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Before this, Xu Nuan and the others had experienced a wilderness survival environment. Although they knew they were under the surveillance of advanced technology from modern civilization, they had not found much related to urban life in the Survival Game. However, this time, they encountered vast urban buildings with an exotic flair, which raised both curiosity and caution.
Having learned that previous Survival Games were made less dangerous by Qin Yaojie’s interventions, Xu Nuan approached this Survival Game without Qin Yaojie with heightened vigilance. She appeared quite tense, causing Gu Ze and He Min to exchange glances.
At this moment, Xu Nuan stood at a higher point on the island, gazing out at the surroundings.
The sea was a dazzling blue, reflecting the sunlight brilliantly. The coastline seemed to subtly outline a heart shape, complemented by the gem-like blue water, occasional white seagulls soaring by, and the gentle sunlight creating a romantic atmosphere.
Xu Nuan felt a momentary daze. She remembered that she had once promised Qin Yaojie that after graduation, they would go see the sea together. Back then, she was somewhat romantic, believing that making promises by the blue ocean would ensure their love lasted forever. But after graduation, she became busy, and Qin Yaojie became even busier. The busy Qin Yaojie no longer surprised her daily with romantic gestures as he did in high school to satisfy her youthful dreams.
The blue sea was a gathering place for romance but also a graveyard for love.
Realizing she had unknowingly become melancholic again, Xu Nuan quickly shook her head and diverted her gaze elsewhere to avoid thinking about the deceased. Qin Yaojie held a very special place in her heart, and her feelings for him were complex. However, she had understood long ago that there was no longer love between them—only gratitude and resentment remained. This mix of emotions destined her to lose her rationality when faced with anything related to Qin Yaojie, and what she needed was someone to remind her in those moments of irrationality.
“Haah.”
Xu Nuan sighed softly as she gazed at the white walls with blue roofs and the weathered windmills atop them. She didn’t quite understand the purpose of these numerous structures. She also noticed that on this island, there were only coconut trees, olive trees, lemon trees, and some unknown red or purple flowers—no other plants or even weeds. So far, she hadn’t spotted any animals apart from seagulls.
All she could hear was the sound of waves crashing against the shore and the calls of nearby seagulls. This combination of sounds with such scenery should have painted a peaceful and beautiful picture; instead, it sent chills down her spine.
While she was feeling uneasy, she heard Xie Huai’s voice, which wasn’t particularly low.
“Compared to those barren islands, this one is relatively rich and can sustain life.”
“Indeed! It’s strange that those islands seem completely devoid of plants and animals!”
With her gentle nature and graceful words, He Min quickly integrated into the group as a Second Batch Player. She chimed in with Xie Huai’s remarks without any hesitation.
Xu Nuan felt a deep resonance with her surroundings. While she found the island surrounded by the Blue Ocean warm and inviting, she also noticed some scattered black rocks a few hundred meters away. The waves crashed relentlessly against these barren islands, amplifying the sense of desolation.
It was morning, the sunlight not yet scorching, and the sea breeze carried a faint fishy scent. The group gazed at the island dotted with windmills but saw no sign of the red Special Tree.
Considering that the island was not large and time was still on their side, Xu Hang suggested that they split into pairs to search for the Special Tree, aiming to resolve the matter within the day. If they found no trace of the Special Tree on this island, they should not waste time and instead find a way to leave and seek out an island where it could be found.
This conclusion stemmed from Xu Hang's previous experience in the Tranquil Deep Sea challenge.
As the team leader, he commanded respect from his peers. Despite some unpleasant incidents during previous Survival Games due to System tasks, the urgency of time and the game’s tense rhythm worked wonders. Everyone outwardly appeared to have forgotten those issues, maintaining a harmonious team dynamic.
With the leader's directive given, it was time for Xu Nuan and her companions to form their pairs.
Noticing Deng Yinyin's eager expression, Xu Hang quickly stepped in front of her and spoke up.
"I'll be in your group."
Deng Yinyin frowned in dissatisfaction, about to protest when Xu Hang suddenly placed a firm hand on her shoulder.
This was a veiled threat. Deng Yinyin glared at Xu Hang with frustration. She believed he had developed a Mind's Eye after she had stabbed him during a previous mission; since then, his attitude toward her had changed. He no longer treated her with the same care he had shown her cousin Lan Ling and stopped creating opportunities for her to be alone with Gu Ze. Instead, he seemed to grow closer to Xu Nuan, appearing quite chummy.
She felt irritated but was intimidated by his grip, forcing her to remain silent. However, discontent and other negative emotions began to brew within her.
