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"Deal."
Once they reached a secluded spot away from prying eyes, Gu Ze got straight to the point with his proposal.
In truth, his separation from Fang Zheng had drawn considerable attention. His companions each had their own thoughts, and opinions on his actions varied widely, yet no one attempted to stop him. Everyone was eager to obtain advantageous information without expending much effort. Gu Ze couldn't prevent such thoughts from bubbling up among the group; all he could do was remain unaffected, steadfast in his beliefs, and follow the plan step by step.
He dared to be alone with Fang Zheng at this delicate moment because he had confidence in handling any changes that might arise. The dim moonlight cast over his face highlighted an undeniable charm, while the light glided past his chin, leaving behind a chilling aura.
So far, various Players had crossed paths with Gu Ze. Regardless of whether they knew his true capabilities, none could hinder his relentless advance in this game. Indeed, as a member of the Third Batch of Players entering the game, Gu Ze lacked experience; however, sometimes having less experience can be advantageous. What truly allows one to survive in the game is individual quality. As he progressed through each challenge, Gu Ze transformed from a gentle gentleman into a charismatic figure of prominence. No matter which aspect of the Survival Game he faced, nothing could stop him, and he had already become the top Player in the eyes of those who still survived.
Gu Ze's reputation had spread throughout the game. Although the Game Base intentionally restricted communication among Players, human ingenuity knows no bounds, and since the Game Base was also a creation of humanity, it could be outsmarted by humans as well.
Fang Zheng was one such person drawn by this reputation, albeit for rather unique reasons.
As Gu Ze faced Fang Zheng, he carefully observed Fang Zheng's expressions and movements to gauge his thoughts—skills he had honed after several encounters with Xu Nuan that ended poorly due to misinterpretations. Though lacking expert guidance, this was not beyond Gu Ze's capabilities.
The night was deepening, and the swamp emitted a nauseating stench; however, for those who were weary, it posed little obstacle. At that moment, they stood behind some sparse low trees, unable to clearly see or hear what was happening at the Temporary Resting Place.
Fang Zheng was deep in thought while Gu Ze understood that this was precisely what Fang Zheng wanted to hear. During their previous confrontations, Fang Zheng had hinted multiple times about the information he held and displayed a keen interest in Gu Ze. Gu Ze wasn't foolish; while keeping an eye on everything around him, he weighed various interests in his mind before making this decision.
At this moment, Fang Zheng’s contemplation seemed aimed at using delay to express caution or perhaps to play tricks; if Gu Ze showed impatience, it would benefit Fang Zheng.
This was a psychological battle devoid of technical skill—less intense than psychological manipulation during combat or deceit in business dealings. As long as he remained calm, Gu Ze firmly believed he would hold the upper hand and didn't mind spending time here with Fang Zheng.
Just before everyone fell asleep earlier, Gu Ze learned from Xu Nuan about Fang Zheng's identity prior to entering the game. Fang Zheng was an unsuccessful retired soldier—a background that indicated he had undergone System training and possessed considerable skills. This identity fit perfectly with the group pursuing Xu Nuan. Considering this fact made it imperative for Gu Ze to treat Fang Zheng with greater caution.
However, he quickly understood Fang Zheng's situation. Guo Dafu was neither Zhang Xiao's ally nor Another Founder's, leaving Fang Zheng with only the identity of a third force as leverage. Yet, this did not rule out the possibility that Fang Zheng could be connected to either Zhang Xiao or Another Founder.
Since everyone entered the game with different purposes, the extent of change each person experienced after these events varied. Gu Ze found it difficult to easily gauge the thoughts of someone he was unfamiliar with. In other words, Fang Zheng was deliberately using silence to provoke impatience in him, while Gu Ze needed to use that silence to see through Fang Zheng.
Time passed, and its effects flowed through both their minds. Fang Zheng displayed more patience than Gu Ze had imagined, completely different from his earlier impulsive demeanor. Gu Ze smirked, feeling increasingly vigilant.
Those remaining at the Temporary Resting Place had no idea that Gu Ze and Fang Zheng were intentionally avoiding them to engage in a silent standoff. Only those involved truly understood what was happening.
Gu Ze was a patient person, as evidenced by his pursuit of Xu Nuan. This time, his patience led to a compromise from Fang Zheng, whose identity seemed clear yet was actually ambiguous.
Fang Zheng wavered; a flash of unwillingness crossed his dark eyes. This was a signal that Gu Ze was on the verge of victory. The saying that different people require different approaches was once again validated. Dealing with Wang Huacheng required a mix of soft and hard tactics; with Gold Breakthrough, it sufficed to clearly outline the pros and cons; but with Fang Zheng, it meant giving him enough space and time to think for himself.
Fang Zheng had been pressing his lips tightly together for so long that when they finally touched, they made no sound.
Then a voice broke the silence before Fang Zheng could speak.
