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墨書 Inktalez
Everyone can engage in banter, exchanging words back and forth, but it does little to advance the situation. There’s no need to waste time on it. Xu Nuan understood the wisdom of knowing when to stop. After noticing Yu Yu's smile fading slightly, she fell silent and fixed her gaze on Xu Hang. It was now time for the two captains to take the floor.
"I don't know why he remains unconscious. If you suspect Yu Yu, you need to provide more direct evidence; otherwise, let's not dwell on this matter. Similarly, if Yu Yu is later subjected to baseless speculation or slander, I will take appropriate measures," Chi Xiaoming stated bluntly, setting aside the issue that could temporarily affect both teams without regard for the changing expressions of others.
"You all heard about the mission a few hours ago. Out of the ten of us, only one has the right to input a name, and that right happens to be in my hands."
Xu Nuan had to admit that at this moment, Chi Xiaoming looked quite impressive. He carried no air of superiority but instead presented the facts with utmost seriousness. This demeanor made him likable to both his teammates and Xu Hang's group, facilitating future cooperation. A serious and meticulous man was indeed easy to admire.
Perhaps Xu Nuan's gaze was too intense; He Min couldn't help but clear her throat a few times and gently patted her shoulder. When Xu Nuan snapped back to reality, she saw the teasing glint in He Min's eyes and then noticed Gu Ze's darkened expression beyond her. The reactions of the others were equally varied and intriguing.
Xu Nuan reined in her outward emotions and continued listening to Chi Xiaoming's explanation.
"This opportunity is too rare; we must cherish it. At this moment, we need everyone's cooperation."
"What do you need us to do?"
Chi Xiaoming's attitude was much better than Xu Hang had anticipated, causing his expression to relax somewhat, and his tone became less sharp.
Chi Xiaoming remained expressionless and formal. "Our current challenge is identifying the Secret Missioner. Is this person hidden among us or among the Players we have yet to encounter in this round? This is an urgent issue that needs resolution."
"This problem is indeed urgent but not easy to solve," Xu Hang stated matter-of-factly.
Chi Xiaoming nodded without much reaction.
"I understand that if the Secret Missioner can receive greater rewards, they would naturally be reluctant to reveal themselves. Therefore, I suggest we form a temporary team of ten. You and I will be co-captains; if anyone notices unusual behavior among us that seems related to completing a mission, they should report it to either you or me. We will analyze the information together and make a final decision. How does that sound?"
This proposal was already quite respectful towards Xu Hang's group, who lacked the qualification to input names. Although Fan Beibei and a few others showed dissatisfaction on their faces, for some reason, they did not directly oppose Chi Xiaoming but instead waited for Xu Hang's response.
"Sounds good," Xu Hang replied, seeing it as a favorable opportunity while also suggesting another possibility.
"The Secret Missioner might also be in other teams. We need to investigate the other groups as well, so we should select a certain number of people to take charge of this."
"I completely agree."
Chi Xiaoming nodded in approval, but his expression remained unchanged, which made it somewhat awkward to watch.
"Moreover, the System mission is very clear: until we find the Secret Missioner, Special Tree, and Supply Station, nothing will appear. In that case, we can use this place as our center point and search for other Players in groups, returning by nightfall."
"Then the current issue is how to form the groups," Xu Hang said, surprised at how quickly he reached a consensus with Chi Xiaoming. He rubbed his forehead. "Should we do cross-grouping or keep our own groups?"
This was a difficult choice because they didn't know if the Secret Missioner was among them, nor did they understand what the secret mission entailed. If they chose cross-grouping, there would be concerns about their teammates' safety. However, sticking to their own groups wouldn't be very meaningful either; people tend to favor their own companions.
"Cross-grouping," Chi Xiaoming suggested, clearly considering this point and proposing a fair solution.
"We can draw lots to decide the groupings—four groups of three and two each. We’ll change members daily through drawing lots. Also, if we encounter other Players, we should try to cooperate with them. Every opportunity to input names is precious; all the Players in this round should understand this principle and be willing to collaborate."
Xu Hang nodded and then turned to look at the still unconscious Xie Huai.
"I hope he wakes up by tomorrow morning; then we can draw lots."
"Alright."
Chi Xiaoming readily agreed once more.
The two captains had come to an agreement, and now they needed to reassure their respective teams about this arrangement. While the two captains spoke, the other team members were listening as well. Since no one voiced opposition at the time, it seemed there were no objections. However, both captains understood that this silence was only surface-level; beneath it, everyone’s thoughts were likely tumultuous enough to flood the cave.
