When Zhang Nu finally arrived at the small mountain village, he was immediately alerted by an interface prompt indicating that he had entered a new map and was about to unlock a new quest. This prompt made Zhang Nu realize that the village might be hiding significant secrets. No matter what, he was determined to explore the village, hoping to find something that could aid in his cultivation, possibly even something that could enhance his cultivation level. The thought of advancing his cultivation filled him with excitement.
Without hesitation, Zhang Nu stepped into the village. However, he failed to notice the changes occurring behind him---the village was once again shrouded in mist, as if it had never existed. Unaware of these changes, Zhang Nu continued his exploration, leading to increasingly complex events.
Upon entering the village, Zhang Nu was surprised to find that it appeared very peaceful and harmonious, a stark contrast to the tension of a battle-royale game. The atmosphere was so tranquil that it almost seemed out of place. Zhang Nu, guided by the system's hints, knew he needed to find the village chief's house. Although he was participating in a deadly game, the system occasionally provided crucial information about key individuals, and this time, it pointed him to the village chief.
But having just arrived in the village, Zhang Nu had no idea where the village chief's house was located. Determined to find it, he began searching the village.
After much effort, Zhang Nu finally saw a villager and immediately stopped him. "Hello, I would like to ask where the village chief's house is?"
Upon hearing Zhang Nu's words, the villager's expression darkened. It was as though he hadn't expected an outsider to enter the village. His gaze turned dangerous, clearly showing that Zhang Nu was not welcome there. "You better leave quickly. Our village does not welcome outsiders," the villager warned.
Zhang Nu frowned after hearing this, finding the villager's response strange. Why were outsiders not allowed in? What secret was this village hiding? Was there something even bigger going on, with outsiders merely being seen as troublemakers?
"Dear villager, I am new here and accidentally got lost in your village," Zhang Nu said, feigning a bitter tone. "I didn't come here on purpose. I hope you can show me the way to the village chief's house. I would leave if I could, but I don't know the way."
He was intentionally trying to evoke sympathy from the villager, hoping that his display of hardship would soften the man's attitude. However, after hearing Zhang Nu's words, the villager only grew colder. It seemed as though he had heard such excuses countless times before, always leading to the same vile outcomes.
"You people always play the sympathy card," the villager sneered. "I'm telling you, that doesn't work on us. You should leave immediately, or we won't let you go so easily."
Zhang Nu quickly caught onto the key detail in the villager's words: the villager had said "you people," which meant Zhang Nu wasn't the only outsider who had come to the village. Were there other players from the escape game here as well? The thought of facing other participants in the game stirred Zhang Nu's blood with excitement.
"Alright then, since you've chosen not to tell me, I'll leave for now. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
After saying this, Zhang Nu turned and left. However, in reality, he had no intention of leaving the village. He hadn't yet found what he was searching for in this place. Most importantly, the words of the villager clearly implied that there were other people in the village. Zhang Nu couldn't just leave without meeting them.
For the next while, Zhang Nu wandered around the village, but soon noticed something: the villagers truly had an aversion to outsiders. As long as he remained unnoticed, things were fine. But if they spotted him, they would hurl harsh words at him. Zhang Nu found this very strange. What kind of village would be filled with people so hostile toward outsiders?
Before long, Zhang Nu spotted someone unusual. He immediately realized that this person might be another participant in the game. Quietly observing, Zhang Nu chose to hide, wanting to see what this person was up to and whether they had gathered any useful information.
Zhang Nu trailed the man, trying to figure out his intentions. However, the man was no novice. He quickly noticed Zhang Nu's presence, recognizing him as another player in the game. The man had been on guard against everyone in the game from the start. Unlike Zhang Nu, this man didn't have the luxury of a strong starting point. He had been assigned a lowly role as a hunter from Green River Village and couldn't afford to expose himself too early.
The man had blended into the village by disguising himself as an NPC, seamlessly integrating with the locals, so that no one would suspect anything unusual about him. However, despite his best efforts, he had made a slip, and Zhang Nu had spotted him. Now that Zhang Nu was tailing him, the man knew it was time to teach his pursuer a lesson.
Thinking this, the man named Liu Hai quickly ducked into an alley, relying on his knowledge of the village layout after spending some time there. Zhang Nu, still unfamiliar with the village, began to panic when Liu Hai disappeared from view. He rushed over, searching left and right, but before he could leave, a gust of wind from an incoming strike alerted him.
Zhang Nu swiftly dodged the attack and turned to see it was the very man he had been following. Now, Zhang Nu knew that this man wasn't to be taken lightly---he must have some skills of his own to have noticed Zhang Nu's presence.
"Who are you? If I'm not mistaken, you're not from this village, are you? Hasn't anyone told you that outsiders aren't welcome here?"
Zhang Nu, hearing Liu Hai's words, couldn't help but feel like he was being treated as a fool. It was obvious that Liu Hai wasn't a local, so where did he find the nerve to lie so confidently?
"You might be able to fool others, but you can't fool me. You're not from this village, are you? I suppose we're both in the same situation."
Liu Hai's face darkened at Zhang Nu's response. He hadn't expected Zhang Nu to see through him so easily. After all, he had successfully deceived many of the villagers, killing them and gaining considerable power in the process. But now, standing before someone who had instantly figured him out, Liu Hai knew Zhang Nu wasn't an ordinary opponent.
Realizing he couldn't afford to offend Zhang Nu, Liu Hai softened his tone, aware that he could be the one to die if this encounter turned hostile.
"Since you've chosen to be upfront with me, I won't hide the truth from you either. I am indeed a participant in this battle-royale game, and I'm guessing you are too."
Zhang Nu nodded, slightly surprised by Liu Hai's sudden honesty but quickly understanding his reasoning. It was clear that Liu Hai felt outmatched and had recognized he couldn't afford to provoke someone of Zhang Nu's caliber.
"You seem pretty familiar with this village. How long have you been here?"
Liu Hai, realizing there was no point in hiding anything further, decided to answer truthfully. He had already made up his mind to form an alliance with Zhang Nu. If things went well, this partnership could carry him through the game. Liu Hai believed that someone as sharp as Zhang Nu would have great potential, and aligning with him might be his best chance for survival and victory."I've indeed been in this village for quite some time," Liu Hai admitted. "When I entered the game, I was assigned the role of a hunter in Green River Village. I've had to kill a few people to gain enough strength to survive."
Zhang Nu observed Liu Hai's openness with growing interest. It became evident that Liu Hai was signaling his loyalty and hinting at a desire to form an alliance.
"Am I to understand that you want to team up with me?" Zhang Nu asked bluntly. He preferred direct conversations and wasn't one to entertain roundabout discussions. If Liu Hai was serious about working together, Zhang Nu was willing to consider it.
"Yes," Liu Hai replied candidly. "I hope we can form an alliance. My potential, as you've likely noticed, isn't enough for me to survive on my own. I don't have ambitions to lead this game---I just want to make it through alive."
Zhang Nu nodded, sensing a strange sincerity in Liu Hai's words. There was something about Liu Hai's desperation to survive that felt genuine.
"Alright," Zhang Nu said. "I promise you, as long as you remain loyal, I will ensure you survive until the end."
Liu Hai's eyes gleamed with an emotion that Zhang Nu couldn't quite identify, though it didn't seem threatening. Instead, Zhang Nu felt a growing certainty that choosing Liu Hai as an ally had been a wise move.