Chapter 34 Forming Cliques: The Pure-Hearted College Student
As the system's voice faded, Gu Keke wiped the sweat from her forehead.
She looked at Liang Jun in a panic, only to find that the other woman was staring intently at the very top of the slope.
A huge crowd appeared above.
Because of the backlighting, Liang Jun couldn't see the faces clearly, but she could notice a group of dark figures gradually approaching her.
Liang Xun grabbed Gu Keke's sleeve and pulled her behind her without saying anything more.
Once they got closer, Liang Jun realized that those players were also from the same faction as them.
She glanced around and found that all the faces were new; none of the people she knew from the previous round were familiar.
More and more players gathered on the platform where she stood. Liang Xun and Gu Keke retreated to a corner and carefully observed the situation.
Liang Jun noticed that although there were many people in front of her, there seemed to be an invisible barrier between them, and it was always the same few people gathered together.
There are piles and piles of them.
To verify her conjecture, Liang Jun turned her gaze back to the slope.
Players continue to join the game – but they all unconsciously form small teams.
“These players have all found their own groups,” Liang Jun said to Gu Keke beside her, tilting her head. “To avoid causing any unnecessary trouble, it’s best if we don’t initiate any communication with them.”
Gu Keke nodded, replying with a hint of understanding: "Each organization? Does that mean forming cliques like the two of us?"
Liang Jun hesitated for a few seconds, which was unusual for her.
“That’s one way of saying it, but it might not be entirely true.” She lowered her gaze. “After all, we don’t know if they are good or bad.”
Is it like the two of them, accompanying each other through dungeons; or is it about using the power of a group to oppress and exploit other solo players?
It's hard to say.
While they were still huddled in the corner, whispering their discussion, a middle-aged man walked straight up to them.
Hello everyone.
The uncle's beard was neatly shaved, and the dark stubble on his face looked like half a mask.
Liang Jun turned around warily, "Hello."
It was just a polite formality.
This attitude seemed to be within his expectations, and the middle-aged man did not feel offended. On the contrary, he still wore a polite smile.
"My name is Zhang Weiming, and this is the second instance we've participated in—I suppose you are too?"
Zhang Weiming extended his right hand, awaiting Liang Jun's response.
us?
Liang Jun noticed the details in his choice of words. Her gaze did not linger on his outstretched hand, but instead passed over Zhang Weiming himself and landed on the crowd behind him.
Just as Liang Jun had guessed, there were quite a few players following behind Zhang Weiming. She roughly counted the heads; there were six more players centered around Zhang Weiming.
There were men, women, young and old among them. These people consciously kept their distance from players from other factions, but they approached Zhang Weiming without any precautions.
Seemingly noticing Liang Xun's gaze, Zhang Weiming quietly withdrew his right hand.
“These people behind me are also players; we entered the instance together.” He seemed to see the doubt in Liang Xun’s mind. “Before the arrival of the rule-based world, I actually worked in the community neighborhood committee.”
"Community residents' committee?"
Liang Jun frowned and began to re-examine the middle-aged man standing in front of her.
Zhang Weiming seemed oblivious to the doubt in Liang Xun's words and continued to explain, "But after the first instance ended, many people in our community died. The few remaining players had no choice but to stick together and unite in order to survive."
He spoke sincerely, and none of the players following behind him showed the slightest doubt.
Liang Jun naturally wouldn't doubt this explanation.
She nodded, her tone so flat that it was impossible to discern any emphasis.
"That's actually quite good."
Seeing that the two girls in front of him looked like college students, Zhang Weiming assumed they hadn't understood his implied meaning and prepared to take further action.
“Our team is easy to talk to, and we’re from the same community, so we have a strong sense of cohesion.” Zhang Weiming rubbed his hands together in front of his chest. “You two aren’t too old, are you? In such a dangerous dungeon, you might not be able to protect yourselves, so perhaps…”
“Uncle Zhang,” Liang Jun said politely, her smile conveying a sense of extreme distance, “we’re not really looking to form an alliance with anyone for the time being.”
Liang Yan maintained her identity as an "innocent college student" and continued to express her "stupid" views to Zhang Weiming.
"We're just two young girls, and we wouldn't really be able to make a big difference in your team."
Liang Jun had already observed that among the six players following Zhang Weiming, only two were women.
One was a professional woman in her thirties, and the other was a two-year-old child being held in her arms.
Furthermore, the two of them acted more intimately with another man in the group.
It was obvious that they came with their families, and that Zhang Weiming had not recruited them on his own.
Who can guarantee what good intentions such a person might have when they inexplicably try to win you over?
Seeing that Zhang Weiming's expression was not good, Liang Jun slapped him, then gave him a sweet treat.
"However, we still want to thank Uncle Zhang for his kindness. We are truly grateful to you."
Gu Keke, who had been standing silently behind Liang Jun, chimed in, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang."
