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墨書 Inktalez
It always seemed to be this way; every time Xu Nuan spoke, it would trigger a moment of silence, and after that silence, everyone's reactions would differ.
Xu Hang and Xie Huai, with their contrasting personalities, chose to remain silent this time.
Deng Yinyin, after feeling a sense of triumph, worked hard to maintain a serious expression.
Gu Ze also stayed quiet, but an oppressive aura spread around him. Xu Hang glanced at Gu Ze for a moment before turning away.
It was Tang Jingshu who finally spoke up.
"Warmth, we can help each other out while tackling the challenges together."
Tang Jingshu genuinely felt comfortable being around Xu Nuan. To put it simply, she enjoyed shopping for clothes with Deng Yinyin but also loved going to coffee shops with Xu Nuan to sip coffee and listen to music. These were two entirely different experiences.
Xu Nuan slightly pursed her lips, focusing on the green door and avoiding the expressions of others.
"I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry and need to get through the challenges as soon as possible."
Everyone has their own scale of judgment, and for Xu Nuan, staying in a team that offered no value for progressing in the game was far less appealing than quickly advancing to find her ex-boyfriend. After all, that was her motivation for entering this game.
However, this statement held a different meaning in the ears of others.
Deng Yinyin responded sarcastically.
"Isn't it just that you look down on us because we're new to the game? We think you're just superficial and materialistic! We're all forced into this game; only you came here for money. Who cares about teaming up with you?"
Deng Yinyin was known for her straightforwardness, and everyone except Xu Nuan was well aware of this. Even so, her words sounded quite harsh.
Xu Nuan didn't want to explain herself; there wasn't much to clarify anyway.
Unexpectedly, it was Tang Jingshu who stepped in to defend Xu Nuan.
"Deng Yinyin, don't be like this. Nuan is here to find someone; you've misunderstood."
The obvious favoritism from her friend made Deng Yinyin unhappy, but when she looked up and saw the disapproving gazes of the others, she immediately pouted and fell silent.
Tang Jingshu scanned the group and noticed Gu Ze's expression suddenly darkening. She felt puzzled but knew it wasn't the right time to ask. Ultimately, her gaze settled on the calm-faced Xu Nuan.
"I'm sorry, we didn't mean anything by it. If you're really in a hurry, we'll handle the challenges ourselves. Just be careful while you navigate."
"Thank you, and you all stay safe too."
After Xu Nuan said this, she focused on Gu Ze's hand resting on the doorknob, hoping he would hurry and open it.
Gu Ze slightly lowered his eyes, concealing his thoughts from view. He gently turned the doorknob, and at the moment the door swung open, a rush of yellow sand poured in, swept away by the fierce wind.
Once the six of them stood fully in this desert, the sight before them was breathtaking.
Golden dunes stretched endlessly, shifting with the gusts of wind. Feathers like those of birds scattered into the distance, while others resembled fish scales gliding over the sands with the wind's assistance. In the distance, a massive ridge loomed like a resting dragon, evoking both awe and respect. The landscape was dominated by yellow sand with almost no vegetation, creating a sense of desolation that simultaneously sparked curiosity about this desert.
At that moment, the sun cast a myriad of vibrant colors over the desert, enveloping everything in a layer of fantastical mystery. Under the blazing sun, heat rose from the sandy ground, creating illusory silhouettes that made everything appear surreal.
Everyone was deeply captivated by such a magnificent scene.
Xie Huai suddenly spoke up.
"If this weren't a game, I would definitely be happy to have visited the desert."
"Yes, I feel the same way."
Deng Yinyin immediately pushed aside her earlier displeasure. If this weren't a game, she would want to spread her arms wide and embrace this place—especially since she was here with Gu Ze. This realization made her even happier.
"But why isn't there a Special Tree?"
Tang Jingshu quickly sensed that something was off.
"Isn't the way to find the Supply Station supposed to be along the Special Tree? So what’s going on now?"
When they landed in the calm jungle, they had already spotted the Red Special Tree, so they hadn’t thought much of it. However, upon reaching this level and suddenly not seeing the Special Tree, unease began to creep into their minds.
Xu Nuan withdrew her gaze from the distance and explained calmly, "So to get through this level, we must first find the Special Tree. After locating it, we head north to reach the Supply Station. There's no need to rush in figuring out our direction right now."
The others nodded in understanding.
Xu Nuan then adjusted the heavy straps of her backpack, took a few steps forward, and turned back to look at the rest of them, her expression calm and untroubled.
"Well then, I’ll be on my way. Whether we meet again in the game depends on fate."
Xu Nuan was not a cold-hearted person, but with so much on her mind, she found it hard to engage with this group of unfamiliar faces. It seemed better for them to split up and play separately, allowing each other some freedom.
However, she didn’t expect Gu Ze to step forward and try to persuade her to stay.
