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墨書 Inktalez
In the midst of the Heavy Rain, everyone was fleeing once again, unaware of the lurking unknown creatures around them. After much turmoil, the Surprise Tree finally appeared, with the Safe standing ahead, waiting for everyone to arrive.
However, the appearance of the Special Tree did not bring any respite from the Heavy Rain. Everyone had already been drenched in the earlier chaos and now felt uncomfortable all over. They could only rely on the thin cover of the rainforest as they stood beneath the tree, occasionally flinching at the flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder.
The large tree attracted both wind and lightning, and while everyone understood this principle, they were reluctant to leave the Special Tree behind. Caught in their conflicting thoughts, they could only look anxiously at Xu Hang and Gu Ze, waiting for their instructions.
Xu Nuan felt light-headed and couldn't quite hear what Xu Hang and the others were discussing. With her current wisdom and experience, she couldn't discern any clues about their situation. Whether these encounters were pre-designed by the System or modified based on their performance, she could only passively accept it all.
"Are you okay?"
In a moment of confusion, she heard a voice that jolted her awake. Turning around, she saw Qi Huan standing beside her. The orange-yellow raincoat made Qi Huan's face appear somewhat pale, adding a touch of delicate beauty to her already lovely features, though her slightly cold demeanor tempered that charm.
"I'm fine."
Xu Nuan's voice was instantly drowned out by the sound of rain pounding against the ground. Neither she nor Qi Huan noticed anything unusual in that voice.
"What... do you plan to do next?"
After hesitating for a moment, Xu Nuan could only ask this question. She and Qi Huan were merely acquaintances, and Qi Huan seemed indifferent to the news released by Wang Huacheng and others. They would not become companions nor enemies; this brief encounter might be fleeting, with no guarantee of a future reunion.
"Keep pushing forward."
Qi Huan smiled slightly, providing Xu Nuan with the answer she had anticipated.
"I'll take it one step at a time; I won't force anything."
In that instant, Xu Nuan thought she saw Tang Jingshu and then imagined He Min standing before her greeting her. A pang of bitterness filled her heart, prompting Xu Nuan to ask a few more questions.
"Would you mind telling me about what happened before? How did you meet Wu Wu?"
Xu Nuan noticed He Min glancing in their direction from not far away. The look in He Min's eyes was devoid of strong emotions—seemingly casual yet carrying an ambiguous meaning when combined with He Min's earlier private conversation with Qi Huan.
Qi Huan raised her arm slightly, appearing somewhat helpless.
"I just happened to pass by and discovered that Wu Wu had killed Gold Breakthrough, while Wang Huacheng had run away. As a result, I became the target of Wu Wu."
Even in the midst of a brutal game, Qi Huan resembled a lotus flower slowly blooming, exuding a sense of calmness that was rare in such an environment, yet it was difficult to discern whether it was good or bad.
"On my own, I can't defeat Wu Wu. I can only lead him in circles to wear down his strength before making a desperate strike, and that's when I ran into you all."
It was a reasonable explanation, but it slightly contradicted Qi Huan's earlier warning to everyone about Wu Wu's impending explosion. Xu Nuan hesitated for a moment, her indecision leading to a lack of clarity in her actions. In this regard, she felt she could learn from Deng Yinyin. Just then, she heard Deng Yinyin asking He Min a question.
"Why did you and that girl avoid everyone earlier?"
"What are we going to do now?"
Deng Yinyin's questions came one after another with renewed energy, while He Min responded somewhat coldly, seemingly logical yet intentionally avoiding something.
"I don't know; let's just follow their arrangements."
"Hey, why are you like this?"
Deng Yinyin muttered a few more words before her voice trailed off.
Qi Huan's body trembled slightly, but since she was wearing a raincoat, the subtle movement went unnoticed.
When Xu Nuan shifted her gaze back, Qi Huan's expression had returned to its usual calmness.
"I know you're curious about something, and I'm willing to answer. But if you don't ask, how would I know?"
Qi Huan's smile was familiar, her words even more astonishing. In that fleeting moment of insight, Xu Nuan began to understand.
Not asking meant not receiving answers. Perhaps the other party was simply waiting for her inquiry. Her misguided attempts at consideration had only widened the gap between them. If it ultimately turned into an insurmountable chasm, there would be no room for reconciliation.
This momentary distraction passed quickly as Xu Nuan seized the opportunity to ask.
"How did you know about Wu Wu? What do you think about the rumors circulating regarding Wang Huacheng and the others?"
"Ah."
Qi Huan chuckled lightly, and the depth of her weathered eyes made Xu Nuan feel inexplicably guilty, as if all her thoughts were laid bare before this woman who was six years her senior.
"There are many things that can't be explained in a short time, and even if I did explain, you might not believe me," Qi Huan said, seemingly sensing Xu Nuan's discomfort. She withdrew her gaze, her tone as calm as the rain. "What I think is that your enemies are very powerful and ruthless. It's not just Wu Wu; there are other Designers as well. They all have a ticking time bomb inside them. Until their value is completely drained, the Designers will remain safe."
