At the top of the mountain, around 7:30, Song Yang sent a message to everyone.
After eight o'clock, it officially got dark and a few beams of light appeared from the mountains and forests. Then both teams returned safely.
It's not quite right to say that it's safe. Deng Kai supported Zhang Yan, who walked with a limp and a very cold face.
The Zhao mother and daughter were startled and quickly went over to take over, helping Zhang Yan sit down. "How did it become like this?"
Deng Kai whispered, "Brother Shen and Sister Zhang had a quarrel in the middle of the meeting."
Shen Bai looked a little guilty at this time, but he still forced himself to put on an "I did nothing wrong" face, with his hands in his trouser pockets and pouting.
Song Yang didn't bother to care about the friction between these people. His eyes were fixed on the black plastic bag that Chai Feng was holding in his left hand.
This plastic bag looks a bit heavy.
He asked, "What's in here?"
Xia Jing and the others put down their backpacks and noticed this thing at the first moment.
Chai Feng had no intention of playing tricks at this time. He walked over, opened the plastic bag, and explained in an orderly manner: "Just now, Zhang Yan accidentally fell down a slope halfway. This is what we found where Zhang Yan fell."
Everyone gathered around and saw that the plastic bag was filled with a strange transparent gel that gave off a strong fishy smell.
Pei Guang was almost overcome by the stench. He fanned away the air with his hand and exclaimed, "What is this? Is the monster we're facing this time a slime?"
Deng Kai sneered: "I just complained about this. Besides this bag of stuff, we also found some small round holes that look like footprints over there."
Pei Guang was stunned and immediately said, "We've also found these footprints here! What's strange is that these footprints are only concentrated in one place, with no footprints around. I don't know how the monster left. Could it fly?"
After that, their group had no other gains.
Deng Kai nodded repeatedly in response: "It's the same here, the footprints disappeared suddenly!"
At this time, Song Yang said calmly: "We also found this transparent gel-like object inside the UFO."
Everyone was shocked.
Song Yang said in a deep voice: "Let's find a place to sit down and exchange information."
Ten minutes later.
They borrowed ten stools from NPCs and sat around.
As soon as Song Yang sat down, he smelled a smell of blood.
The smell of blood came from his left, and to his left was Deng Kai.
He asked sharply, "Are you injured too?"
Deng Kai quickly shook his head and said, "No, it was Sister Zhang. She got a few scratches when she fell, and she's already taken care of them."
Zhao Mingjing asked Zhang Yan beside her worriedly, "Are you really okay? Do you want to take further action?"
Zhang Yan said coldly, "No, it's just a minor scratch. The medical supplies we brought from Smiley City are enough."
She looked at Shen Bai coldly, but Shen Bai pretended not to notice her gaze.
After hearing what she said, the others had no choice but to give up.
These two guys are the most troublesome among this group of players, and they don't really want to provoke them.
Song Yang spoke first: "Then let me first tell you about our discoveries here."
The wind on the top of the mountain is always very strong, but fortunately it is summer now, so the wind only makes people feel cool.
Song Yang's voice was calm and his words were clear and logical.
"The interior structure of this UFO is very simple, with only one floor. The largest room is right inside, which should be the control room. The control panel is in this room, but there are no labels on the buttons on the control panel."
Following Song Yang's words, the two groups of people searching the mountain turned their attention to the huge disc-shaped aircraft not far away.
The disc-shaped aircraft glowed with a cold luster in the night, which made people feel creepy.
"There are three small rooms at the rear of the cabin. Two of them contain miscellaneous items that don't offer any clues. The other contains a metal box containing the same jelly-like substance that Chai Feng brought back. The box is already half empty; I'm afraid the missing half has been used by the monster."
Tang Yi thought for a moment and whispered, "Could this jelly-like substance be some kind of biological gel? Can monsters use this thing to grow flesh?"
Chai Feng agreed, "That's right. We found footprints next to these gel-like objects. I'm afraid the monster's initial form was able to load these bio-gels, generate flesh in mid-air when it fell, and then immediately leave the scene by flying or leaping."
After Chai Feng finished speaking, he politely asked Xia Jing, "Didn't Xiaojing find these jelly?"
Xia Jing shook his head, then asked calmly, "Can you tell me more about the clues you found on the slope?"
Chai Feng was stunned for a moment, then asked with a smile, "Why, are you worried about something? Do you think we're hiding something?"
It's said that Song Yang dislikes people like Chai Feng. It's because the thinking of this kind of people always seems to be in two different worlds from theirs.
He said calmly, "What he wants to know is where and under what circumstances you discovered these clues."
Xia Jing looked at Song Yang meaningfully.
He adjusted his sitting position and spoke first, "We found footprints about a kilometer away from the base camp. The footprints appeared behind a rock, and there were no other traces around. What about you?"
