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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 447: The Forest of Slaughter
The most adept at scheming from the shadows are those who thrive on treachery. Whether you are a prodigy or a seasoned warrior, the hardest to guard against are those insidious individuals.
“Gu Ze!”
Xu Nuan's voice echoed across the Gobi, cutting through layers of yellow sand and reaching the gray horizon.
“That damned person, I will never let him go!”
Xu Nuan's eyes widened in fury, as if the man she sought was right there on the Gobi sands, her gaze intent on torturing him.
At that moment, the storm had subsided, and the few who had narrowly escaped death exchanged glances, none daring to step forward to comfort Xu Nuan.
If that person who had been plotting against them could be called a demon, then Xu Nuan was no different at this moment—both were demons returned from hell, eager to flay their enemy alive.
Gu Ze's extraordinary talent stood out too much; before he had even managed to deal with Zhang Xiao, he had already successfully led everyone through one Survival Game after another. Even if they were unwilling to admit it, no one could erase the fact that they had benefited from Gu Ze's brilliance.
Thus, it was only natural that Gu Ze would become a target for that man. If Gu Ze continued unchecked, more than five people would reach the One Hundred Levels.
Such a number would be an insult to the founder, making Gu Ze an obvious thorn in that man's side.
Moreover, Xu Nuan and Chi Xiaoming knew well that Gu Ze had been sabotaging various mechanisms, gradually dismantling this game and ruining the hard work of that insidious individual.
Xu Nuan gritted her teeth, blood seeping from the corner of her lips. Her hands were clenched tightly, her expression and actions betraying her unwillingness and anger.
They all relied too much on Gu Ze, which only pushed him closer to danger. Today's ordeal could easily be described as a matter of life and death, highlighting their incompetence and Gu Ze's capabilities.
While everyone was being saved by Gu Ze, and while they were all exhausted from their struggles, no one could provide timely assistance to him.
At that moment, Xu Nuan hurriedly got up from the ground, a wave of heat washing over her, making it difficult for her to stand. She saw someone lying in the sand in the distance, and her heart nearly stopped.
In her struggle to breathe, she realized that the unconscious person was Liu Minghong, not Gu Ze. She began to run desperately toward that direction, but it was too late.
Yu Le Yu and Melolo suddenly emerged from the ground, quickly carrying the fallen Gu Ze away.
By the time she reached the spot where she had hoped to find him, only Quicksand remained.
Her hands were covered in yellow sand, densely dotted with tiny wounds marked by the grains. All the pain paled in comparison to the wound in her heart.
In the end, Xu Hang stopped her.
"He has been taken away."
Simple words, a simple fact.
Xu Nuan had no intention of deciphering everyone's emotions, but it was precisely because everyone relied too heavily on Gu Ze that he had become the target of their collective blame.
Gu Ze was, to her, the one who had to be eliminated, unlike herself, who could still barely cling to life due to her own value.
The entire Gobi had fallen silent. Just moments ago, the wind and sand had been so fierce that one had to shout to be heard; now it was quiet as if everyone in the world had perished.
A profound Silence.
Just like Xu Nuan's heart.
The two Tail Rings on her right hand clashed against each other due to her owner's excessive grip, the sharp edges cutting into Xu Nuan's fingertips, yet she remained oblivious.
"Xu Nuan."
In the midst of everyone's silence, it was Deng Yinyin who could no longer bear the stillness and was the first to speak up.
The capture of Gu Ze, with no trace left behind, was a heavy blow to everyone. Of course, even if Deng Yinyin was carefree, she understood Xu Nuan's feelings at this moment.
What puzzled her was Xu Nuan's emotional state; the outcome of Gu Ze's capture was evident, yet there was no sign of the same distress she had felt when Xie Huai went missing.
At most, she felt regret over losing a companion like Gu Ze and fear about how to proceed after such a powerful ally had failed.
Sadness?
That emotion seemed to be concentrated entirely on the woman before her—lost and filled with hatred.
She had a feeling of impending battle, a woman's intuition and a premonition of entering the Ninety-Ninth Survival Game.
No matter how heartbroken one might be, time continues to flow. No matter how deeply Xu Nuan was immersed in her emotions, she could not find any trace of Gu Ze in the Gobi; she had to follow everyone into the Killing Forest.
She had thought that she would face off against those people in this Killing Forest alongside Gu Ze.
When the only person she could entrust her life to was gone, everything lost its meaning.
The Killing Forest was somewhat sinister; there was no sunlight, and the sky was overcast, as if it were about to rain but never did, which was quite unsettling.
Due to this situation, the trees in the forest seemed to have taken on a black hue. This color, combined with the gloomy weather, made it hard for anyone to think positively.
The forest was home to many wild beasts, and those smaller creatures were also black, hiding in the bushes or standing on branches, watching everyone with cold eyes. Crows were the most frequently seen, their calls and shadowy figures sending chills down everyone's spines.