Seeing that both girls had said so, Zhang Weiming's lips twitched, barely managing to maintain his outwardly amiable demeanor.
"Alright then, if you encounter any difficulties in the dungeon, you can always come to us."
Liang Jun nodded, a smile playing on her lips.
"Then thank you very much, Uncle Zhang."
Zhang Weiming turned and left, and the players behind him followed closely behind, leaving the corner one after another.
Where Liang Xun and Gu Keke couldn't see, Zhang Weiming clenched his fists tightly.
The two girls were able to survive the first dungeon unscathed, and even before the background of the second dungeon was revealed, they remained so calm—
This must be due to some extraordinary ability.
Zhang Weiming had even figured out how much his chances of survival would increase if he brought the two of them under his command.
But who would have thought that these two girls would be so foolish as to directly reject his kindness...
Zhang Weiming grew increasingly angry. Pushing through the crowd, he glared fiercely at Liang Xun and Gu Keke before heading off in other directions.
Gu Keke didn't ask Liang Xuan why she rejected Zhang Weiming.
After all, he was a discerning person and could see through the other party's scheme at a glance.
She didn't interrupt Liang Jun's train of thought, but instead followed her to observe the players coming down the slope.
This time it was a group that Leung Chun was familiar with.
Or perhaps they were part of a group that left a deep impression on them in the previous instance.
Several animals, each with fur in a riot of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple—ran down the slope, chatting and laughing.
Liang Jun's memory seemed to be suddenly pulled back into Wilson Academy, and she remembered those thugs who dared to provoke NPCs and ended up dead.
Adhering to the principle of "it's better to avoid trouble," Liang Jun directly avoided their gazes and refused any communication.
The actions of other players were clearly very similar to those of Liang Jun.
The groups that were originally having a lively discussion all fell silent when they realized that this new organization was approaching them.
When these few colorful-haired individuals realized that no players were willing to pay attention to them, they obediently shrank to the side and did not cause any trouble.
Presumably honed by the previous instance, they have now undergone a transformation and become more cautious in their words and actions.
More and more players came down the slope, and the crowd gathered on the platform gradually became denser.
Even when it was already so crowded, no one was willing to take another step into that pitch blackness.
Liang Xun and Gu Keke had already occupied a corner, but because there were so many people, Gu Keke even stepped on the oil drum that she had knocked over.
A higher position allows you to obtain more information.
Gu Keke nudged Liang Xuan, who was standing in front of her.
"Sister Jun, there's a girl across from us. She looks like she's alone; she doesn't have any companions with her."
After Gu Keke reminded her, Liang Xun looked in the direction she pointed.
She was a girl with a neat ponytail. She looked to be a year or two older than Liang Jun.
She seemed to have been prepared, dressed in a clean tracksuit, looking like a seasoned veteran.
Liang Jun initially thought that her teammates were just temporarily away from her. But after looking around again, she found that there were no other players who were isolated like her.
"Coco, stay here and don't move. I'll go take a look," Liang Jun instructed Gu Coco.
Upon hearing Liang Jun's words, Gu Keke nimbly jumped off the oil drum.
"Go ahead, Sister Jun, I'll save you a seat."
Liang Jun was still a little worried, "If someone comes..."
"I promise I won't pay any attention to them!" Gu Keke swore on the spot, "Don't worry, Sister Jun!"
“It’s not that we’re ignoring them…” Liang Jun smiled helplessly, “It’s just that we shouldn’t let them brainwash us and lead us astray.”
She still trusted Gu Keke. After saying a few words, Liang Jun walked through the crowd and headed straight for the girl.
The girl leaned against the corner of the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly with her breathing.
She seemed to be conserving her energy.
Liang Xuan didn't know how to break the atmosphere.
Just as she stood in front of the girl, considering how to begin, the girl suddenly opened her eyes—
They were a pair of very unusual gray-blue pupils.
Liang Xuan seemed to have found a way to start the conversation in that instant, and she naturally complimented, "Your eyes are so beautiful."
"Um."
The girl didn't say anything, but just coldly squeezed out a syllable from her nose, as if she had already replied to the other party.
They don't seem easy to get along with.
Just as Liang Jun was about to introduce herself, the girl spoke before she could.
Her language, like her unique pupils, felt cold and unapproachable.
"If you're like that Zhang Weiming, trying to win me over, then you really don't need to bother."
The girl tucked the stray hairs behind her ears, making her look even more neat and tidy.
"I do not accept any invitations to join a team."
She had already used this excuse to reject many people, and thought that Liang Jun would turn away because of it, but to her surprise, Liang Jun smiled slightly instead.
"What are you laughing at?" The blue-eyed girl asked, puzzled, a hint of confusion creeping onto her delicate face. "Was I not clear enough? Or is that not what you meant?"
Liang Xuan waved her hand, "No, that's exactly what I meant. To be honest, I really did come to invite you to join my team because I saw you standing here alone."
