Shen Mo glanced back at them, but said nothing.
They continued walking into the fog for five or six minutes, gradually sensing a change in their surroundings.
Everyone knew this was a sign of entering the labyrinth, so they remained silent.
The air grew increasingly stifling and humid.
And the ground beneath their feet…
…became soft and yielding.
This softness wasn't like the mud in the "Frog's Golden Ball" game; it was a different kind of…uncomfortable, squishy softness.
Bai Youwei also noticed the resistance against her wheelchair. The ground was no longer flat; it was sticky, soft, and dull, very strange.
She even smelled a…strong, metallic scent of blood.
Then…
…the fog dissipated.
City buildings came into view, causing everyone to instinctively cover their mouths and noses, fighting back the urge to vomit…
The city was encased in masses of bloody flesh. It was hard to tell if it was muscle or membrane, but it covered everything, even the sky above, making them feel as if they were inside some monstrous being. The road ahead resembled a trachea, an intestine, or something else entirely…
Bai Youwei's face was extremely pale.
All the excitement and anticipation of the challenge vanished!
She had entered with the mindset of enjoying a game, but now she didn't want to stay a second longer! She just wanted to get out!
"Disgusting!" she muttered, covering her nose with her hand, her voice muffled.
Teacher Cheng tentatively touched the wall beside him. The soft, slightly elastic feel was exactly like peeled flesh. When he pressed his palm against it, he could even feel a pulse beneath the membrane.
Like blood flowing.
Teacher Cheng murmured thoughtfully, "Last time, the labyrinth tested our understanding of the mind. Could it be that this time, it wants to test our understanding of the body?"
"No way," Bai Youwei said, her voice muffled by her hand. "Our trip to Hangzhou was a last-minute decision. The game system couldn't have known which labyrinth we'd enter."
Her expression pained, she took a difficult breath, then immediately held it again in disgust, feeling both wronged and angry. "This place is disgusting."
Tan Xiao looked left and right, asking in bewilderment, "Have we…been eaten by some giant monster?"
Shen Mo took out his dagger, walked to the fleshy wall, and stabbed it.
A wound appeared, and blood flowed freely.
He dipped his finger in the blood, brought it to his nose, and sniffed, his brow furrowing. "This labyrinth seems to be alive."
Only living things could bleed.
Everyone stood frozen, unable to speak for a moment. The thought of the ground beneath their feet being alive sent shivers down their spines.
After a moment of contemplation, Shen Mo said, "Let's move forward."
Bai Youwei, covering her mouth with one hand, pointed at the little boy with the other. "Have him take out the map and follow it."
Everyone then remembered that the boy had mentioned having a map of the labyrinth.
How could someone who had never entered the labyrinth draw a map of it? He must have simply copied the layout of the city buildings within the foggy area.
The little boy pursed his lips and handed the map to Shen Mo, saying seriously, "We should be on Genshan West Road right now. If I'm not mistaken, if we go further, we'll see a large overpass."
Shen Mo compared their location to the map, then looked down at the boy. "Are you a local?"
"Yes," the boy nodded. "My name is Pan Xiaoxin. I'm a fifth-grade student at Hangzhou Central Primary School."
"How old are you?"
"Eleven."
Shen Mo nodded slightly and returned the map. "From now on, you're in charge of marking the route we've taken."
Suddenly entrusted with such an important task, Pan Xiaoxin was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly took the map. "…O-Okay!"