Chapter 419: A Wild Chase Through the Wasteland

“Huh?”

Doll felt a twinge of fear as so many eyes fell on her, yet she couldn’t resist trying to get a better look at these people.

She had never before been the focus of anyone’s gaze.

That was simply never allowed.

Now, however, she found them endearing, though she worried she might hurt them.

It wasn’t until Lu Xin’s voice reached her that she snapped back to attention.

After a quick reminder, Lu Xin shifted into reverse and slammed on the accelerator. The modified car jerked backward in a flash.

It executed a wild spin on the muddy road, and the engine roared like a caged beast.

With a sudden whoosh, a long plume of black smoke burst from the exhaust, surging forward.

The rain-soaked, muddy road was soon scarred by two deep gouges carved by the tires.

Doll jumped in fright, quickly crouching down and reaching out to firmly grab Lu Xin’s arm.

Lu Xin gave her a nod before accelerating again, heading further into the distance.

……

Before bringing Doll along, Chen Jing had already helped Lu Xin devise the plan.

They had exactly thirty seconds to get away.

No more, no less.

Doll’s influence on those around her came in several layers.

According to the semi-public data provided by the Special Pollution Cleanup Department:

Staring at Doll for over a minute would leave her image imprinted on your mind forever.

Gaze at her for more than three minutes, or make eye contact with her (later, when Lu Xin reviewed the detailed data—specifically, if unimpeded eye contact lasted over three seconds), and you’d fall utterly in love with her.

Stare at her for over five minutes, or spend more than an hour within a ten-meter unobstructed range,

and your alertness would spike, triggering a fierce urge to destroy her.

This data was derived after extreme testing three years ago.

Yet Doll’s abilities continued to evolve.

No matter how you looked at it, Doll wasn’t the type to instantly wreak havoc upon her arrival. In fact, many people, if they had enough willpower to avert their gaze, could restrain themselves.

But without caution, most simply couldn’t.

Some, even when aware of the danger, couldn’t tear their eyes away.

In the moment they saw her, they were so powerfully drawn in that they just couldn’t look away.

Based on these metrics—and considering that Chen Jing had risked much by betting on Doll’s effect—she and Lu Xin agreed at the outset to let Doll appear for only thirty seconds. Once everyone was deeply under her spell, they would promptly pull her away, ensuring the crowd would be intrigued but not doomed to total pollution, that is, completely falling in love with her.

They would be affected and distracted, but not to the point of surrender.

The precision of this plan was the key.

Luckily, Lu Xin’s strength lay precisely in his strict adherence to the plan.

He counted out thirty seconds with accuracy before retreating.

“Uh, what…”

It wasn’t until the modified car sped away, about thirty to forty meters ahead, that the dazed men finally snapped to attention.

The roaring modified car whisked Doll right out of their midst, as if a princess had been snatched away by a beast.

“Don’t go! Don’t go!”

“Please, I’m begging you, don’t leave…”

……

Soon, cries, sobs, and desperate pleas filled the air, gradually spreading through the entire crowd.

Before anyone knew it, someone took the lead, and one after another they set off in pursuit. In their urgency they even forgot to get in their vehicles; their minds were too overwhelmed to think beyond the need to chase after Doll.

At that moment, Lu Xin paid them no mind—he knew they would eventually catch up.

He floored the accelerator and charged toward another settlement.

“Yikes…”

Seeing so many people chasing after him, Doll felt a twinge of fear.

But a quick glance at Lu Xin—who, unlike the others, showed neither worry nor fear but even flashed a reassuring smile—told her everything was fine, that she was safe.

Emboldened, she straightened up slightly and peered out from the car roof toward the distant wasteland.

The wind on the open wasteland whipped fiercely against her face.

The rugged, cracked road made the speeding modified car jolt violently.

“Whoosh…”

The wheels crushed a patch of dried, cracked road, sending half the car airborne before slamming back down. Lu Xin, in the driver’s seat, was jolted violently, and Doll, standing in the passenger seat, nearly got thrown out. Fortunately, Lu Xin’s firm grip on the steering wheel allowed him to reach out and grab her calf.

He steadied her while casting a worried glance her way.

