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墨書 Inktalez
The vast ocean stretched endlessly, the blue Sea Surface reflecting the Azure Sky above. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting patches of light onto the rippling Sea Surface, resembling golden scales unfurling layer by layer into the distance. White seagulls occasionally skimmed across the water's surface, leaving behind a gentle kiss before vanishing into the play of light and shadow.
The wind was mild, and the waves were gentle, carrying a refreshing mist that felt invigorating.
This should have been a scene that brought joy and tranquility.
However, Xu Nuan and her five companions could not muster a smile.
They had discovered something serious.
"Our food is completely gone!"
Deng Yinyin's high-pitched voice pierced through the clouds.
"Really, it's all turned into water!"
The gentle and graceful Tang Jingshu was rummaging through her backpack with a desperate expression.
Xu Nuan stared at her open backpack, which began to emit dark mist.
In order to achieve its intended effect, the game had deliberately drugged everyone before they left the Supply Station and placed them on a drifting boat, creating an experience akin to an online game. During this process, it had swiftly taken away all their prepared food and replaced it with large quantities of fresh water.
Had the Designer changed their approach to test everyone's survival skills?
A cold smile appeared on Xu Nuan's lips; how dare they take their belongings without permission? This debt would certainly be settled.
After the cold smile came confusion. Was this sea area surrounding their isolated island? Could such a coincidence really exist?
"Fortunately, these three sets of diving gear weren't taken; otherwise, we would truly be out of food."
Xie Huai watched Gu Ze as he inspected the diving equipment, unable to suppress his relief. A pessimist like him had somehow developed an optimistic mindset thanks to this game.
"The fire-starting tools and medicine haven't been taken away either."
Xu Hang also felt fortunate and pulled out a cleverly designed folding fishing rod.
"But how are we supposed to find the Special Tree out at sea?"
Tang Jingshu raised the crucial question, though she still held onto a glimmer of hope.
"Could it be that the Special Tree for this level can live underwater?"
Xu Nuan listened quietly before sharing her thoughts.
"I actually think this level is meant for us to find an island. It's unlikely that this game is just set up as a Survival Game on the Sea Surface."
Just like in the Misty Snow Mountain level, where they initially thought climbing the snowy peak signified the end, only to encounter traps like the Ice Lake afterward.
As the game progressed, each level became increasingly intricate and dangerous.
"I agree with that."
Xu Hang glanced at Gu Ze, who was still pondering over the diving gear, and picked up on Xu Nuan's point.
"So we only have two things to focus on now."
With a serious expression, Xu Hang took on a leadership role.
"First, we need to obtain food for our upcoming journey through fishing or diving. Second, we must use this boat to explore various possibilities at sea to find an island and ultimately locate the Special Tree. Everyone should refrain from thinking about anything else or engaging in other actions."
Xu Hang's words were clear, and everyone nodded in agreement, refraining from voicing any objections.
Launching the boat seemed simple, but it was far from easy, especially when it came to steering. The gentlemen took turns at the helm, but surprisingly, it was the unassuming and low-key Xie Huai who proved to be the best at handling it.
Xu Hang patted Xie Huai's shoulder with a serious expression.
"The boat is in your hands now, and so is our safety."
Xie Huai was taken aback and nodded nervously.
It was Gu Ze, who leaned over to tease him, that eased his tension a bit.
"When you have time, teach us too. The more people who know how to operate it, the better. You handle the steering while I use the telescope to look for the Special Tree."
Xu Nuan noticed that Gu Ze had naturally pulled out a telescope of that type, the one left behind by Zhao Xi.
For some reason, Xu Nuan felt a twinge of annoyance.
The waves on the sea were not strong at this moment. Under Xu Hang's guidance, Xie Huai chose a direction, and with a swift 'whoosh,' the boat shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. Those who weren't mentally prepared stumbled around in the cabin.
Xu Nuan struggled to suppress her queasy stomach, only to be met with the salty sea breeze that made her face turn pale.
Gu Ze, having no luck searching for the Special Tree through his telescope, sat down beside Xu Nuan, absentmindedly fiddling with the device.
Xu Nuan glanced over; Xu Hang was speaking seriously with Xie Huai at the helm. Meanwhile, Deng Yinyin was playfully pulling along Tang Jingshu, who looked a bit unwell, as they pointed excitedly at the Sea Surface. They would even shout in excitement whenever a seagull flew by.
Such a carefree personality was enviable; Xu Nuan couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. It was impressive how quickly they could detach themselves from a crisis and enjoy the scenery before them. In urgent situations, their attitude towards games would also be serious as they strived for success.
"Are you feeling seasick?"
Gu Ze's voice was soft, carried by the sea breeze to Xu Nuan's ears.
Xu Nuan snorted, quite certain.
"Of course not."
"Are you sulking?"
Sitting beside Xu Nuan, Gu Ze turned to her with the excitement of discovering a new world, his dark eyes sparkling with a brilliant light, and a youthful smile dancing on his lips.
"Who is sulking?"
Xu Nuan narrowed her eyes slightly, her brows twitching repeatedly—a sign that she was about to get angry. She thought her temperament was quite good, but every time Gu Ze teased her, she found herself on the verge of exploding. Yet she always managed to hold back her anger, and after several rounds of this, Xu Nuan realized she was close to being driven mad.
