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墨書 Inktalez
By the side of a tree near the Blue River, Xu Nuan sat on the ground, burying her head in her knees. Not far from her, the voices of Xu Hang and Gu Ze arguing drifted over.
Xu Nuan didn't need to listen closely to know what they were arguing about.
It was about leaving this place as soon as possible, about… leaving Zhao Xi behind.
Xu Nuan didn’t want to see or hear anything; she wished to escape everything like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
She could not accept this outcome. If today she were to abandon Zhao Xi, would she also abandon Qin Yaojie?
This game was terrifying—not because of the bizarre and deadly creatures lurking around, but because of the pervasive mental torment.
Xu Nuan hugged her knees tighter, trying to squeeze herself, desperately filling the ever-growing void in her heart. But it was futile; those voids had seeped deep into her flesh and blood, pulling apart her insides and isolating all her nerves.
What should she do?
Who could tell her what actions would lead to a happy ending?
Panic and fear, guilt and self-blame, eventually all turned into emptiness.
The river ahead lay still, making the empty space around her feel even more silent. Xu Nuan didn’t know how much time had passed; the argument between Gu Ze and Xu Hang had faded away.
After a while, she heard footsteps approaching, but she had no intention of looking up. No matter who it was, she didn’t want to face them.
“Xu Nuan.”
The air was thick with emotion, ultimately reduced to a sigh.
It was actually Gu Ze. Xu Nuan felt a mix of surprise and lingering fear as she tightened her grip on her legs, burying herself deeper.
Her heart was filled with uncertainty. If it was Gu Ze, what would he do?
If it was Gu Ze, could he lead to a good outcome?
A sense of expectation surged within Xu Nuan. Despite having always thought of Gu Ze as merely a fellow student, and their month-long interaction being more about companionship than friendship, she had unknowingly come to trust him deeply. This realization struck her as a unique charm that belonged solely to Gu Ze.
However, when Gu Ze finally spoke, he shattered all her fantasies.
“Xu Nuan, this time you were being willful.”
Gu Ze's tone was calm, as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather. His lack of accusation or overt judgment only served to infuriate Xu Nuan further.
This person had no idea of his determination to take Zhao Xi away; on what grounds did he act this way? Zhao Xi was a good friend of Qin Yaojie. How could she abandon his friend and still face Qin Yaojie? She didn’t want to do this; she feared the impending confrontation.
Yet, the current situation was one that neither of them could change.
“I’ve always wondered why you are so good to Zhao Xi. You’ve only met a few times, yet everything you do seems to be for his sake. Is it just because… because he is that person’s friend?”
Xu Nuan failed to notice the unnatural pause in Gu Ze’s words. She kept her head down, hugging herself tighter.
In such heat, she found herself feeling cold.
She didn't know how to answer Gu Ze's question. It seemed that this was how people were; her initial acquaintances with Gu Ze and a few others had formed a bond through shared dangers, arguments, overcoming challenges, and supporting each other. Yet, this bond, which felt almost like a life-and-death friendship, had been cast aside by her cold heart. As for Zhao Xi, she had only seen his photo and heard a few comments about him, yet she felt an urge to open her heart completely.
But people are selfish. Was it really so wrong for her to be selfish just this once?
Gu Ze, who did he think he was to question her in such a tone? Hmph.
"Xu Nuan."
That sighing voice made it impossible for her to lash out in anger. She had grown accustomed to hiding everything deep within her heart and wouldn’t resort to such actions anymore.
"This is Zhao Xi's choice; it has nothing to do with you. You don't need to feel burdened."
How could she not feel burdened? Given time, she was sure she could come up with a more perfect solution.
Just give her time!
"I've checked. His leg won't heal. Even if he goes out, the best outcome would be fitting him with a prosthetic. He is a talented man who cannot afford any blemish; he refuses the pity of women."
Hmph, talented? Blemish? Charity?
Isn't living itself supposed to bring hope?
Those were not words Zhao Xi would say; those were not words one of Qin Yaojie's friends would say. Gu Ze must be lying to himself—he had to be.
Xu Nuan lifted her head, wanting to question Gu Ze, but why did tears surge forth? She had sworn never to solve problems with tears again; she didn’t want to be weak and become someone who could only be protected.
But Xu Nuan looked up at the man towering over her with tear-filled eyes. If she cried, didn’t that mean she had already made a decision?
Because people are selfish.
“Xu Nuan, don’t feel burdened. This is our joint choice, not just yours.”
In the end, all she heard was that one sentence.
Beautiful River, beautiful things are often deadly.
In Xu Nuan's mind, swamps were vast stretches of withered yellow grass, endless dirty water, and floating plants that were neither yellow nor green. In short, it was a desolate, bleak sight filled with danger lurking everywhere.
However, the scenery before her left her in a daze, overturning all her memories of swamps.
