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墨書 Inktalez
Xu Nuan and Zhang Xiao walked together.
This was the most unlikely yet undeniably real occurrence. For various reasons, the two found themselves sharing a bond of mutual understanding as they traversed a secret passage that led in only one direction.
The secret passage was somewhat cold, and most areas appeared rough and unrefined, with no one caring about the details. Numerous electric lights illuminated the corridor, but Xu Nuan and Zhang Xiao had no time to ponder the source of the electricity. They could hear the sound of dripping water echoing from afar.
Xu Nuan was empty-handed, without a backpack or weapon; the notebook left by Qin Yaojie had already turned to fragments, and she felt no nostalgia for it.
Zhang Xiao had a backpack and several short knives, making his situation seem much better than Xu Nuan's. However, his mental state contrasted sharply with hers, which was why Xu Nuan could endure the pain of hunger and cold while Zhang Xiao appeared somewhat dazed.
Xu Nuan silently observed the figure ahead of her, then glanced at her increasingly heavy legs. Her expression remained unchanged as she continued to follow.
There was only one path, and they could only walk together. If not for their circumstances, Xu Nuan would have certainly dealt with Zhang Xiao. She saw things clearly: it was a fact that Zhang Xiao had killed Qin Yaojie, and he conspired with his nominal brother—he was her enemy and deserved to be punished.
Yet, to avoid another mutual destruction that would cost her the ability to return to Gu Ze's side, Xu Nuan temporarily suppressed her hatred, allowing it to churn within her heart like a storm, almost breaking free from her chest.
Xu Nuan's gaze burned intensely but went unnoticed by Zhang Xiao. Despite appearing dazed at that moment, his earlier display of cunning during a fit of madness suggested he was extremely sly and should not be underestimated.
The chill of the passage seeped into Xu Nuan's left leg, the pain coiling around her like a tightening snake injecting venom. After walking a distance, she could no longer bear it and reluctantly stopped to bend down and alleviate the suffering.
She did not know when she fell asleep; everything that happened before dozing off became hazy, mere silhouettes drifting through a fog before her eyes. Whenever she tried to reach out and grasp them, they were whisked away by an unknown force.
The bizarre visions in her dreams continued to cause Xu Nuan heartache but did not lead her to lose control again. She proved through her own experience that the antidote developed by Feng Feng was indeed effective without any noticeable side effects.
Thinking about Feng Feng being a double agent brought Xu Nuan some joy in Gu Ze's judgment of people. Whether it was Chi Xiaoming or Feng Feng, both could become powerful allies for Gu Ze on this perilous journey, while Xu Hang remained an unwavering support behind them.
She felt fortunate for Gu Ze, which made her smile involuntarily even while immersed in her dreams. This was a state that was hard for her to exhibit, often plagued by nightmares, yet it felt completely natural when many things finally came to light.
Xu Nuan even felt a bit reluctant to leave the scenes in her dream; each frame was so precious that she wanted to cradle them in her hands and cherish them.
She raised her hand, only to let it fall weakly again. In an instant, all the silhouettes shattered into fragments and scattered away with the wind, disappearing without a trace. A strong palpitation affected her mind, and Xu Nuan suddenly opened her eyes, only to meet a pair of inquisitive eyes.
It was Zhang Xiao.
Xu Nuan could hardly conceal the shock on her face, mixed with the lingering fear and regret from the dream.
Zhang Xiao stood quietly three meters away, his gaze locked onto her, thoughts flickering in his eyes that Xu Nuan found difficult to decipher at that moment.
It was then that she recalled what had happened before she fell asleep. She had been unable to bear the pain and had not eaten for a long time, leaving her dizzy.
In her daze, she had seen Zhang Xiao's retreating figure, pondering how long it would take her to catch up and how not to miss the opportunity. Little did she know that when she woke up again, it would be to see Zhang Xiao returning.
This person must be plotting something; she had to stay alert.
Xu Nuan reminded herself of this as she pushed against the crumbling wall of dirt to stand up. Just as she swayed unsteadily, Zhang Xiao threw something at her, which came hurtling toward Xu Nuan.
Instinctively, Xu Nuan reached out to catch it, but just like in her dream, her hands felt powerless, and she missed whatever Zhang Xiao had thrown.
The object rolled a few times on the muddy ground before coming to a stop, allowing Xu Nuan to finally see what it was.
A loaf of bread with its outer packaging smeared in dirt lay on the ground.
She froze, not bending down to pick it up.
Zhang Xiao's impatient voice, as cold as the passage itself, broke the silence.
"Straightforwardly, where does this secret passage lead? How do I get out?"
Zhang Xiao's words clearly drew a line; it was a pride that this man would never relinquish, no matter the circumstances, even if it seemed somewhat ridiculous at that moment.
Xu Nuan finally awakened from the melancholy brought by her dreams. She lifted her gaze to Zhang Xiao and smiled, her expression chillingly reminiscent of the smiles she once shared with him. The faint air of indifference around her made Zhang Xiao foresee an ominous future.
