Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared-Chapter 709: To Go or Not to Go

With Gu Ling around, she can alert them to danger and areas they should avoid immediately. So, under her guidance, their journey was pleasantly uneventful.

"No, we shouldn’t go this way. We should go that way." Gu Ling pointed in a direction and everyone immediately headed towards it without hesitation.

Qiao Ya, Dong Ni, Su Lei, and three other researchers were all in awe of Gu Ling’s might. Even though she was the youngest, everyone listened to her, and so far, under her command, they had encountered no danger.

Qiao Ya was thinking whether he should kidnap Gu Ling, then he could stop relying on Gu Fan and others.

The secret base was vast. Gu Fan had only been here twice and there were many areas he’d never visited before. Now, as they moved about, he had no idea where they were.

Hearing roars, screams, and gunshots in the surrounding area, everyone was somewhat panicked. While Gu Ling could help them avoid these dangers, she couldn’t lead them to safety.

"What do we do now? Which way should we go?" Su Hui looked at Gu Fan, who was deep in thought.

Lu Yi sighed, "I think we might be lost."

"Hey, don’t blame me! It’s not like I wanted this!" Gu Ling quickly shirked the blame.

No one blamed Gu Ling, but they needed a solution. This method of avoiding danger was not sustainable, as hunger and exhaustion would soon become the biggest threats if they remained trapped.

Though Gu Fan was acquainted with a few locations - the control room, the dock for the large wooden boat, and the hallway that connected the two - they had totally deviated from these paths now due to Gu Ling’s guidance.

Su Hui remarked, "We cannot always avoid conflict, sometimes we must face it head on."

"Yes, we can’t afford to waste time." Gu Fan looked at Gu Ling and spoke, "Xiaoling, don’t feel burdened. Since we’re already lost, just continue guiding us. When we reach familiar territory, I’ll take over."

"Alright, I understand!" Gu Ling nodded and pointed in a direction where there was no danger.

Everyone trusted Gu Fan and Gu Ling, and followed in the direction she indicated. However, Qiao Ya noticed that following Gu Ling, while safe, would not lead them out of the base.

Luckily, they found a map in one place on a wall. The map marked their location and the passageways, providing some direction for Gu Fan and his group.

Su Hui memorized the map. Her professional training meant that she had good map reading skills, so she knew which way to go.

Now things were easier. Su Hui managed the general direction, while Gu Ling decided which paths were safe. Even if they had to take the long way, they could still reach their destination.

Just when everyone was appreciating the effectiveness of this female-duo’s cooperation, a red-clothed woman suddenly appeared, "Long time no see. It seems you’ve all survived well."

Everyone was taken aback; they avoided the red-clothed woman as if they’d just seen a ghost. "You must know we’re hard to kill, so does this mean you’re changing your strategy to scare us to death?" Lu Yi proposed.

"Indeed. I wanted to try, but unfortunately, it didn’t work. Otherwise, I would’ve saved a lot of energy." The straightforwardness of the red-clothed woman left everyone speechless.

Ouyang Jin asked with a gloomy face, "Ma’am, what exactly do you want?"

The red-clothed woman laughed. "It’s simple. I don’t want you to leave alive. But considering the current situation, it appears you’re going to escape. Therefore, I need to change the game."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a sense of foreboding. Gu Fan grimaced, "No matter what game you suggest, we won’t participate. We just want to leave."

"Alright. But I’ve already informed Qian Feng of the Destiny Stone operation method. She and her team are rushing over there now. So, are you going to go or not?" The red-clothed woman’s remarks hit Gu Fan’s weak spot.

"If I’m not wrong, you must have set a trap there, waiting for us to walk right into it." Su Hui huffed coldly.

"Don’t paint me so dark. I’m just a responsible security of this place." The red-clothed woman pulled a ’I’m a good person’ face, earning disdainful looks from the group.

Gu Fan was indignant, "So what if Qian Feng gets it? Do you think you’d let Qian Feng leave alive?"

At these words, Lin Xi tensed up, worrying about the situation.

The red-clothed woman nodded, "If you run away, my efforts will have been in vain. So, might as well do some good deeds. Letting a few of you escape so that you can continue your fight outside seems like a good idea."

Lu Yi sighed, "You must have been designed by a despicable and scheming villain."

"Don’t say that. I also have a good side." The red-clothed woman barely finished her sentence when the three researchers eagerly asked, "Can you please tell us what the Destiny Stone is?"

The red-clothed woman feigned surprise. "You don’t know about the Destiny Stone? Oh my God, they told you about the space-time door but hid the Destiny Stone from you. What kind of cooperation is this? It is really heartbreaking."

"Another conniving AI." Lu Yi and Ouyang Jin almost simultaneously gave the same comment. The three researchers, however, gave Gu Fan a weird look, as if questioning their sincerity.

Su Hui spoke up. "I’m sorry. We haven’t told you anything despite what you’ve shared. If you think we lack sincerity, feel free to terminate our cooperation."

Lin Xi added, "Leading you out of here is our biggest act of sincerity. If you want to be nitpicky, we have no objections. But let me ask you, have you really disclosed everything to us?"

The researchers turned awkward; it was clear they too had held back.

Inwardly cursing, Qiao Ya muttered, "Oh my, I knew it. These people are not that simple. They’re hiding such a big secret. The Destiny Stone is just as important as the space-time door."

"Now is not the time for suspicion. This AI means no good." Lu Yi began to accuse the red-clothed woman, who looked unfazed. "It’s okay. I’m just standing up for justice. I can’t bear injustice, so I had to expose you. As for whether you can cooperate in the future, that’s not for me to consider."

"Tell me, where are the Destiny Stone controls, and where is the space-time door hidden?" Gu Fan sternly inquired, demonstrating his determination to find out.

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