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墨書 Inktalez
"What is this?"
"Cassava."
"Oh, the one we had last time? It tasted alright. Let's dig some up quickly!"
"And what about this?"
"Probably a banana... just a bit unripe."
"Pick it, pick it! We can roast it!"
"Xu Nuan, come over and look! I found this. What is it?"
"It should be Cocoa Fruit."
"Pick it, pick it!"
With Deng Yinyin's active discovery and Xu Nuan's better identification, the two of them returned to their agreed spot, arms full of spoils.
The rain had lessened considerably, but they couldn't tell what time it was, nor did they know how long they had drifted at sea.
As dawn approached, there was no need to turn on the flashlight just yet. Xu Hang and Xie Huai huddled together near some low trees. Above the treetops, long branches stretched out, and they gathered many broad leaves to cover the top. Finally, they took out a waterproof cover to secure several key spots, creating a makeshift shelter.
This area was relatively far from the shallows, so the ground was not damp and was quite acceptable.
Gu Ze and Tang Jingshu, who were instructed to rest and recover, still couldn't sit still. One was tending to the fire while the other used a large leaf to shield the flames from the rain.
The firewood was damp, and even after splashing some alcohol on it, the smoke was thicker than the flame. However, for Xu Nuan and Deng Yinyin, who had managed to retrieve some food, all they needed was heat.
Huddled under the makeshift shelter, they hastily ate some food to fill their stomachs. Only then did they feel somewhat alive again. They each found a spot to lie down, bundled in their clothes and wearing hats. A few of them were so exhausted that they fell asleep almost immediately.
After a while, the rain stopped, but the sky remained dim and foggy. Xu Nuan guessed that it must be morning, which meant they had drifted at sea all night.
Thinking about Deng Yinyin's words regarding the food they were searching for made Xu Nuan restless. Fortunately, she was lying on the outer edge of the group, so when she got up to move around, she didn't wake anyone else.
Stepping out of the temporary shelter, Xu Nuan glanced back at the five who had fallen into slumber. She looked at the pile of backpacks and ran her fingers through her still-damp hair before making her way toward the shallows.
The gentle waves lapped against the shore, washing over the pebbles. Occasionally, a few seagulls waddled along the beach searching for food but quickly took flight upon noticing Xu Nuan's approach.
As she walked along the shoreline, she spotted a boat that had weathered a storm lying on the sand. A rope connected it to a large rock. The marks left by shark bites were still visible, as were the scars from wind and rain. A few seagulls perched on top, tilting their heads as they surveyed their surroundings. A couple of pitiful oars lay nearby.
Xu Nuan stopped in her tracks and didn’t approach any closer; instead, she turned to face the sea.
The ocean appeared gray after the rain, shrouded in mist in the distance. Occasionally, a few dark shapes emerged like ink blots on paper. Unfortunately, what it conveyed was not poetic beauty but rather a sense of oppression.
The grayness weighed heavily on her already burdened heart.
Raising her right hand, she slipped on the Tail Ring that fit snugly on her finger. The silver surface flickered with numbers from time to time—this was the only item related to Qin Yaojie that she had brought into the game.
Frowning slightly, Xu Nuan recalled what Qin Yaojie had said when this product was developed.
"It’s just a prototype; this Tail Ring has several research directions. Looking back now, making it into a thermometer seems like overkill. Well then, we won’t mass-produce it."
Qin Yaojie conducted the experiment in front of her, and at the same time, he denied the results of the research team, yet he gave her the very ring they had developed first.
Xu Nuan lowered her gaze with a faint smile, tinged with bitterness.
When Qin Yaojie first took out the ring, she thought he was going to propose. At that moment, Qin Yaojie looked serious and nervous. However, her joy was short-lived as she soon realized he was merely conducting an experiment.
“Disappointed, aren’t you?”
Xu Nuan murmured softly. Back then, she had forced a smile and encouraged Qin Yaojie to continue with his experiments, not daring to let her disappointment show on her face.
She remembered that they were in the rented house they had decorated together. The walls were adorned with paintings of Bellflowers, and a vase of Flower Tobacco sat on the table—simple yet warm.
The house was close to the church, and every morning they could hear the sound of bells ringing. Even Xu Nuan, who did not believe in God, would pause her activities and silently recite a few lines. In those moments, her heart felt calm and peaceful.
And Xu Nuan knew that it was because he was by her side that she felt at ease.
The mist from the sea seemed to envelop her, and Xu Nuan noticed a coolness on her face. Though her body had reached its limit, her thoughts refused to stop.
“Ugh, when will this end?”
Xu Nuan blinked and stared blankly at the sea for a moment before turning to head back.
As she turned around, she spotted a man sitting not far away who needed rest due to his injuries. He was throwing stones into the water with an indifferent expression.
Xu Nuan immediately suppressed all emotions from her face, returning to a calm demeanor as she walked back. She paused briefly as she passed Gu Ze, hesitating for a moment before continuing on her way.
