Chapter 81: Real and Fake Rules

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Real and Fake Rules

Shi Zhile nodded. "I remember you."

"So, expert, can I tag along with you? Don’t worry, I promise I’ll be obedient and won’t cause any trouble. Plus, I’m a really good talker. I’ve never lost a war of words."

She could tell the expert didn’t like to talk, but with so many people around, conversation was unavoidable.

If they ran into any more clueless, foul-mouthed people, it would be infuriating not to curse them out.

Lan Lan’s eyes sparkled. Shi Zhile remembered how Lan Lan had spoken up for her when they first met, and her heart softened a little.

"This instance is dangerous. Following me might be even more so."

Lan Lan’s eyes grew even brighter. "I’m not afraid! What’s a little danger compared to the thrill of watching an expert like you grow stronger firsthand? I’m pretty go-with-the-flow. If I live, I live. If I die, I die. So please, can you take me with you?"

Shi Zhile’s mind was split between two tasks; she observed the other players while simultaneously surveying her surroundings.

This place was all too familiar. Above the beach was a massive rock cliff, identical to the one on her Stone Island.

She first checked her backpack to confirm her food was still there, then started walking toward the massive rock. "Keep up."

The two of them arrived at the side of the massive rock, one trailing the other. Just as she was about to reach out and collect the rock, the system’s belated announcement finally sounded.

[Rule Island: Rule 1. Each player on the island starts with 100 survival value. Survival value will be deducted for hunger, dehydration, and injury. When survival value reaches zero, the player dies.

Rule 2. The resources on the island are shared. A new wave of resources will spawn at a set time each day. After 8:00 p.m., all resources will disappear, and monsters will emerge.

Rule 3. The starting point is the only safe place. It can protect players when monsters emerge at night.

Rule 4. Monsters will be active between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. All players should build a wooden house as quickly as possible, as monsters cannot enter it. A wooden house is absolutely safe at night.

Rule 5. After 10:00 p.m., the wooden house will be locked. Anyone who has not returned or is late will be unable to enter. Outside, the chance of being attacked by monsters and the mortality rate will double.

Rule 6. There are... violators on the island. Violators die!]

Six rules in total.

Her eyes fell on the third rule.

’The starting point is the only safe place. It can protect players when monsters emerge at night.’

’The starting point is this beach. Not to mention the rising tide will submerge it at night, when it comes to the monsters, no one knows if they’ll come from the island or the sea.’

Lan Lan finished reading the rules as well. Hearing Shi Zhile muttering about the third rule, she asked curiously, "What’s wrong? Is there a problem with that rule?"

Shi Zhile replied, "The temperature isn’t high, and this starting point will definitely be underwater at high tide. So, is it really safe here?"

Her voice wasn’t loud, but as everyone else was silently memorizing the rules, it stood out.

A middle-aged man with glasses nodded in strong agreement.

"That’s right. No one knows how high the tide will rise, so I suggest we build the wooden house somewhere else."

"The rules also say the wooden house is absolutely safe. We have to get one built before nightfall."

Another woman, this one with long hair, frowned slightly. "But that’s too risky. We don’t have any wood, and one day isn’t nearly enough time to build a house."

"I propose we stay at the starting point tonight. We might have to stand in the water, but at least our safety will be guaranteed."

Most of the others agreed with the long-haired woman.

Lan Lan was about to argue with them, but Shi Zhile spoke up first. "Since we all have different ideas, let’s split up. Those who want to build a wooden house somewhere else can go together, and those who choose to stay can stick together. That way, you can still help each other out."

The middle-aged man with the glasses pushed them up his nose. "Actually, there’s a third option. We all work together and pool the wood we gather. Before the house is finished, those who want to can stay and guard the construction site, while those who want to come back here can do so."

"If we all work together, the house will be built much faster."

Shi Zhile said, "I have no objection."

Another girl, who seemed shy and a little timid, spoke up. "Can’t we just build two houses? I mean, men and women should be separate. Living in one house for seven days would be bad for a girl’s reputation."

"You’re number one on the rankings... I’ve seen you before. Since you’re so powerful, can’t you just take us girls and build a separate house?"

Shi Zhile didn’t want to waste her breath on the girl, so she simply ignored her.

Lan Lan sneered. "Oh, listen to you! Since when is this the time to worry about your ’reputation’? You’re just full of it, always one excuse after another. If you’re so concerned, why are you begging my expert to take you along?"

There wasn’t much time to waste. Everyone gathered together, except for the girl who was busy arguing with Lan Lan.

The middle-aged man spoke up. "Building the house is our top priority. The ten of us should split into three teams. One team will explore the island, and two teams will gather wood. With the wood we collect, we’ll first build a raft. Then we can split up to go out to sea and continue gathering wood."

His plan was thorough, and no one objected.

At this, Lan Lan stopped arguing with the other girl and hurried over to Shi Zhile. "I want to be in the same group as my expert."

The middle-aged man nodded. "You two girls can be a team, but you need to add one guy to the group."

A tall young man immediately raised his hand. "I’ll join your group. I’ve trained in Sanda, so protecting the two of you shouldn’t be a problem under normal circumstances."

The middle-aged man nodded again. "So we can all address each other properly, let’s introduce ourselves. My name is Wang Gang, and I’m 45."

The tall man said, "Li Ran, 23."

The long-haired woman: "Luo Jiuyin, 26."

...

"Lan Lan, 21."

"Shi Zhile, 23."

In the end, the ten of them split into three groups: Shi Zhile, Lan Lan, and Li Ran.

Wang Gang, Song Chaoyun, and Li Haohao.

Luo Jiuyin, Xiao Yi, and Guo Funing.

The other girl, who had been argued to tears by Lan Lan, was named Hu Yaqin. She looked from one group to the next until Wang Gang finally took her onto his team.

Shi Zhile was determined to get away from the beach, so she volunteered her group for the island exploration task.

One person from each team added the others as friends to ensure the three groups could stay in contact, and then they all went their separate ways.

The three of them memorized the path as they walked, while Shi Zhile observed and thought.

’Knowing the game’s treacherous nature, it’s impossible that the rules don’t contain some false information.’

’The rules are a matter of life and death. I haven’t used the Wish Drifting Bottle today.’ Shi Zhile felt it was absolutely necessary to use it now.

She silently made a wish in her heart: ’Today’s wish: Mark which rules are true and which are false.’

A golden light flashed. When she opened her eyes and looked at her panel again, the words "True" and "False" had appeared on it.

A green "True" appeared after the first and second rules, while a red "False" appeared after the third.

The other three were also marked as true.

It was just as she’d suspected. When night fell, the starting point was not a safe place at all—only a wooden house would be.

After circling the island’s perimeter, they began exploring toward the center. Looking at the familiar terrain, Shi Zhile was almost certain that this instance was, in fact, Stone Island.

To the west was a marshland, and to the north, a forest.

In short, the spot where she had built her own shelter was the most suitable place to build the wooden house.