Chai Feng finally understood what Xia Jing meant. He coughed lightly, smiling without looking embarrassed. "So that's how it is. Sorry, sorry. The place where we found these clues is about 700 to 800 meters from the top of the mountain. It's a very steep slope."
"This slope probably extends all the way to the winding mountain road halfway up the mountain. Zhang Yan was just caught by a protruding platform on the slope. Otherwise..."
I'm afraid it will be smashed to pieces.
Zhang Yan listened to these words expressionlessly.
Chai Feng continued, "After Zhang Yan fell, Deng Kai was the first to go down to rescue him. We heard his cries and learned there was a clue below, so we climbed down. Zhang Yan fell next to this pile of jelly-like substances."
After hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought.
Xia Jing took out his cell phone, took a photo of the footprints and handed it to Song Yang.
Song Yang frowned the first time he saw it.
Xia Jing said slowly, "These footprints are perfectly round, with no distinction between the front and back soles. We have no way of determining which direction the monster was heading when it left. We can only make some guesses based on the locations of the two footprints."
"Assuming that Chai Feng's place is indeed where the monster formed a physical body, then that might be the first place the monster appeared after falling." Xia Jing raised his eyes and looked at everyone. "Do you think the monster's goal after forming a physical body is to escape from humans or to retrieve the UFO?"
Everyone was stunned.
Of course, it is impossible for monsters to flee aimlessly. They can already drive UFOs to Earth. So in this copy, the alien monsters must be intelligent life forms, and their actions must have a purpose.
If the monster wanted to escape from humans, then there was a straight slope below the place where Chai Feng and the others found the clue, and the monster could escape at the fastest speed along that slope.
But once this happens...
"Doesn't that mean the monsters will be out of the map before nightfall?" Pei Guang muttered.
However, it is impossible for monsters to escape from the map.
Then, the monster's goal could only be to retrieve the UFO...
——Even if they don't go looking for monsters, the monsters will come looking for them!
Realizing this, everyone else instantly stiffened their backs and looked warily at the dark forest around them. Their palms became sweaty, as if in the depths of the darkness, strange creatures from another planet were secretly spying on them.
Zhao Leya swallowed, her heart beating rapidly.
She lowered her voice and said thoughtfully, "Uncle Chai and his team found clues in the direction of the North Mountain, about 700 to 800 meters away from the base camp. Brother Jing and you found footprints in the direction of the West Mountain, about a kilometer away from the base camp. If Uncle Chai and his team found the first scene, and the monster's target is the UFO, then it doesn't seem right. The monster can't run farther and farther..."
"That's right," Xia Jing chuckled, "So don't forget, the NPC said at the beginning that there was more than one unidentified object that fell on the mountain."
"Assuming the unidentified object is a monster, then there's obviously more than one monster in this instance. We've probably already discovered the tracks of two monsters."
Everyone swallowed.
But how many monsters are there in this copy?
Thinking of this, Xia Jing asked Song Yang: "Did you find anything else?"
Song Yang nodded: "I didn't finish speaking just now."
"There's a flag-like symbol on the back of the UFO. I think the 'flag' in this instance represents political factors."
Everyone was stunned.
"This UFO may be equivalent to our real-world military aircraft, and the monsters inside may very well be alien soldiers."
It was obvious that Song Yang had not discussed these words with Zhao's mother and daughter before. Perhaps because he was afraid of scaring them, the latter two showed stunned expressions like everyone else. Only Xia Jing was thinking along with Song Yang's thoughts.
Song Yang threw out the next clue: "The entire UFO control room is empty except for the control panel. There is a large open space in the middle, and the center of the open space is connected to the broken hatch at the bottom of the UFO. I think that open space may be the place where the alien monsters originally used to rest."
"The so-called rest certainly couldn't be for leisure and entertainment. They were probably just gathering there, and once they reached their destination, they would descend from the bottom hatch in a well-trained manner."
"We don't know the size of this dungeon monster yet, but it's so well hidden, so it's probably not too big."
"Based on the size of the open space inside the UFO," Song Yang said word by word, "I think it should be able to accommodate at least ten monsters."
Ten monsters!
After hearing this, the others were completely dumbfounded.
Chai Feng was the first to react, forcing a smile and saying, "Wait, Song Yang, isn't this too subjective? How can you be so sure there are ten monsters?"
This number just matches the number of players, which makes people panic.
"It's indeed my subjective conjecture. As more clues come forward, I might overturn my judgment," Song Yang said slowly. "But for now, based on my gaming experience, this is my guess."
The dungeon settings of Smiley City are always full of meaning.
In most dungeons, there is only one main monster.
Once there are a large number of main monsters, they may be everywhere, just like in "Everything Grows".