"Chi Xiaoming!"
It was Xu Nuan's voice, filled with terror, completely at odds with her usual demeanor.
Gu Ze's expression changed immediately; without hesitation, he turned back and ran without considering that this was a hard-won opportunity for information. There was no trust between Gu Ze and Fang Zheng, making it very difficult for Gu Ze to obtain genuine intelligence.
Now, Gu Ze had abandoned this chance due to Xu Nuan, which explained why Chi Xiaoming had once wavered in their collaboration and why Feng Feng wanted Xu Nuan eliminated.
Gu Ze turned around without hesitation, not even giving Feng Feng time to react. By the time Feng Feng gathered his emotions, there was no one left in front of him.
Fang Zheng's expression suddenly turned grim. Gu Ze's attitude had inadvertently pushed Fang Zheng into a predicament that only he understood, an unexpected outcome.
Gu Ze ran swiftly, showing no hesitation despite the darkness around him and the swamp beneath his feet.
Fang Zheng quickly caught up, matching Gu Ze's pace. Realizing that Gu Ze was too preoccupied to pay him any mind, Fang Zheng, feeling that this might be his last chance, gritted his teeth and made a decisive move.
"Deal established."
Gu Ze merely responded with a light "hm," acknowledging he had heard, while the rest of his words transformed into hurried steps toward the Temporary Resting Place.
Their vision gradually cleared, revealing a group of people surrounding an individual, as a strange Herbal Fragrance wafted toward them.
Gu Ze quickly held his breath, feeling anxious, which only spurred him to move faster.
As the opportunity seemed to slip away, time was running short. Fang Zheng resolutely threw out part of his chips first.
"The Second Batch of Heart Game Players—Cen Jin, Lei Lei, Xue Dingping—they hold dual identities."
The situation was becoming clearer. Four factions supported this game: the dominant Fengtong Technology, also known as Another Founder; the true heir of Rao Group; Heng Technology, a subsidiary of Gu Group led by Gu Ze's uncle; and Chi Securities, whose heir was Chi Xu Sheng. Chi Xiaoming was among them, while Chi Ming, the illegitimate son of the chairman of the Zhi family, was a supporter on Openly. The last faction was An Insurance, whose young master had a past relationship with Xu Hang's girlfriend. In the game, there was also a Player named An Liran, suggesting a possible connection between them.
Three factions had been closely monitoring Xu Nuan: Zhang Xiao, whose main goal was the secret passage but likely had deeper motives; Another Founder, who collaborated with and exploited Zhang Xiao; and finally, a faction that hunted Xu Nuan both inside and outside the game but seemed few in number and fearful of being discovered.
Fang Zheng's mention of those three individuals having dual identities immediately triggered Gu Ze's thoughts about the factions related to Xu Nuan. He just needed to pinpoint their identities to leverage them for greater control over the situation.
Realizing the value behind this information excited Gu Ze momentarily; however, having just reached the Temporary Campsite left him unable to express that excitement.
At this moment, the Temporary Campsite was a complete mess.
The air was thick with the Herbal Fragrance, which was not pungent but quickly induced dizziness and nausea in those who inhaled it. While it did not cause anyone to faint or vomit, it significantly weakened everyone's fighting capability.
The presence of the medicinal scent undoubtedly had something to do with Feng Feng. Just as this thought crossed Gu Ze's mind, he scanned the group and found no trace of Feng Feng.
A sense of unease washed over Gu Ze. When his gaze met Xu Hang, who was hesitating in place, disappointment settled in his heart; he had already guessed that Xu Hang had not salvaged anything.
More importantly, it was Chi Xiaoming and Xu Nuan who were surrounded by Deng Yinyin and her group. Xu Nuan, who had initially cried out in alarm, was now administering emergency treatment to Chi Xiaoming. At this moment, Chi Xiaoming was his most important and capable partner, yet he looked pale and extremely weak.
Xu Nuan was uninjured, which provided Gu Ze with some relief. However, he soon frowned as he observed the scene before him. Chi Xiaoming would still play a significant role in the future, as would Feng Feng. Gu Ze had to rectify what Xu Hang had failed to save.
"Where did he run off to?"
At this moment, Gu Ze did not inquire further about what had happened. He knew that Feng Feng was a variable and had mentally prepared himself for it. However, Chi Xiaoming's injury was unexpected. After confirming that Xu Nuan was unharmed, his thoughts were solely on Chi Xiaoming.
Xu Hang pointed in a direction for Gu Ze. It wasn't much; Xu Hang was typically taciturn but had never been like this with Gu Ze. The change in both of them was evident at this moment.
Gu Ze did not mind. As Fang Zheng caught up with him, he dashed out, but after only a few steps, he snapped back to reality and looked at Xu Nuan, who was crouched on the ground providing emergency care for Chi Xiaoming. Fear flashed in his eyes.
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