Chapter 128

"Do you want me to say it again?"

Jiangnan's voice was ice‑cold, his gaze like a blade.

Several people trembled with fright, hurriedly helped up the burly man, and fled in disarray.

"Mr. Jiang, you… you're so amazing…"

Xia Yurou's eyes shone with admiration, she tightly clung to Jiangnan's arm, her face full of pride.

Zhou Hexuan also breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze toward Jiangnan gaining a touch more awe.

The disturbance thus subsided.

The three sat down again, continuing to wait for the Toxic Fog to disperse.

Night fell, all around pitch black.

The Toxic Fog roiled and surged in the darkness, like countless poisonous snakes writhing, sending chills down one's spine.

Inside the Service Area, the lighting was dim, figures sparse.

Occasionally a few dog barks drifted over, adding a touch of desolation.

Xia Yurou leaned against Jiangnan and fell into a deep sleep.

Zhou Hexuan curled up at the side, shivering.

He didn't know whether he feared this eerie Toxic Fog or the unfathomable man beside him.

Jiangnan sat alone in the darkness, silent, his gaze deep, not knowing what he was thinking.

Suddenly, a strange sound came from afar.

The sound was faint, yet in the quiet night it was especially clear.

It sounded like something crawling, or like something howling.

Jiangnan snapped his eyes open, gaze like lightning, looking toward the direction the sound came from.

"There's a situation."

He said softly.

Zhou Hexuan was startled awake, looking at Jiangnan with a bewildered face.

"What situation?"

His voice trembled, obviously badly frightened.

Jiangnan didn't answer, just listened silently.

The sound grew nearer and clearer, as if something were crawling on the ground, making a "shasha" noise.

Jiangnan furrowed his brow, staring at the distant rolling Toxic Fog.

The fog surged in the darkness, like an invisible beast opening its bloody maw, ready to devour everything.

"This sound…"

Zhou Hexuan trembled, his voice full of terror,

"It seems something is crawling…"

Xia Yurou clung tightly to Jiangnan's side, her delicate body trembling slightly.

She wasn't timid; it was just that this eerie atmosphere, plus that spine‑chilling sound, made her instinctively feel fear.

Jiangnan didn't speak, merely reached out his hand and grasped Xia Yurou's small hand.

He could feel her body trembling, and also sense the fear in her heart.

Suddenly, Jiangnan's face changed slightly.

His keen divine sense caught a hint of abnormality.

Within the rolling Black Fog in the distance, countless insects hid, densely packed.

These insects were tiny in size, but to his divine sense they seemed like a flood of ferocious beasts, their number vast enough to make one's scalp tingle.

They moved through the Black Fog, emitting a heart‑pounding "buzz" as if they might at any moment break free of the fog and devour all living things.

Jiangnan's heart sank.

It seems we must change location.

Although each insect is tiny, their numbers are truly enormous; once surrounded, the consequences are unimaginable.

"Let's go."

Jiangnan made a swift decision, speaking softly to Xia Yurou and Zhou Hexuan.

"Where to?"

Zhou Hexuan looked bewildered.

"Leave this place."

Jiangnan spoke concisely.

"But…"

Zhou Hexuan still wanted to say something, but Jiangnan cut him off.

"No buts, hurry up!"

Jiangnan's tone allowed no doubt.

Xia Yurou hesitated not at all, immediately rose.

She had absolute trust in Jiangnan; whatever his decision, she would carry it out without hesitation.

Seeing this, Zhou Hexuan had no choice but to follow.

The three quickly gathered their belongings, preparing to leave.

"Wait."

Jiangnan suddenly thought of something and said to Zhou Hexuan:

"You tell the Service Area staff that there are a large number of insects in the Toxic Fog and have them evacuate immediately."

"Insects?"

Zhou Hexuan was stunned,

"What insects?"

"Don't ask so many questions; just do as I say."

Jiangnan urged.

Zhou Hexuan was skeptical, but still followed Jiangnan's orders and ran into the Service Area.

He found a staff member on duty and relayed Jiangnan's words to him.

"There are insects in the Toxic Fog?"

The staff member was first stunned, then burst into hearty laughter.

"Have you been watching too many movies? Where would the insects come from? I think you're just scared stiff!"

Zhou Hexuan grew frantic,

"There really are insects; if you don't believe it, go out and see!"

"Go out and see?"

The staff member scoffed,

"I won't go! The Toxic Fog outside is so massive; I don't want to die!"

"You…"

Zhou Hexuan was incensed,

"If you don't believe it, fine!"

He turned and left, silently cursing the man as foolish in his heart.

Zhou Hexuan returned to the Small Forest and told Jiangnan the situation.

Jiangnan, after listening, simply nodded lightly without saying anything.

He knew that some people wouldn't shed a tear until they saw a coffin; saying more to them was useless.

The three got into the car, started the engine, and prepared to leave.

At that moment, a wave of terrified screams suddenly echoed from within the Service Area.

"Ah! Help!"

"What is that?"

"Run quickly!"

Immediately after, a clamor of footsteps and cries rose, turning the entire Service Area into chaos.

Zhou Hexuan's complexion changed dramatically,

"Could those insects have really arrived?"

Jiangnan said nothing, but pressed the driver to floor the accelerator, and the car shot out of the Small Forest like an arrow.

Through the rearview mirror, one could see the Service Area's lights flickering, shadows shifting, a scene of chaos.

Countless black insects surged from the Toxic Fog, rushing toward the Service Area like a tide.

Those insects moved at extreme speed, devouring everything in their path.

People screamed and ran, trying to escape this terrifying Insect Swarm.

But it was all futile; the insects' speed far exceeded humans', and soon some were engulfed by the Insect Swarm, emitting harrowing screams.

Zhou Hexuan stared in stunned disbelief, cold sweat pouring over his body.

He finally understood why Jiangnan had them leave; had they delayed a step, they would likely have been devoured by those terrifying insects.

"Mr. Jiang, you… how did you know there were insects in the Toxic Fog?"

Zhou Hexuan asked, his voice trembling.

"Just guessed."

Jiangnan said lightly.

"Guessed?"

Zhou Hexuan wore a look of disbelief.

"How could one guess such a thing?"

"Intuition."

Jiangnan remained concise.

Zhou Hexuan naturally didn't buy the excuse; instead, he grew more convinced that Mr. Jiang was unfathomably mysterious.

Xia Yurou tightly grasped Jiangnan's arm, admiration shining in her eyes.

She knew Jiangnan was the best; he could always make the right decision at a critical moment.

The car sped along the Highway, leaving the Service Area far behind.

But that terrifying sight was deeply etched in everyone's mind, impossible to shake.

Night grew darker, and the Toxic Fog continued to spread.

No one knew when this disaster would end.

Jiangnan and his party pressed on, searching for the next place to stop.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was oppressive; no one spoke.

Only the engine's roar echoed across the open Highway, sounding especially harsh.