These are two extremes, but extremes seem normal here.
It is precisely when it is in the intermediate state that one cannot help but think more.
A number between 1 and infinity, that is definitely not a number randomly decided by Smiley City.
"Nonsense, there are ten monsters, do you want us to fight one on one?" Shen Bai sneered.
Song Yang said calmly: "You can also take this opportunity to personally check inside the UFO to see if there are any other clues."
Shen Bai sarcastically said, "You still want us to check it again? Then are you guys working here for nothing?"
At this point, he seemed to finally be unable to bear Zhang Yan's gaze and cursed, "Are you done yet? You know I didn't push you at all. You fell down on your own. What the hell is this to me?"
Zhang Yan just stared at him coldly one last time, as if she didn't want to waste any more time talking to him. She stood up, picked up her backpack and said, "I'm going to the bathroom."
Zhao's mother and daughter immediately stood up and supported her on both sides.
This investigation should last for several days. The NPCs built a temporary toilet not far away. As for the resting place at night, there are probably only a few small tents, each of which can only accommodate two people.
After the three women left, Shen Bai touched his arm and muttered, "That look is really creepy."
Chai Feng came out to smooth things over: "Zhang Yan was injured today, so it's normal for him to be in a bad mood. Please be considerate."
He then said to Song Yang, "Song Yang, look at this. We can't do any more investigation tonight. Whether there are ten monsters or not, let's wait until tomorrow to discuss everything. Everyone should go to bed early today."
Everyone else had no objection to this.
Pei Guang suggested, "But wouldn't it be best to take turns keeping watch at night? If the monsters are approaching us, they might appear at night."
Chai Feng nodded: "Indeed, let the ladies rest, and we men will divide the work later."
Five tents, seven men and three women.
It was not convenient for the extra woman to squeeze into the same room with the men. After coming back from the toilet, Zhao's mother and daughter decided to squeeze in with Zhang Yan.
In this way, Song Yangxia Jing had a tent, Pei Guangtang had a tent, Chai Feng and Deng Kai had a tent, and Shen Bai had a single room, enjoying the "luxury single room".
He probably knew that he was not welcome, so he turned around and left with a sour face.
*
There were only simple bedding in the tent.
After Song Yang spread it out, he saw Xia Jing sitting at the door of the tent, still observing the outside.
The moonlight brightened his profile, and this face, which was no longer "heart-stirring", made Song Yang's heart move slightly.
Outside, Tang Yi and Pei Guang had not yet entered the tent. They were discussing in low voices. When they saw Song Yang, they put aside the matter of the dungeon for the time being and finally had the mood to ask him whether he had entered the one-star dungeon in order to find a safe house.
Song Yang snorted and laughed, then said lazily, "Yeah, it's a pity that I'm unlucky. Others can get in easily, but I haven't encountered one in 17 or 18 one-star dungeons."
Upon hearing this, Xia Jing tilted his head with a smile.
Song Yang continued, "Not only did I not bump into him, but I was also ridiculed by the store manager. Haha, that's too much."
Tang Yi and Pei Guang were bewildered: "Do you still know that the store manager mocked you?"
"I was told by a friend who had been there," Song Yang said with a forced smile, "So, yes, I know."
Xia Jing chuckled, turned his head towards Song Yang, and said jokingly, "There seems to be a saying that luck is also a part of strength."
Song Yang's eyelids twitched.
Xia Jing was still looking outside when suddenly a hand pulled the curtain of the tent, cutting off his view from the outside.
The man behind him said dissatisfiedly: "What if I keep having bad luck, will I never be able to get in?"
Xia Jing paused, turned around, blinked, and said, "Doctor Song, are you asking someone to open a backdoor for you?"
Song Yang froze.
Xia Jing looked surprised. "I thought Dr. Song was an honest and upright person from childhood to adulthood. He would never cheat."
Xia Jing asked sincerely: "So you are asking others to cooperate with you in cheating now?"
Song Yang...
Song Yang gritted his teeth and said, "...When I succeed in getting in, you're done."
This sentence completely tore the paper between the two of them.
Xia Jing bent his elbows, supported his cheeks, and tilted his head to look at Song Yang.
This look is somewhat cute.
Xia Jing smiled like a fox: "How are you going to let me finish?"
Song Yang: "..."
His Adam's apple rolled, and at this moment he seemed to have some strange thoughts.
He calmed himself down and said viciously, "I'm going to clear out that legendary small supermarket!"
This is simply an elementary school threat.
Xia Jing's smile widened, and he remained unmoved: "Our store welcomes generous customers most, as long as you have enough monster parts."
Song Yang: "..."
He laughed angrily and pinched Xia Jing's face hard.
