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.
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.