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墨書 Inktalez
As the Western Twilight was gradually consumed by darkness, Xu Nuan and her companions found their path increasingly obstructed by dense trees and bushes.
Just a short while ago, they had faced their first vote under the principle of "The Minority Obeys the Majority." Three seemingly identical paths lay before them, each leading to different destinations and determining the kinds of landscapes and beasts they would encounter along the way.
Previously, they had encountered several forks in the road, but at those times, the System had remained silent, allowing them to follow the captain's lead. However, at this junction, the System suddenly spoke up, demanding that they vote according to the rules.
It was an obvious trap!
Everyone realized that as soon as the System opened its mouth, it had already dug a pit for them to fall into. Except for Fan Beibei and her few companions, everyone else had their own opinions. Knowing there was a trap ahead, they fell into their own judgments. For instance, one path appeared wider while another seemed to have fewer tall trees; such thoughts influenced their decisions.
This was not what Xu Nuan had hoped for. She initially intended for Gu Ze to choose a path first, with everyone else following his lead. That way, they would surely be on the right track.
However, things did not go as planned. When faced with potential danger that could threaten their lives, most of them chose to trust only themselves.
After making their choices, they did not select the path that Gu Ze had approved. Yet after the decision was made, Gu Ze secretly informed Xu Nuan that their chosen path was generally aligned with the correct direction and would not pose a problem.
Xu Nuan merely pursed her lips in silence. Wasn't it true that everyone in their original team trusted Gu Ze and Xu Hang? Yet now they all made choices different from Gu Ze's. In the end, it was three votes against five against one that determined their subsequent route. Xu Nuan felt a mix of frustration and pity for Gu Ze but ultimately decided it wasn't worth getting upset over this single choice. No one could guarantee that Gu Ze's selected path was safer; the route they were currently on was indeed unsafe. She shouldn't let dissatisfaction fester from the very first choice; if she were to be the first to explode over this thoroughly analyzed rule, it would be disastrous.
She didn't want to complain or be angry with He Min, Deng Yinyin, or Xie Huai; it was just that a sense of discontent began to creep out from a corner of her heart, wanting to surface in a more noticeable way.
As their path grew narrower and more plants blocked their way, Xu Nuan finally broke down and let her displeasure show on her face.
The key point was that Xie Huai, Deng Yinyin, He Min, and Yu Yu—who had chosen this path—were openly complaining about having made a wrong choice.
But it was their four votes plus Fan Beibei's choice made in her unconscious state through Yu Yu that led them down this road; why should anyone else complain?
With thoughts of Gu Ze's secret actions at noon and her dissatisfaction with the rules swirling in her mind, Xu Nuan felt increasingly unhappy about how everyone seemed oblivious to the System's intentions during their first choice. This displeasure manifested on her face, casting a shadow over her demeanor.
The others couldn't help but notice. Xu Hang and Chi Xiaoming were surprised to see Xu Nuan express such emotions so openly but didn't think much beyond that. Gu Ze remained unaware that he was one of the factors contributing to Xu Nuan's feelings; he offered her some comforting words. However, for Xu Nuan, whose mind was clouded by negativity at that moment, it felt like adding fuel to the fire.
Xie Huai looked somewhat awkward and rubbed his nose without saying anything.
Deng Yinyin was pulling He Min, seeking approval.
"Even if you choose another path, it might not be any safer than this one."
He Min had no response, but Yu Yu smiled and chimed in, appearing unbothered by the conversation.
Xu Nuan suppressed her anger, striving to remain calm. Deng Yinyin's point was not without merit; Xu Nuan couldn't guarantee absolute correctness either. However, dissatisfaction spread like a virus, quietly multiplying in a short time and invading other parts of her being, irritating her.
Trees and bushes blocked the path, forcing them to bend down and crawl under the trunks or laboriously chop their way through with axes. Compared to the relaxed morning, this afternoon was exhausting.
The evening glow at the horizon was about to be completely swallowed, and they had no idea what awaited them ahead. After making little progress throughout the afternoon, they were compelled to stop and consider resting.
Just as Xu Hang was about to suggest a break for everyone, the System's voice echoed again, demanding they continue following the rules: The Minority Obeys the Majority. It was a choice between resting or moving forward.
This time, the answer was unanimous, but it only heightened Xu Nuan's irritation and dissatisfaction. It felt like everything they did was manipulated by the System, which was frustrating. The key issue was that the System didn't always dictate whether they followed the rules; such unpredictability only served to annoy the Players more.
"Even deciding whether to rest has to follow rules—how ridiculous!"
Xu Nuan sat near a bush with her backpack, completely unaware that she had exposed her back in a direction without companions.
