"You're going to act alone?" Daisy's eyebrows lifted slightly.
Xu Xi responded with a faint, nonchalant question, "Is there a problem?"
The group fell silent.
After a moment, Buriman spoke up, "I suddenly feel like changing my mind."
He smiled as he looked at the young man, "Friend, how about I join you?"
Xu Xi gave him an inscrutable look but didn't say anything, tacitly accepting.
This guy really seems to like having someone take the lead.
Seeing the young man's meaningful gaze and recalling that inexplicable glance earlier, Buriman's smile nearly faltered.
He hadn't forgotten what happened to that short-haired woman.
"Ahem." Thinking of that, Buriman cleared his throat and pivoted, "But since I've already decided to challenge the Bone-Burial Forest with these two ladies, it wouldn't be right for me to back out now."
His smile returned to its natural state, even carrying a touch of perfectly measured apology, "Friend, I wish you success."
The two women mentioned, Gessalin and Kuxia, exchanged subtle glances but ultimately didn't contradict him.
"..." Xu Xi was speechless.
Was this guy messing with him?
"In that case, we'll meet up later." Winifred clapped his hands, pulling everyone's attention back, ready to part ways now.
Upon hearing this, Xu Xi turned and left without another word.
This decisive departure made the few others who still had something to say choke back their words, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Ah, what a unique player... truly fascinating." Yurien watched the young man's gradually disappearing back and sighed with what seemed like admiration.
Saha gave him a strange look and took a step closer to Ichimura Kota, who had remained silent throughout.
Noticing Saha's movement, Yurien said, "...I was just praising him."
Saha snorted coldly.
Praising? More like assessing.
That Hua Nation young man's actions were far too conspicuous, especially when he declared he would act alone. Saha couldn't help but size him up.
He was curious. Where did the young man get the courage to leave the group right at the start of the instance?
He knew full well that no player who could participate in the mixed-team competition was useless.
But even with aces up one's sleeve, caution was still essential.
After all, aces were limited, and so was one's life.
However, there was another possibility: the other party had obtained some concrete clue and felt the danger within was manageable.
Based on the current situation, that possibility seemed the most likely.
Saha glanced at Buriman, whose expression was unreadable, and inwardly scoffed.
Wants to tag along for clues but doesn't want to get dragged into trouble.
Nothing in an instance comes that cheap.
Although he also coveted the clues the Hua Nation kid might possess, he preferred to be more cautious.
With information unclear and intentions unpredictable, the safest survival strategy was to prioritize completing known, confirmed tasks first.
So sticking with the main group was more practical—shared risk, clear objective.
"Alright, time's about up, let's set off too." At that moment, Winifred, who had withdrawn his gaze, spoke up.
No one objected.
He looked at the contemplative group, knowing what they were thinking.
To put it bluntly, that Hua Nation young man had now become a target.
Everyone was watching, waiting for him to scout the path, waiting for him to demonstrate his value.
Winifred shook his head, dismissing these thoughts. Wasn't he the same?
No more overthinking. He took the lead, heading towards the location marked on the map: the Torture Building.
With someone leading the way, everyone gathered their focus and, following the predetermined teams, dispersed towards their respective targets.
Soon, the front hall was empty.
Thus, the four teams embarked on their journeys to different areas.
...
After confirming he was out of everyone's sight, Xu Xi's pace slowed slightly.
Because he also didn't know where he should go to find that red skull symbol.
Suddenly realizing... it seemed he still had to wander around aimlessly.
Meanwhile, in the live stream, after a series of shocking developments, the most emotionally intense viewers were undoubtedly those from Maple Nation. One could even say they were wailing and lamenting.
Their contestant was the first to be eliminated. Although not dead, that state of deep unconsciousness was practically no different from being out.
[Did the Hua Nation player know Dana would be attacked from the start! (ip Maple Nation)]
[So what if he did? Should he be responsible for your contestant? Friend, get a grip. (ip Romantique)]
In truth, Hua Nation's netizens were also muttering in front of their screens.
To say Master Xu Xi had no prior inkling at all?
Unbelievable.
But.
[Slander! Pure slander! My master just glanced at her, who knows what taboo your contestant broke! (ip Hua Nation)]
[Defamation! Pure defamation! Just a coincidence! (ip Hua Nation)]
Some netizens focused on another matter.
[Is no one else concerned about the massive number of supernatural beings that appeared at the last moment? They seemed to seep directly out of the walls and floor! Oh my heavens, there were more of them than strands of hair on my head! (ip Ro Nation)]
——
Hua Nation.
Central Television.
"It seems netizens from other nations aren't too convinced Contestant Xu Xi's glance was unintentional." Host Yao Han watched the rapidly scrolling, speculation-and-doubt-filled multi-national live stream comments on the split screen and remarked.
On the split screen, real-time comments were scrolling at an unprecedented density—
[He definitely knows something! That look was no coincidence! (ip Maple Nation)]
[Information advantage? But how did he predict it? (ip Hans Nation)]
[Ah, that subsequent glance he cast towards our contestant... (ip Rice Nation)]
Luo Zongyun uncrossed his legs, "Ahem, to be honest, I don't believe it either."
[I can't take it anymore, Master Xu Xi's entire life, even his breathing, seems to have profound meaning.]
[Stop it, even if he picked his feet on the spot, I'd suspect it's because supernatural beings are afraid of foot odor.]
[C, that got smelly, get lost!]
A pensive look flashed across Lin Miao's features, "It seems those bluish-green supernatural beings were undoubtedly past victims. The numbers match up."
Jiang Jin seized the moment to voice his own question, "But the strange thing is, aside from the Maple Nation player, only Contestant Xu Xi seems able to see them?"
Even he, watching from outside the screen, was shocked numb by their sheer number, yet the young man who faced those supernatural beings up close remained expressionless.
Jiang Jin kept a straight face, but privately, he was extremely impressed.
Luo Zongyun chimed in, "Perhaps it's because of Xu Xi's 'tourist' remarks in front of the dungeon earlier, which triggered a certain degree of difference."
He continued explaining, "Xu Xi temporarily registered a tourist identity for himself. The tourist identity can be recognized by the supernatural beings as a contactable entity, while the other players currently still hold the status of intruders."
[Thanks, Brother Luo, I finally understand. So the two words 'exhibition hall' themselves are also a clue.]
[If being different means getting that much focused attention from supernatural beings, then I'd rather stay the same.]
[Don't make me laugh, you in front. Is that voluntary? That's called being forced by limited intellect.]
[Wow, if you hadn't explained, I'd still be in the dark.]
"Speaking of the dungeon, I wonder what important clue is hidden beneath that stone slab." Yao Han's words were filled with regret.
Lin Miao and Luo Zongyun exchanged a look.
Lin Miao said, "I think... Xu Xi might already know what's inside."
That flash of understanding on his face just before he left... he probably had a good idea.
