"You don't look like a local, little brother. Your face is new around here, isn't it?"
The driver glanced at the rearview mirror. He looked about thirty, burly, with muscles rippling across his forearms, their skin a deep tan—radiating raw strength.
"I'm from out of town."
Evan Lin shifted into a more comfortable position in his seat.
Inside the car, the radio played softly.
"Leighton City News Channel."
"Latest update: In recent days, Leighton City has seen a string of murders and robberies. Most victims have been out-of-town visitors. Citizens are advised to stay alert and travel safely."
"Times are rough these days, huh?" The driver turned down the radio volume. "So, little brother, what brings you to Leighton City? Here to work, or just sightseeing?"
"Sightseeing."
"Got any relatives or friends here in Leighton?" the driver asked offhandedly.
"Just me."
Evan Lin leaned his elbow on the window, gazing out at the passing scenery.
The car had already reached the outskirts. The city’s tall buildings were fading into the distance, and all around them stretched barren land.
"Oh, just you by yourself? That's a bit of a shame."
The driver, who had been pressing the gas the whole time, suddenly slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a stop by the roadside and didn’t move again.
He reached under the driver’s seat and pulled out a gleaming dagger, its blade flashing coldly.
"If you really are all alone, then I guess I can't help it."
Grinning wickedly, the driver yanked up the handbrake. His smile turned icy as he gripped the dagger, eyes wide with crazed intent, and lunged straight at Evan Lin.
"If you're alone, then just die!"
But just as he spun around with the dagger, before he could even stab, a sudden chill swept over his whole body.
His expression froze—there were suddenly two women in the back seat, and he had no idea when they'd appeared.
Both women wore old-fashioned clothes, their figures graceful and their faces breathtakingly beautiful, gazing at him with sultry, seductive eyes.
Meanwhile, the backpack-wearing teenager with the baseball cap kept staring out the window, not even blinking at the sudden appearance of two women beside him.
So... had these two women been in the car all along?
Impossible!
He was sure—just a moment ago, only that teenager had gotten in!
"Mister, you're so fierce."
A sultry, flirtatious voice drifted into the driver's ears.
The driver's whole body shuddered, his head creaking around like a rusty screw as he slowly turned toward the passenger seat.
He turned—and found himself face-to-face with a third woman.
A face as lovely as a blooming flower.
Her chest was full and heavy, and her phoenix eyes leaned close to the driver. She covered her mouth and giggled: "Mister, you look like you've been scared silly."
"Am I that scary? Hmm?"
The woman smiled seductively and stuck out her tongue—bright red and soft, but covered in barbs. She gave the driver’s face a long, vicious lick.
The barbs dug deep into his flesh, sending a searing pain through him as half the meat on his face was ripped away.
"Ghost!"
Eyes wide, the driver shrieked, his arm shaking violently. He grabbed the dagger and stabbed at the woman’s chest.
But the dagger passed through her like smoke, piercing her chest without the slightest resistance.
"Talk like that and we’ll get upset. Who are you calling a ghost? We’re beautiful maiden spirits, thank you very much."
"Mister, you look absolutely delicious."
The two maiden spirits in the back lunged forward, mouths wide open and eyes full of hunger, their teeth sharp as knives.
"Don't leave any blood."
Evan Lin spoke coolly.
At his command, the three maiden spirits pounced on the driver.
Moments later, not even a bone of the driver remained.
Satisfied and full, the maiden spirits obediently returned to the Soul-Sacrifice Beauty Scroll inside Evan Lin's bag.
The car fell silent.
"I've never driven before. Guess today's as good a time as any to try."
Evan Lin opened the door and sat in the driver's seat, feeling unusually relaxed.
He'd always wanted a car of his own, so he could drive his mother to and from work every day, and Joy Zheng wouldn't have to ride that antique bicycle to school.
But that wish had never come true—a lingering regret.
Settling into the driver's seat, Evan Lin studied the car's layout.
An automatic transmission was simple enough—he'd never eaten pork, but he'd seen pigs run.
Evan Lin started the engine, pressed the clutch and brake, and reached for the handbrake.
Clunk.
The passenger door was pulled open.
A woman in a bohemian dress, looking to be in her twenties, with dyed blonde hair, plopped into the passenger seat, her face streaked with tears.
"Uh?"
Evan Lin stared at the woman who'd just climbed in, momentarily stunned.
"Drive. Take me to Northstar Bar!"
The woman shouted, sniffling as she wiped her nose.
Not far away, an Audi drove up. The door swung open, and a man poked his head out, looking at the woman through the window.
"Hey, Yinnie, are you really going there? Carter Cheng said tonight is couples only—there's no way you'll get in like this."
"Yeah, Yinnie, why don't we just take you home? Don't wander around outside. If your dad finds out you're still out here, he'll probably ground you again."
Another woman in the Audi leaned out, trying to convince her.
"Mind your own business!"
Yin shouted back at them, huffing with anger.
She turned, eyes brimming with tears, and fixed her gaze on Evan Lin. Then she pointed at him and yelled to the others, "He's my boyfriend! I'm going, and it's none of your business!"
"Yinnie, that's not cool. Carter Cheng and your sister are already there—if you show up, you'll just stir things up. That's not good." The man frowned. "Carter Cheng booked out the whole Northstar Bar and set this rule for a reason, you know that."
"Besides, your sister and Carter Cheng are the real couple. Yinnie, don't be stubborn, just go home."
The man tried to reason with her, but seeing Yin unmoved, he turned to Evan Lin in the driver's seat. He nodded, speaking with a superior air: "Hey, driver, I'll pay you—take her to Grand Harmony Estate now."
"Don't listen to the girl in the passenger seat. You must've heard of the Cheng family and Carter Cheng, right? If you take her to Northstar Bar, you might not make it back alive."
The man's face darkened, clearly pleased with himself.
"Ryan Cao, you jerk!" Yin snapped, her face twisting with anger.
In Leighton City, Carter Cheng's name carried serious weight—everyone, high or low, knew it.
With his warning, no one dared provoke Carter Cheng. It was clear they'd try to send Yin back to Grand Harmony Estate.
"It's for your own good." Ryan Cao grinned, then turned and glared at Evan Lin, shouting, "Did you hear me?"