SHOCK Chapter 1

The eastern horizon revealed a hint of pale white, and the biting cold seemed to ease slightly.

The heavy rain gradually turned into a sparse drizzle, but the wind picked up.

Zhou Wu, who was completely nestled in the mud, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his kidney area.

Due to the combined effects of hunger and cold, his soul, already in a state of near-unconsciousness, was forcibly pulled back. He turned his head and saw a gray-black face covered in mud.

The voice was low and stern.

Using the dim light, Zhou Wu glanced around.

Behind them was a body of water, beneath them a muddy waterside, and ahead an endless wilderness.

As he was observing his surroundings, he received another kick in his lower back.

“Zhou Wu, still alive?”

Zhou Wu was annoyed but couldn’t vent his frustration. His limbs were frozen numb, and it was difficult to even lie still.

He could only roar, “I’m still alive!”

“See the red cloth strip ahead? If we charge over there and grab it, we can live.”

Zhou Wu struggled to raise his head and strained his eyes to look forward.

“Be careful not to knock over the pole or touch it, or we’re done for.”

The voice added.

Zhou Wu curled his lip. He couldn’t even move his entire body, how could he possibly run such a long distance?

“I can’t move.”

“If you can’t move, then you’re done for!”

The voice said harshly.

Zhou Wu’s mind was muddled. What the hell was going on?

Was he dreaming?

Time wouldn’t wait for him to figure out the current situation. He could only think of a way to get through this situation.

After struggling for a long time without escaping the mud’s clutches, he felt dizzy and saw stars.

The person behind him, seeing him struggling a few times before collapsing back into the mud, poked him in the waist again.

Zhou Wu knew that the person was urging him, but he didn’t even have the strength to stand up!

In a rush, he suddenly saw a string of numbers amidst the swirling stars.

He couldn’t count how many zeros were in front, but the last two numbers were 12.

Although countless stars were dancing before his eyes, the numbers were very clear.

What did that mean?

Zhou Wu was very confused. He remembered drinking too much last night, only remembering staggering out of the tavern and collapsing into a holly bush by the roadside.

His girlfriend of three years had left him resolutely because he didn’t have a car, a house, or any savings.

He remembered it was raining that night, but it wasn’t this cold.

As he pondered, the numbers in front of him suddenly changed from 12 to 11.

The entire body and face were covered in mud, making it impossible to discern their appearance. Only a number was visible between this person’s eyebrows.

A small “3”, emitting a faint green fluorescence, was very distinct.

The moment their eyes met, the “3” changed to “2”.

His own number also changed to “10”.

Zhou Wu felt his breath weaken again. The person in front of him poked him twice more.

This time, Zhou Wu’s entire body was numb, and he couldn’t even feel the previous pain. His body didn’t even tremble.

Was he about to die?

The person on his right front side lowered his head, his face still facing Zhou Wu, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle.

The number on his forehead had become “1”.

Just as Zhou Wu was puzzled, the person suddenly raised his head, cracked a smile at Zhou Wu.

A mouthful of black teeth was revealed on his pale face, which was particularly hideous and striking.

However, the number on his forehead turned to “0”, and instantly, the person’s head dropped, his entire face smashing into the mud, no longer moving.

Zhou Wu gasped. He understood. These numbers were a countdown.

A life countdown!

In a panic, he looked at the numbers in front of him again, and they had become “8”.

So, he only had eight minutes left!

Zhou Wu frantically turned his head to look at the person behind him.

A guy lying in the mud, his chin resting on the mud, his pale face facing Zhou Wu.

The number between his eyebrows was “1”.

Upon seeing Zhou Wu turn his head to look at him, he tried to open his eyes, showing his bloodshot whites as he glared at Zhou Wu.

But in an instant, his eyes closed, and he was silent.

The number on his forehead went to zero.

Witnessing the function of the numbers again, Zhou Wu was in despair.

Zhou Wu gave up struggling. His girlfriend’s smiling face flashed before his eyes.

She was his elementary school classmate, known as the department flower, and also his first love.

Attracted by his appearance, she defeated many competitors and successfully became his girlfriend.

Unfortunately, two years after graduation, with his career showing no signs of improvement, his girlfriend was snatched away by a guy with a BMW.

Alas! The woman he deeply loved had run away. Since he didn’t want to live anyway, dying like this could be considered a martyrdom for love.

Faced with this ending, Zhou Wu felt very calm.

He settled his chin on his elbow so that his mouth was further away from the mud.

His eyes stared blankly at the gradually clearer red cloth strip fluttering in the air in the distance.

Five minutes, a life countdown.

He turned his head and stared into Zhou Wu’s eyes.

“Not dead yet?”

“Soon,” Zhou Wu replied weakly.

Zhou Wu didn’t move, only glanced at the cloth strip in the distance.

Damn it, was that what they called “right in front”?

“If you get the cloth strip, you can eat and sleep, sleep on a warm kang.”

The person was encouraging him using the mental victory method.

Zhou Wu mournfully rolled his eyes at the number that had turned to “4”. He was already too weak to complain.

With only four minutes of life left, what was there to struggle for?

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