For Xu Hang, Gu Ze, Xu Nuan, and He Min clearly understood the significance of this collaboration. The one he needed to reassure was actually Deng Yinyin. However, her concern was merely about drawing lots in the morning and potentially ending up with someone she didn’t want to work with. After realizing Deng Yinyin's worries, Xu Hang found his own concerns unnecessary; he decided it would be better to take this opportunity to investigate the cause of Xie Huai's condition.
The artificial cave was extremely narrow; fitting four people inside was already a miracle. Lying down to rest was impossible, but given that they were stuck in this heavy rain for three days straight, they couldn't afford to be too picky about it. The only awkward situation arose when someone wanted to change clothes—it was easy for some but enduring without changing while letting rainwater sap their body heat could easily lead to illness.
When two harmonious teams merged into one, conflicts could easily arise.
For instance, after making a certain move, Deng Yinyin felt a burning gaze on her and turned around only to see it was Zhang Hui. She glared back without hesitation and muttered some unkind words. Additionally, Fan Beibei often felt that Xu Hang, Gu Ze, and others had ulterior motives. Women can easily think themselves charming at inappropriate times; while charm is indeed real, it doesn’t mean those around them are admiring it as they believe.
Thus, the cave became quite lively. Yet amidst all this commotion, Xie Huai still hadn’t woken up. If what Yu Yu said about him faking unconsciousness were true, she would truly admire him.
With a broad perspective like that of Xu Hang, sensitivity from Xu Nuan, and comprehensive thinking from Gu Ze, these three were quite mindful of what Yu Yu had said earlier, though they didn’t show it outwardly. At that moment, they carefully observed Xie Huai amidst the noise in the cave and were certain that he wasn’t pretending to be unconscious. There are distinct differences between someone who is genuinely asleep and someone who is feigning sleep. A person who pretends to sleep tends to unconsciously pay attention to their surroundings; for example, their ears collect sounds while their brain processes this information. The neural connections in a person's brain are extensive; if one thinks about something, their facial expressions and eye movements will respond accordingly.
They were certain that Xie Huai was not pretending to be asleep, but that did not mean he was free from suspicion of being the Secret Missioner. Each member of their team, the Six People, had spent time alone and could be suspected. Each could only confirm whether they were or were not the Secret Missioner. If Xie Huai was indeed the Secret Missioner, he could have taken some medication to feign his condition and avoid daily contact with others, thus escaping detection.
Doubtful as they were, Xu Nuan and the others were not as resolute this time in believing that Xie Huai was suspicious. This was partly due to the previous misunderstanding and guilt, and partly because they all had their own suspicions; none were far from blame. If Xie Huai truly was ill, then mistaking him for something he wasn't would be a grave injustice.
Since everyone shared this sentiment, Xu Nuan and her companions shifted their focus back to the reason behind Xie Huai's illness. They could not determine whether Yu Yu was lying, but they could not allow Xie Huai to remain in such a state during an emergency. Ultimately, they decided to administer an Antidote or similar medication that could help restore his health.
Once they finished these tasks, night had fallen so heavily that nothing was visible; all they could hear was the sound of rain pattering outside. The others in the cave sat quietly with their eyes closed, resting.
After exchanging a glance with Gu Ze and Xu Hang, Xu Nuan returned to her spot, leaning slightly closer to He Min. Before closing her eyes to rest, she took a moment to observe He Min in the light of the still-on flashlight. She noticed that He Min's lips were slightly upturned, as if she were dreaming of something pleasant. In Xu Nuan's memory, ever since Yu Hao's passing, He Min had often smiled, but those smiles carried a hint of sadness that made it difficult for Xu Nuan to look directly at her. This time, however, He Min's smile felt different; it seemed genuinely joyful.
Could their current circumstances truly bring happiness to He Min?
Xu Nuan felt puzzled and then laughed at herself; perhaps He Min was dreaming of Yu Hao or her own family. She realized she was overthinking things.
After a moment of self-mockery, Xu Nuan closed her eyes to rest. Although she intended to rest, her mind continued to race. The noise around them was overwhelming; there were too many people and the air felt stifling. The pain from her injuries made it hard for her to find comfort in this damp environment, leading to an inevitable conclusion: she couldn't fall asleep.
Though she couldn't sleep, she could rest with her eyes closed. Perhaps in such an environment, one becomes more sensitive; suddenly, she sensed a gaze lingering on her. She wasn't sure if someone was watching her. Considering there was only one flashlight lit in the cave, even if she slightly opened her eyes, no one would notice. So Xu Nuan cautiously lifted her eyelids just a bit. After a few moments of blurriness, she saw Yu Yu looking in her direction; however, the gaze seemed directed at He Min beside her.
When had these two crossed paths?
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