The whole nation is trying to survive on the cable car; I'm choosing one of three options at ea

Su Mu opened today's intelligence report:

[Intelligence 1: A special plant, "Desert Fruit," has been discovered approximately 12 kilometers ahead. Level 7 monsters are active in the surrounding area. This plant is a harvestable resource.]

[Intelligence 2: There is a silver treasure chest approximately eight kilometers ahead. Its exact location is at a bend in a dried-up riverbed to the southeast. The chest is silver-level; no high-level monsters have been detected in the vicinity, but there may be traps or lurking creatures.]

Two.

Su Mu stared at the panel, remaining silent for a moment. He had never heard of the Desert Fruit before, but since the system information specifically marked it as a "special plant," and there were only Lv7 monsters around, the risk to him was minimal.

The same goes for that silver treasure chest; it sounds like I could just take a look at it.

He turned to Lin Yuwei: "I have two here, one is a Desert Fruit, and the other is a Silver Treasure Chest."

Lin Yuwei didn't speak; she was looking at her control panel. After a while, she finally spoke, her voice much softer than usual: "I only have one here...."

Su Mu raised an eyebrow: "What?"

She tilted the panel slightly towards him.

[Intelligence: An entrance to an unknown secret realm has been discovered approximately seven kilometers southeast of the front. The entrance is guarded by high-level monsters. Danger level assessment: Extremely dangerous.]

Su Mu remained silent.

He read the line of text again. Extremely dangerous.

The last time he saw the description "extremely dangerous" was when he encountered an Awakened.

But he quickly realized what was happening.

This is Lin Yuwei's talent.

This assessment of "extreme danger" is based on her own experience as a benchmark.

For Lin Yuwei, several monsters at level 10 or higher were considered extremely dangerous.

Her detection and intelligence capabilities are information-oriented, and her combat attributes are not high, so the threshold for this evaluation is much lower than his.

Given Su Mu's current state... Lv16, Ancient King's Battle Blood fully unleashed, Overlord Spear in hand, facing another Awakened One, regardless of the outcome, at least he won't be as pathetic as last time.

Moreover, given his speed and survival skills, escaping shouldn't be a problem.

He looked at Lin Yuwei: "Seven kilometers... closer than your two intelligence points. Here's the plan: I'll go to the secret realm, and you go in the direction of the Desert Fruit and the treasure chest. Wait for news here at the cable car; I'll send you the location after I get off."

Lin Yuwei was stunned for a moment: "But...that's extremely dangerous. Are you sure?"

Su Mu nodded: "The danger you assess is different from the danger I can tolerate. Besides, you wouldn't be of much help if you went there. Staying on the cable car and keeping the connection distance from being too far is more advantageous for me."

Lin Yuwei moved her lips, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately did not refute.

Su Mu took his backpack from the equipment rack and organized his basic supplies.

Gun, magazine, several bottles of blood-infused water, bandages, and a camouflage pendant. He paused, then picked up the AWM as well.

Since we're going to an "unknown secret place," it's safer to observe from a distance before making a decision.

Lin Yuwei also stood up, walked into her small space, changed into a set of light combat gear, put on a long-sleeved windproof jacket, and put several detection devices and emergency supplies into her waist bag.

The two prepared themselves, and the atmosphere in the cable car returned to a subtly awkward silence.

Su Mu's mind was churning with a series of completely unrelated thoughts, which became increasingly chaotic the more he thought about them.

That last moment...

He could feel an inexplicable restlessness within him, more than just a normal morning physiological reaction. It felt like an instinctive urge to get closer to the person beside him, a desire for more contact.

It felt like something was pushing him from the shadows.

He suddenly remembered that when he and Lin Yuwei were injured, he also had that strange thought... to eat her. The feeling was faint, but it was deep-rooted. It was different from desire; it was more like a hunger rising from the depths of his blood.

The good thing is that I can control it completely now, unlike before...

Thinking of this, Su Mu felt a slight stirring in his heart.

But now is not the time to think about these things.

I glanced at the location; it was only about one or two kilometers away from the secret realm.

He slung his weapon over his shoulder and walked to the cable car door. After thinking for a moment, he turned back to Lin Yuwei and said, "Be careful."

Lin Yuwei was also looking at him, her eyes still showing some lingering panic: "You too."

Su Mu nodded and started the cable car.

......

Lin Yuwei stood by the cable car window, watching the figure disappear into the dust on the ground before slowly turning her gaze away.

Her face was still burning.

She couldn't shake off that feeling. Frustrated, she patted her face, forcing herself to calm down.

Last night... I think I had a dream.

In her dream, she smelled Su Mu's scent.

It was faint, but she remembered it. It was like a cool fragrance mixed with metal and herbs, yet it wasn't cold; instead, it carried a warmth that made you want to get closer.

In her dream, she followed the scent and hugged a source of warmth, then wouldn't let go.

Then I woke up...

Lin Yuwei covered her face.

But she had to admit to herself that she had slept very soundly last night.

Since entering this world, she has hardly slept a full night. The metallic sound of the cable car, the wind outside, and the occasional notification sound from the channel can instantly wake her up.

Only last night, she slept soundly until dawn without waking up even once.

It really does seem different when Su Mu is around.

She took a deep breath, opened her intelligence panel, and reconfirmed the two locations Su Mu had sent her.

"Go to the Desert Fruit first," she whispered, "and then the treasure chest."

She checked her equipment and tools, making sure the stealth device and escape scroll were in the most convenient positions, and then opened the cable car door.

......

Su Mu followed the direction Lin Yuwei gave him and walked for nearly a kilometer.

A road of yellow sand, under the blazing sun.

There were no monsters, no treasure chests, and no unusual fluctuations.

The desert was so vast and empty that it made one feel somewhat uneasy.

"The monster density here is ridiculously low."

As he walked, he scanned his surroundings with his senses. "This area is so big, but there isn't even a single living creature to gain experience from."

After walking for a few more minutes, he saw the entrance to the secret realm.

To be precise, I almost saw it.

There is an entrance on the leeward side of a low sand ridge.

Its color is exactly the same as the surrounding sand, yellowish-brown and rough. Its surface is severely eroded by the wind, and from a distance it looks like a half-buried ruined wall.

Only upon closer inspection can one discern the outline of an entrance... long and slanted, resembling a half-closed mouth, slightly open towards the sky.

[An entrance to an unknown realm has been discovered. Current status: Inactive.]