He couldn’t help but wonder if such a risky drive might have genuinely frightened her.

But to his surprise, after a brief, high-pitched squeal, Doll realized the safety of his grip. Her panicked expression gave way to a delighted smile, and she even hopped up in the passenger seat, barefoot.

Her giggles rang out merrily.

She was laughing joyously, a mix of thrill and nerves bubbling within her.

“She’s quite a wild one…”

A smile tugged at Lu Xin’s lips as he pivoted the car’s front, charging forward once more.

“If she’s this happy, then let’s treat it like a joyride…”

Seeing her so elated—it was not often she got to have such fun—he decided to let her enjoy the ride.

Gradually, he released his hold on her calf.

Let her jump, let her laugh—let the wind of the wasteland whip around her. Even if the car jolted, it didn’t matter.

After all, he could always catch her.

……

“My goodness…”

Atop the nearby hill, Gecko, Chen Jing, Drunkard, and even the once rowdy Bear Child stared in astonishment as Lu Xin sped off with Doll. Behind them, a frenzied mob dashed along in wild excitement.

A once heavily fortified armed camp had been emptied in an instant, leaving behind nothing but a scattering of firearms.

When the crowd went after the modified car, they didn’t even grab their guns.

Perhaps they feared that their weapons might scare away the little princess?

The result turned out even better than expected.

“I have a feeling that when we get back to Qinggang, I might even get docked my pay…”

Chen Jing let out a low sigh as she meticulously recorded the current mental state, the duration Doll had been in front of the armed force, and their frenzied reactions. “Either way, we can’t waste this chance. At least it served as yet another extreme test for Doll. I wonder how this bold plan will ultimately turn out…”

“I heard that when Doll first arrived in Qinggang, she threw the entire city into chaos. Now, letting her roam free like this might lead to more than just chaos… this is real pollution.”

Bear Child adjusted his thick glasses with his middle finger. “Honestly, I almost caught up with her from this distance.”

Drunkard nodded, his kindly expression growing as he watched Doll disappearing into the distance.

“So scary…”

Gecko shuddered all of a sudden.

Chen Jing, who had been wary of him, now looked at Gecko nervously.

But seeing Gecko’s expression—strangely more composed than Drunkard’s or Bear Child’s—piqued her curiosity.

“Team Leader, you’re overthinking this…”

Gecko noticed Chen Jing’s look and said in a serious tone, “I know you were scared I might see Doll. You clung to the driver’s seat so tightly on the way here, barely daring to look back, worried I’d lose control. But you don’t really know me—I’m just as picky when it comes to women. I won’t even spare a glance at someone I find unworthy. Not just ugly or old, but, most importantly…

I simply don’t bother with those I can’t handle.”

“…”

A group of them immediately turned to look at Gecko, clearly impressed.

Drunkard, curious, smiled and said, “So, you never give me the once-over because you think I’m too much trouble?”

Gecko snorted, “There are plenty of reasons. Maybe it’s because you’re getting old?”

Drunkard, not at all offended, beamed, “Then why do you always sneak glances at Section Chief Chen?”

“Is it because you think you can handle her?”

“…”

“Huh?”

Gecko was momentarily stunned, shuddering as he cautiously looked over at Chen Jing. “Team Leader, I swear I haven’t looked at you… really…”

Chen Jing wasn’t interested in debating and replied coolly, “Once we get back, I’ll submit your request for the Second Stage.”

“You’re so steady—you’d be a shame not to test it on the experimental platform at least once…”

“…”

Gecko was completely taken aback.

He chuckled, “Seems like Little Soldier’s plan worked perfectly.”

Drunkard laughed as he helped ease Gecko’s tension, adding:

“Look at this scene. Just give them enough time to circle Happy Town, and these two could clear out the armed force on the perimeter. Whoever’s responsible for executing Technology Church’s Second Plan isn’t going to sit still, right?”

“No matter what he’s planning…”

“We’ll have a chance to catch him…”

“…”

“His plan’s a success. Now it’s our turn.”

Chen Jing took a deep breath, nodded firmly, and said, “Let’s go meet with the Godly Woman.”

“Use this chance to find that Wish Priest—and capture him.”