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墨書 Inktalez
As Xu Nuan looked at the scene before her, she understood what the hint of "changeable" meant in this level.
When they first entered the swamp, they marveled at the beauty that rivaled the grasslands and the abundance of food. However, a fire had ruined their beautiful vision. After walking all day in search of the Special Tree, they found that the scenery had drastically changed, leaving them to respond with a blank expression.
This game is so deceptive!
The moss and reeds still appeared in patches, but taller trees like willows and birches were nowhere to be seen; instead, there were more cattails. The wild ducks, swamp cranes, and geese that Xu Nuan had yet to see were absent, replaced by fearless voles and muskrats. Caterpillars and spiders occasionally emerged from the soil only to burrow back in.
Xu Nuan felt goosebumps all over her body; she would rather face a majestic leopard than these insects—and not to mention the soft-bodied creatures.
Thinking of all the unpleasant images, Xu Nuan shook her head vigorously and unconsciously took a step back. After two steps, someone steadied her shoulder, and a familiar voice with a cheerful tone drifted to her ears on the breeze.
"Be careful; the swamp here is wider than before. Watch your step."
"Mm."
Xu Nuan replied lightly and stepped aside to avoid Gu Ze's hand. He naturally withdrew his hand and then squatted down, pulling out paper and a lighter.
"What are you doing?" Xu Nuan couldn't help but glance at Gu Ze, while several others who approached also looked at him curiously.
"Since this is the Changing Swamp, maybe this area can catch fire," Gu Ze suddenly turned his head and smiled at Xu Nuan, his tone upbeat.
"If it can catch fire, we can have roasted duck."
Xu Nuan felt a bit awkward under that smile and turned her head away, though she couldn't help but think that roasted duck sounded nice.
She didn't watch Gu Ze's actions, but when she heard the click of the lighter and noticed that nothing around them caught fire, she realized that their hopes for roasted duck might be dashed.
"Let's talk about the roast duck later," Xu Hang said as he approached the two, frowning. "I just took a look around, and there’s standing water everywhere. The decaying plants have created a layer of roots that sinks with every step. We should avoid this dangerous area for now."
As he spoke, Xu Hang waved his hand at Deng Yinyin and the others who wanted to come closer, signaling them to take a safer route.
Gu Ze glanced helplessly at the serious Xu Hang before turning back to Xu Nuan, who was pretending to admire the scenery.
"Let’s go; we might still run into a few foolish folks."
"Huh?" Xu Hang looked at Gu Ze in confusion, while Gu Ze waited for Xu Nuan's reaction.
Actually, as soon as Gu Ze said that, Xu Nuan thought of the silly Swamp Crane. She intended to glare to express her feelings, but upon seeing the teasing glint in Gu Ze's eyes, she quickly adopted a calm demeanor, nodded at Xu Hang, and then took a detour onto a more manageable path.
"Huh?" Xu Hang was even more puzzled.
Gu Ze had no intention of clarifying for his friend. He shrugged casually, slung his backpack over his shoulder again, and strode off.
Xu Hang stood still for a moment, took a deep breath, and then hurried after him.
The marshland was indeed difficult to navigate. The six of them supported each other as they walked, yet they still heard cries of "Ah! My foot is stuck!" "Ah! I stepped into another pit!" "Help me steady myself!" echoing around them.
Xu Nuan looked down at her boots; after this trek, they were in such a state that it was hard to look at them. As for the gentlemen in hiking shoes, it was likely that water had already seeped in.
Time passed slowly, and all they could see was vast wilderness—dull yellow interspersed with patches of green. Fluffy tufts drifted overhead, carrying away the desolation behind them; it was a memory of this marshland. Occasionally, a white creature would dart past with its head held high, casting an indifferent glance their way.
A cool breeze came from all directions and went back out again. In what seemed like an endless expanse of wilderness, six distinct figures continued their journey.
Xu Nuan had always relied on the position of the sun to tell time; this game did not provide any clocks or similar devices, ensuring that players would lose track of how long they had been immersed in the experience. The intention was to help everyone forget the outside world and become completely absorbed in the game, driving them into a frenzy on a mental level.
A faint smile crept across Xu Nuan's face as unknown thoughts began to churn in her light-colored eyes. The details that had been continuously overlooked since entering the game started to surface one by one, magnified before her.
Xu Nuan felt a sense of unwillingness, frustrated by many events that had transpired since entering the game. If she was unwilling to accept it, then she would uncover the truth and make those hiding in the Game Control Room reveal their panic.
In that fleeting moment, Xu Nuan felt as though the emptiness within her heart was filled, only to be replaced by an even greater void.
The group continued to support each other as they walked for a while, but soon the sun overhead vanished from sight, and a massive shadow suddenly enveloped them all.
They looked up in unison as dark clouds approached at a visible speed. Before they could react, large raindrops began to fall mercilessly upon them, splashing into the swamp below.
