The beasts’ greedy, bloodthirsty gazes were obvious to Wen Renxi, a seasoned survivor. They were menacing.

She expected them to attack, sensing her vulnerability and the blood, but they remained hidden.

After a few breaths, seeing no movement, Wen Renxi picked up the minigun. Her hand stayed on her knife hilt, ready to draw.

Fortunately, sensing her danger, the creatures didn’t move, only watched from the shadows.

As Wen Renxi touched the minigun, it disintegrated, vanishing as if it had never existed. She wasn’t surprised and left.

Disposable.

Of course. No one gave powerful weapons to rivals. Han Jiao wasn’t foolish enough to trust their brief partnership. They knew they’d turn on each other.

Leaving Huang Pingyu’s body behind, Wen Renxi followed Han Jiao and Zaoya.

…

Han Jiao pulled Zaoya through the shadowed forest. Afraid to stop, she didn’t know how far they’d run, holding Zaoya’s cold hand. Her ragged breath filled her ears. She finally stopped, her lungs burning.

“Can you climb trees?”

Zaoya nodded, puzzled.

Han Jiao pushed her up a tree, hiding behind it herself—she couldn’t climb.

She wasn’t doubting Wen Renxi, but she looked too young.

Appearance was deceiving, but Han Jiao believed Wen Renxi could stall Huang Pingyu, not defeat him. He seemed prepared.

If Huang Pingyu came… she’d have to act.

Zaoya was no match for him.

Behind the tree, she regained her breath. The silence was broken only by strange bird calls, sending shivers down her spine.

Damn.

This place was terrifying.

Worse, there were no other players, only Zaoya and whatever dangers the dungeon held.

So far, the villagers seemed the threat.

Han Jiao rubbed her arms, hesitating, then pulled out a tube of ointment. “Zaoya, can you reach up there? I’ll give you medicine for your wounds?”

Despite Zaoya being just a target, Han Jiao felt for her.

Zaoya shifted, peeking through the leaves. Han Jiao looked away. “…Want it?”

“Thank you,” Zaoya whispered, reaching down for the tube.

Han Jiao heard rustling above.

Too quiet.

The silence unnerved her. She wanted to talk, but she and Zaoya had nothing in common.

They exchanged a few words, then heard a noise. Han Jiao tensed.

Wen Renxi moved like a cat, through the forest. Though Han Jiao and Zaoya had a head start, they were slow. Wen Renxi caught up quickly.

Afraid of Han Jiao’s items, Wen Renxi called out, then approached.

Seeing Wen Renxi, Han Jiao almost cried.

Thank goodness! With Wen Renxi here, she wasn’t as scared. Being alone was horrifying.

She felt watched, and missed Wen Renxi’s company.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

“Where’s Huang Pingyu?”

“We were fighting, then a bunch of beasts showed up. I climbed a tree and left. No idea about him.”

…She’d killed him, but she was just an intern, she didn’t want jail.

Law-abiding.

Han Jiao believed her. They had fought beasts before.

“Lucky those things distracted Huang Pingyu,” Han Jiao said, relieved. She and Wen Renxi helped Zaoya down.

Smelling ointment, Wen Renxi knew it was Han Jiao’s, either pity or worry about slowing down.

“Yeah, lucky,” Wen Renxi said, not mentioning the minigun. Han Jiao didn’t either.

“We’re too close to the village. If they search tonight, we’re in trouble. Let’s head to Zaoya’s cave, in the dark.”

Zaoya seemed scared, but nodded.

She didn’t mention Huang Pingyu’s words, nor asked their true intentions.

Han Jiao hesitated.

Her goal was to take Zaoya back, just avoiding the others. Was the cave too far?

“We have time,” Wen Renxi said meaningfully.

Han Jiao understood.

Three days. No rush.

“Okay, let’s hide.”

…As long as Zaoya was with them.

They found a tree root to sit. Wen Renxi lifted Zaoya’s gown, revealing the bandaged leg. Zaoya shrank back.

“Hold still,” Wen Renxi said, sniffing, cutting a clean piece of fabric to secure the bandage.

“Let’s go.”

Han Jiao nodded. Like before, they flanked Wen Renxi. Both were afraid of the night forest.

Even Zaoya, a local, was afraid.

Humans weren’t masters here. Dangers lurked, especially at night.

“…Are you crying?” Zaoya asked, limping.

Wen Renxi wiped her eyes, blank-faced. Then tears streamed down.

“Why?”

“I remembered I’m just a student, it’s hard.”

—Right, an intern, not like players who leave after finishing. If she messed up, her internship was over.

The villagers, the other players, her report… Wen Renxi felt overwhelmed.

Han Jiao saw her acting, but if she didn’t know her, she’d look pathetic.

…Though she looked pathetic now.

She wouldn’t be fooled again!

Maybe the beasts were drawn to Huang Pingyu’s blood. They encountered few threats. But Han Jiao wondered if the other players were still at Hu’s gate.

Wen Renxi: How should I know?

But recalling her lie about monitoring the gate, she nodded calmly. “They are. Three are asking Professor Huang questions.”

—Meaning, three players were at Hu’s.

Han Jiao nodded, wary.

Three.

Returning now was suicide. Good thing Wen Renxi was watching.

They walked till late, exhausted. They stopped to rest. Wen Renxi was the weakest, but she didn’t lag. Han Jiao did.

Zaoya, though injured, was used to mountains.

They sat down to rest.

“Are you both students?” Zaoya asked, her eyes shining in the moonlight.

Han Jiao didn’t answer.

“Yes, we are. After this, you can go to school too. Outside, what happened today is illegal. You can call the police.”

Looking at Zaoya’s curiosity, Wen Renxi felt tears again.

—She’d cried so many times.

The original Wen Renxi was too emotional.

“I can go to school?”

“Yes, everyone can.”

Wen Renxi looked at Zaoya. “Want to learn your name?”

Zaoya hesitated.

Writing.

She couldn’t.

But she wanted to know how her name looked.

Han Jiao watched, bored, as Wen Renxi took Zaoya’s hand and wrote on the ground with a stick.

[Zaoya]