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墨書 Inktalez
The oasis was an unparalleled miracle in the desert.
The pure colors that greeted them instantly relaxed everyone. They chose comfortable spots to sit and rest, feeling as at ease as if they were in their own homes, without any constraints.
Deng Yinyin could no longer contain her excitement and casually grabbed some snacks before wandering around the oasis. This oasis resembled a shimmering green ribbon, with dazzling lakes like pearls scattered throughout, making one unable to resist cradling it in their hands or twirling it in their hair.
Soon, a few others joined in to admire the beautiful scenery.
Among them was not Xu Nuan.
Since entering the oasis, Xu Nuan had been staring blankly in one direction, not resting or eating.
Scenes from her dreams played out before her eyes, and the person she missed deeply smiled at her. Every movement mirrored memories, yet the distance remained neither too far nor too close.
Yaojie.
The name rolled off her tongue, so fervently that it felt like it could scorch her lips.
This warmth spread from her lips to her heart, making her feel as if she were engulfed in an inferno.
He wore his favorite white shirt, always carrying the scent of sunshine and fresh grass. The black cropped pants accentuated his long, straight legs, revealing a healthy shade of white skin.
Even his slightly unruly short hair seemed to have a wild charm; his thick yet well-groomed eyebrows framed brilliant brown eyes that hinted at a rebellious spirit. His serious expression was often accompanied by thin lips pressed together.
This person was Yaojie. Xu Nuan felt mist gathering in her eyes, the worries of the past two months, the conflicts of several years, and the intertwining of over twenty years flooding back.
Neighboring big brother—this was how Xu Nuan initially described Qin Yaojie. He was like sunlight on a cloud, warm and comforting, always wearing a white shirt and flashing a clean, bright smile.
Childish man—this was Xu Nuan's later impression of Qin Yaojie. Despite being a tall man, he would often act childish and funny after conflicts with her. When she truly got angry, he would show a childlike smile and plead for forgiveness with wide eyes.
Dominant man—this was Xu Nuan's evaluation of Qin Yaojie after they officially got together. He became very assertive when she engaged in risky behavior and loved to impose some domineering rules, yet Xu Nuan found it impossible to stay mad at him.
Childhood sweethearts—how could one describe the feelings cultivated through such a relationship?
Perhaps it was her reliance on him when she regarded him as an older brother, perhaps it was the habit of having such a person in her life; once lost, it felt like the ground had crumbled beneath her.
Though they were officially together, they faced constant obstacles. She knew that Qin Yaojie was a man with a strong sense of pride, just like herself. Why did the method they had agreed upon fail? Why did he escape when things became difficult?
Tears flowed down like a gentle stream, silent and without a sound.
Silent weeping is the saddest of all.
Xu Nuan gazed greedily at the man before her, wanting something from him, yet her words were caught in her throat, unable to escape.
It was wonderful; he was unharmed, still the same as before. Everything seemed unchanged. Just as Xu Nuan felt relieved and took steps toward the person she longed for, the man before her transformed into someone else entirely.
Dressed in a deep blue Tactical Jacket, his once arrogant short hair now looked disheveled. His eyes held deep fatigue as they met hers, and stubble adorned his chin, making him appear much older. His pale face bore several noticeable scars, bright red as if his life was slowly seeping away. His exposed wrists were marred with numerous old scars.
Xu Nuan looked at the man she loved with disbelief. She desperately wanted to approach him, yet the distance between them remained unchanged—neither far nor near, always out of reach.
Panic finally surfaced on Xu Nuan's calm face. Even with tears blurring her vision, she etched his disheveled appearance into her memory.
Then she heard Qin Yaojie's voice.
He was speaking.
"Nuannuan, I'm so tired. I just want to sleep and never wake up."
No, Xu Nuan realized she couldn't make a sound.
"Nuannuan, come find me, okay? I've been waiting for you."
Okay, I'll come find you right away. Just stay there and don't move. As Xu Nuan noticed Qin Yaojie starting to leave, she began to run in that direction.
But the figure of the person she longed for still vanished from her sight.
Everyone was taken aback. Ever since they met Xu Nuan, she had always appeared heavy and calm, seemingly unaffected by the outside world. Even when faced with attacks, she could analyze her surroundings coolly and make quick judgments. Her attitude towards them was indifferent; the only thing she seemed to care about was getting through the challenges quickly. She seemed far too mature, composed, and ruthless for someone her age.
However, at this moment, this very person stood before them with tears streaming down her face, yet she made no sound. Silent crying is the most poignant kind, and as they looked into her light brown eyes filled with tears, each of them felt a heaviness in their hearts.
