In the dense forest,

Dale walked alongside a group of people, her steps uneven.

Sun Lianhao was getting berated by Uncle Wong: "You fool, you actually just threw the stretcher? Damn it! Dale saved you twice, and this is how you repay her?"

Sun Lianhao had a pitiful expression on his face, murmuring, "Uncle Wong, I was just so scared that I lost control."

Wong swung a punch, sending Sun Lianhao crashing to the ground, scolding, "Scared? I was right behind you! If that giant centipede was going to eat someone, it was me! What are you afraid of? Apologize to Dale!"

Sun Lianhao felt a surge of anger, but when he caught Dale's icy stare, he quickly bit his tongue.

To stay in this group, he had to keep his head down.

"Dale, I'm sorry. I won't do it again!" he pleaded with a forced smile.

Dale shot him a cold glance. "I've already forgotten what happened."

If it hadn't been for Sun Lianhao abandoning her, she wouldn't have had to deal with that thug from the tank convoy, and she wouldn't be in this mess.

A few people cast disdainful looks at Sun Lianhao as they stepped around him.

One even kicked him as they passed.

Sun Lianhao's eyes blazed with fury as he grasped the dirt beneath him, filled with impotent rage, muttering, "Damn it! Damn it!"

He watched as the group slowly faded into the purple mist, forcing himself to his feet, his face dark with resentment as he followed from behind.

Gradually, he pieced together what had transpired.

A powerful ability user in a tank had saved Dale, but demanded her body in return.

That bitch had somehow convinced the powerful man to let her go for a while.

Now, she was hiding in the forest, afraid of being pursued.

Quietly trailing behind the group, Sun Lianhao resolved to take action. "I'm going to inform the powerful man!"

The group soon found an abandoned store; after a brief check, they began to prepare to settle in.

Dale assigned tasks to everyone.

Sun Lianhao murmured, "I need to use the bathroom."

Uncle Wong replied impatiently, "Lazy people always need to shit!"

Sun Lianhao's anger flared.

Dale seemed to anticipate Sun Lianhao's thoughts; she fixed her gaze on him and suddenly declared, "There could be dangers in the woods. Chen Yong, you go with him, and make sure you bring a knife."

Chen Yong, grinning as he picked up a knife, stood up. "Sure!"

He had been Dale's personal driver since the purple mist descended, always following her.

Everyone exchanged knowing glances at Sun Lianhao.

A shiver ran down his spine. He realized that Dale was beginning to suspect him.

This was bad!

The entire group followed Dale without question.

If she wanted him dead, he wouldn't even know how it happened!

Desperately, Sun Lianhao said, "I don't think it's urgent; there's no need for me to go."

Dale didn't push the issue. "Alright, Chen Yong, if Sun Lianhao wants to go, you go with him."

Chen Yong responded in a dull voice, "Okay, Miss Dale."

Without hesitation, Chen Yong followed closely behind Sun Lianhao, holding his knife steadily.

Sun Lianhao was nearly in tears from fear. He found a secluded corner and kneeled, pleading, "Chen ge! Chen ge! Please spare me! I'm really scared; I didn't mean to abandon her!"

Unexpectedly, Chen Yong's eyes sparkled with a strange intensity as he stared at Sun Lianhao. After a long moment, he whispered, "Sun Lianhao, let's go find that strongman and offer Dale to him. We can split the benefits!"

"What?" Sun Lianhao was taken aback, thinking Chen Yong was playing with his words. "Chen ge! I really didn't think that way!"

But Chen Yong retracted the knife and pulled Sun Lianhao up, saying quietly, "I'm serious!"

Sun Lianhao's eyes lit up with excitement, disbelief flooding his voice. "Chen ge, you?"

Chen Yong sneered, "I saw that tank convoy too; that truly is what living should be like! I don't want to keep slogging along with Dale through the mud anymore. A wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in!"

Chen Yong had an unspoken concern.

Unless that powerful man was a fool, he wouldn't have let Dale leave.

Since he did, it meant he was confident he could recapture her!

He might have already been coming after her.

With that in mind, sticking alongside Dale might very well endanger his own life.

So why not sell Dale out?

Sun Lianhao finally believed that Chen Yong was genuinely turning against Dale and felt a rush of joy.

"Great! That bitch Dale doesn't give me any face. Just because she thinks she has an ability?"

"Exactly! That woman always struts around like she knows better. Wang didn't even object! With those two running the show, we'll all be dead sooner or later!"

"Yeah! If it wasn't for Dale wanting us to travel at night and rest during the day, we wouldn't have had to enter the woods, and Liu Botao wouldn't have been bitten to death by that giant centipede!"

After exchanging a few more curses against Dale and establishing their united front, they made a beeline toward the escape route.

James Lone had been following leisurely behind, and he soon noticed the two running outside.

"Huh? Why are they suddenly so green?"

Curious, James Lone stood still, waiting for them to approach.

Sun Lianhao halted abruptly as a man appeared before him. "Y-you... who are you?"

Chen Yong, however, swiftly collected himself.

The man looked healthy, his clothes immaculate, not a speck of mud on his shoes, indicating he hadn't walked far.

He fawned, "Big brother, you're the powerful man from the tank convoy, aren't you?"

James Lone smiled. "Smart."

Chen Yong quickly added, "Big brother, the Dale you're looking for is over there! I'll take you to her!"

Sun Lianhao understood the situation too and added, "It's her luck that you have your eyes on her! How dare she run! Such ingratitude!"

He genuinely felt that way.

In his mind, with such a high standard of material living, why would Dale even consider running?

Wasn't she just being foolish?

At that moment, he cursed himself for not being a woman.

Otherwise, he would have stripped down and thrown himself at James Lone.

"Oh?" James Lone said, a slight smile curling his lips. "Good, lead the way."

Chen Yong eagerly took the lead. "This way, big brother!"

As they walked, James Lone asked, "What's Dale's background?"

Sun Lianhao replied, "She's the head of a Sunshine Fund, and her family apparently has high-ranking officials in the military of Washington D.C. Those old men and women listen to her."

"Oh? Do any of you have a close relationship with her?"

"None. We're all just neighbors and colleagues, acquaintances at best. But Chen Yong is her driver," Sun Lianhao added with an underhanded jab at Chen Yong.

Bastard! Chen Yong shot him a glare and defended, "Big brother! Dale is too ungrateful! I'm switching sides!"

Sun Lianhao recoiled slightly.

James Lone smiled and remained silent. "What's her ability?"

Sun Lianhao eagerly recounted, "She can summon an illusion that looks just like her."

Chen Yong chimed in, "Dale, oh no, I mean just Dale, she prefers to operate at night. I think her ability is significantly stronger then."

At night, huh? James Lone noted that down.

The three soon reached the area where Dale and the others were stationed.

As everyone busied themselves, James Lone suddenly emerged from the purple mist, gun in hand.

"Dale, you've disappointed me."

Dale jumped, her face paling. "Y-you, how did you...?"

Then she noticed Sun Lianhao and Chen Yong behind James Lone, and her understanding clicked.

Furious, she exclaimed, "You two traitors!"

Chen Yong felt a twinge of shame. As one of Dale's loyal subordinates, this act of betraying her wasn't particularly glorious.

But Sun Lianhao shamelessly countered, "Dale, big brother is interested in you; this is a courtesy!"

The gathered survivors were jolted awake and rushed over. Upon seeing James Lone, realization dawned on them.

The powerful man had come!

He even had a gun!

They were icy with fear, paralyzed in uncertainty.