Lush green moss, slightly yellow reeds, and upright bulrushes surrounded a subtly blue lakeshore, creating layers of beauty. Lower down were the slender willows with their graceful branches, the silently observing birch trees, and the spreading lodgepole pines. From low to high and from near to far, they formed an indescribable beauty at the edge of the horizon.
Amidst this tranquil scene, there were occasionally bold field mice darting about, proud cranes and herons standing tall, somewhat clumsy ducks waddling around, and frogs croaking incessantly—creating a harmonious blend of movement and stillness.
Seeing such scenery, Xu Nuan managed to force a smile, trying to relax a little. On the surface, she could pretend to be at ease, but the weight in her heart remained unchanged.
The people standing beside her, gazing at the beautiful view, were deceived by the initial charm of Beautiful River. Now they observed their surroundings with distrust and vigilance as if they wished they could use a magnifying glass to scrutinize every detail.
They seemed to have forgotten the painful memories brought by that previous challenge. Xu Nuan's gaze shifted to Tang Jingshu, who had regained her elegant demeanor. The bright colors of her tactical jacket accentuated the curve of Xu Nuan's lips even more.
This person seemed very happy; Xu Nuan thought so. She no longer remembered Zhao Xi, who had once shared similar suffering with her.
Not only was she cold-hearted, but everyone else was too, especially when it came to unfamiliar people.
However, it was Zhao Xi who had informed them of the existence of the Hidden Level. That was a fact, wasn't it?
Xu Nuan widened her eyes slightly, the pain at the corners effectively stopping her from blurting out her thoughts.
She could hear Deng Yinyin's voice, still powerful and unwavering.
"Everyone be careful. Don't just focus on admiring things; there might be many dangers lurking in the shadows. We can't fall into traps again."
Clearly not forgotten, yet smiling so naturally, Xu Nuan admitted that at this moment, her thoughts began to twist again. The voice that kept shouting inside her urged her to take bold actions and vent her feelings.
She struggled to control her emotions. Just then, she felt a burning gaze upon her; it reminded her of a similar feeling from long ago.
When she turned around, she saw Gu Ze, with a hint of hesitation still lingering on his lips.
Why the hesitation?
Xu Nuan calmly turned back to observe her surroundings. Familiarity with the environment and using it wisely would greatly aid in overcoming challenges. This was the conclusion Xu Nuan had drawn from her experiences over time.
What she needed to do was not wallow in self-pity but to utilize her experience and formulate a quick plan for overcoming obstacles. As for these people, they were merely temporary companions, weren't they?
Xu Nuan convinced herself with this reasoning, making an effort to ignore the guilt flashing in Gu Ze's eyes.
What did he have to feel guilty about? Shouldn't she be the one feeling guilty?
Whether it was for Zhao Xi or the group around him, he felt selfish, and he should feel guilty about himself.
By the time they reached the Changing Swamp, it was already evening. According to their usual habits, this would be the time to start a fire, cook, and then rest to conserve energy.
Since everyone was still unfamiliar with the swamp, they decided to scatter, familiarizing themselves with the environment while looking for some game and firewood. After all, there was still some time before nightfall, so there was no need to rush.
After hearing Xu Hang's words, Xu Nuan unhesitatingly chose to head towards the lakeshore.
"Since we're in a swamp, it's more dangerous the closer we get to the lakeshore. Be careful," Xu Hang said with a stern expression.
Xu Nuan glanced at him with her light-colored eyes and replied ominously with a "hm," which successfully made Xu Hang's brows twitch.
As she approached the lakeshore, Xu Nuan noticed that there were spiders and some nematodes among the reeds and moss near the swamp—creatures she disliked.
Her irritation grew a bit more, and after taking a few more steps forward, Xu Nuan suddenly stopped. With seven parts caution, she turned around sharply and relaxed when she saw that it was Gu Ze following her. However, her tone wasn't very pleasant.
"What are you doing following me?"
Xu Nuan noticed a hint of grievance flash in Gu Ze's eyes after she asked that question.
Come on, seeing a grown man look like that is just pathetic!
Xu Nuan thought to herself, feeling a bit of her annoyance slip away.
Xu Nuan was puzzled. What was Gu Ze feeling wronged about? Had something happened recently that made him feel this way?
Nothing.
Xu Nuan reached her own conclusion in her mind and asked again.
"Why did you follow me?"
This time, her tone was much gentler.
A smile immediately brightened Gu Ze's lips, but the words he wanted to say changed to just two when he noticed the movement in the reeds nearby.
"Heart!"
Xu Nuan also heard the rustling from the reeds. As she listened to the sound slicing through the air, she quickly jumped in the opposite direction, landing right beside Gu Ze. She casually brushed off her clothes and looked up, only to find that the creature attacking her was a grayish Swamp Crane.
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