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墨書 Inktalez
"Are you homesick?"
Gu Ze asked Xu Nuan while bandaging Tang Jingshu.
Xu Nuan paused for a moment, holding the syringe, then smiled lightly.
"I don't have time to think about it."
Gu Ze's hand faltered, but unfortunately, Xu Nuan couldn't see his expression from where he was crouched.
"You've become more and more insincere."
Xu Nuan could only sense the helplessness in his tone; everything else was drowned out by the oppressive jungle around them.
"Now isn't the time to discuss this, is it?"
She habitually shifted the topic.
"Tang Jingshu's condition seems to improve and worsen repeatedly, but in reality, it has been deteriorating all along. We are all amateurs here. If we can't find a doctor, what will happen to her later?"
This question had been troubling Xu Nuan, yet for some reason, no one in the team dared to bring it up. It felt as if mentioning it would touch upon some taboo.
However, Gu Ze was a little different. Unbeknownst to her, Xu Nuan had come to define Gu Ze as a close friend who shared life and death with her, rather than just a companion.
Companions could also experience life and death together through hardships, but the experiences she shared with Gu Ze seemed to carry a weight of their own.
The bond of life and death might allow her to face Gu Ze more easily.
Gu Ze spoke up, without the reservations that others had.
"It's impossible to rely on the people in the monitoring room. Personally, I believe that if things have escalated to a point where they are threatened, this path is no longer viable."
Gu Ze worked quickly, skillfully changing Tang Jingshu's bandages without even furrowing his brow at the sight of her wounds.
"Then we can only depend on the people in the game. We need to take care of her as best as we can, and then catch up with the other Players to seek their help. The people who entered this game come from various professions. There were no doctors in the third batch; what about the second?"
Xu Nuan shook her head, carefully placing the used syringe into a separate bag before putting it in her backpack.
"As far as I know, there weren't any. However, it's possible that someone might have concealed their profession when they teamed up initially. As for the first batch, I'm not sure; I don't know where they have reached in this Survival Game."
"If we could encounter a Player from the first batch at this stage, perhaps we would gain some insight."
Gu Ze sighed slightly and nudged Xu Nuan, who had been squatting beside the stretcher. "Go rest over there for a bit."
The two sat under a large tree, their gazes unconsciously fixed on Tang Jingshu, who was just over a meter away. After a long silence, Xu Nuan finally spoke with a serious expression.
"What if—just what if—there isn't a doctor among the Players? Or what if that doctor doesn't understand these injuries? Or what if Tang Jingshu..."
She paused for a moment, slightly retracting her outward emotions and murmured softly.
"I'm sorry, I've been feeling this way quite easily lately, but thankfully I haven't let it affect everyone in front of me."
"No," Gu Ze quickly interrupted her, "we're all adults here. We've considered this issue; it's just that we haven't dared to face it. It's already quite brave of you to come out and speak."
Xu Nuan lowered her head, not wanting Gu Ze to see the complexity of her expression.
In the jungle, the distant sounds of wild beasts could be faintly heard. The two of them didn't pay much attention to it. After a moment of silence, Gu Ze, with his hands behind his head leaning against the tree trunk, spoke up.
"Do you remember what I said to you at Sea Surface?"
"By the sea?"
Xu Nuan blinked, feeling confused for a few seconds.
"During the Tranquil Deep Sea level?"
Gu Ze chuckled lightly, but his reaction was minimal.
"It seems you don't remember."
"You've said so many things; I can't possibly recall everything you've said."
Xu Nuan felt a bit guilty. She easily forgot or had vague impressions of things she didn't pay much attention to. During the Deep Sea level, due to various circumstances, she often went to the seaside with Gu Ze. They talked about both in-game and out-of-game matters, making it difficult for her to recall specific conversations.
Xu Nuan felt a bit conflicted; whenever she encountered Gu Ze, she found herself easily entangled in her thoughts.
“That should be something that leaves a deep impression and touches people. My character can’t be that bad, right?”
Gu Ze suddenly wore a comically distressed expression, even pounding his chest in frustration, completely ruining any semblance of dignity.
“What does that have to do with your character?”
Xu Nuan replied earnestly, “It has to do with my memory.”
While saying this, she couldn’t help but recall the so-called touching and memorable words. If they were truly memorable, how could she not remember them?
Wait a minute, Xu Nuan frowned; she seemed to have a vague recollection. It was when she had been complaining about why Xu Hang and Xie Huai hadn’t returned yet that Gu Ze had suddenly become serious.
“Don’t worry, they will come back. They won’t betray their companions.”
Then Gu Ze added,
“Even if they had no choice but to betray their companions, I wouldn’t betray you.”
Xu Nuan didn’t particularly like seeing Gu Ze in such a serious manner; it made her afraid to meet his gaze. However, at that moment, Gu Ze’s words did touch her a little. It turned out he considered her a companion.
The feeling of being recognized by a companion was actually quite nice; it was a thought that resurfaced after parting ways with several members of the Second Batch Players.
"It seems you've remembered."