Xu Nuan was stunned. She indeed had doubts about Qi Huan's words, but even attributing one percent credibility to what she said was enough to shock her. She wanted to ask more questions but realized that Qi Huan had already clearly refused to elaborate.
If she didn’t ask, there would be no answer; if she did ask, the power to respond lay in the other person's hands. Xu Nuan sighed softly and met Qi Huan's approving gaze, waiting for her next explanation.
"However, I can't understand why Wu Wu has become like that, almost like a Zombie."
Xu Nuan's heart jolted. The answer to this question seemed to have been given by Chi Xiaoming not long ago, but like Qi Huan, both had directed their revelations at her.
Why was it her?
A hint of confusion flickered in Xu Nuan's eyes, which only elicited a smile from Qi Huan; she had no intention of clarifying things for her.
Yet Xu Nuan already knew enough about Another Founder’s actions. Although the secret passage was an escape route for the Designers, that person had already severed it in advance. So, would Wu Wu also be drugged? Was it double insurance? Or was there something else unknown?
This doubt arose but was quickly suppressed by Xu Nuan; this was not the time for distractions—she wasn't strong enough for that yet.
"As for that news," Qi Huan's smile faded slightly, tinged with a hint of helplessness. "The information from Game Base is too closed off and can easily be exploited by Well-Meaning Persons. Many things can be believed or dismissed based on countless reasons; I can't really comment on it."
"True."
Xu Nuan quickly collected herself and responded affirmatively before adding another thought.
"But you don't believe it because you simply don't care."
Xu Nuan's unexpected remark left Qi Huan momentarily stunned before she broke into a wry smile and adjusted her collar.
"You still see through things just like before. However, sometimes seeing too clearly can lead one deeper into the mire."
"Um? Are you speaking in riddles? Do I need to ask you directly for clarification?"
For some reason, talking with Qi Huan eased her tension significantly. The tightness in her nerves relaxed, and the casual demeanor she adopted while finding a solution was hard to conceal.
Qi Huan smiled quietly, choosing not to comment on it.
In this brief moment, Gu Ze and Xu Hang had already come up with a plan. The long-abandoned telescope was put to use again, and the unreliable Tracking Ring was activated.
As Wang Huacheng and Fang Zheng, who were barely hanging on to life, sparkled with strange light in their eyes, Xu Nuan sensed something was off. Reflecting on the actions of the other Players over the past few days, she even suspected they had walked into a major trap.
Qi Huan had her back turned to Gu Ze and the others, unaware of their movements. When she noticed Xu Nuan's expression tense up again, curiosity piqued her interest. However, as she turned around, her gaze collided directly with He Min's, causing her body to tremble slightly once more.
"Actually, I have one more question that might seem a bit intrusive."
The unusual tension in Qi Huan was unknown to anyone. Xu Nuan's words compelled her to turn back; it was basic courtesy.
Meeting Xu Nuan's gaze, the question reached her ears.
"Have you had any other interactions with Amin?"
There was a pause—subtle and probing. Qi Huan could see through Xu Nuan's thoughts clearly, but unfortunately, she couldn't act on that insight.
Time rewound to several minutes earlier when she and He Min were at an impasse. It was indeed a standoff, yet both exchanged only a few emotionless words. However, those few words revealed their hidden cards.
"You know?"
The truth was that He Min's icy glare at that moment was chilling. Known for her gentle and gracious demeanor, He Min had shown her true colors after being tempered by the game. Yet her acting skills were so exceptional that those around her hardly noticed. No, a few did catch on.
"I didn't know before."
Qi Huan distinctly remembered feeling a thin layer of sweat forming in her palm as she spoke those words. She knew He Min would understand her vague statement.
While she hadn't known about her relationship with that person before, during their second confrontation, she finally grasped it. This marked their third clash—too quiet like the surface of a calm lake while turbulent currents swirled beneath.
"Indeed, I wasn't seeing things back then."
He Min smirked at that moment, her cool and thin smile sending chills down Qi Huan's spine, even though she had weathered many storms. Yet, she stood there resolutely.
"What's the point? If you had made the same choice as I did, you wouldn't be suffering like this."
The cold words and the chilling smile made Qi Huan, who rarely lost her temper, feel an urge to explode.
"I'm not you; I don't lack shame."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she sensed trouble. The murderous intent in He Min's eyes was about to spill over. However, He Min was a clever person who wouldn't easily dirty her hands. She quickly regained her previous calmness.
"Think what you will. But, Qi Huan, you are a smart person."
Yes, she was a smart person, aware of when to make choices that would be beneficial. Therefore, her answer was quite clear.
"If we both encountered each other while facing challenges alone, I suppose that counts as an intersection."
That was how she responded to Xu Nuan, but it lacked the casual ease of their previous conversations. No one could know that behind her facade lay a burning heat, the intense gaze making her hands feel restless.
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