Chapter 100: Gradual Exposure

Big problem, a huge problem.

“Grab them!”

“Hold your ground!”

Miss Nuo was safe, at least.

A group of people rushed forward, tightly blocking the acid with their bodies.

But now they were tangled together, hand in hand, like tumbleweeds on the edge of a cliff— any slight gust of wind could send them tumbling into the Acid Pool.

“Hold steady, everyone hold steady, no one lets go.”

Thankfully, Wu Xiaomi was on the outermost edge.

“Xiaomi! Put some strength into it! Pull us up!”

Just a bit more force was needed to break this damn cliff’s balance. But Wu Xiaomi felt like her arms were about to snap— where was she supposed to find the strength?!

Bai Xiaozhi was second row from the outside, closest to Wu Xiaomi.

Their arms were locked together.

Bai Xiaozhi looked at Wu Xiaomi, her gaze suddenly firm.

“?! What are you—No!”

Bai Xiaozhi suddenly pushed with all her might, lunging at Wu Xiaomi’s waist.

Things were looking grim!

With Xiaozhi’s full effort, the group managed to pull back from the edge of the Acid Pool.

But at the same time…

Xiaozhi’s hands pressed against Wu Xiaomi’s waist.

Hmm?

Rippling waves shimmered.

Bai Xiaozhi clearly saw the fleeting water-like ripple, as if Wu Xiaomi’s body was as fragile as a mirage, ready to shatter at any moment.

Lu Lutina’s warning was true!

His condition was unstable!

“Phew—We’re saved! This damn thing, refuse the toast and drink the penalty wine!”

Miss Nuo swiftly put on her mask and pulled out a bottle of Strong Alkali.

“Everyone, step back.”

She poured the entire bottle of Strong Alkali into the Acid Pool.

Smoke curled up as the whole pool began to bubble fiercely.

“Squeak—Squeak—” The Acid Lifeforms emitted strange cries, with no human pitch or animal tone—more like a boiling old kettle.

“I don’t understand them. Is there any Translation Sequence User here?” Miss Nuo asked.

“No.” The Enforcer frowned at the bubbling acid mass. “There’s no such sequence here.”

“Alright, then it’s Chemical Negotiation. Let’s see when it’ll behave. Two of you stay and help me, the rest can rest.”

“What about you? Aren’t you going to rest?”

“My schedule’s different from yours.”

Saying that, Miss Nuo ignored everyone else and began setting up a Laboratory right at the shore.

With things temporarily paused and no tasks at hand, Bai Xiaozhi couldn’t help but focus on Wu Xiaomi.

“We need to talk.” Bai Xiaozhi’s expression was serious as she looked at the “young man.”

Wu Xiaomi was already sweating coldly down his back.

He naturally felt exposed earlier, so he could guess what Bai Xiaozhi wanted to talk about.

“I just feel something’s off about all this,” Bai Xiaozhi said calmly, dodging Wu Xiaomi’s gaze nervously. “Don’t you think this thing is too easy to catch? The Main Storyline requires surviving seven days—there must be other dangers waiting for us. We can’t let our guard down.”

“It definitely feels wrong. Everything feels wrong.” Bai Xiaozhi stepped forward.

Wu Xiaomi hurriedly retreated, keeping a safe distance.

This only deepened Bai Xiaozhi’s suspicion.

“You seem really afraid of me.”

“No, didn’t I say yesterday? As an explorer, I’m always crawling into filthy, messy places. I probably carry all kinds of pathogens…” Wu Xiaomi stumbled through the explanation, unconvincingly.

Finally, biting his teeth like he was trying to convince himself, he added, “What if I’m infected with some deadly virus? We can’t be in close contact, no close contact.”

Deadly virus? That lame excuse again.

Bai Xiaozhi’s delicate face turned icy cold.

She stepped forward again and said firmly, “Doesn’t matter. If we have to die, we die together.”

Wu Xiaomi was numb from head to toe.

You’re not playing by the rules!

“Brother, what’s really going on? What are you hiding from me?”

Bai Xiaozhi’s beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow, and the sadness nearly broke Wu Xiaomi’s heart.

They had grown up together since childhood—how could he bear to see such a look?

“Xiaozhi!” Wu Xiaomi had nowhere left to retreat and had to muster courage, sincerely looking into Bai Xiaozhi’s eyes. “Trust me, now’s not the time for this. Let’s talk after the mission, okay?”

I’ll slip away after the mission~

“You’re using that trick again, deliberately stalling until you disappear.”

Bad!

This guy knows me too well.

“Don’t avoid it, okay? If there’s something you’re hiding from me—we’ve overcome so many hardships together… Wu Xiaomi!”

A strong call, but it still didn’t break Wu Xiaomi’s disguise.

At that moment, Wu Xiaomi’s expression changed, and he glanced behind Bai Xiaozhi.

“Get down!”

Bai Xiaozhi quickly dodged.

Wu Xiaomi seized the chance to escape.

“…Even resorting to such a dirty trick.”

There was no danger behind them.

Bai Xiaozhi was even more puzzled. “What’s going on with you? Why are you avoiding me to this extent?”

“Xiaozhi! Trust me! Have I ever lied to you since we were kids?!”

“You’ve lied to me 1,332 times in total.”

Wu Xiaomi’s face flushed red.

“Cough, but this time you have to believe me! This matter concerns both our lives—how hard is it to trust me?”

She really didn’t know how to explain any further.

“Fine, since it’s come to this.”

Threatening with our lives—that’s just using desperation to win.

Since Wu Xiaomi said their lives were at stake, Bai Xiaozhi couldn’t gamble with his life either, but she wouldn’t give up her own stance.

“Then, tell me more about your adventure.” Bai Xiaozhi sighed softly. “It can’t be that those stories are also matters of life and death, right?”

Tell you what—those few stories I made up earlier have already fried my brain cells.

No matter how I spin it, I’ll get caught.

“Xiaomi! Xiaozhi! Come help!”

Long live Miss Nuo!

“Then tell Miss Nuo about your adventure. She’s very knowledgeable and might help you extract more information.”

???

“That makes sense, right?”

“Actually, the Explorer Association has its own analysts…”

“Those analysts aren’t necessarily as reliable as Miss Nuo. Oh right, I should give the Explorer Association a call—that way they can know about your status.”

No!

Sister, no!

There’s no Wu Xiaomi in the Explorer Association at all. One call and I’m instantly exposed.

“Thinking it through, Miss Nuo really is impressive. I should ask for her advice.”

Under Bai Xiaozhi’s gaze, Wu Xiaomi braced himself and walked into Miss Nuo’s Laboratory.

“You two keep an eye on this, don’t let this crappy thing cause any more trouble.”

Miss Nuo was examining a small sample of acid with a microscope.

“Can we talk?” Bai Xiaozhi asked. “Will we disturb you?”

“Of course not. Studying this thing doesn’t require much skill. I’d rather you two help exercise your brains.”

She was like a battle fiend, never willing to stop fighting—only her battlefield was her mind.

“Then tell Miss Nuo about the Chicken-footed Bear you encountered.” Bai Xiaozhi said.

God, how does that little Xiaozhi remember all the nonsense I made up offhand?

Even I don’t remember what I fabricated!

“Chicken-footed Bear?” Miss Nuo raised her head curiously. “A bear with chicken feet? That doesn’t fit evolution theory. There can’t be such a thing!”

Wu Xiaomi despaired and held his forehead.

The plan is totally ruined.