After the raindrops came thunder and lightning; a Purple Dragon soared through the clouds, occasionally tearing the sky open with fierce cracks of thunder that disturbed everyone's ears.
Everyone stood frozen for a few seconds before hastening their pace to run forward. No one cared anymore if their pant legs got muddy or if they fell and struggled to keep themselves from hitting the ground awkwardly.
In this desolate swamp, stretching endlessly in all directions, there was not even a place to shelter from the rain.
The group ran aimlessly through the downpour.
Through the thin fabric of her Tactical Jacket's hood, Xu Nuan could already feel her hair becoming damp and sticky, an uncomfortable sensation that made her grimace. The dull pain radiating from her back caused her to furrow her brow briefly before relaxing again.
As Xu Nuan scanned her surroundings in hopes of finding a place to take cover from the rain, a hand reached out toward her. The owner of the hand spoke immediately after.
"Use your binoculars; let's find somewhere to shelter before moving on."
Xu Nuan's gaze lingered on Gu Ze's serious face for a few seconds before she swiftly set down her backpack and handed him the binoculars. Gu Ze took them and paused, effectively utilizing the tool.
The binoculars were only provided at the First Level; hers had been lost in the desert, and this one belonged to Zhao Xi.
Xu Nuan pressed her hand against her chest as a wave of pain spread from her heart outward. The things she desperately wanted to forget always seemed to hide in some corner of her memory, only to leap out when she relaxed, relishing the expression of anguish on her face.
There was no time for sentimentality.
Xu Nuan blinked hard, her gaze following Gu Ze's movements. Finally, he stopped, and his expression softened.
"I found a grove; it should be enough to shelter us from the rain."
Cheers erupted among the group as they quickly adjusted their direction and continued onward.
Xu Nuan and Gu Ze fell behind, the raindrops hitting their faces—painful but bearable. When she saw Gu Ze pass the binoculars back to her, Xu Nuan heard her own voice.
"Keep them with you; give them back to me after you clear the level."
But could she ask this person, who should be trustworthy, to share just a little of the pain regarding Zhao Xi's departure?
Or would he agree?
"Okay."
He agreed without hesitation, revealing his usual warm smile that dispelled the cold.
A strange person, Xu Nuan, stepped aside and strode forward, trying to catch up with Tang Jingshu and the others.
Clearly warm like sunlight, yet as tough as a boulder, he appeared approachable on the surface but could be quite intimidating when serious. He would do kind things that seemed unbelievable, yet he could also watch coldly from the sidelines. A complex individual, adept at navigating both the real world and this game.
Ah, what a cunning person.
The group arrived at a low-lying Lodgepole Pine forest, completely soaked, and the gaps between the trees were quite wide, which was not good news.
Deng Yinyin's face immediately darkened as she looked around in frustration.
"Are we really going to be stuck in the rain?" Xie Huai couldn't help but complain.
However, Gu Ze and Xu Hang exchanged glances and, with perfect understanding, took out their clever tent and waterproof cover.
"Although it’s not much, we should be able to create a sheltered area. Let’s make do together."
Gu Ze stretched out his hands and elegantly shook them; the fabric rolled out smoothly in an instant. In no time, Xu Hang found a suitable spot to tie up the tent fabric and set it up.
Xu Nuan and Tang Jingshu exchanged glances as well; they had brought similar tents and some ropes that would come in handy now.
With tools and suggestions in hand, the group decided to give it a try. They quickly divided tasks, each standing in their assigned spots, taking action with the tents and waterproof covers.
The rain fell heavily, and with the swamp already waterlogged, Xu Nuan felt as if she were submerged in an ocean.
She hated water and despised this situation.
Six People worked together, and the envisioned rain shelter quickly began to take shape. However, fate was never on their side, or perhaps that was just how this Game Base was set up. A sudden gust of wind swept through, instantly ruining all their hard work after they had exhausted themselves.
Xu Nuan felt as if she might be blown away. Just as that thought crossed her mind, she saw the rain shelter they had finally managed to set up begin to disperse, with several parts threatening to be carried off by the wind.
“Quick, grab them!”
Xu Nuan shouted urgently, her voice quickly drowned out by the howling wind. Several crucial pieces of fabric were already being whisked away.
A wave of dizziness suddenly hit her. Xu Nuan staggered back a few steps, clutching a piece of fabric she had barely managed to snatch. On the surface, she appeared shocked by the situation before her, but in reality, she lightly shook her head; she had overestimated her own strength.
“I’m done. After all this hard work, it’s all ruined in an instant. I’d rather sleep in the rain tonight.”
Deng Yinyin sulked as she sat down on the ground, her large backpack carelessly tossed beside her.
Tang Jingshu hurried over to pull her up. “Deng Yinyin, the ground is wet; you’ll get sick.”
Deng Yinyin pouted, ready to retort with more sulky words when she caught sight of Xu Hang looking at her disapprovingly. Given his authoritative presence, Deng Yinyin reluctantly got back on her feet.
A moment of silence followed.
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