"Is there something you need?" Xi Xi asked abruptly as she walked straight behind the suspicious figures with a blank expression.

The figure peering through the car window was startled by the sudden noise, shuddered violently, cried out "Ouch!" and stumbled back two large steps.

Xi Xi then got a clear look at the man's face. Judging from his appearance, he was probably an elderly man in his sixties.

Her face was etched with deep lines by the passage of time, and her weathered skin was dark and shiny.

Those eyes, though squeezed into thin slits by wrinkles, gleamed with a sharp light that commanded respect.

Upon hearing the sound, the old man turned around, quickly abandoning his furtive behavior of peeking into the car, and put on a kind smile before walking unsteadily toward Xi Xi.

By this time, the sky had darkened considerably, almost blending into the night, making the surrounding scenery blurry and affecting visibility.

But just by her voice, she was able to accurately determine that Xi Xi in front of her was a young woman.

The old woman's eyes darted around, seemingly calculating how to start a conversation with Xi Xi. She took a step forward. Unexpectedly, a strong, pungent smell of blood suddenly filled her nostrils.

Her steps came to an abrupt halt. The old woman's eyes widened instantly, and she looked Xi Xi up and down with a face full of terror. She turned pale with fright.

With her hat brim pulled low, Xi Xi's true expression was difficult to discern.

All that could be seen was a dried bloodstain on her fair cheek.

His clothes, wrists, and trouser legs were splattered with large patches of blood, a deep crimson stain.

Not only that, even the sack she was dragging behind her was stained with blood, its contents unknown, bulging and covered in blood.

Xi Xi was completely unaware that she looked like a living Yama who had crawled out of hell. She was also feeling uncomfortable because of the old woman's scrutinizing expression, and impatiently asked again, "Is there something you need?"

However, the old woman seemed to have suddenly lost her ability to think. Her brain shut down, and she stood there motionless, the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat. Then she shook her head like a rattle-drum.

Seeing this, Xi Xi frowned slightly, took a step forward, and the old woman was so frightened that she immediately jumped aside to make way for her.

At this moment, a dark figure slowly walked over from the other end of the car. Xi Xi glanced at it coldly and saw a middle-aged man with a stubble-covered face and wearing glasses.

When the man first saw Xi Xi covered in blood, his expression froze for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal.

Xi Xi ignored him, reached out and opened the car door, and nimbly got into the driver's seat.

Having expended too much energy, Xi Xi felt sore and exhausted all over. No longer caring about wasting her energy, she took a can of refreshing soda from the car refrigerator and gulped it down.

Grape-flavored sparkling water has a very strong fruity aroma. The sweet and sour taste immediately spreads in the mouth, with a perfect blend of sourness and sweetness, and a refreshing taste. It is neither too overpowering nor lacking in charm.

Xi Xi quickly finished the whole can and immediately felt more energetic.

In order to avoid attracting attention and not expose the autonomous driving system, Xi Xi decided to stay in the driver's seat for the time being and remain inactive.

Given her current weakened physical condition, she would likely be unable to withstand a group attack from the enemy if she were to encounter one now.

Xi Xi couldn't help but ponder to herself, weighing the pros and cons in her mind.

Just as she made up her mind to leave, a crisp and urgent knocking sounded on the window. Xi Xi turned her head and saw that it was none other than the old woman from before.

The old woman had a slightly forced smile on her face, and her hands were constantly rubbing together. Then, in a slightly probing tone, she asked Xi Xi, "Little girl, are you alone?"

Xi Xi glanced down and saw that the old woman's finger joints were thick, probably from hard work, and her skin was dry and wrinkled, so withered that it seemed as if you could touch the bone.

"Is there something you need?" Xi Xi opened the car window a crack, but instead of answering directly, she looked at the person in front of her warily and asked in return.

"Oh, it's nothing serious, I just wanted to talk to you about something..." The old woman's voice was somewhat exaggerated. Her eyes narrowed into slits as she grinned, trying to appear relaxed, and tugged at the person behind her.

Xi Xi then noticed that behind the hunched old woman, there was a trembling little girl hiding.

The little girl was clutching the old woman's clothes tightly, her big eyes filled with terror, as if she had been greatly frightened.

"Say hello to your sister!" The old woman frowned, her wrinkles deepening. She quietly reached out and pinched the little girl's slender arm hard.

The little girl winced in pain and couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, but she still forced herself to take a small step forward, and called out "Sister" in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Seeing this, the old woman looked up at Xi Xi, her face immediately breaking into a smile, and she began to chatter on and on: "Young lady, look at our whole family, old and young, with a total of three children, all crammed into that tiny car... it's really suffering for us!"

Then, as if complaining, she continued, "We've only just entered this bizarre game today, and we haven't eaten a single thing all day. The children are starving..."

As Xi Xi listened to her murmured narration, she secretly began to ponder.

It seems that the rule pinned to the top of the game, "After the new player protection period ends, relatives without personal vehicles will be able to join the game," is true, and the way to join the game is to be directly teleported to the side of a relative who has a vehicle.

Xi Xi couldn't help but think of her father's situation.

The old woman smelled the fruity aroma wafting from Xi Xi's car. She swallowed hard and continued talking while peering furtively through the car window, trying to see inside. "We'll be staying here tonight. Why don't our two families keep each other company and look out for each other?"

Xi Xi hesitated for a moment, then turned her head and looked through the car window at the car over there. By the moonlight, she could vaguely see the middle-aged man squatting on the ground starting a fire, the flickering flames illuminating his stubble-covered face.

Xi Xi frowned, suddenly feeling that this person looked somewhat familiar.