Chapter 52: Treaty Invalidated

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Treaty Invalidated

Everyone was stunned. Chuyi’s defiant expression was replaced by sheer bewilderment, his eyes clearing up a bit.

Shi Zhile forced a calm expression as she put away her Water Gun. "Want to keep fighting? I don’t mind killing you right here."

Wang Peng clamped a hand over Chuyi’s mouth. "No, no fighting! We’re all on the same side. And, uh, I just heard Jiang Yu call him ’brother.’ They must be family. We’re all one big family here. If we fight, we’ll just become a laughingstock for others, right?"

He then turned to pull at Shi Zhile. "Sister Zhile, do me a favor, and do Brother Nan a favor. Let’s all just take a step back and let this go."

Shi Zhile looked at Jiang Yu. "Your brother ran into you because he was protecting me. You can choose not to forgive him or to ignore him, but Chuyi has no right to hit him. Not even if he’s your boyfriend."

’If something happened to Jiang Jing, who would teach me archery and boxing? Where would I find such a useful teacher?’

’She was determined to protect Jiang Jing!’

Jiang Jing remained silent. Shi Zhile told Wang Peng to watch Chuyi, then pulled Jiang Yu aside.

"Why did they start fighting?"

A flicker of pain crossed Jiang Yu’s face. "Because of me! Chuyi thought my brother was bullying me."

Shi Zhile: "...So they just started fighting?"

’She couldn’t understand the impulse to fly into a rage for a woman’s sake.’

’Lashing out without understanding the full story was just too foolish.’

’Shi Zhile put a big red X next to Chuyi’s name in her mind.’

"Jiang Yu, you’re very smart. But even the smartest people can act foolishly when it comes to their own family matters, especially when their loved ones are involved."

"You know what kind of person your brother is better than anyone. In your heart, do you really think he would do something to harm society for his own selfish reasons?"

"Sometimes, what you hear and even what you see with your own eyes isn’t the truth. The truth can be hidden, but it won’t stay hidden forever. Calm down and think carefully. Think about all the necessary but unsung heroes you see in TV dramas."

She patted her on the shoulder and returned to Jiang Jing’s side.

"It’s getting late. Should we go?"

Jiang Jing nodded. He brushed past Jiang Yu, then turned back to look at her one last time. "No matter what, I’m still your brother. And as long as I’m alive, I will never approve of you being with him."

A slow smile spread across Shi Zhile’s lips. When she saw the ugly look on Chuyi’s face, she laughed out loud with schadenfreude.

She fanned the flames. "Young people are just so impulsive. Get beaten to death or crippled a few times, and they’ll learn their lesson. Jiang Jing, you should also say a little less. Jiang Yu is still young. She’ll understand your good intentions eventually."

Jiang Jing, Jiang Yu, Wang Peng: "..."

’Who’s the one who really needs to talk less here?!’

As the two walked away, Wang Peng could still hear Shi Zhile’s gloating laughter.

Seeing Chuyi was about to lose it again, Wang Peng immediately held him back.

"That’s enough, man. You were the one who started this in the first place. Even if Brother Nan were here, he wouldn’t help you."

"Help me? His head is full of that vixen. When has he ever helped me before?"

Wang Peng let go and crossed his arms, looking at him. "If you know he won’t help you, why are you being such a glutton for punishment? Whether she’s worried about Brother Nan is her business. You getting involved... don’t tell me you have a secret crush on Brother Nan!"

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He clapped his hands, his face a mask of gossip. "No, wait, you really do like Brother Nan! Anytime something happens to him, you’re the first one to panic. Too bad Brother Nan likes..."

"Get lost! Wang Peng, if you’re sick in the head, go get it treated! I have a girlfriend, damn it."

They continued walking, and the sound of the sea gradually grew louder. Shi Zhile searched for plantable resources as she walked, but found nothing as they neared the shore.

Shi Zhile opened her panel to check the time. "It’s 2:30. I don’t know if this island will sink. Since it’s still early, should we look around some more?"

Jiang Jing nodded silently.

Shi Zhile glanced at him. Knowing he was in a bad mood, she took the lead.

After circling the island, Shi Zhile found a treasure chest on the shore.

Around four o’clock, the two officially started their return trip.

The moment she stepped onto the raft, the island sank instantly.

The massive sound startled them both. Thinking of Jiang Yu and Wang Peng, Jiang Jing quickly urged Shi Zhile to start a video call with Jiang Yu.

The video connected. The background on the other end was a yellow desert.

Apparently, the others had already returned to the Desert Island.

Jiang Jing relaxed. Shi Zhile spoke up, "We’re fine. The little island just sank, we were worried you might have drowned."

Wang Peng squeezed into the frame. "Sister Zhile, we just finished a video call with Brother Nan. There’s something good at the bottom of the Medicine Lake. Brother Nan told us to enter the Medicine Lake at midnight. We should go together so we can watch each other’s backs."

Shi Zhile looked at Jiang Jing. Jiang Jing stared at Jiang Yu on the other side of the video and asked coldly, "Are you going?"

Jiang Yu had an equally cold expression, but her voice wasn’t as frigid as before. "I’m going!"

"Mm."

Shi Zhile: "..."

She hung up, and immediately a video call from Jiang Yuxing came in.

"The third-day treaty will expire. Come to the bottom of the lake at midnight. I’ll get you out of this instance."

Knowing Jiang Yuxing had a powerful ’golden finger,’ Shi Zhile didn’t doubt his ability.

She nodded. "Okay. After we get out of the instance, I’ll give you beef as a thank you gift."

Back on the Desert Island, the group gathered by the Medicine Lake.

The atmosphere among the five of them was strange. Jiang Yu ignored Jiang Jing, Jiang Jing ignored Chuyi, and Shi Zhile also ignored Chuyi, creating a situation where Chuyi was completely isolated.

Wang Peng chattered endlessly between the four of them, eventually talking so much that he got thirsty and drank a whole bottle of water.

The sound of chickens crowing came from the Breeding Space. Worried the chickens would fight with the cows, Shi Zhile said a word to Wang Peng and ducked into the space.

Inside the Breeding Space, two cows were quietly eating grass on the ground. The rest of the chickens wandered all over, crowding around the pregnant cow and staring at it curiously.

Afraid they would get trampled, Shi Zhile quickly shooed the chickens aside.

The 20-square-meter space was already cramped with a flock of chickens and ducks. Adding two cows made it even more crowded.

Remembering she had leftover reed stalks from last time, she took them out and used them to create a partition next to the chicken coop.

She had already collected eggs in the morning, but over the course of the day, another eight eggs had been laid in the coop. She gathered them, put them in her backpack, and left the space.

With nothing else to do, she opened the chat channel and sent a message: [Selling ten eggs in exchange for cloth. First come, first served.]

Her cotton would be ready to harvest soon, and she needed cloth to make quilts.

Thinking of the treasure chest she had found, she opened it directly from her backpack.

[Obtained Quilt x1, Camouflage Set x1, Military Greatcoat x1.]

As darkness fell, players who had been out and about gradually returned to the Medicine Lake area.

Although the treaty had prevented some players from killing and looting, it had protected the majority of them to a much greater extent.

Lights were on in the previously built wooden cabins. Looking through the glass windows, one could faintly see shadows moving inside.

But unlike yesterday, the area outside the cabins was not quiet; it was now surrounded by players.

The light vanished completely, and the entire Desert Island was plunged into endless darkness.

Just before midnight arrived, the cold, mechanical voice rang out again, but this time its tone held a hint of cheerfulness.

[Instance Notice: The Medicine Lake Treaty will expire at 12:00 AM. All players, please be prepared.]