Chapter 66: The Wheel of Fate
“Zhi Qi, should we start a fire?”
Wen Shi’s voice reached Fang Xiaocao’s ears.
Hearing this, Fang Xiaocao froze for a moment.
Looking up, she saw that the camp was already set up.
On a small clearing, two simple tents were placed side by side. Around the campsite, a string of small bells was hung as an alarm system.
Though the two tents were a bit cramped for six girls, they were at least enough to provide shelter from the wind and rain—certainly better than sleeping under the open sky.
Now, all they needed was a campfire to cook their food.
They had ingredients in their backpacks, so Wen Shi’s suggestion was timely.
But Fang Xiaocao’s heart clenched.
It was happening.
The moment of encountering the Scarred Face Monster had arrived.
In the original timeline, she was the one who suggested making a fire. But this time, because she had fainted earlier and had intentionally avoided bringing it up, she was hoping to see if that would be enough to escape the upcoming encounter.
After all, aside from raw ingredients, they also had bread, compressed biscuits, and sausages—food that did not require cooking. Even without a fire, they would not go hungry.
However, it seemed that the inertia of fate was too strong.
You can change your own future, but you cannot stop the wheel of fate from turning.
What was meant to happen—if you did not do it, fate would simply arrange for someone else to do it instead.
Just like the incident with Axi. Even though Fang Xiaocao had exposed him, she still could not prevent the wheel of fate from turning or stop that elderly couple from their tragic fate.
Sure, Axi had died earlier than expected.
And it seemed that, in the next five years, the victims he was supposed to kill would now be spared.
But who could guarantee that they would really survive?
Thinking about all this, Fang Xiaocao sighed.
She stood up and walked over.
“If we split up, it will be dangerous.”
“Let’s not go collect firewood.”
She still had no confidence in defeating the Scarred Face Monster.
If she could avoid encountering him, she wanted to.
“But we have to gather firewood!”
“Without a campfire, it is not safe at night.”
Zhi Qi said firmly.
Fang Xiaocao knew Zhi Qi was right.
Not going into the woods—would that really let them avoid an encounter?
After all, in that other timeline, the enemy organization had perfectly replicated their entire team—except for her and Yun Luoshu’s doppelgängers.
Their clothes had also been swapped, meaning someone had worn their outfits and left the team.
Could the two who left have been their doubles?
Clearly, the enemy had planned this for a long time, waiting for a chance to replace at least one of them—maybe even the whole team.
So even if they did not go collect firewood, those people might still come for a nighttime ambush, capturing or killing them all.
And without a fire, the beasts that roamed the mountains at night might be even more dangerous than the Scarred Face Monster.
“Alright, then I will go with Luoshu.”
Having thought it through, Fang Xiaocao smiled.
“No, your body is too weak.”
Zhi Qi said sternly.
“Yeah, Xiaocao.”
“You need to rest.”
Wen Shi looked at her with concern.
Fang Xiaocao was speechless.
She could not argue—she had no excuse to refute them.
Then, suddenly, she had an idea.
“How did I forget about her?”
Fang Xiaocao’s eyes landed on Wan Xiaozhou.
The enemy had replicated her, too.
That meant she was not on their side.
And the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Mysterious and unpredictable, Wan Xiaozhou might just be the key to countering the organization.
“How about letting Xiaozhou and Luoshu go?”
Fang Xiaocao suggested with a smile.
Hearing this, Wan Xiaozhou glanced at her.
Fang Xiaocao smiled back.
“Xiaozhou, you would not refuse, right?”
She asked with a grin.
“Fine.”
Wan Xiaozhou raised an eyebrow and nodded.
“Then I will leave it to you, Xiaozhou.”
Fang Xiaocao said.
Wan Xiaozhou nodded and walked toward the forest.
“I could have gone too…”
Watching them leave, Wen Shi pouted, muttering under her breath.
“You could not.”
Fang Xiaocao poked her forehead with a laugh.
“Hmph”
Wen Shi puffed up her cheeks in protest.
Fang Xiaocao chuckled.
She knew Wen Shi just wanted to help.
As the two figures disappeared into the woods, Fang Xiaocao slipped her hand into her jacket pocket, gripping the spring-loaded knife tightly.
She wanted to see how strong Wan Xiaozhou really was.
Even if Wan Xiaozhou and Yun Luoshu were captured, they would not be in immediate danger.
So Fang Xiaocao had no plans to interfere.
She entered one of the tents, climbed into a sleeping bag, and rested—regaining her strength while waiting for them to return.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest…
Yu Tianqi dragged his younger sister – Yu Ling as they ran through the trees in a panic.
Both siblings looked terrified.
They kept glancing back over their shoulders, as if afraid something would suddenly appear behind them.
“Ge… I cannot run anymore…”
Yu Ling gasped for breath.
“I will carry you!”
Yu Tianqi said firmly.
He was exhausted too, but he did not dare stop.
Just moments ago, they had seen Chen Xi…
The very same Chen Xi who was already dead.
Chen Xi had come back to find them!
In the darkness of the forest, the dead had returned to life—it was terrifying beyond words.
Chen Xi looked as real as ever, but her expression was eerie.
She kept telling them about everything she had gone through after they parted ways.
This had scared Yu Ling out of her wits.
Even Yu Tianqi’s heart was pounding.
He did not believe in ghosts.
But he had no explanation for what he had seen.
He had no way to calm the fear tightening in his chest.
No way to explain how Chen Xi had come back.
Without a second thought, he grabbed Yu Ling and ran.
Chen Xi followed like a shadow.
Despite Yu Tianqi’s years of martial arts training, he could not hear her footsteps at all.
That only made him more terrified.
” Brother Tianqi, Sister Ling , why are you running?”
A chilling voice drifted from behind them.
The siblings turned their heads—
Chen Xi had somehow appeared right behind them, smiling sweetly.
But that smile…
To them, it was nothing short of horrifying.
There was no time to think. Yu Tianqi hoisted Yu Ling onto his back and bolted.
“Brother Tianqi, wait for me”
Chen Xi’s voice rang out, eerily cheerful.
“Chen Xi, are you a human or a ghost?”
Yu Ling screamed from her brother’s back.
“Me?”
“Of course, I am human.”
Chen Xi said with a bright smile.
Yu Ling turned her head—
And saw Chen Xi’s pale face right next to hers.
“Ahhh”
A piercing scream echoed through the forest.
(End of Chapter 66)
