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墨書 Inktalez
A few hundred meters was the only advantage Xu Hang and Chi Xiaoming had in their race against the cheetahs, and it was a rather pitiful advantage.
In less than a minute, the two were caught up by three cheetahs, one of which had already sprinted ahead of Chi Xiaoming and Xu Hang, seemingly intending to encircle the two stragglers with the others.
In an instant, both of them swiftly climbed up two trees, reaching a considerable height in a flash.
Cheetahs can climb trees too; however, the two experienced leaders had chosen to ascend straight trunks covered in sharp protrusions of the Palm Tree. Their height was something that these animals could not attempt, and it was also extremely dangerous for humans. At that moment, their synergy suddenly improved as they quickly retrieved ropes with hooks from their backpacks and secured them to another tree.
Both understood each other's intentions. Although ordinary cheetahs couldn't reach this height, the creatures in this game defied logic. They needed to be prepared; if a cheetah charged up after them, they could use the hooks to swing to another tree.
This was merely a precaution. Currently, the three cheetahs were just circling below; soon one left, leaving only two that paced back and forth while emitting low growls.
Xu Hang and Chi Xiaoming were surprised that these cheetahs had skipped trying to climb the trees and were merely lingering below.
Neither understood the cheetahs' reasoning but remained vigilant nonetheless. The two remaining cheetahs possessed powerful bodies with long, muscular legs. Their gleaming claws and sharp teeth could easily tear open a human's throat, staining the ground with blood.
The cheetahs' slit pupils glinted with hostility under the sunlight, a different kind of menace than that of humans—an instinctual ferocity. Anyone who locked eyes with them would instinctively feel a chill and hear the call of death.
Chi Xiaoming and Xu Hang fell into a deeper silence. Their personalities and approaches to situations were quite similar; they shared similar views on matters. They both understood the principle of 'if the enemy does not move, I will not move,' tightly gripping the tree trunks as they observed the scene below.
It was stiflingly hot here; even the breeze carried warmth. The sweat trickled down their backs, sticking to their skin. Even though both wore quick-dry clothing, the sweat clung to them like a shadow, weighing heavily on their minds as well.
The sun poured down mercilessly upon this jungle, invading from high above and scorching everything in its path, leaving both animals and humans within this forest groaning in distress.
Time passed second by second, and the sunlight gradually transformed from harsh to gentle, yet the heat of the jungle showed no signs of abating.
The remaining two cheetahs did not leave, nor did they attempt to climb the trees to attack them. As the sunlight waned, they lay lazily on the ground, grooming their fur with their tongues, appearing quite relaxed.
Though the cheetahs seemed at ease, the cold glint in their eyes remained, and their sharp teeth were still chilling.
However, time waits for no one, and forming a team in the so-called Love Forest was not going to be that simple. The two of them felt the change in sunlight and grew anxious, glancing at each other but failing to utter a word.
Due to the circumstances of Friendship Forest, the two teams temporarily merged and maintained their current formation through subsequent challenges. This led to a subtle shift in emotions for both leaders who once admired each other. Neither believed that holding onto the position of leader was necessary in this unusual game. In such an extraordinary setting, teams were naturally unconventional; everyone thought that as long as there was no restriction on only one person claiming the prize, cooperation was the best choice. Yet, once habits were formed, they were hard to change. Both had grown accustomed to giving orders and relied on their teammates to make significant decisions. With two teams, they appreciated each other; but when it came down to one team, inevitably one would have to step back, leading to conflicts.
Chi Xiaoming was an exceptionally talented yet low-key individual. His lack of inclination to actively showcase himself resulted in a very weak presence. A weak presence did not mean he lacked charisma; even when the teams were separate, several people, including Yu Yu, respected him greatly. In this game, whether a person earned respect depended on their abilities.
Chi Xiaoming was indeed capable. At this critical moment, he chose to collaborate with Gu Ze while inching closer to some hidden matters and quietly executing his own plans. He had no intention of sharing these plans with those uninvolved but believed that remaining unnoticed would aid in their implementation. Since he needed to invest considerable effort into his plans, he was quite willing for himself and Yu Yu to belong to Xu Hang's team.
Willingness could change over time, especially as Xu Hang's relationship with Gu Ze became more nuanced; the atmosphere within the team shifted. No matter how much one admired another person, there would always be an instinctive tendency toward exclusion. For the Third Batch of Players, their bond ran deep. They were not just colleagues from the same company who had interacted for three years; they had become each other's support after being designed into the game. Although each person's abilities and personalities became distinct during subsequent challenges, that initial sentiment of relying on each other upon entering the game allowed the Third Batch of Players to advance through it with a different attitude than others.