He Min, who thought Xu Nuan was deeply affected by Qin Yaojie’s death, looked at Xu Nuan. Having been called "sister" by Xu Nuan before and having taught her in the past, she wanted to take care of Xu Nuan during this time. However, before she could suggest pairing up with Xu Nuan, Xie Huai spoke to her.
"Let's team up. You've spent time with him; even if you didn't communicate much, you should know some things. I need your help."
Xie Huai's voice was surprisingly assertive despite his pale complexion, which contrasted sharply with his frail and refined appearance.
He Min paused for a moment, glancing at Xu Nuan before nodding and walking over to Xie Huai.
Without saying a word, Xu Nuan seamlessly joined Gu Ze's group.
The three groups chose different directions: some headed down the slope towards the beach to search for the Special Tree, others navigated through the vast lemon trees at their current height, while some climbed higher in search of the best vantage point.
After watching the other two groups leave, Xu Nuan and Gu Ze began to walk up the winding stone path.
After a while, Xu Nuan finally asked in a hoarse voice, "Who does Xie Huai mean by 'he'?"
Xu Nuan had always believed one thing: no one changes without reason.
He Min changed because she lost Yu Hao and had to rely on herself. Xu Hang also changed because he discovered that his entry into the game might not be as simple as it seemed, and he was betrayed by Deng Yinyin. As for Qin Yaojie, Xu Nuan vaguely sensed that he wanted to achieve something unparalleled. Although his career ultimately failed and he paid a heavy price for it, from the tone of his notes and records, it seemed he had no regrets.
That was why she felt doubly distressed.
"Ha," Gu Ze sighed lightly, his gaze quickly sweeping over Xu Nuan's weary face.
"Zhang Xiao."
That was a name that made Xu Nuan's heart tremble. She abruptly stopped in her tracks, turning to look directly at Gu Ze, her voice tinged with barely concealed fear.
"What does Zhang Xiao have to do with this?"
Her expression and trembling hands betrayed her emotions.
Gu Ze's eyes suddenly became deep and profound. After a few seconds of silence, he revealed the existence of the Hidden Level in the Angry Jungle, only to find Xu Nuan's anger laid bare before him.
“Zhang Xiao!”
Xu Nuan gritted her teeth, her hands clenched tightly as if she would pounce on Zhang Xiao and tear him apart if he were in front of her, even to the point of mutual destruction.
What she did not expect was that the gentle Tang Jing Shu had also been harmed by Zhang Xiao, and she still vividly remembered the dagger in Qin Yaojie's chest and his cold body.
“Why?”
Xu Nuan growled, her face pale, her dry lips trembling as her body shook uncontrollably, consumed by rage.
“Why can he disregard the law and kill at will in the game? Why does he have such weapons? Ah!”
Xu Nuan's breathing became heavy, gasping for air as her chest heaved violently. The pain of Qin Yaojie's death, which she had desperately suppressed, erupted alongside the truth about Tang Jing Shu's demise.
“Tang Jing Shu is dead, he is dead. Who else will die? What are we supposed to do afterward?”
A simple name shattered the facade of strength and calm that Xu Nuan had constructed.
“Nuan.”
Seeing Xu Nuan in such pain that her hands began to twitch, Gu Ze could no longer suppress his concern. He stepped forward to support her shoulders and spoke softly to comfort her.
“Nuan, don’t worry. I will take care of Zhang Xiao. I won’t let him have an easy end.”
His almost-promising words made Xu Nuan look up, allowing Gu Ze to see the fear and deep worry reflected in her eyes.
“Gu Ze, you cannot get involved. This is between him and me. I will handle him; you just focus on completing your mission and leave this place. This has nothing to do with you. It was Qin Yaojie who caused this, and Zhang Xiao will have to bear the consequences.”
Xu Nuan suddenly recalled the dream from last night, where she saw Zhang Xiao stabbing Qin Yaojie with a dagger, and then Qin Yaojie died. But right after that, she dreamed of Zhang Xiao killing He Min, Xu Hang, and even Gu Ze.
In the dream, her companions and friends lay in pools of blood while she could only stand there, watching Zhang Xiao reveal a sinister smile, unable to do anything.
The weight of life was too heavy. She had already taken on the burdens of Tang Jingshu and Qin Yaojie; she could not, nor did she have the strength to bear anyone else's weight.
“Gu Ze, just pretend I never told you those things. I will uncover the truth by myself; I will resolve these matters alone.”
Xu Nuan tilted her head slightly back, looking at Gu Ze, who was always warm against the sunlight, speaking each word deliberately.
“You must survive. You all must survive.”
She remembered the moment when Yu Hao died and the question she had asked herself.
If you knew you would carry the deaths of those important to you, would you still participate in this game?
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