What could have caused her to cry like this? She resembled a blade of grass on the edge of a cliff—desperate and fragile; a gentle squeeze could end her life.
Before they could fully process their astonishment, worry, and concern, they saw Xu Nuan desperately rushing towards a lake.
Lakes in the desert are formed from accumulated rainwater and are often murky. They had no idea if Xu Nuan could even swim.
Several people immediately jumped up and ran in her direction. Gu Ze positioned himself in front of her while Deng Yinyin and Tang Jingshu each grabbed one of her arms, finally bringing Xu Nuan back to her senses.
As the scene before her shattered like a broken mirror blown away by the wind, Xu Nuan found herself staring at another man—Gu Ze, whom she had only recently come to know.
This man was looking at her with a serious expression mixed with worry and other emotions.
Xu Nuan stared blankly for a moment before clearly seeing their surroundings: a vast oasis and the lake behind Gu Ze.
Had she fallen into a trap?
She wiped away the tears on her cheeks and looked in surprise at the bandage on her hand soaked with tears. After letting out a soft sigh, she glanced apologetically at the few people surrounding her.
"I'm sorry; it seems I experienced an illusion."
Xu Nuan gently released Deng Yinyin's and Tang Jingshu's hands and added, "I couldn't control my actions and ended up doing some strange things. I truly apologize."
At that moment, Xu Nuan could only use 'sorry' to explain her behavior, while inside, it felt as if a large hole had been opened up within her. All her fears and anxieties were desperately trying to fill it but could never be enough; instead, they seemed to be expanding continuously.
Gu Ze's expression immediately turned cold, his eyes swirling with emotions that seemed ready to burst forth at any moment.
Xu Nuan ignored this and, after a light tap on her head, headed towards a nearby tree. Xie Huai was gazing at a cluster of unknown flowers, each one composed of three triangles.
As Xu Nuan approached, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head. Tang Jingshu, who had been following her with concern, gasped in alarm.
"Don't touch those flowers; they have hallucinogenic properties."
Xie Huai immediately collapsed to the ground in shock, scooting back a few paces, which unsurprisingly drew laughter from Deng Yinyin.
"Tsk, you're so timid. We only have one person seeing hallucinations here."
With that, Deng Yinyin's gaze shifted to Xu Nuan, who was staring blankly at the strange flowers. The rest of her unfinished sentence was swallowed back down.
Gu Ze and Xu Hang also approached to look at the flowers, their expressions slightly serious.
Tang Jingshu, familiar with plants, took on the role of the explainer. After quickly and systematically detailing the characteristics of these flowers, she curiously brushed a strand of hair off her shoulder and looked at Xu Nuan.
"Why did only you experience hallucinations? These flowers are quite potent; generally, if you don't deliberately inhale their fragrance, you shouldn't have any issues."
Upon hearing this, the others immediately began to scrutinize Xu Nuan, trying to identify what set her apart from them that could explain why she was the only one affected.
After a long pause, Gu Ze spoke up calmly.
"Could it be because of the injury on your hand? The creatures we've encountered in this area seem to come in waves."
Xu Nuan raised her bandaged hand and examined it thoughtfully.
In that moment of silence, Tang Jingshu carefully scanned the surrounding plants and suddenly noticed many hidden dangers.
As everyone listened to Tang Jingshu's detailed explanations, cold sweat began to bead on their foreheads. When they first arrived here, they had been too busy admiring the miraculous scenery and resting to consider whether this place might also be a trap. Given their previous experiences, doubts about the safety of this oasis began to creep in.
Finally, Gu Ze made a decisive statement.
"Anyway, everyone just needs a quick break to eat. Once we’re rested, we can continue pushing forward. Isn’t it better to relax properly when we reach the Supply Station?"
This suggestion received unanimous approval, and everyone immediately began to grab some food haphazardly before packing their bags and leaving the beautiful yet perilous oasis behind.
As they were about to leave, Xu Nuan glanced back at the lake, her light brown eyes suddenly deepening with a dangerous intensity.
"Nuan, hurry up."
Tang Jingshu's voice compelled Xu Nuan to turn around.
"I'll be right there."
As they moved forward again, the group's mood remained heavy. The surprise of discovering an oasis had been overshadowed by the constant dangers lurking in the game.
The straight rows of Special Trees only blocked some of the wind and sand for them; the dry air and lack of food and water continued to be significant challenges.
Yet the game persisted, with no clear end in sight, leaving them uncertain about when it would conclude.
The fate that lay ahead remained unknown.
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