Free Web NovelChapter 294: Chapter 294: The Safest Route?
He was clad, as always, in dark combat gear that clung to his tall figure, making him instantly recognizable even without the need to see his face.
The mask concealed his expression entirely, leaving nothing visible but even so, Yue Yue could feel it clearly.
That cold, heavy, and unyielding gaze resting squarely upon her.
Her back turned stiff as a chill crept down her spine.
For a brief moment, her mind went completely blank. Then, like a flood, countless thoughts rushed in at once.
Did he see her running away? Would he expose her? Would he tell Lin An?
But almost as quickly, she denied those thoughts.
No... why would he? He had never spoken before. Perhaps he simply wouldn’t interfere. Perhaps... he couldn’t.
"...Maybe he’s mute," she thought hastily, clinging to that fragile assumption as if it were her only lifeline.
Forcing herself to remain calm, Yue Yue drew in a quiet breath and pushed a stiff smile onto her face, though it looked anything but natural.
"H-Hey... brother-in-law," she began awkwardly, her voice carrying a slight tremor she couldn’t fully suppress. "You’re out for a walk too?"
She let out a dry laugh, trying to appear casual despite the tension tightening her chest.
"It’s just... the inside of the pod felt a little suffocating, so I came out to get some air," she continued, waving her hand lightly as if dismissing the situation. "You go ahead... I’ll just walk around for a bit."
Her words tumbled out faster than usual, betraying her unease.
Without waiting for any form of response, she stepped forward, carefully bypassing him.
Each step felt unbearably heavy, as though the space between them had turned into a suffocating pressure.
She could feel his presence behind her even as she walked past, her entire body tense, prepared for him to stop her at any moment.
But he didn’t move.
Yue Yue continued walking, forcing herself not to break into a run too soon. One step after another, she increased the distance between them, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
Only when she had gone far enough...far enough that she could no longer sense his overwhelming presence did she finally allow herself to breathe.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips. Relief washed over her like a sudden tide.
"He didn’t care..." she muttered softly, a trace of disbelief lingering in her voice.
Encouraged by that thought, she no longer held back. Her steps quickened, turning into a full run as she fled further into the distance.
"It seems... he really only cares about Lin An," she thought as she ran, her expression easing slightly.
"He wouldn’t bother about someone like me... whether I stay or leave... whether I live or die..."
The realization brought her an unexpected sense of freedom.
Behind her, the masked man still stood in the same place where she had left him.
In the silent darkness, his unmoving figure appeared almost lifeless.
Yet slowly, his hand curled into a fist.
The force was so great that the faint sound of joints straining could almost be imagined, as if his control teetered on the edge of breaking. But even so, he did not move from his spot.
Meanwhile, Yue Yue continued running until her steps gradually slowed, her breathing becoming uneven from the exertion. She finally came to a stop, glancing around cautiously at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"I should be far enough now..." she murmured, though uncertainty still lingered.
To be sure, she called out in her mind, "System... how far am I from Lin En and the others?"
The response came swiftly.
[Host has reached a safe distance.]
Hearing this, the last of the tension in her body finally eased. She bent slightly, catching her breath as a sense of relief settled in her chest.
After a moment of silence, she spoke again, her voice softer this time, tinged with hesitation.
"...System, did I do the right thing?"
Leaving like this... abandoning the group...
There was a brief pause before the system responded.
[Yes.]
The answer was direct, leaving no room for doubt.
[The female lead, Lin En, has developed strong hostility toward the host.]
[Her emotional state has undergone drastic fluctuations.]
[There is confirmed killing intent directed at the host.]
Yue Yue’s fingers tightened slightly at her sides, but instead of fear, a strange calmness settled over her. freewebnøvel.coɱ
"So... I really needed to leave," she whispered.
[Correct.]
[For the host’s safety, it is advised to maintain distance from the female lead.]
Yue Yue slowly nodded to herself, her earlier hesitation completely gone.
"...Then guide me," she said firmly. "I need to go farther away."
[Understood.]
[Calculating safest route.]
As the system began its guidance, Yue Yue lifted her head and looked ahead into the vast, unknown expanse before her.
The gray sky stretched endlessly above, unchanged and indifferent, but this time, it no longer felt as suffocating as before.
Her expression gradually hardened with resolve.
Then, without looking back even once, she ran again, following the path laid out before her, leaving everything behind.
The gray fog swirled around Yue Yue’s feet as she sprinted through the ruins. Her heart was beating like a drum, and her breath came in short, desperate gasps.
"System, are they following me?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
[Negative, Host. My scans show the camp is still stationary. This is the safest route I have calculated. Keep moving!]
Yue Yue nodded. She ran until her legs felt like lead. But just as she thought she had gained enough distance, the ground beneath her began to vibrate.
Skreeeeeee!
A piercing, high-pitched shriek ripped through the air. From the shadows of the broken pillars, dozens of glowing red eyes appeared.
Then hundreds. It wasn’t just a few scouts; it was a massive swarm of Zerg, and they weren’t wandering aimlessly. They were sprinting directly at her.
"System! What is this?" Yue Yue screamed, pulling out her Dragon Sword. "You said this was the safest route!"
The system’s voice sounded glitched, flickering with static.
[Warning! Host, I... I do not understand. My scans showed this area was clear. These Zerg have abandoned their territories. They are not hunting for food; they are being directed. They are locked onto your biological signature!]
"Directed? By who?"
Yue Yue didn’t have time for an answer. The first Zerg, a bladed soldier, leaped at her.
She swung the Dragon Sword, the blade shifting into a wide scythe that cut the monster in half.
But for every one she killed, five more took its place.
