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墨書 Inktalez
Gu Ze often heard people around him say that if they knew they would break up with their girlfriend or boyfriend, it would be better not to get together in the first place. The pain of loving deeply and then parting, of having gained something only to lose it, was too difficult to bear. It was better to have never experienced it at all.
At those times, Gu Ze felt a pang of bitterness.
Those who had experienced love often wished to forget those memories, while someone like him, who had never tasted it, was constantly yearning, longing, and crying out for it.
Love and affection were such tormentors.
Some found happiness in mutual feelings, while others faced insurmountable distances. Some endured heartache only to eventually find fulfillment, while others spent their lives unable to attain their desires.
Love and affection were unpredictable; that was the essence of romance.
When Xu Nuan fell asleep, Gu Ze instinctively jumped in after her.
He didn’t want Xu Nuan to suffer the pain of hallucinations; he wanted to hold her in his hands and shield her from any harm. If he couldn’t even do that, how could he claim to be better than Qin Yaojie? How could he think he could bring happiness to Xu Nuan or confess his feelings for her?
He had planned everything perfectly. Just like when Xu Hang had quickly rescued him from the water last time, he would also swiftly bring Xu Nuan back to safety.
But disappointment awaited him.
In the lake, he found himself alone, looking around but seeing no sign of Xu Nuan.
At that moment, "lost" was the best word to describe Gu Ze's feelings.
In the water, he couldn’t scream; he could only hold his breath and swim around, searching for that familiar figure, but he found nothing.
Reluctantly swimming back to shore, Gu Ze could only hoarsely call out to Xu Hang.
“Hand me a flashlight.”
The moment Xu Nuan fell into the water, all the tendrils had retreated. This was why Gu Ze had been able to jump into the water without obstruction. The people on the shore had initially felt relieved that the tendrils were no longer attacking them. However, seeing Gu Ze’s expression made them realize that he hadn’t found Xu Nuan beneath the surface. In an instant, they dared not show any signs of joy.
Gu Ze took the flashlight handed to him by Xu Hang and plunged back into the water. The light was severely hindered underwater, but Gu Ze refused to give up. The lake wasn’t that big; if he took his time, he was sure he could find Xu Nuan.
On the shore, Xu Hang was analyzing the situation. Xu Nuan was not particularly skilled at swimming, and after falling into the water, she would surely hold her breath. Gu Ze had jumped in quickly, so logically, he should have found Xu Nuan immediately and rescued her. However, since Gu Ze had not located her, it indicated that something was wrong with the lake.
Every passing minute was dangerous. Xu Hang didn't dwell on it for long; he instructed Xie Huai to take care of Deng Yinyin and decided to dive in himself to search for Xu Nuan.
The lake wasn't very large. Xu Hang and Gu Ze could swim across it in no time, but neither of them had spotted Xu Nuan.
Xu Hang thought that even if something had happened to Xu Nuan, they should still be able to find her in this lake. Yet the current situation left him perplexed.
As Xu Hang gave up searching and floated on the surface to rest at the shore, Gu Ze repeatedly plunged into the water, resurfacing to catch his breath before diving back down again. This cycle continued multiple times. The others could only watch as Gu Ze's face grew increasingly pale, yet he showed no signs of giving up.
Deng Yinyin felt a pang of sympathy as she watched him. She called out to Gu Ze several times, but he remained oblivious to her pleas. Biting her lip, she felt helpless and frustrated.
Finally, it was Xu Hang who forcefully pulled Gu Ze back up from the water, his tone harsh.
"Calm down. The fact that we haven't found her only proves she isn't in this lake anymore. Let's analyze the situation before making any decisions."
Gu Ze lifted his face, glistening with water droplets, staring expressionlessly at Xu Hang as he spoke slowly and deliberately.
"What kind of technique could make her disappear from this lake in an instant?"
Xu Hang was taken aback and fell silent; it was rare for Gu Ze to show such an expression.
A serious expression.
"If it were me, I would think we are trapped in an illusion where she is in the lake, but we can't see her. Could I accept such a missed opportunity?"
"How could there be such an illusion?" Deng Yinyin interjected with frustration. "If there were no technique to make her disappear instantly, then there wouldn't be any drug that puts people into an illusion. Everything falls apart; she is not in the lake—that is a fact."
Gu Ze ignored Deng Yinyin and prepared to dive back into the water to continue searching for that elusive chance not to be missed.
Just as he was about to jump from the shore again, Deng Yinyin wrapped her arms around his legs.
“Gu Ze, I won't allow you to go. I don't want you to take any risks.”
Gu Ze turned around and looked down at Deng Yinyin, trying to move his legs but finding himself unable to. His expression darkened further, becoming more ominous. Xu Hang, who was familiar with him, quickly pulled Deng Yinyin up and said to Gu Ze, “You can go, but remember to come up for air. Xie Huai and I will take turns going down later.”
Gu Ze stared at Xu Hang for a moment, nodded, and then jumped into the water.
The entire night, Gu Ze remained in the water. The wound on his abdomen, which had not fully healed, threatened to reopen, and the places where he had previously injured his bones began to ache faintly. He seemed oblivious to it all, diving in again and again, wandering through the lake repeatedly. Even when the flashlight finally failed, he showed no signs of stopping.