"The exit."
Xu Nuan extended a finger and waved it lightly, her smile unchanged but sending a shiver down his spine. Her slightly warm voice sounded ethereal due to her weakened state, as if she might vanish at any moment.
"I don't know."
The simplicity of her words struck Zhang Xiao like a heavy blow. Everyone knew that a secret passage had only one direction; when it could lead to the outside world, it also carried a glimmer of hope. Yet now, reality told Zhang Xiao that it led to an unknown future, leaving him unwilling to accept such a fate.
"You!"
The anger on Zhang Xiao's face was evident, yet he suppressed it slightly due to some thoughts swirling in his mind. He turned away impatiently, leaning against a wall with a look of disdain for their surroundings, casting a dismissive glance at Xu Nuan as well.
"Quickly pack up, we need to leave soon!"
Xu Nuan did not respond; she simply sat back down on the ground, hugging her knees, leaving everything untouched, including the bread.
Zhang Xiao's lips moved, his gaze deep, but in the end, he said nothing.
In the secret passage, there was no distinction between day and night. The so-called facilities consisted of countless cold lights that mirrored the somber mood of the people.
Xu Nuan followed behind Zhang Xiao with great effort, her tenacity reflecting her determination to return to Gu Ze's side.
Zhang Xiao, however, was growing impatient. He occasionally tossed food at Xu Nuan that she had no intention of eating, then tried to engage her in conversation with a hint of disdain.
"You know all the details of the secret passage; you must also be aware of its flaws."
If the secret passage were perfect, it would have only one direction. If it had flaws, it meant there was a chance for both of them.
During this time, Zhang Xiao even attempted to dig at the top of the passage but achieved nothing. Reluctantly, he placed his hopes on Xu Nuan. Yet she remained steadfast, showing no signs of despair but refusing to reveal another layer of the passage's secrets.
Threatening her life would not force Xu Nuan into submission; Zhang Xiao had learned this lesson long ago. Other more insidious threats directed at this stubborn woman might only lead to her choosing death. It seemed these two methods were contradictory, yet they represented Xu Nuan's struggle between survival and her integrity.
Zhang Xiao had never felt so powerless. He had shed his cold, calculating exterior and was solely focused on returning to the game to compete against that person once more.
To be fair, their resources were nearly equal, each with their own interests at stake—a rare fairness granted by that father. If he did not seize this opportunity well, he would be doing a disservice to himself.
As the thoughts settled, Zhang Xiao recalled a woman—one who had once been his, yet still lived.
A soft laugh escaped Zhang Xiao, filled with delight.
"Feng Feng is one of yours, isn't she?"
Once again, it was Zhang Xiao who spoke first. He turned his gaze toward Xu Nuan, who was trying to conserve her strength by remaining as silent as possible. A cold light flickered in his narrow eyes, enough to freeze anyone in place.
"But when you think about it, he hasn't really helped you much."
"Is that so?"
Xu Nuan smiled, no longer hesitant to expend her energy.
"At least he helped us lead you there, didn't he?"
By now, Xu Nuan could calmly admit that their earlier encounter at the secret passage had been orchestrated. Zhang Xiao had already sensed this; otherwise, he wouldn't have found himself in a position where he needed to rely on Xu Nuan.
Zhang Xiao's expression darkened as various emotions swirled within his eyes before settling into a smile that was neither genuine nor entirely mocking as he looked at Xu Nuan.
"But there are people around you helping me too. Otherwise, how would I know your movements so clearly?"
This revelation struck like a thunderclap. Instinctively, Xu Nuan ran through everyone around her besides Gu Ze in her mind but couldn't focus on anyone specific. She quickly halted this dangerous line of thought; whether it was true or not, she shouldn't fall into Zhang Xiao's trap at this moment.
"It seems that person didn't help you enough; otherwise, you wouldn't be here now."
Xu Nuan could always seize on Zhang Xiao's vulnerabilities without letting go.
After a long separation, the two found themselves alone again. The balance of power had quietly shifted, and their experiences had changed their personalities significantly. Compared to someone who had always been successful and reaping rewards, Xu Nuan, who had faced continuous losses and never tasted success, was the one most qualified to go all in.
Zhang Xiao's gaze was menacing, and a dangerous aura spilled from his lips. The one who constantly tested Xu Nuan had finally reached his limit; he enjoyed threatening others but despised being threatened himself.
"If you find a way to leave here, I will kill you right now."
"Heh heh."
Xu Nuan chuckled lightly.
"I've long since moved past that. Even if you kill me, I still wouldn't know how to leave."
This was a harsh truth, contradicting the flickering hope that still burned in Xu Nuan's eyes. It was also the source of Zhang Xiao's ongoing doubts and denials.
Neither of them noticed that just a few hundred meters away, in a corner of the secret passage, a new figure had appeared.
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