"I'm just joking; don't take it seriously."
Gu Ze's eyes were filled with mirth, which was glaringly bright in Xu Nuan's view. Before she could respond, he shifted his tone.
"Then you must be afraid of water."
It was a definite statement.
This was true, but Gu Ze's attitude made Xu Nuan very unhappy. Her previously pale face flushed slightly with displeasure.
"Stop pretending. Weren't you a gentleman before? Why do you enjoy stepping on people's toes now?"
While feeling dissatisfied, Xu Nuan also felt a hint of confusion, so she decided to probe her partner for more information.
"In your eyes, it may seem like I'm stepping on toes, but from my perspective, it's an expression of concern. Perhaps you should try to see things from my point of view regarding my recent behavior."
Gu Ze observed Xu Nuan's reaction with a calm demeanor.
"I don't have time."
Xu Nuan replied succinctly.
"If you truly cared, you would have found the island sooner, and I wouldn't have to stay on this boat."
A shadow crossed Gu Ze's eyes, but he quickly resumed his bright smile.
"Understood."
After those simple words, Gu Ze actually stood up and began searching for the Special Tree with a telescope.
Xu Nuan was taken aback; she had only been joking. Did Gu Ze, who claimed to have sharp eyesight, not realize that?
Feeling confused, Xu Nuan casually scanned the surroundings and met Xu Hang's thoughtful gaze.
It was impossible to discern any thoughts from Xu Hang's serious expression. Overwhelmed by various worries, Xu Nuan decided not to think too deeply and rested her chin on one hand, leaning against the side.
She had entered the game in July, and it had already been nearly four months. She wondered how things were outside—how her parents were doing, how her group of Bad Friends was faring, and whether they were still troubled by issues of houses, cars, work, and relationships.
While the real world was transitioning from late autumn to winter, each level in the game represented a season.
Xu Nuan rested her chin with a faint smile, but the dull ache in her head made her unconsciously close her eyes. In her dreams, she encountered friends from university, colleagues from work, her aging parents, and even that person's parents. The time in her dreams seemed to pass faster than in reality, leaving her blissfully unaware of the passage of time.
"Nuan, wake up, Nuan."
In her hazy state, Xu Nuan heard someone calling her name. The voice was familiar, tinged with a hint of helplessness—it sounded just like that person.
Opening her eyes with anticipation and joy, Xu Nuan saw Tang Jingshu's face.
Perhaps her expression of disappointment was too obvious, as Tang Jingshu seemed taken aback for a moment before awkwardly explaining.
"It's already noon. Gu Ze, Xu Hang, and Deng Yinyin are going to dive. They plan to go down and catch some fish, while Xie Huai will be in charge of the boat, so we need to keep watch."
Tang Jingshu explained quickly, occasionally glancing at Xu Nuan's expression.
Gradually waking up, Xu Nuan propped her head up and sat up straight. After nodding, she looked towards the three people prepared at the stern of the boat.
Gu Ze and the others were all dressed in diving suits and had brought basic protective gear, allowing them to make short dives repeatedly. Xu Nuan noticed that while she had been asleep, Xu Hang had even crafted a few harpoons using a short knife, and they looked quite impressive.
Feeling somewhat idle, Xu Nuan thought to herself as she calmly watched Gu Ze and the others enter the water.
The boat had mostly remained in place, swaying slightly with the waves.
Since it was their duty to keep watch, Xu Nuan had no specific target; she simply sat at the edge of the boat and scanned the surroundings.
Often when one is not focused, they can notice something unexpected. As Xu Nuan casually glanced around, she spotted some movement about ten meters away from the boat; it seemed something had passed through that area, causing larger waves.
"Tang Jingshu, Xie Huai, can you take a look over there? Is something moving?"
On the sea surface, Xu Nuan was unsure of her own eyesight and decided to call Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai over.
However, both of them were rather timid. After hearing Xu Nuan's words, they followed her point direction and stared at that spot for a while before shaking their heads in unison.
"Nope, there's nothing there. The wind just stirred up some waves."
They spoke sincerely, though it was hard to ignore their trembling hands.
"Really? Am I seeing things?"
Xu Nuan could only respond with a question, lacking confidence in her own eyesight.
Tang Jingshu hesitated before averting her gaze, then looked at Xu Nuan, stammering slightly.
"Nuan, you probably haven't rested well and are too nervous. It's fine now; why don't you take a break?"
Xu Nuan couldn't shake the feeling that after the volcanic encounter, Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai had been acting strangely towards the other teammates. They seemed to carry a sense of guilt and were overly cautious, hardly ever contradicting others' opinions. Instead, they acted like bystanders and mediators. However, this was not a good sign for a team. Any group making decisions needs to brainstorm together. Lacking personal opinions in this game could be quite dangerous.
Xu Nuan felt helpless but didn't know how to express it. She softened her tone towards Tang Jingshu's cautious demeanor.
"I must be the one who's nervous. No need for a break; let's stay alert together."
"Mm-hmm, okay."
Tang Jingshu nodded repeatedly, her expression brightening considerably.
Xu Nuan let out a faint sigh, choosing not to say anything more.
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