Xu Hang and Xie Huai also took turns diving into the water to help search for Xu Nuan, retracing their steps over and over. No matter how large the lake was, it could not withstand their prolonged searching; they had already scoured it thoroughly.
Deng Yinyin sat alone on the shore, watching Gu Ze as he swam to the other side of the lake. She wiped her tears away and glared angrily at the water, leaving everyone guessing what thoughts were swirling in her mind.
Xu Hang and Xie Huai lacked Gu Ze's tenacity and soon collapsed on the shore to rest while Gu Ze continued tirelessly swimming back and forth in the lake.
Deng Yinyin nudged Xu Hang. “You should go talk to Gu Ze. If this continues, he won't be able to last much longer. It's been so long without finding Xu Nuan; who knows what has happened to her?”
Xu Hang, lying on the ground, initially intended to agree with Deng Yinyin's words but suddenly sensed something was off upon noticing her expression. He sat up abruptly and asked in a serious tone, “What are you thinking?”
“What can I think? I just hope he comes back soon to rest!” Deng Yinyin pouted defiantly.
Xu Hang's gaze deepened. “You’re still holding onto fantasies. You know his feelings; you can't force it.”
“Hmph,” Deng Yinyin crossed her arms defiantly. “That’s advice meant for Gu Ze. Knowing someone’s feelings yet still forcing it—what good does it do if that woman can’t see how hard he’s trying?”
Xu Hang squinted as he glanced at Xie Huai, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, and then looked over at Deng Yinyin, feeling a mix of confusion and unease.
"That woman is nothing; Xu Nuan is your companion. And let me make this clear: Xu Nuan's feelings are not what you think they are. Those involved are often blind to the truth, while outsiders can see clearly. Most of the time, she is very perceptive, but in this matter, she hasn't figured out her own heart. So you’d better not interfere."
"What do you mean?"
Deng Yinyin immediately exploded upon hearing his words. "Are you saying that Xu Nuan likes Gu Ze? Ha! How shameless of her to like two men at the same time!"
"Deng Yinyin, who taught you to say such things?"
Xu Hang felt somewhat unfamiliar with Deng Yinyin's attitude. They had all been working together in the game, but he hadn’t realized how much his companion had changed. He even began to doubt whether Deng Yinyin had truly managed to hide in a high place during that cave level by her own ability.
"Hmph! You all side with that woman. It's enough already! Don’t you like my sister? Why are you trying so hard to save her?"
Xu Hang widened his eyes in disbelief at the words coming from Deng Yinyin.
"How can I stand by and watch my companions die? My feelings for your sister have nothing to do with this. This is about camaraderie; we’ve faced life and death together, and it’s different. Deng Yinyin, what’s wrong with you? Or did something happen between you and Xu Nuan? Personal feelings have no place in a team."
Xu Hang began to lecture habitually, unable to believe that Lan Ling, such a gentle and understanding woman, could have a sister like this. Lan Ling knew he worked with Deng Yinyin and always asked him to look after her, thinking of Deng Yinyin as just a spoiled child. But seeing her attitude now, it was clear she was more than just spoiled.
Deng Yinyin flinched slightly at the phrase "stand by and watch," but her stance remained firm.
"What could happen between me and that woman? She always acts so self-righteous, as if she knows everything, charging forward in the game with some inexplicable goal, even more proactive than the men. Who would want a woman like that? I really don’t understand why Gu Ze would like someone like her."
Xu Hang took several deep breaths before speaking slowly to Deng Yinyin.
"As your captain or elder, I will help take care of you, but that doesn’t mean I can allow you to act recklessly in this team that should be harmonious. Mutual respect among companions is fundamental. Xu Nuan came into this game because she has her own goals; that’s her personal matter. We were forced into this game; our goal of clearing levels aligns with hers. We can move forward together as companions."
Xu Hang paused for a moment before continuing.
"However, this has nothing to do with personal feelings. You can like Gu Ze, but you have no right to interfere with whom he likes or to comment on whom Xu Nuan likes. Do not bring this up again; this matter is private for all of you and has nothing to do with this team."
“Xu Hang, have you forgotten what my sister said?”
Deng Yinyin's eyes were red, her face full of grievance.
“She asked you to take care of me, and this is how you do it? In your eyes, Gu Ze, Xu Nuan, and all your other companions are more important than my sister?”
Xu Hang's breath halted for a moment before he continued earnestly.
“That’s different. Gu Ze and I are close friends, and I have a bond with Xu Nuan and the others that goes beyond mere companionship. The feelings I have for your sister are not the same; don’t twist my words.”
“You’re the one twisting things! You just don’t love my sister anymore!”
Deng Yinyin truly began to cry, tears streaming down her face. Xu Hang took a deep breath several times but ultimately said nothing, continuing to gaze at the surface of the lake, unaware of the furious expression on Deng Yinyin's face after he turned away.
Meanwhile, while they were arguing, Gu Ze was still searching for someone in the lake. Eventually, he was pulled ashore by Xu Hang due to exhaustion.
The next day, at dawn, Gu Ze woke up and resumed his search in the water. Xu Hang and the others had no choice but to let him go.
Gu Ze still couldn’t find Xu Nuan at the lake bottom. As his disappointment grew deeper and despair began to set in, he noticed a large motor at the bottom of the lake, surrounded by many spiky green tentacles.
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