Chapter Twenty-Three: No Movement

After the two of them finished eating quickly, Gu Xi instructed Wang Yiyi to turn on her equipment and scan the surrounding area for any networks they could hack into.

If they could breach a network, it would prove two things:
1. There were people nearby.
2. The area was reasonably developed.

Wang Yiyi started working the moment she finished her last bite. To be fair, following Gu Xi was actually quite easy; all she had to do was eat and then scan the surroundings. She grunted as she pulled her gear out, powered it up, and deployed the antenna. After about twenty minutes of searching, she found nothing suspicious.

Gu Xi leaned in. "What’s the situation? Explain," she said, her tone almost like a command.

Don't blame her for being demanding; her relationship with Wang Yiyi was strictly a partnership. Since Wang Yiyi was currently dependent on her, doing a bit of work was expected.

Seeing Gu Xi lean in, Wang Yiyi explained the icons on the radar display. Indeed, there was not a single point to be seen.

"Does this mean we’re safe for now?" Gu Xi asked.

"Yes. The information this gives us is that we are safe within at least a two-kilometer radius. My equipment needs an upgrade, so I can't detect anything beyond that," Wang Yiyi replied.

Two kilometers. It wasn't long, but it wasn't short either. If there was no danger within that distance, they could finally get some proper rest tonight. Gu Xi hadn't rested well in days.

"It’s dark now. Can we camp here? Since the area is safe," Wang Yiyi suggested, seemingly noticing the exhaustion in Gu Xi’s eyes.

"Yes, we can rest here for now," Gu Xi said.

However, she didn't intend to sleep on the ground. Even if there were no humans threatening them, she worried about unknown animals while they were fast asleep, especially in the forest. Gu Xi didn't yet know how many beasts inhabited the Lingdu region; she would have to get used to it gradually.

"I’m going to climb up there to sleep. Do you want to come up?" Gu Xi suggested.

"What? We’re climbing a tree? I can't do that. My legs aren't great, I’m not athletic, and I’m overweight. If I try to climb a tree, I might just fall off," Wang Yiyi said, speechless. So much for setting up camp. What a liar. A weaver of empty promises.

***

Watching Gu Xi climb the tree on her own, Wang Yiyi was filled with admiration. The subtle, lean muscle definition in Gu Xi’s arms was impressive. Having spent her childhood obsessed with computers, Wang Yiyi had never really exercised. She was just soft; though fair-skinned, it was useless in a survival situation, making her an easy target. Because she was poor, she ate whatever she could get, which only added to her soft, unhealthy physique. This made her feel inferior, leading to a people-pleasing personality. As long as someone gave her a bite to eat, she would be eternally grateful.

Compared to her, Gu Xi seemed to possess a natural, unshakable confidence, and her physical strength stood in sharp contrast. Watching her climb the tree to sleep only made Wang Yiyi envy her more.

Before long, Gu Xi had scrambled up the tree. She stepped along the branches, found a sturdy, massive tree, and ensured the base was stable before spreading out her coat as a makeshift mat. She looked down at the dejected, indifferent Wang Yiyi.

"Come on up, Yiyi. It’s easy to climb, and it’s too dangerous down there."

"I’ll just make do for the night, it’s fine. I’m used to staying up late. You look tired, you should sleep," Wang Yiyi said softly.

Gu Xi couldn't tell if she was angry or genuinely wanted to keep watch. She was too exhausted to argue. "Alright, if you say so, I won't stand on ceremony." Gu Xi was beyond tired. She hadn't closed her eyes properly in days; she needed to sleep until dawn.

Within moments, Wang Yiyi heard the sound of Gu Xi’s heavy breathing from the tree. She had truly fallen asleep.

Wang Yiyi felt a pang of disappointment. She had actually hoped Gu Xi would help her up. But then, she reflected, why should anyone be obligated to help her? As this thought crossed her mind, tears began to well up in her eyes. To keep Gu Xi from hearing her cry, she quietly stood up and walked toward a brighter, more open area. That way, even if she sobbed, Gu Xi wouldn't hear. In Gu Xi’s eyes, she still wanted to be seen as a useful kid.

She walked forward, crying as quietly as she could, until she reached an open patch of ground. She walked straight into it, thinking, *I'll just cry here.*

But she never expected what happened next.

***

Just as she took a step, someone appeared with lightning speed behind her, catching her completely off guard. In those few seconds, a sense of grave danger flooded her mind. *Oh no! Am I in trouble? I just scanned the area, there was no one here!*

She prepared to scream, to call out Gu Xi’s name for help, but before the word "Gu" could leave her lips, she felt a thick, damp cloth pressed firmly over her nose and mouth. Within two seconds, she lost consciousness.

"Did you get her?" the person behind Wang Yiyi whispered to someone in the bushes.

"Yeah, no one followed. I’m sure it was just her," another man replied from the brush.

"Got it. Come here and give me a hand, this meat is too heavy!"

***

Deep sleep is always rejuvenating. The next morning, Gu Xi woke up, disgusted by the sensation of bird droppings on her face. She quickly wiped them off, nearly falling from the tree in the process.

"Wang Yiyi, get me some water—use what’s left from yesterday. This bird is infuriating, daring to poop on my face," Gu Xi shouted, calling for her little sidekick.

"Wang Yiyi, hurry up!" Gu Xi assumed Wang Yiyi had fallen asleep at the base of the tree. After all, she hadn't heard any commotion during the night; she must have dozed off right under the tree.

She called out a few more times, but there was no response. Feeling a surge of tension, she looked down.

...There was no sign of Wang Yiyi. Furthermore, there were no signs of a struggle under the tree, nor even any evidence that someone had spent the night there!

"Did she run off because I scolded her? That can't be it," Gu Xi thought, preparing to climb down.

Halfway down, she suddenly spotted a brown hat not far away. She remembered it—it was the hat Wang Yiyi had been wearing when they set out!

*Oh no.* Had something happened?

She jumped down from the tree and sprinted toward where the hat lay. Breathless, she grabbed the hat from the ground. There was a hard object inside. She opened it and realized, to her horror, it was Wang Yiyi’s radar equipment!