As for the larger beasts, they lurked in the shadows and would not appear until commanded by the System; for now, they posed no immediate threat but silently applied pressure on the group.
Deng Yinyin hugged her shoulders tightly, trying to curl up as much as possible. She leaned closer to Xu Nuan, intending to complain about the sinister and terrifying environment. However, when she glanced up at Xu Nuan, she found herself at a loss for words.
Xu Nuan hadn’t spoken a word in days; her expression was frighteningly dark. Unless absolutely necessary, no one dared to initiate conversation with her.
Regarding Gu Ze's situation, others had considered trying to retrieve him, but the likelihood of success was too low. Moreover, with Gu Ze in the hands of those lurking in the shadows, his chances of survival were slim. As time passed, Deng Yinyin no longer held out hope that Gu Ze was still alive.
Xu Hang's expression had also remained grim, but according to Deng Yinyin's observations, at least Xu Hang could once again take on the responsibilities of captain during this time, ensuring that everyone was accounted for. Liu Minghong had been severely affected by that explosion; his physical condition had clearly begun to decline. Coupled with the drugs in his system, he was visibly deteriorating at an alarming rate.
In the face of such a situation, everyone felt powerless. According to Deng Yinyin's observations, Chi Xiaoming hadn't spoken for days. Once the soul of their team departed, the atmosphere turned utterly grim.
As night approached, the Killing Forest became even more sinister. The moonlight was dim, forcing everyone to rely on their flashlights to navigate. Xu Hang decisively ordered everyone to rest nearby and continue their journey the next day.
Deng Yinyin let out a sigh of relief and was about to look around for some fresh air when she was startled by her surroundings.
Unlike the feeling during the day, at night, the trees seemed to ooze blood, with red seeping through the darkness, sending chills down her spine.
It was then that Deng Yinyin realized how aptly named the Killing Forest was.
By the time night fully enveloped them, they had successfully lit a fire.
"Why do I feel even more terrified?"
Deng Yinyin shivered, perceiving that the flames were red, the surrounding trees were red, and even the moon in the sky appeared red. This scene felt both familiar and frightening.
But no one paid her any mind; she could only sulk against a tree. As she leaned back, she sensed something was off—something seemed to be dripping onto her clothes.
She swallowed hard and then screamed.
"Ah! There's a snake!"
Xu Hang was the first to rush over. No matter how indifferent he tried to appear towards Deng Yinyin, his instincts kicked in, just as they did with his feelings for Lan Ling.
It was only after Xu Hang discovered what those liquids were that his expression darkened, and he shot a glare at Deng Yinyin.
Feeling wronged by the glare, Deng Yinyin was no longer afraid. She turned to look and found that the liquid was flowing from the trees, appearing red, without any odor and not corroding her clothes.
The color was rather alarming, and Deng Yinyin felt as if she had been slapped hard in the face. Looking at the others sitting around the campfire, she felt even more embarrassed.
After she mentally convinced herself to slowly return to her original spot, she noticed that Xu Nuan, who had been sitting beside her, was gone.
"Hey? Where did she go?"
At that moment, Chi Xiaoming, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up.
"She stepped out for a bit."
Deng Yinyin found it strange and, lacking inspiration at the moment, could only respond with an "oh."
After a while, when Chi Xiaoming also left, she began to understand what that strange feeling was about.
She recalled the earlier interactions between Chi Xiaoming and Xu Nuan; more specifically, how she had noticed Chi Xiaoming paying attention to Xu Nuan. Suddenly, a bold thought sprouted in her mind.
Could it be that Chi Xiaoming likes Xu Nuan?
She felt excited by her discovery, but when she looked up and saw the lifeless Liu Minghong and the silent Xu Hang, her interest in gossip quickly faded.
Darkness was Xu Nuan's sworn enemy, but the red light emanating from the trees helped her at that moment.
She had no destination in mind, simply walking wherever the path led her.
Like a wandering spirit, she reached the riverbank, numbly squatting down to touch the icy water with her hand.
Reality was cruel; if Liu Minghong had ended up like that, what about Gu Ze, who had been a moment too late to escape?
Moreover, what kind of torment would Gu Ze endure?
Thoughts related to the same person drilled into her mind, leaving her no moment of peace.
When footsteps sounded behind her, Xu Nuan did not turn around; she didn’t even notice the unusual ripples in the river.
As a fish with sharp teeth swam toward her fingers, Chi Xiaoming suddenly yanked Xu Nuan away and unceremoniously threw her aside.
Caught completely off guard, Xu Nuan crashed against a tree and slid down, but the two Tail Rings on her hand fell off and rolled at her feet, reminding her of their presence.
"You have a way to save him, don’t you?"
Chi Xiaoming's cold voice made Xu Nuan's heart feel even colder.
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