He had to admit that the Third Batch of Players was extraordinarily unique; neither he nor Gu Ze nor Xu Nuan understood why this uniqueness existed. Regardless, it was a fact that most members of the Third Batch tended toward exclusion. Even Xu Nuan, who could be considered a guide for them, often found herself on the outside looking in. However, as Xu Nuan's secrets gradually came to light, some people had no choice but to accept her. He believed that Xu Nuan was aware of this dynamic and thus maintained an appropriate distance from most people—perhaps so that if betrayal ever occurred one day, the pain and sorrow would be lessened.
Similarly, as time passed and Gu Ze's evident favoritism toward Xu Nuan became apparent, some discord began to emerge within the Third Batch's team. He took note of these tensions but never openly addressed them. He would not associate with those deemed valueless nor engage in actions without merit. Adhering strictly to his values, he executed his plans while discarding all irrelevant individuals—like Zhang Hui and Fan Beibei.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Chi Xiaoming couldn't help but glance at Xu Hang. He saw Xu Hang still expressionless as he surveyed their surroundings while occasionally casting his gaze toward a rope nearby; his eyes held an inscrutable darkness.
It is often said that men who appear taciturn are actually quite passionate beneath the surface—a statement that holds some truth. Chi Xiaoming was not fond of talking but had a rich inner world; in this regard, he found himself once again aligned with Xu Hang.
In his eyes, Xu Hang, once stripped of Gu Ze's support, was merely a simple leader and Player, incapable of guiding the team out of the game. He understood well that Xu Hang was a person who kept his true self hidden. Initially, he thought gaining Gu Ze's backing would be an incredibly difficult task. By Gu Ze's side were his most important brothers and his beloved woman; for an already outstanding man, this was both his motivation to move forward and the foundation of his full potential. However, that night in Friendship Forest had created a rift between Gu Ze and Xu Hang.
Although the two had only fought, conflicts between brothers were different from ordinary relationships; once a fight broke out, it became a serious matter. As an observer, he could only analyze the reasons behind their dispute in simple terms.
Before entering Friendship Forest, he was surprised by Gu Ze's proactive invitation, feeling both astonished and puzzled. It wasn't until that night when Gu Ze and Xu Hang clashed that he finally unraveled that mystery.
Gu Ze and Xu Hang trusted each other deeply, which is why they entrusted their important people to one another's care. During that time, Xu Nuan's mental state was in dire straits—so much so that without someone watching over her, serious issues could arise. Yet at that crucial moment for Gu Ze's plans, he had to personally oversee everything. In fact, without Gu Ze, he couldn't guarantee that those few would lend their assistance in completing such a vital task.
From this observer's perspective, Gu Ze's concern for Xu Nuan stemmed from feelings of affection. However, others—including Xu Hang—saw Xu Nuan as someone who garnered attention due to her knowledge of useful secrets. While this realization was disheartening, it was hardly surprising. Thus, when the exclusionary Third Batch of Players clashed with the mentally unstable Xu Nuan, Xu Hang chose silence. Torn between a brother's plea and personal interests, his internal balance wavered on both sides until he ultimately remained quiet. But when Deng Yinyin also clashed with Xu Nuan, his allegiance tipped toward his own interests; Deng Yinyin became the catalyst for this shift—or perhaps it was Xu Hang’s choice to side with his girlfriend Lan Ling.
Throughout history, heroes have struggled against the allure of beautiful women; this applied to both Gu Ze and Xu Hang. Chi Xiaoming couldn't comprehend this dynamic but found no hindrance in observing it.
Xu Hang's outburst became the last straw for the already overwhelmed Xu Nuan, leading her to lose control and ultimately choose to fight alone. This decision allowed those lurking in the shadows to take advantage of her vulnerability, exacerbating her condition.
Seeing someone he cherished deeply being harmed by his brother forced Gu Ze to explode with emotion. Gu Ze chose Xu Nuan while Xu Hang opted for Lan Ling. From Chi Xiaoming’s perspective, if not for Deng Yinyin’s presence, Gu Ze and Xu Hang would not have reached this point. Unfortunately, the pure brotherhood between these two men was gradually eroded by the game they found themselves in. However, nothing was absolute; Gu Ze did not prevent him from teaming up with Xu Hang, which could be seen as an acknowledgment of Xu Hang’s worth.
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