Snow, pure white snow, the world is a vast expanse of white.
The branches were piled high with snow, which fell in a fine, powdery flutter when the wind blew.
Wearing a windproof and warm black down jacket, a hat, a thick scarf, and gloves, Xia Linyin glanced at her outfit and then picked up a backpack from the side.
Camera, notebook, dagger, first aid kit, food and water...
My cell phone has no signal, and the compass is malfunctioning.
Xia Linyin slung her backpack over her shoulder, stood up, brushed the snow off her clothes, and looked around, unsure which way to go.
Her hiking boots crunched through the thick snow as she wandered around for a while, waiting for the game notification to arrive.
"This is the Death Forest. People who have strayed into this place have all disappeared. No one knows where they went or whether they are still alive. Search and rescue teams have searched the entire forest but have not found them. Rumors about the Death Forest are spreading. In order to write a sensational news story, a group of reporters decided to go deep into this place to find out the truth."
"Dear player, congratulations on becoming a member of the expedition reporter team. However, you have become separated from your companions, which is unfortunate news. We hope you can be strong enough."
"Player Quest: To be determined."
Pending? Again, pending.
In the game where you help the clown find paint, the initial game information shows that the player's task is pending. The task is only triggered after they arrive at the amusement park.
Having learned from her previous experience, Xia Linyin wasn't as anxious when she saw that the task was pending.
She pulled a thick branch from the snow, randomly chose a direction, and trudged forward, her steps uneven, as she leaned on the branch.
Those who strayed into this place have all disappeared. No matter which direction she goes, she will eventually encounter the truth behind their disappearances and then disappear like them.
If you don't want them to really disappear, then you have to uncover the truth.
The search and rescue team searched the entire forest but couldn't find them. It's unlikely that they were simply eaten by wild animals. If they were, there should have been some clues left behind, such as bloodstains, tattered cloth, or signs of a struggle.
Getting separated from your companions is practically setting yourself up for death.
More than half an hour after Xia Linyin walked, the surrounding scenery had not changed much.
The trees, covered in silver, stretched as far as the eye could see.
Xia Linyin continued walking forward. She believed that the game wouldn't keep her wandering in the forest forever. Something was bound to happen eventually. She wouldn't be surprised if the scene before her suddenly changed after she took a step out now.
It would be surprising if there were no terrifying events in the game.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Xia Linyin discovered some footprints. She stretched out her foot and compared it to the footprints, and it seemed to be a man's shoe print. Moreover, the pattern on the sole of the shoe was similar to that of her own shoes. Xia Linyin guessed that the owner of the shoe prints should be her companion, a member of an expedition journalist group.
She followed the footprints and saw a figure in the distance, carrying a large hiking backpack and wearing a thick pink printed coat, which was quite eye-catching in the vast white snow forest.
Hearing footsteps behind him, the person turned around to look at Xia Linyin, who was wearing a mask.
Xia Linyin ran up to him, and their eyes met. Xia Linyin was stunned. Why did those eyes look so familiar?
Although the other person was wearing a mask and hat, covering up their entire face and even their eyebrows, only revealing their eyes, those eyes were sharp and deep at the inner corners, and thin and slightly curved at the outer corners, resembling peach blossoms, and were very beautiful.
"Xiao Yin!"
"Yi Chen!"
Xia Linyin pulled her scarf down, revealing her chin and lips, and looked at Yin Yichen with her eyes crinkling.
"Xiaoyin, I never expected that we would meet in the same game. What a coincidence!"
Yin Yichen smiled charmingly with his peach blossom eyes, and patted Xia Linyin on the shoulder.
"It's quite a coincidence." Xia Linyin nodded, not uttering any more words. "What are your thoughts on this game?"
Yin Yichen shook his head. "The mission hasn't been announced yet, and there's no definite direction. I can only wander aimlessly. There isn't even a bird in this forest, and it's so cold and freezing. I'm going crazy from walking like this."
Yin Yichen looked at Xia Linyin, his eyes crinkling into crescents with a smile. "I heard footsteps, but I didn't expect it to be you. We've already been through the game once, and the probability of us being in the same game again is not high. It proves that we are really destined to be together."
Yin Yichen rubbed his forehead, seemingly quite helpless, but the corners of his mouth remained turned up. "How could we be so destined?"
"Hey! Hey!" A tall, burly man ran towards Xia Linyin and Yin Yichen, waving his arms and shouting as he ran.
That somewhat familiar, deep voice, that tall and imposing figure—Charlene narrowed her eyes slightly. "John?"
John looked at Xia Linyin in surprise, "Xia! It's you!"
"You two know each other?" Yin Yichen asked.
Xia Linyin nodded, "We were both players in the previous game."
Yin Yichen's expression immediately turned as if he had swallowed a fly. He gritted his teeth heavily and said, "Fine, actually we have no fate at all."
For the rest of the time, Yin Yichen kept a dark expression on his face, especially when he was with John. His expression was as if John owed him millions.
Until they met another companion, and this companion was someone he knew.
"Old Zhang, it's you?" Yin Yichen stared wide-eyed at the middle-aged man in front of him who had taken off his hat, revealing his entire face, with high cheekbones and a small mustache.
"Haha, what a coincidence, Xiao Chen!" Old Zhang laughed, patting Yin Yichen on the shoulder.
Yin Yichen recalled what he had said to Xia Linyin before, and his teeth ached. If time could turn back, he would definitely take back those words he had said.
The probability is not low at all, okay?
The low houses are scattered in a pleasing manner, with crystal-clear icicles hanging from the eaves, and wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys.
Thick snow covered the entire village, and the whole world was pure white and serene.
Looking at the village ahead, the four of them were so moved they almost cried. They had finally escaped the desolate forest and were seeing signs of human habitation.
An old man wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat sat at the door, puffing on his pipe. Hearing the noise, he looked at Xia Linyin and the others. As they approached, his cloudy eyes darted around, and after sizing them up, he slowly asked, "You are... people from outside?"
"Grandpa, we're from out of town. We got lost in the woods and ended up here. It's getting dark. Could you please take us in for the night?" Xia Linyin asked pitifully.
Her eyelashes fluttered, making her look naive and easily fooled.
"If you can take us in, we will definitely repay you."
"You're such a lovely girl, both in appearance and speech," the old man chuckled, seemingly trying to tease Xia Linyin. However, he then seemed to remember something and his smile vanished.
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