Xia Jing's cheeks were pinched out of shape, and her eyelashes trembled innocently, and her slightly curled eyelashes gently lifted the corners of her eyes.
This tremor seemed to reach Song Yang's heart.
Song Yang instantly remembered the stunning glimpse he had had before. Somehow, his heart skipped a beat and he immediately withdrew his hand.
Xia Jing glanced at him and touched his cheek, as if pondering the feeling of Song Yang's fingertips on his cheek.
When Song Yang saw this action, he felt that the temperature in the tent seemed to rise sharply, and he couldn't help but curse himself for being crazy!
He took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and after a moment of silence, he mumbled, "...If you really need monster parts so badly, everything I find will be yours."
Xia Jing raised his eyebrows, a little surprised.
Song Yang paused, turned his head, stared at Xia Jing and said, "But in exchange, once I successfully get in, tell me everything, okay?"
Xia Jing also stared at him.
The tent fell into a quiet atmosphere.
Xia Jing raised his lips and whispered, "Of course. A give-and-take game is an interesting one."
After discussing this topic, Xia Jing moved back into the tent. "If there really are ten monsters in this dungeon, do you think players need to fight them one-on-one to clear it?"
He never questioned Song Yang's speculation from beginning to end.
Song Yang laughed and said, "It's not like I haven't encountered this kind of situation before."
In most dungeons, as long as one player can defeat the monster, all other surviving players can leave the dungeon.
However, there are also instances like "Don't Think!" - although there is only one main monster in the end, before that, every player needs to face the secondary monsters one by one to successfully reach the last step of the game.
When Song Yang saw the empty space inside the UFO cabin, the first number that came to his mind was "ten".
And if the number of monsters is really equal to the number of players, then the mechanism of this dungeon will probably be very subtle.
"Tomorrow I will suggest that we swap tasks and take turns searching to find more clues," Song Yang looked outside the tent, "assuming all ten of us are still here when we wake up tomorrow."
There are square transparent tape "windows" on the left and right sides of the tent.
To their left are Zhao's mother and daughter and Zhang Yan.
Zhao Mingjing was sitting on the outermost side. She noticed Song Yang's gaze and looked at him with a gentle smile.
*
Song Yang and Xia Jing stayed up for the first half of the night, and nothing unusual happened, so Song Yang lay down to rest and recuperate.
Xia Jing held on for another hour, looked at Song Yang sleeping soundly, thought for a while, and then fell asleep too.
At about 5:30 in the morning, the two were woken up. When they opened the tent, they saw that Shen Bai and Zhang Yan were arguing again.
It seemed that when the two passed by each other, Zhang Yan accidentally bumped into Shen Bai, and Shen Bai scolded her for not looking at the road when walking.
Zhang Yan stared at him coldly, then turned and left without saying a word.
"Are you sick? You can't even speak? All you do is stare, stare, stare. Be careful or I'll dig out your eyes!" Shen Bai cursed and walked towards the forest on the right, unzipping his pants as he walked, probably because he was in a hurry to pee.
This person is obviously used to doing this in the real world - there is a toilet more than 20 meters away, but he is too lazy to walk these few steps and prefers to solve it "in the wild".
Fortunately, there were no women there, otherwise it would have been really eye-catching.
Pei Guang came out of the tent and complained, "You really don't treat us as outsiders."
Song Yang noticed that Pei Guang was the only one in his tent and asked, "Where's Tang Yi?"
"The kid got up ten minutes earlier than me and said he was going to investigate inside the UFO," Pei Guang laughed. "This kid is definitely a top student in school."
The three of them chatted for a few words outside the tent before seeing Shen Bai quickly returning.
He was zipping up his pants while walking.
When I left, I pulled it down, and now I pull it up.
But this time, his hands were shaking and he couldn't pull it out properly. He accidentally pinched his flesh through his underwear and his face turned blue with pain.
Pei Guang said with a smile, "What are you doing? What's so depressing that you want to 'discard your own martial arts'?"
When Shen Bai approached, he realized that this man was so good at kung fu that sweat was dripping from his forehead. He immediately put on a serious expression and asked, "What's wrong?"
Shen Bai's face was pale, his throat was shaking violently, and he lowered his voice and said stealthily: "I, I saw Zhang Yan."
Pei Guang frowned and said, "We all saw you and Zhang Yan."
Wasn't that just two minutes ago?
"No, no!" Shen Bai pointed in the direction of the UFO and said quickly, "Did that woman just go in that direction? Am I seeing correctly?"
Xia Jing and Song Yang narrowed their eyes.
Shen Bai waved his arm, pointing to the forest on the right where he came from, and said with a quick breath:
"I met another Zhang Yan over there! A second Zhang Yan! She seemed to have crawled down from the mountains and was lying there!"