I've never met such an honest person.
The blue-eyed girl straightened up slightly from her reclining position, her peculiar pupils scanning Liang Xun's surroundings.
"Are you alone?"
The blue-eyed girl raised one eyebrow, her tone tinged with shock.
Leung Yun remained consistently honest, saying, "No, I have another teammate, who is also a girl, and she's waiting for me to go back on the other side."
Hearing this, the blue-eyed girl chuckled softly.
"Then go back, don't keep your good teammates waiting."
Liang Jun was rejected directly, but there was no anger on her face.
After waving goodbye to the blue-eyed girl, she returned to Gu Keke's side.
"How's it going, Sister Jun?"
Gu Keke stood on tiptoe and peered behind Liang Xuan for a long time, but she didn't see the girl.
She then stood on the oil drum again, and in the familiar spot, she saw the ponytail-wearing beauty resting with her eyes closed.
"Has she decided to live alone?!"
Gu Keke was clearly shocked.
“Hmm.” Liang Xun rolled up her sleeves one by one. “But I got a clue in return, so it’s not like I gained nothing.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Keke immediately perked up.
She crouched down on the oil drum, close to Liang Xun, and asked, "What clue?"
“That guy named Zhang Weiming also invited her to team up.”
Liang Xun kept her head down, rolled up her sleeves, and had a relaxed expression on her face. No one could tell that she was analyzing the players present.
"Zhang Weiming probably invited all the players present who were smaller than their group. They cast a wide net, not just limited themselves to us."
"how so……"
Gu Keke also lowered her head in thought, "Could it be a human wave tactic? If so, what are they trying to achieve by doing this?"
Liang Jun is still unable to understand Zhang Weiming's true intentions.
She had rolled up her sleeves completely, revealing her forearms with clearly defined muscles.
"Have you written down all the players in Zhang Weiming's team?"
The topic suddenly shifted to this, and Gu Keke was slightly taken aback before nodding firmly.
"certainly!"
“Just remember that,” Liang Xun patted her shoulder. “In this instance, we’d better avoid any contact with their team of players to prevent them from taking advantage of us.”
Upon hearing Liang Xun's reminder, Gu Keke also put away her joking expression.
"I see."
Liang Xuan kept staring at the slope, but she gradually realized that there seemed to be no more players on the slope.
As if by telepathy, just as Liang Jun realized that all the players had entered the arena, Gu Keke, who was standing on the oil drum, informed her of the information once again.
"Sister, I just roughly counted, there are about thirty players on the platform right now."
"Be more precise."
Gu Keke's eyes quickly scanned the list. "Thirty-eighth place."
Liang Jun pondered, feeling that something was still amiss.
The surrounding environment was noisy, so Liang Jun simply closed her eyes and tried to recall the differences between this instance and Wilson Academy.
After the system announces the name of the instance, the background information for this instance should follow.
There are also mission objectives that need to be achieved to clear the dungeon.
But since they were teleported here, the system has only told them that the instance is called "Death Parking Lot" and has not given them any further information.
Liang Jun's brows gradually furrowed, and several suspicious details began to surface.
Moreover, the login time for this instance was not the previously scheduled "4 AM". Even before entering the second instance, the system issued a strange "safe zone division" command.
Liang Xuan's gaze returned once more to the groups of players in front of her.
Could it be that the condition for logging into the instance this time is "being in the same safe zone"?
The reason those players accompanied each other was because they were gathered in the same safe zone before entering the instance.
Furthermore, Zhang Weiming once said that this was their second copy.
Perhaps all the players present are at the same progress level.
This should explain the meaning of "player level matching" in the system command.
Liang Jun's tightly furrowed brows remained furrowed.
She had a vague feeling that this instance wouldn't be as simple as the last one.
Gu Ke, who was behind Liang Xun, saw her turn around and squatted down again quite naturally.
"Coco, this dungeon is likely to be quite difficult," Liang Xun whispered in Gu Coco's ear. "Unless absolutely necessary, it's best if the two of us don't separate easily."
Gu Keke sensed the seriousness in Liang Xun's tone, "Is something wrong with this instance?"
Liang Jun did not answer directly; she pondered for a moment.
"The system must have deliberately gathered us together."
The players in the team were whispering among themselves, and the scene gradually quieted down. Even the occasional whispers seemed quite jarring.
Everyone was waiting for the other person to take that crucial step into the pitch-black parking lot.
But since everyone thought that way, the result was that everyone stayed in the same place, standing still.
A dense array of heads were arranged closely together under the enormous timer.
The scene became quite awkward at one point.
The slope seemed to be a windy spot, and Liang Xuan felt a bit cold from the wind.
She hugged her rolled-up sleeves and glanced casually at the top of the slope.
Five slender, dark figures stood at the very top of the slope.
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Author's Note: Sister Gan: That's right, I am a modern-day, clear-headed but foolish college student.
Merry Christmas!
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