Her voice was low; the others could barely hear her. Gu Ze approached but didn't know how to comfort Xu Nuan. He understood that she was aware of what the System was plotting and what they needed to consider when making decisions. Therefore, reasoning wouldn't help her; she simply couldn't control her emotions at that moment.
This version of Xu Nuan felt somewhat unfamiliar. Whether it was during her lively university days or after becoming more rational and calm through gaming experiences, she had never been one to say things that would shake team morale or throw tantrums.
He sensed something was off. Was Xu Nuan on the brink of some strange transformation? There were likely many factors contributing to this change, but he couldn't pinpoint the main one.
Just thinking about that critical matter made him realize he couldn't keep an eye on Xu Nuan all the time. He could only ask Xu Hang to occasionally look after her so he could have enough time to deal with that issue.
"Let's eat something and rest early."
Gu Ze decided he would stay until he saw Xu Nuan fall asleep before leaving.
"Well, I know."
What he didn't realize was that even during this turbulent time, Xu Nuan was paying close attention to his every move. They both understood each other's feelings but had little opportunity to truly connect, leading to a paradox of knowing yet not knowing one another.
Before falling asleep, Xu Nuan hardly interacted with anyone else. He Min seemed to be making some progress with Yu Yu, as they were always glued together. She respected Xu Hang, but found it difficult to engage in conversation with his serious demeanor. Not to mention Chi Xiaoming, who always seemed on the verge of speaking but never did, choosing instead to hide his presence.
She had grown accustomed to chatting with Gu Ze before bed, but tonight she was unwilling to talk. She feared that any question she asked would come off as annoying, and she was well aware of this tendency in herself. Deep down, she hoped Gu Ze would notice her silence, yet she could see a hint of worry in his expression.
Gu Ze was secretly planning something important behind her back, or so she believed. He had the demeanor of a leader, always calm under pressure, so if he looked anxious, it must be significant. At that moment, Xu Nuan speculated that whatever Gu Ze was planning had to do with entering the game and his agreement with his father; that must be his true objective.
Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming urge to grab Gu Ze's sleeve and ask him about it. The frustration brewing inside her threatened to spill over, but she held back when she saw the unchanged look in his eyes.
Determined to trust Gu Ze and avoid doing anything foolish, Xu Nuan curled up in her sleeping bag with this thought in mind. Before long, she fell asleep without realizing that several people had left the Temporary Campsite, including Gu Ze who had been sleeping beside her.
The sound of burning branches had a rhythmic quality that lulled her to sleep. When someone used to falling asleep to such sounds suddenly found them absent, it created a hollow feeling inside—a sense of having lost something important.
When the crackling sounds ceased altogether, Xu Nuan jolted awake. The night sky loomed dark above her. Wiping the sweat from her forehead with one hand, she turned over to check on Gu Ze only to find an empty sleeping bag.
The inside of the sleeping bag was cold as if it had never been used at all. Beside it lay Gu Ze's backpack, standing silently and making Xu Nuan's heart feel heavy.
Realizing what this meant, Xu Nuan sat up and glanced around; two others were also missing—He Min and Yu Yu.
If Gu Ze hadn’t fallen asleep and left his backpack behind, then he hadn’t truly left.
"Another secret kept from me."
Xu Nuan covered her face with her hands, whispering softly enough not to disturb anyone around her.
Pain flickered through her clear eyes before they dulled into a lifeless gaze.
She turned her head to look at Gu Ze's sleeping bag again and then at Xu Hang lying nearby. Remembering the way Xu Hang had avoided her gaze during the day and recalling how Gu Ze always seemed to watch over her, she tried calling out to Xu Hang.
“Xu Hang.”
The voice was soft, but not soft enough to wake the sleeping Deng Yinyin and Xie Huai. As for Chi Xiaoming on the other side, Xu Nuan couldn’t observe him.
Xu Hang’s body trembled lightly, but he didn’t turn around.
Xu Nuan realized that Xu Hang knew something about Gu Ze. What could Xu Hang know that she did not?
Lowering her gaze, Xu Nuan felt at a loss for words.
However, Xu Hang’s reaction told her that Gu Ze was not in danger. Just as Gu Ze cared for his brother Xu Hang, Xu Hang also deeply cared for Gu Ze. This bond of brotherhood had been vividly demonstrated over the past few days.
Based on Xu Hang’s reaction and the fact that Gu Ze left only after she fell asleep, she should have just laid back down and continued sleeping. But she didn’t want to do that. In that moment, she felt compelled to press Xu Hang for answers.
Just this once, she thought to herself, just ask him secretly.
And in the end, she really did just that. Leaving her sleeping bag, she stood up and slowly walked toward Xu Hang. Hearing her footsteps, Xu Hang sat up and looked at Xu Nuan with a heavy gaze.
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