Chapter 127: Preparing to Depart

After about the time to drink a cup of tea,

Zhou Hexuan had already made arrangements, and specifically had the driver bring out the Land Rover from the garage.

Jiangnan then got in the car with Xia Yurou, except this trip had an extra passenger—Zhou Hexuan.

On the highway to this place,

A Land Rover sped past,

Suddenly!

The Zhou family driver slammed the brakes, the Land Rover skidding on the highway with a screeching arc, tires rubbing the ground, kicking up clouds of white smoke.

The vehicle shook violently, nearly hitting the roadside guardrail.

Jiangnan sat steady in the car, his body unmoving, but his eyes instantly sharpened.

Xia Yurou was startled by the sudden turn of events, her face draining of color as she gripped Jiangnan's arm tightly, her knuckles whitening from the force.

Zhou Hexuan sat in the passenger seat, his face ashen, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"What's going on?"

Jiangnan's voice was low, with a hint of displeasure.

The driver, still shaken, stammered an explanation:

"The… ahead… fog is forming…"

Jiangnan frowned slightly, opened the car door, and stepped out.

Xia Yurou and Zhou Hexuan quickly followed.

A chilly, damp gust blew over them, carrying a faint nauseating stench.

The three stood by the roadside, and the sight before them made their hearts sink.

Not far ahead, a thick green mist spread out like a huge monster opening its bloody maw to devour everything around.

The mist roiled and surged, visibility extremely low; faintly, a few vehicles could be seen parked at the roadside with hazard lights flashing, yet none dared to move forward.

The fog was eerily green, luridly green, green enough to make one's heart pound.

"What… what is this thing?"

Xia Yurou's voice trembled as she clung close to Jiangnan, as if only thus could she find a semblance of safety.

Zhou Hexuan's face was grim, his lips trembling:

"This… this is poisonous fog…"

"Poisonous fog?"

Jiangnan repeated it, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes.

"Nan Ye Zhou is remote, miasma often arises, and this kind of poisonous fog appears from time to time."

Zhou Hexuan forced himself to stay calm, explaining:

"This poisonous fog contains deadly toxins; inhaling it can cause anything from unconsciousness to instant death."

His voice grew lower and lower, clearly dreading the poisonous fog to the utmost.

"What… what should we do now?"

Xia Yurou's voice was choked with tears; she had never seen such a bizarre sight, her heart filled with fear.

"Looks like we can only rest here for the night."

Zhou Hexuan sighed, his face full of helplessness.

"The service area is just ahead; let's go check the situation first."

Jiangnan spoke, his voice calm, as if he hadn't taken the poisonous fog to heart.

The driver restarted the car and crept forward cautiously.

The Land Rover moved like a snail, crawling slowly through the thick fog.

All around was silent; only the low rumble of the engine and the sound of tires rolling over the pavement could be heard.

The atmosphere was oppressive enough to feel suffocating.

After a few minutes, the Land Rover finally entered the service area.

Inside the service area, many vehicles were already parked, evidently all trapped by the sudden poisonous fog.

People gathered in small groups, their faces full of anxiety and unease.

Jiangnan and the others got out of the car; Zhou Hexuan approached the service area staff to inquire about the situation.

A moment later, Zhou Hexuan returned, his face even grimmer.

"How is it?"

Xia Yurou asked anxiously.

"The staff said this poisonous fog is rare; they don't know when it will clear."

Zhou Hexuan's voice was low:

"Moreover… moreover, the rooms at the service area are already full…"

"What?"

Xia Yurou exclaimed:

"Then where are we supposed to stay tonight?"

Zhou Hexuan didn't answer, merely shaking his head helplessly.

Inside the service area, the crowd began to stir.

Obviously, the news of the room shortage had spread.

People started scrambling for the few available resting spots, even coming to blows over them.

The scene descended into chaos.

"Jiangnan, what should we do?"

Xia Yurou tightly grasped Jiangnan's hand, her eyes filled with helplessness.

Jiangnan looked around, his gaze falling on a small grove beside the service area.

"We'll go there."

He pointed at the small grove, his tone calm.

"Go there?"

Xia Yurou blinked, obviously not understanding Jiangnan's intention.

"There are too many people here, it's too noisy."

Jiangnan explained:

"It'll be quieter there."

Xia Yurou nodded half-understandingly and followed Jiangnan toward the small grove.

Zhou Hexuan hesitated a moment, then also followed.

The three arrived at the edge of the small grove and found a relatively flat spot to sit.

The surroundings were quiet, only the rustling of leaves blown by the wind.

Compared to the noisy chaos inside the service area, this place was practically a utopia.

Xia Yurou leaned against a big tree and let out a long sigh.

"It's still more comfortable here."

She said softly.

Jiangnan didn't speak, just sat quietly, eyes closed, cultivating his spirit.

Zhou Hexuan, however, was restless, occasionally glancing toward the service area, as if worried about something.

Time passed minute by minute, the sky gradually darkened.

The toxic fog showed no sign of dissipating; instead, it grew thicker.

The clamor inside the service area also gradually subsided; people seemed to have accepted reality and began seeking their own shelters.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps shattered the tranquility.

Several figures ran from the direction of the service area, charging straight into the small grove.

"Who are you?"

Zhou Hexuan rose warily, stepping in front of Jiangnan and Xia Yurou.

"Don't be nervous, we mean no harm."

The leader, a burly man with a face full of flesh, spoke in a gruff voice.

"We just want to find a place to rest."

His gaze swept over the three, finally landing on Xia Yurou, a flicker of greed flashing in his eyes.

"Someone's already here."

Jiangnan slowly opened his eyes, his voice icy.

"Someone?"

The burly man gave a cold chuckle:

"Out in the wilderness, who would be here? We've taken a liking to this place—get lost!"

The men behind him also started shouting, their arrogance blazing.

"You... you don't go too far!"

Zhou Hexuan shouted, stern on the outside but timid within.

"Too far?"

The burly man gave a sinister chuckle:

"Today I'll show you what 'too far' means!"

He waved his hand, and the men behind him immediately closed in.

"Mr. Jiang..."

Xia Yurou turned pale with fright, clutching Jiangnan's arm tightly.

Jiangnan gently patted the back of her hand, signaling her to calm down.

He slowly rose to his feet, his gaze cold as it swept over the men before him.

"Get lost."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"What the hell did you say?"

The burly man flew into a rage, swinging his fist at Jiangnan.

Jiangnan's eyes narrowed, his body flickered, and he easily dodged the punch.

He struck like lightning, a punch landing squarely in the burly man's abdomen.

"Ah!"

The burly man let out a miserable scream, his body curling like a shrimp as he crashed heavily to the ground.

He clutched his stomach, painfully curling into a ball, his face filled with disbelief.

The remaining men, seeing this, froze on the spot, not daring to advance.