Chapter 173: Opposition

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Opposition

The cooperation they were talking about was, of course, referring to the Planting Space.

Due to too many unstable factors, they currently hadn’t been told about the game’s origin.

There was competition between players, and likewise, between bases.

Friends one moment could be enemies the next. Therefore, even though they were all Huaxia people, they maintained a cautious distance from one another.

Shi Zhile looked around, and only after confirming the other group was a safe distance away did she ask, "What are your hints?"

The sound of her voice died instantly. Everyone looked like they wanted to speak but hesitated.

This left Shi Zhile confused.

The two base leaders exchanged a look. After Wen Changming nodded, the other leader looked at Wen Yuchu. "Could you give us a moment?"

Wen Yuchu shrugged and turned to walk deeper into the village. He didn’t go far, stopping at the doorway of the fifth house to lean against the wall.

Wen Changming spoke first. "The first hint tells us not to trust anyone from outside the village."

Shi Zhile: "...So... I guess I count as someone from outside the village... right?"

She finally understood why Jiang Jing and the others had been on high alert the moment they saw her.

It turned out the instance had split them into two factions, and the hints made it clear that these two factions were hostile to each other.

With a grand wave of her hand, Shi Zhile displayed her own panel.

"My hints are much simpler. I don’t know what yours are focused on, but all three of mine are about the curse."

She displayed her hints openly, and the others didn’t hesitate to examine them.

Once they confirmed there were no tasks requiring them to kill each other, the two from Jiuzhou Base gradually relaxed.

Shi Zhile counted them again, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. "Remember the hint he gave? Ten people for the sacrifice, and there are exactly ten of you. Is there anyone else in this village besides you?"

Shi Zhiyi shook her head. "No! There are plenty of houses in the village, but not many are intact. These are all abandoned."

Shi Zhile said, "The numbers match up. One of the instance quests is sacrifice. If I’m not mistaken, the altar in the island’s center requires ten sacrifices, and you are the sacrifices the instance has prepared for us ’outsiders.’"

Wen Bai yanked Shi Zhiyi behind him, his wariness practically spilling from his eyes.

Shi Zhile’s lips twitched into a sneer. "What’s wrong with you? I’d sacrifice you before I’d ever let my sister become a sacrifice."

"This is just my theory. And even if it’s true, I’d never hurt my own people for the sake of those damn... Japs."

"So, it’s time to make a bet. You’re all one team. Whether you tell me your hints or not is up to you."

A gentle smile graced Wen Changming’s face. "There’s no need to bet. We trust you."

Jiang Jing added, "We’ve fought side-by-side so many times. It makes no sense to start doubting you over a single hint."

Shi Zhile shot him a look. "Is that so? You seemed to be the most suspicious one just now."

Jiang Jing coughed in embarrassment.

It was true that Shi Zhile was a great comrade-in-arms, but she was still another player. Seeing her show up with that other group right after he read the hints had set off all the alarms in his head.

Catching a look from his base leader, he didn’t hesitate to open his panel and display the hints.

[Cursed Island Instance Hints: 1. Do not trust the guests from outside the village, for no one knows if they are human or "ghosts."

2. You may touch, pick up, and collect all types of bones. The bones scattered across the island are your weapons. If you are chased or captured, you can use the bones to fight them.

3. You are sacrifices—offerings for the outsiders to use to remove their own curse. Do not step onto the Sacrificial Platform as a group of ten. Violators will die!

4. Do not perform the sacrifice. Do not perform the sacrifice! No! You must perform the sacrifice! You must perform the sacrifice!]

After reading all four hints, Shi Zhile felt her heart sink.

If the first hint drew the battle lines, the second set the factions against each other, and the third marked the beginning of a kill-or-be-killed struggle.

Shi Zhile suddenly recalled Jiang Yuxing’s words.

"Ten sacrificed, zero survivors. You said there aren’t many chances to kill the Japs. What if I give you a chance for revenge, but it costs you your life?"

"I’m actually looking forward to it!"

So this was what he meant. The chance for revenge came at the cost of her own life.

With the two sides in opposition, she could trade her own life to die along with the Japs, allowing Shi Zhiyi and the others to live.

On the other hand, if Shi Zhiyi and her group died, she would live!

No matter what she chose, one side was doomed to be annihilated.

Shi Zhile let out a laugh, silently cursing every last one of Jiang Yuxing’s ancestors in her heart.

If Shi Zhiyi weren’t on the opposing team, she would have killed all the Japs and tied them to the Sacrificial Platform without a second thought. But there were no ’what ifs’ here.

’Since that’s how it is... I won’t be holding back!’

"Hide your hints. Don’t let a single one get out. And stick to your rules."

Tang Yan, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "What about you? If we stick to our rules, what will you...?"

Shi Zhile cut him off. "To each their own. I’ll decide my own life and death, the rest is up to fate. Besides, who says who’s going to die!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the expressions of half of the ten people changed.

The two from Jiuzhou Base nearly aimed their weapons at the other players. The tension ratcheted up, and the smile on Shi Zhile’s face grew wider until she finally burst out laughing.

Shi Zhiyi finally broke free from Wen Bai’s grasp, stepped forward, and pinched Shi Zhile’s cheek. "Don’t you dare go crazy! It’s only the first day."

Shi Zhile wiped the smile from her face, pulled Shi Zhiyi’s hand away, and let her gaze sweep over the others.

"Protect my sister. Right now, she’s your lifeline. As long as she’s alive, you won’t die. If she dies, you’re all going down with her."

Seeing that Shi Zhiyi was about to blow a fuse, she quickly took a step back. "Sis, stick close to them. If it comes down to it, shove a few of these old-timers in front of you to take the hit."

The old-timers?

The five older members of the group exchanged a look, large question marks practically appearing over their heads.

’Old-timers? Us?’

Shi Zhile walked off without a backward glance. As she passed Wen Yuchu, he just smiled and fell in step behind her.

Shi Zhile asked, "It’s getting dark. Why isn’t the black fog here yet?"

Wen Yuchu scanned the area, only realizing when he looked forward again that Shi Zhile was watching him. "Are you asking me?"

"Who else?"

Wen Yuchu chuckled. "If you don’t know, then of course I don’t either."

His smile faded slightly. "But you’re right, it is getting dark. The Japs headed deeper into the village. Should we find a place to stay first, or go join them?"

Shi Zhile said, "We’re not joining them. Let’s find a place to stay first."

Wen Yuchu nodded and said no more. His sudden quietness made Shi Zhile give him a second glance.

The deeper they went into the village, the more dilapidated the houses became. In the end, the two of them chose a ruined shack closest to the center.