintang Town, Su Chen’s intelligence revealed a Haunted Zone, a mirror that could unlock a Sequence, a survivor with the Florist Sequence, other survivors, and a need to leave after dark.
• When Yang Defa and Huang Wei asked what to do, Su Chen told everyone to eat first so he could establish a hierarchy among the convoy.

Su Chen organized the survivors into the Hope Convoy, set its leadership and supply rules, and led a search for supplies in Xintang Town. After a Weird Entity appeared, Su Chen and then others in the town suddenly vanished, leaving the convoy searching for him.

• Su Chen became the convoy’s leader, appointed Huang Wei to manage communal supplies and Yang Defa to handle logistics, and established privileges for people with Sequences.
• Su Chen named the group the Hope Convoy, and its twenty-six members divided into communal and independent households.
• Su Chen ordered the group to avoid the town’s survivors and Weird Entities, gather supplies, and meet at the town entrance before he went into Xintang Town.
• The group collected food, clothing, and pagers, while a tumor-covered lizard in an adult toy store injured a man who fled into the sunlight.
• Su Chen searched for a mirror and realized the people around him had disappeared; the Big Pot Rice Team also discovered he was missing, and Huang Wei used his nose to investigate.

Su Chen entered a mirrorless enclosed world, met the plant-controlling Xiao Zixia, and followed her to a group of survivors while suspecting the place was an Anomalous Object or a dream. After he pointed out that the world had no mirrors, Xiao Zixia began to doubt its reality, and Huang Qi confronted Su Chen for questioning it.

• Su Chen met Xiao Zixia, who guarded him with a gardening trowel, and introduced himself as a Prophet Sequence to gain her trust.
• Xiao Zixia explained that she had become trapped in the town, awakened her ability to control plants, and gathered survivors under her leadership.
• Su Chen noticed his Pig-Killing Knife was missing and his system could not inspect Xiao Zixia, making him suspect that the world or Xiao Zixia was not real.
• Xiao Zixia led Su Chen through a maze-like arrangement of buildings to a supermarket where more than twenty survivors had gathered.
• Su Chen realized there were no mirrors anywhere in the town and suggested that the place might not be real, prompting Xiao Zixia to reconsider her assumptions.
• Huang Qi insulted Su Chen for questioning the world, and Xiao Zixia ordered him to shut up.

Su Chen suspected the Mirror Anomalous Object was disguised as one of the survivors and that winning its approval might help him awaken a Sequence and escape. As he discreetly studied the group, he noticed a little girl among them.

• Huang Qi challenged Su Chen, but Xiao Zixia stepped between them and argued that the town’s regular changes might reveal a way out.
• Su Chen asked Xiao Zixia how she had awakened her Sequence, then dropped the subject when he noticed her discomfort.
• Xiao Zixia sent Huang Qi to distribute food, and Su Chen worried about his three-hour limit and Su Xi waiting outside.
• Su Chen reasoned that the mirror might be disguised as a survivor and began looking for someone with a detached expression.
• Huang Qi tossed Su Chen a mung bean cake and withheld bottled water, but Su Chen kept watching the survivors and noticed a little girl.