After walking a short distance, Xu Nuan couldn't help but turn back, noticing that Gu Ze was still sitting there throwing stones. After a moment's thought, she lifted her foot and walked toward him.
She stopped about a meter away and hesitated for a while before speaking up.
"The ground is wet. If you don't get up soon, you'll end up with a lot of aftereffects."
A smile immediately appeared at the corners of Gu Ze's lips as he turned his head to look up at Xu Nuan.
"My wound hurts. I can't stand up."
His strange tone sent shivers down Xu Nuan's spine.
Considering someone's past heroic deeds, Xu Nuan refrained from saying, "If you know it hurts, why did you sit down?" Instead, she reluctantly extended her hand.
"This should help you get up."
Gu Ze looked at the fair and slender hand reaching out to him and burst into laughter, his bright eyes nearly turning into crescent moons.
"I was just kidding. You actually believed that?"
Xu Nuan was furious and turned to leave. After taking two steps, she remembered something and silently walked back to continue looking down at Gu Ze.
"I want to ask you something."
"What is it?"
Gu Ze tilted his head back and smiled, while Xu Nuan felt a sense of familiarity with the scene before her. Memories from the initial encounter in the volcanic area flooded her mind. Ignoring the dampness around her, she mimicked Gu Ze's posture and sat down before turning her head to look at him.
"You..." Xu Nuan stared at Gu Ze with an inexplicable expression, struggling to articulate the words that lingered on her tongue.
"What do you think of this game?"
After taking a deep breath, those few words escaped Xu Nuan's lips.
As soon as she spoke, Xu Nuan wanted to slap herself. This wasn't some pretentious game; asking such a question felt awkward and gave Gu Ze a reason to tease her.
To her surprise, Gu Ze began to ponder seriously, one hand rubbing his chin, his dark eyes unusually gentle and calm at that moment.
Xu Nuan found herself anticipating Gu Ze's answer, as if seeking solace in this cruel game.
After a while, Gu Ze finally spoke slowly.
"It's a powerful and brutal game," he paused for a moment, "but also very interesting."
None of those three adjectives were negative.
Considering Gu Ze's behavior since entering the game, Xu Nuan should have guessed that he didn't despise it; rather, he seemed to find joy in it. Even when he was injured, he appeared to be enjoying himself.
Xu Nuan was startled by her own thoughts. How could someone enjoy themselves even while getting hurt?
"My view is completely opposite," Xu Nuan squinted slightly as she gazed out at the sea surface, where several white seagulls flew closer from afar.
"This is a game with a dark sense of humor, forcing humanity to confront its darker side."
Upon hearing this, Gu Ze chuckled lightly, his laughter holding little significance.
"Dark humor is used to describe people. A designer can be darkly humorous, perverse, psychologically twisted, but once the game was created, it became independent; it has a life of its own."
Xu Nuan was surprised by such a serious tone. When she turned to look at Gu Ze's expression, she found him slightly tilting his head, gazing into the dim sky.
"People will eventually have to face their darker sides. The game merely catalyzes this; even in real society, that side will eventually erupt. There’s no difference, is there?"
Being countered in her opinion left Xu Nuan feeling somewhat frustrated. However, with as many players as there were, there were just as many viewpoints. Just moments ago, she had secretly criticized Gu Ze's perspective in her mind.
"It sounds reasonable, but why do I feel like you're defending this game? Given your demeanor, I'm starting to have my doubts."
Xu Nuan deliberately made a vague remark, using words to entrap him; it would be more effective than directly confronting him.
"Doubting what?"
Gu Ze suddenly leaned closer to Xu Nuan, the slight lift of his eyes carrying a different meaning. Xu Nuan had no choice but to lean back, her hands pressing against the sandy ground to avoid Gu Ze.
"Can you not get so close? I really don’t want to think of you as inherently rogue."
Xu Nuan tried her best to maintain a serious tone while intentionally ignoring Gu Ze's question.
Yet Gu Ze did not retreat as she had hoped; he continued to lean in closer, inching forward as she leaned back.
"Those who think about things are essentially rogues, aren't they?"
Xu Nuan twitched her lips. "With a smooth tongue like yours, how can those salespeople survive?"
"Heh heh."
Gu Ze chuckled lightly, his smile blooming like a flower. It was beautiful, yet it made Xu Nuan feel flustered, prompting her to speak quickly.
"If you have so much energy, why not circle this island and see if there’s a Special Tree? It would be a contribution to the team."
After saying that, Xu Nuan felt her face flush. Such righteous words didn't suit her at all.
"Sure, I’d be happy to, but I'm injured. To avoid fainting while searching for the Special Tree, I’d appreciate it if you could accompany me. How about that?"
Xu Nuan finally experienced what it meant to shoot oneself in the foot.
What a gentle gentleman, an elegant man—this person was clearly a cunning fox.
Following Gu Ze, Xu Nuan silently ground her teeth.
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