Chen Mu arrived on the main street, scanning around for any signs of a taxi. It was still early in the morning, with deserted streets under the pitch-black sky as most people remained deep in slumber.
"Well, it's inconvenient without a car. I need to figure out a way to get one," Chen Mu sighed involuntarily.
After waiting for five minutes, a taxi finally emerged from the darkened street and pulled up beside Chen Mu even before he had a chance to hail.
Opening the door, Chen Mu settled into the back seat. "Driver, take me to Wangjiang Community."
Wangjiang Community was Chen Mu's home—a small, old residential area where he had lived alone for years. Besides catching up on sleep, Chen Mu intended to pack up his belongings and take whatever he could with him. With his spatial ring, packing and carrying items was incredibly convenient.
His current residence was old and small, and Chen Mu had no intention of staying there any longer. With a trillion ghost coins in hand after the onset of the anomaly apocalypse, he aimed to upgrade his living conditions and choose a better home for himself.
Throughout the journey, the driver remained silent, not uttering a word from start to finish. However, as time passed, Chen Mu's sharp senses detected that the taxi's speed was increasing.
Soon, the speed surpassed 120, 130... and hit 160!
"Driver, you're driving too fast!" Chen Mu exclaimed, raising a concern.
Despite his warning, the driver remained unresponsive.
At that moment, Chen Mu's eyes narrowed in realization. He caught a faint whiff of blood and noticed a handprint on the back window, seemingly made of blood. It was barely visible due to the darkness.
With five years of experience in the anomaly apocalypse, Chen Mu recognized the signs: this was none other than the infamous Phantom Taxi!
In the anomaly apocalypse, humanity faced three primary threats:
First, the anomaly tasks. Individuals chosen for these tasks received a blood-red note detailing specific instructions. Failure to comply meant certain death. Although there were rules to follow, finding a way out was obscure and risky.
Second, wandering spirits. As the anomaly apocalypse took hold, many lost souls roamed. They couldn't harm people who abided by the rules, but these rules were often unclear, requiring personal exploration or learning from others' experiences.
Third, anomaly scenes. Besides specific tasks, people inadvertently stumbled into anomaly scenes. For instance, a normal store could become an anomaly scene, necessitating compliance with its rules to complete tasks and leave.
The taxi ride was, in fact, an anomaly scene—a situation Chen Mu unwittingly walked into.
However, Chen Mu remained calm. Adhering to the rules ensured survival within these scenes.
Chen Mu had heard plenty about Phantom Taxis. In the anomaly apocalypse, they were excellent means of transportation. As long as passengers reached their destination, they were safe from other anomalies—a temporary invincibility buff!
The rules for Phantom Taxis were straightforward: pay the fare if you had ghost coins. If not, identify the abnormality quickly. Before the speed escalated, open the door and escape—sustaining minor injuries at worst.
Unfortunately, the Phantom Taxi's speed accelerated relentlessly.
Upon arriving at Wangjiang Community, the driver finally spoke: "We're here. Pay up. 10,000 ghost coins."
For many, 10,000 ghost coins constituted a fortune! Especially with the anomaly apocalypse just beginning, few possessed such wealth—aside from Chen Mu.
However, Chen Mu remained seated without making any move to pay, exuding an air of tranquility.
Seeing Chen Mu's reluctance, the driver grew furious. Its head abruptly twisted 180 degrees, fixing a menacing gaze on Chen Mu in the backseat. "Pay up or face death!"
Chen Mu calmly met the driver's eye—revealing a middle-aged man's face, both eye sockets empty and blood-red.
"Even without eyes, you drive so steadily. Impressive skills," Chen Mu remarked, displaying a nonchalant demeanor with a touch of amusement.
"Enough talk. Pay up or prepare to die," the driver demanded, reaching towards Chen Mu's neck.
"Why assume I'm broke?" Chen Mu chuckled, fixing the driver with a penetrating gaze.
Uncomfortable under Chen Mu's stare, the driver's actions grew more aggressive. "Pay now! 10,000 ghost coins! Refusal means rule violation and death—I'll twist your head off!"
Undeterred, Chen Mu maintained his composure. "You seem anxious. But trust me, something more pressing will come. Even if I pay you 10,000 ghost coins, you won't accept. Because if you take them, you break the rules!"
With that, Chen Mu produced 10,000 ghost coins from his ring, teasingly waving them before the driver's eyes.
Desire flickered in the driver's gaze, tempered with caution.