What a coincidence.
Just as Emberkiss Starlight Moon finished speaking, all four of them simultaneously heard a broadcast from a light screen.
["To find the betrayer among you four, if this person can be eliminated, then the true treasure will reveal itself."]
Xie Shaoning immediately cried out, "What's there to find? This woman just tried to kill me! Isn't she obviously the betrayer?"
Emberkiss Starlight Moon fired back instantly, "Noob, shut up. I don't want to talk to a brainless idiot. Jumping out so eagerly, you must be the betrayer yourself!"
Cheese Milk Cap 80% Sugar's eyes involuntarily darted between the two, while she subtly took a few steps away from Qi Xu.
Qi Xu sighed. This was mentally exhausting, impossible to carry. She simply spoke up directly, "Confirm answer: there is no betrayer."
After saying that, she raised an eyebrow and looked at Cheese Milk Cap 80% Sugar. The latter's face flushed slightly, and she gave an awkward grin before quickly following up, "Confirm answer: there is no betrayer."
Emberkiss Starlight Moon glared fiercely at Xie Shaoning, feeling she had been too gentle with him before!
But she still acknowledged Invincible Black Whirlwind's line of thinking. "Confirm answer: there is no betrayer."
Xie Shaoning stubbornly refused to speak. "How can there not be? She exposed herself! Why are you covering for her? I'm really done with this. Are all three of you the betrayers?!"
Qi Xu couldn't stand this fool anymore. She directly used [Scarlet Assault], swatting the back of his head. "Repeat after us, word for word. Say it, or I'll beat you up! Beat you to death."
Only then did Xie Shaoning wilt. "Why are you so fierce? Can't we talk properly? I didn't get killed by monsters, but I might get killed by you."
Seeing Qi Xu raise her hand again, Xie Shaoning hastily shrunk his neck and said, "Confirm answer: there is no betrayer."
["Congratulations, you have passed this trial! Proceed swiftly to receive your glory and treasure."]
A "Starlight Avenue" suddenly appeared before them, seemingly leading straight to the outside world. However, none of the four dared to trust it easily, having been toyed with back and forth by this treasure map secret realm too many times.
Sure enough, the moment the four stepped onto this "Starlight Avenue," the ribbons on their wrists stirred once more, gradually growing hot and burning...
Emberkiss Starlight Moon was the first to be enveloped by the ribbons, while the other three remained standing in place, untouched.
Xie Shaoning immediately pointed at her and shouted, "See! What did I say! She's the one wrapped up, and you still said she wasn't the betrayer."
Qi Xu and Cheese Milk Cap 80% Sugar couldn't even be bothered to give him a glance. Scolding him might even please him. Someone this foolish was better off staying that way.
Not only was Emberkiss Starlight Moon enveloped, but the other three were as well. Just like that, facing each other, all four were sequentially transformed into "silkworm cocoons"...
Reality taught Xie Shaoning to shut up.
However, it seemed they could no longer communicate with each other.
The moment Emberkiss Starlight Moon sensed the anomaly, she bit her tongue hard, fearing being controlled again.
But the light screen prompt merely said: ["You may choose any one person to ask: 'What color is the ribbon in your hand?' Answer correctly to return safely; answer incorrectly and your life will be in peril."]
Emberkiss Starlight Moon exhausted all her lifetime's learning to understand this sentence, then found herself in a dilemma.
After agonizing over it, she realized the person she trusted the most was actually the one the other three had agreed to target together—Invincible Black Whirlwind... What an awkward reality.
But there was no choice. Emberkiss Starlight Moon felt Invincible Black Whirlwind just had that righteous, honest face that looked trustworthy. The other two: one cunning, one foolish. The cunning one overthought things, the foolish one jumped to wild conclusions.
Qi Xu also received a prompt, sensing the ribbon between her and Emberkiss Starlight Moon had turned transparent.
["Player Emberkiss Starlight Moon asks you: 'What color is the ribbon in your hand?'"]
Qi Xu was taken aback. Wait, you're asking me? Weren't you three teaming up against me? I kicked you, hit you... Are you addicted to this, huh?
Just as she was about to speak, a new rule appeared on the light screen.
["If player Emberkiss Starlight Moon dies, all her treasure gains and points will be transferred to you. This rule supersedes all other rules and agreements, and is true. There is no need to worry about other traps."]
Qi Xu clicked her tongue. Interesting, so this is where the twist is.
Watching Emberkiss Starlight Moon inside the ribbon, hands clasped together, silently mouthing "thank you" to her, Qi Xu simply rolled her eyes and said with utter exasperation, "Orange."
Since Emberkiss Starlight Moon had asked Qi Xu, it meant she trusted her. But just as she was about to give her answer... the light screen changed again.
Qi Xu could no longer see Emberkiss Starlight Moon. Instead, she saw Cheese Milk Cap 80% Sugar again.
Because her choice was also Invincible Black Whirlwind.
During that dangerous moment, if Invincible Black Whirlwind hadn't blocked for her and handed over two Death Protection Cards, her corpse would probably be cold by now.
Given how things had developed, how could she not choose Invincible Black Whirlwind over the other two? One sly, one stupid, neither trustworthy.
Qi Xu had actually anticipated this. After all, she had just saved Cheese Milk Cap 80% Sugar, who seemed to have a conscience. Although she hadn't returned the two Death Protection Cards, she had given back 3000 Vehicle Upgrade Cards and even a Vehicle Core to Qi Xu.
While there was a possibility it was an act, Qi Xu trusted her intuition more.
She genuinely wanted to express gratitude, and Qi Xu accepted it cleanly. When the relationship wasn't that close, keeping things clear-cut made everyone feel better.
So she straightforwardly told her the answer.
Immediately after, Xie Shaoning's face appeared, feigning profundity with an expression that screamed, "Woman, you didn't expect this, did you?"
Upon hearing the rule instructing him to ask someone about the color, Xie Shaoning didn't hesitate for a second. He, too, chose Invincible Black Whirlwind.
He couldn't explain why. He just felt she was kind-hearted, didn't seem like someone who would lie, and the killing intent she once had for him was gone. Maybe their past conflicts were... water under the bridge?
Qi Xu went from initial surprise to now taking it in stride. Unbelievable. These three formed their little clique so well, they really do have tacit understanding among themselves.
Xie Shaoning was looking at Qi Xu with an appreciative gaze, as if praising her. "You won't betray my trust, right?"
Even without sound, Qi Xu understood perfectly. After telling him the answer, she immediately looked away, worried about catching his stupidity...
No wonder Cheese Milk Cap 80% Sugar lost her cool. The 'try-hard poser' was truly an authority on cringe.
Just as Qi Xu transferred the [Truth Herb] to her palm, she too was completely enveloped by the ribbon, receiving the exact same prompt as the other three.
["You may choose any one person to ask: 'What color is the ribbon in your hand?' Answer correctly to return safely; answer incorrectly and your life will be in peril."]
