Chapter 2456: Chapter 2456
(Today was too busy, the second Chapter will be replaced a bit later)
"Let me clarify first, we already know," Lao Chai quickly said, "Old Xu mentioned it when we first met."
The Big Man was even more straightforward; he brought Yang Tian back, and they stayed for a day, hearing about it from other players.
But here’s the problem: these people haven’t faced Xu Huo or the Girl in the painting directly; under what circumstances would they claim to be non-instance players? Of course, it’s to avoid the risks of the instance. Clearly, the strong don’t have this concern, only those lacking strength would.
"Just a robot," Yue Shangliu Shao said flatly, "It’s entirely possible someone deliberately placed it in the grove to confuse things, even shouting ’thief’ could be possible. We don’t have to fight to the death in this instance, so why target each other?"
"That’s not necessarily true," the Yin Yang Master said, "We need to know who’s lost the acting role among us, to prevent the failure-minded from sabotaging others from clearing."
Yue Shangliu Shao gave a slight smile, "Even if clearing fails, the stance is on the non-actors’ side, as their numbers are greater, and it’s easier to make actors fail."
"Moreover, we all know," she continued, "this instance is unlike any we’ve experienced before."
Compared to those instances requiring players to fight to the death, this one’s conditions are quite relaxed; even doing nothing and surviving thirty days leads to a smooth clearance. Is there any easier instance?
Of course, that’s the logic, but only a week has passed; as time goes on, who knows what changes the instance might bring? Instigating others to reduce competitors would be great.
However, the Girl in the painting didn’t delve deep, and others naturally didn’t start a fight.
After dinner, players need to take turns keeping watch. Shifts were by group, two groups for the first half of the night, and two for the second half. Xu Huo and Lao Chai’s groups were on the first half tonight.
Due to prior unpleasantness, the groups didn’t gather together, staring blankly into the second half of the night.
The remaining two groups kept watch until dawn.
Nothing happened throughout the night, not even the previous curious drowsiness appeared.
The next three days followed the same pattern. No one left the village, and no strange sounds or shadows appeared in the forest, nor did new players emerge.
*
Feeling bored, Chi Cai turned back and glared at Yang Tian.
Yang Tian was fine earlier; since being rescued and finding his legs unable to walk, he looked at everyone with hostility, especially Chi Cai and the Big Man.
Chi Cai could sense his attitude, offering help only when necessary, avoiding him otherwise.
Once players quieted down, the village seemed to quiet too.
Maybe with so many outsiders arriving, those who used to stroll around stayed indoors.
Except for the Girl in the painting.
She carried a backpack full of snacks, walking from one end of the village to the other, exchanging for peculiar foods or interesting items from villagers. Some villagers resisted outsiders, ignoring her knocks, but she wouldn’t give up easily, repeating messages on her communicator until they reluctantly emerged.
As she gathered more along the way, she soon had three little kids sneakily following her.
No matter the villagers’ mood, they were quite joyful. Finally, at Grandpa He’s suggestion, they chose a spot in the middle of the village to play.
Their joy was distinct, incongruent with the village, slowly isolating them from the surroundings.
"Li Chun..." a voice drifted from the woods; the Girl in the painting immediately looked up but saw only mist, perhaps a mere illusion.
As she was about to lower her head, the voice called her name again.
"Someone’s calling me," she quickly shared with a few friends.
The little girl digging worms raised her head, nervously asking, "Is it your brother asking you to go back?"
"Seems like it," the Girl in the painting said, "But the voice is coming from over there; he was asleep when I left."
"Will you go back?" The little girl wanted to keep playing.
"No," the Girl in the painting said decisively, "If he’s worried, he’ll come find me himself."
So the group continued digging worms.
Yet Xu Huo didn’t come for her; the voices in the woods seemed to shift location, calling her again from another direction.
Annoyed by the noise, the Girl in the painting bid farewell to her friends, clutching a shovel, and stormed into the grove.
"Hey, wait, she’s just running off?" The players naturally monitored the situation and seeing her suddenly dash off, felt suspicious and annoyed, thinking how could they cooperate if she disregarded agreements?
"Running off makes it easier," the green-haired female player leaned by the scene prop’s window, gazing at the direction the Girl in the painting disappeared, "If she’s an actor, today’s plan is light."
Unfortunately for them, she returned minutes later, covered in grass and mud, dragging a similarly muddy small robot. The robot was broken, its fault light flashing erratically, but the speaker kept repeating her name.
The Girl in the painting brought the robot to the player gathering spot, smashed it underfoot, and glanced at those watching openly and covertly, raising a middle finger at everyone equally.
Some looked disdainful, and others pretended not to notice, waiting for her departure before retrieving the robot.
Chi Cai and the Big Man arrived simultaneously, both wanting the robot.
Clearly, only players here know the Girl in the painting’s name; placing the robot nearby for good signal reception, claiming another hidden player did it is unbelievable.
"We should have an actor among us," Bubble Bean spoke from ten meters away, "But the person daring to place the robot probably left no traces; it seems useless. But choosing that woman as a target is rather intriguing."
Arriving early, some knew Xu Huo and the Girl in the painting weren’t instance players; regardless of truth, killing on suspicion of a hidden friend as a target poses unnecessary risks. Neither Xu Huo nor the Girl is easy to mess with, targeting her so boldly likely stems from a new arrival unaware of the situation.
Bubble Bean and the green-haired female player turned their gaze toward the Big Man and the recently arrived Lao Chai trio.