As Xu Nuan silently recalled and savored the moment, Gu Ze suddenly broke into a wide smile, completely shedding his elegant gentleman demeanor.
Turning her face away in disdain, Xu Nuan slowly curled her lips into a smile where Gu Ze couldn't see.
If they could all reach the finish line together safely, it would indeed be a happy thing.
A breeze finally stirred in the jungle, dispersing some of the oppressive heat. The gentle rustling of leaves was not unpleasant, accompanied by the soft sounds of the bushes swaying. Occasionally, a few drops of rainwater would fall from the branches into the puddles below, creating a rhythmic patter.
"Nuan, there's actually something I need to discuss with you."
Gu Ze's tone suddenly turned serious again. If it weren't for the gentle smile lingering at the corners of his mouth, Xu Nuan might have thought something significant was about to happen.
"Are you pulling this trick again?"
Xu Nuan frowned. She recalled the confrontation outside the Supply Station last time; she had thought it would be a confession but ended up facing various criticisms that left her feeling guilty and self-absorbed. After realizing it wasn't a confession, she had sulked and secretly criticized Gu Ze for being so scheming.
Thinking back to that mix of embarrassment, fear, and worry, Xu Nuan's expression quickly soured.
"You misunderstood."
Gu Ze was at a loss for words, but he didn't explain whether Xu Nuan had misunderstood what happened last time or if she was misinterpreting what was about to happen this time.
Xu Nuan shook her head.
"I won't fall for the same trick twice, unless..." Xu Nuan raised an eyebrow mischievously.
"Unless you tell me what information I revealed last time, or were you just messing with me then?"
The previous conversation had only two directions: one was about Gu Ze reminiscing about university, and the other was related to Qin Yaojie.
If Gu Ze's words were true, it meant that she had unknowingly exposed some information about Qin Yaojie.
But she had no idea what information about Qin Yaojie was worth revealing in this game.
What Xu Nuan didn't expect was that as soon as she said this, the smile on Gu Ze's lips vanished. His eyes, which had been bright and sunny, turned deep and inscrutable.
What had she said wrong?
Moreover, did Gu Ze, as a man, really change his expression so quickly?
Xu Nuan felt confused and could only brace herself to meet the now intimidating gaze of Gu Ze.
The hurried footsteps of Xu Hang and the others returning saved Xu Nuan from her bewilderment.
She quickly averted her gaze and chose not to question Gu Ze's intentions. Instead, she looked up at Xu Hang, who was approaching rapidly.
"Did you find a better path?"
Xu Hang nodded steadily, a hint of joy breaking through his serious expression.
"I found a wide road with less water and good visibility. If we move along that path, we can cover a larger area quickly."
"That's great. Let's set off."
Xu Nuan hurriedly stood up, grabbed her backpack, and slung it over her shoulders. She didn't look back at Gu Ze's expression, but from the normal faces of Xu Hang and Deng Yinyin, it seemed Gu Ze had returned to his usual self.
It was just a guess; Xu Nuan dared not turn around.
This time, she didn't lag behind to watch Gu Ze and the others' backs. Instead, she teamed up with Deng Yinyin to clear the way, occasionally removing larger dead branches.
Although the road Xu Hang found was easy to walk on, the branches of the trees spread out widely, blocking little sunlight. The advantage was that they could move much faster, allowing Xu Nuan to observe their surroundings more easily.
During this stretch of the journey, Tang Jingshu remained quiet and asleep, giving Xu Nuan and the others a glimmer of hope that Tang Jingshu would recover.
Glancing at the position of the sun, Xu Nuan estimated it was around two or three in the afternoon—the hottest part of the day. Each of them had some wounds that were not fully healed. Xu Nuan worried that in such heat, these injuries might become inflamed.
Thinking about the many anti-inflammatory medications and antidotes in her bag, Xu Nuan reassured herself that her worries were unnecessary. With so many supplies, they would surely be able to hold out until they reached the Supply Station.
However, from then on, Xu Nuan learned a lesson: never use the word "certain" until you have truly reached your destination.
The heat was stifling, and no one had the desire to speak; everyone moved forward in silence, feeling the oppressive atmosphere.
Deng Yinyin seemed particularly sensitive to the heat, appearing listless and no longer engaging Xu Nuan in conversation or small talk as she had before.
Time passed without anyone noticing, and when Xu Nuan realized her clothes were sticking to her skin despite wearing quick-dry fabric, Xu Hang finally called out.
"Everyone, find a shady spot to rest."
Xu Nuan let out a heavy sigh and was the first to reach a shaded area. Just as she was about to take off her backpack and rest, she suddenly heard rustling from the bushes nearby, the sound growing closer and louder.
"Wait up, everyone!"
Xu Nuan bent slightly, her eyes alert as she focused on the patch of bushes.
The others also noticed the commotion coming from the nearby bushes.
Xu Nuan scanned her surroundings and realized that they were surrounded by bushes on all sides, each one making noise. Unbeknownst to them, they had been encircled.
Slowly drawing the short knife hanging at her waist, Xu Nuan's expression turned serious as she fixed her gaze on one particular spot, her thumb pressing against the hilt where it met the blade.
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