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墨書 Inktalez
I pointed in the direction of the Underground River downstream.
"You should be quite familiar with this space. If you haven't found a third exit in the areas you've already explored, then it must be there, at the end of the Underground River, in the space on the other side of the Dam."
"What evidence do you have? Are you just guessing?"
"Years ago, during the rebellion among your people, you lost that piece of iron. At the same time, Secondary Mutant Creatures began to flood out of the Underground Cavern. The two events are not a coincidence.
My judgment is that the rebels among your tribe took advantage of the chaos to lead Secondary Mutant Creatures into the end of the Underground River. They had that piece of iron, allowing them to freely enter and exit near the Eternal Gate. They brought the Secondary Mutant Creatures into the space across from the Dam and used that exit to release them, causing even greater chaos. Clearly, they succeeded.
If there is another exit in this underground space, it can only be there. It is evident that there is indeed a third exit."
Tang Yumo looked at the direction I was pointing, silent. The expression on her face made it clear to me that she was struggling internally.
"There’s one thing you don’t need to worry about: the Secondary Mutant Creatures here will not leave the Underground Cavern." Seeing Tang Yumo's thoughts beginning to waver, I quickly started to guide her.
I had no intention of killing her and the other two Hakka People. Although we were at odds with them and there was almost no room for reconciliation, I couldn't bring myself to kill defenseless individuals.
At the same time, I couldn't let them leave either. They were too familiar with this place, and I didn't know what they would do once out of my sight. Would they deal with the Secondary Mutant Creatures in the Underground Cavern or ambush us from the shadows? If they focused on us, their threat would far exceed that of any Monster in the Underground Cavern.
Thus, keeping them within my sight was the safest option. Of course, if I could convince them and dissolve our hostility, that would be the best outcome. Even a temporary alliance would be better than opposition.
Moreover, I had no interest in maintaining a long-term alliance with the Hakka People; they were too mysterious for my liking, making me feel insecure about such allies.
"If the third exit is near the Eternal Gate, then it's impossible for the Secondary Mutant Creatures in the Underground Cavern to leave this place. Just like you—without that piece of iron, no one can enter near the Eternal Gate unless you're not telling me the truth.
You should seriously consider everything, including the authenticity of the information you've given me. My current judgments are based on what you've provided; their truthfulness and accuracy will determine our fate.
Leaving this place and finding the source of Secondary Mutation is our guiding principle. I have no intention of fighting these Monsters as long as they don't leave here."
"To be honest, coming here was an accident, perhaps a misunderstanding. I have more urgent matters to attend to. I need to go to Lop Nur; one of my colleagues is trapped there. Wasting even a minute here could mean missing the chance to rescue him. I don't have time to wait."
"Is it the person with the Eternal Gate key? You’re going to save him?" Tang Yumo's eyes lit up.
"No. The person I'm trying to save is someone else. This person might have been trapped while searching for the one who took that iron into the underground of Lop Nur. Alright, I'll tell you—this person is Xiao Ting's father and also my colleague."
"Is it because of Xiao Ting?"
I felt a pang in my heart. Are all women this nosy? What kind of time is this? She still has the mind to care about such matters.
"I have neither the intention nor the ability to destroy your sacred place, nor could I ever destroy your Village. You don’t need to be wary of me. Of course, I’m not interested in helping you eliminate the Monster in the Underground Cavern; that’s something you’ll have to handle yourselves. If you don’t have any additional information or modifications to provide, my action plan won’t change either. You should think seriously about it." I quickly pulled her thoughts back from the irrelevant.
"I didn’t misjudge; you will inevitably destroy our sacred place. It’s fate."
"Forget about fate; I don’t believe in such abstract things. I believe in myself, and I know exactly what I'm doing and what I will do."
"Perhaps there’s another possibility."
"What?" I asked.
Tang Yumo's eyes seemed to lose focus. It appeared she accepted my suggestion and began to seriously consider my question. When a woman becomes serious, she can be quite beautiful, especially one who is already very attractive.
Tang Yumo and I were close enough that we could clearly see each other's expressions without trying too hard. Of course, we were leaning in to hear each other better, not avoiding anyone else but wanting to avoid disturbing others' sleep. Our conversation was kept at a level that required close proximity to hear.
I had never been this close to Tang Yumo before, especially under bright light. The last time we were near each other in the Underground Cavern, she was deliberately avoiding me due to the distance from the campfire, and I could only describe that moment as a fleeting glance.
This time was different; Tang Yumo seemed lost in thought, her face reflecting a rosy glow from the red flames. Her features were exquisitely sculpted, like a figure from a Western oil painting, giving me an unreal feeling.
Tang Yumo gave me a strange sensation, something I had never experienced before and found difficult to articulate. This feeling had been present since the first time I saw her and had never changed.
I am not a saint; I never claim to be virtuous. I can get lost staring at beautiful women and feel my adrenaline spike when I see Fatty and Xiao Ting exchanging glances, making me want to punch that fat guy just out of impulse.
But I had never harbored any inappropriate thoughts about Tang Yumo, despite her breathtaking beauty, which only instilled in me a sense of vigilance, even fear.
At one point, I even thought there was something wrong with my orientation, but I soon realized that wasn't the case. I still had feelings for Xiao Ting and would feel jealous of anyone who got too close to her. I wasn't the problem; so where did the problem lie?
"I'll go with you," Tang Yumo's ethereal and hollow voice pulled me back to reality.
"Great, I'm glad you've made that decision. Let's find a third exit together. I believe we can leave this place, and you'll safely return to Hakka Village."
"No, I'm going with you to Lop Nur."
"Are you crazy? I'm sorry, but I never agreed to take you to Lop Nur. Besides, it's not a place for you. Your goal is to find that piece of iron, right? Unfortunately, that's impossible. I'm not planning to risk my life for it."
"What if I help you all leave this place? I'll exchange that for a spot to go to Lop Nur." (To Be Continued...)
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