"The desert is so vast; even with fate on our side, we might not cross paths again. Why not just play together?"
Gu Ze's earnestness shone through his bright eyes, as if nothing had happened moments before. He even brought up their shared school ties.
"We're all alumni after all; that connection is already enough."
Aside from the informed Xu Hang, the others were surprised by this revelation. If Xu Nuan hadn’t resigned, they would have been colleagues in the same company and had previously been schoolmates. Now they found themselves in the same game. Although their reasons for entering were different, such a connection was indeed rare.
Xu Nuan stood there without directly refusing.
Tang Jingshu thought there might still be hope for a change in her decision, but the next moment, Xu Nuan spoke up again.
"Let's see if there's a greater fate. Sorry, but I still prefer to face the challenges alone; it feels more comfortable. Goodbye."
Xu Nuan quickly finished her words and turned away, her slender figure vanishing into the vast sea of yellow sand.
Xu Hang watched Gu Ze as he continued to gaze in that direction, his thoughts swirling uncertainly. He sighed lightly and glanced at the three people still debating which way to go before quietly asking Gu Ze, "Should we chase after her? After all, it's rare to meet her again after three years since graduation."
The sunlight fell on Gu Ze, but it couldn't dispel the gloom surrounding him; his voice was so low it was almost inaudible. "She came to find her boyfriend. I knew I had lost three years ago, let alone now."
This was the first time Xu Hang had seen his friend like this. He recalled a time when Gu Ze had drunkenly mentioned a girl he had a crush on during college. When he finally decided to confess after graduation, he found out she already had a boyfriend, leaving him disheartened for months. After entering the game, Gu Ze discovered that he and that girl worked in the same group—one at the headquarters in B City and the other at a branch office. Such near-fates were truly tormenting.
Suddenly, Xu Hang thought of his girlfriend with whom he had just argued, feeling frustrated himself. This game was truly troublesome; by the time he cleared it, would his girlfriend really be with her ex-boyfriend? The mere possibility made even the usually reserved Xu Hang clench his fists and decisively choose a direction to lead everyone swiftly through the challenges.
After walking for half an hour with her backpack without looking back, Xu Nuan finally stopped to glance over her shoulder. All she saw was the wind stirring up yellow sand, occasionally revealing a few scraggly bushes, Camel thorns, spiny plants, or pigweed—pitiful plants desperately struggling to survive in this sandy terrain.
Not seeing those people anymore, Xu Nuan thought to herself. Aside from the gentle and pleasant Tang Jingshu and the strangely comforting yet odd Gu Ze, she couldn't recall the names of the others at that moment.
Even so, their few days together left a deep impression on Xu Nuan. Perhaps it was because she had been walking alone for too long; seeing other humans made her want to draw closer. Yet Rationality reminded her not to get involved with these people; in this game, she must avoid forming close bonds with companions.
After all, this was a Death Game. She didn't want to bear the burden of her companions' deaths as she moved forward. She knew her heart was fragile and couldn't withstand such weight. Those haunting dreams should no longer disturb her.
"Coward."
Xu Nuan chuckled lightly, no longer lingering on her thoughts. She turned around and continued onward.
In this white desert, there were two places that instilled fear.
One was the blazing sun; even without a thermometer, Xu Nuan could sense that the temperature here exceeded forty degrees Celsius. The heat from the yellow sand seeped through her shoes, making her reluctant to walk any further. Yet in such heat, she still had to wear a thick Tactical Jacket, complete with a mask and a low-brimmed hat to guard against the second terrifying aspect that could arise.
The scorching yellow sand under the blazing sun was indeed terrifying, but what was even more frightening was the yellow sand swept up by a hurricane, and even worse, a sandstorm.
Xu Nuan fully believed that with the capabilities of this Game Base, they could create a sandstorm as powerful as those in real deserts. She knew she had no way to resist such immense power and could only pray that when she was swept away, she would not be severely injured upon landing, and that there would be enough clothing to prevent her body heat from dissipating too quickly under the cover of the sand.
"So, what exactly does Illusory Desert refer to? I really don't want to stay here for long; sandstorms are too terrifying."
Xu Nuan muttered to herself, then steeled her resolve to continue moving forward.
But there’s a saying: what you fear will come to pass.
Xu Nuan hoped to avoid hurricanes and sandstorms, but as evening approached, the sandstorm arrived.
When Xu Nuan noticed that what should have been a fiery sunset had turned into a dark purplish-gray, panic set in. The rapidly approaching clouds of sand made her immediately take off running, desperately searching for a place to hide from this disaster.
The swirling sand battered her face relentlessly; the stinging sensation actually helped keep her alert. Sand continued to pour in from the edges of her clothing, and no matter how much she tried to shake it off, it kept coming. The encroaching hurricane of sand began to take control of her body.
This natural force was far more terrifying than any modified creature.
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