Chapter 255: Split Into Three Paths

Endless Paradise

"Three paths?"

"According to what you said, once this Zombie King emerges, it's a dead end," Bai Mu stated. "So what we need to do now is race against time. There are still three Evil-Warding Beast locations we haven't visited yet, and all three could potentially be the exit. Splitting into three groups is naturally the fastest method. With the Twin Phones and my Guard Mushroom, if any of us find the exit, the other two teams will be notified immediately. Furthermore, even if the Zombie King breaks out while we are searching, as long as he does not possess some sort of clone ability, it's impossible for him to pursue three groups at the same time. This way, no matter which team he chases, the other two will at least have time to escape." "But if we do that... whoever finds the exit first will have to rely entirely on luck," Scattered Fireflies muttered, biting her lip.

"True as that may be, it is still better than all five of us clumping together and getting caught by the Zombie King," Brewing Cat remarked. "I agree with Big Brother Bai's proposal, but there are only five of us... Dividing into three teams will be quite difficult."

Scattered Fireflies looked toward Bai Mu as if she had finally made up her mind. "Big Brother Bai, I will listen to you," she declared.

Hearing this, I Love a Sword's expression grew even more anxious.

If they split into three paths, the five of them would either have to group up as one-one-three or two-two-one. There were no other viable distribution plans.

Aside from him, the other four had entered the script together. Brewing Cat and Work Three Rest Four were clearly bound to one another, sharing a relationship much closer than that of Bai Mu and Scattered Fireflies. They even possessed paired communication tools.

Meanwhile, Bai Mu and Scattered Fireflies had at least formed a party before, establishing a foundation of mutual understanding and trust. Scattered Fireflies' earlier statement clearly expressed her intention to stick with Bai Mu.

As a result, with everyone else pairing off, he would be the only one left over. The grouping arrangement was practically written on the wall—it had to be two-two-one, and he would be the isolated one.

He would have to navigate this peril-filled ghost palace completely alone, a prospect that drained him of all confidence. At the end of the day, he was just a third-rate amateur. Although he had played the role of a Taoist Priest alongside an NPC in a previous script and obtained an "Initiate Disciple Set," his actual skills were far from enough to give him any real assurance.

When Bai Mu first suggested splitting into three paths, his heart had plunged into an icy abyss in that exact second, the hairs on his arms standing on end.

He was absolutely certain that Bai Mu was trying to push him out of this temporary team, leaving him isolated and utterly helpless.

He had suffered this kind of "betrayal" before. What terrified him the most was that Bai Mu's proposal was genuinely the one with the highest chance of survival. Judging from the information they currently possessed, the existence of that Zombie King was already set in stone.

They had no way of knowing when the Zombie King would break free, but their remaining time was definitely not abundant enough for the five of them to leisurely stick together like they were on a field trip.

In the worst-case scenario, the Zombie King was on the verge of emerging, or had perhaps already leaped out of its coffin.

And separating their forces truly would effectively increase their average survival rate.

Even if the Zombie King targeted one group, the other two teams would be warned in advance through their communication tools, granting them a much higher chance of survival. He had no valid reason to reject Bai Mu's proposal, as it was equally aligned with his own best interests. The only thing he desperately wanted to avoid was operating alone. Attempting to brave this highly malevolent domain by himself was simply too terrifying.

However, completely contrary to his expectations, Bai Mu spoke up with a distribution plan before he could even voice his concerns.

"My idea is that Fireflies and Brother I Love a Sword form one team, Brewing Cat and Work Three Rest Four form another, and I will move alone," Bai Mu explained. "When the time comes, the Twin Phones will be held by your two teams, while I hand my Guard Mushroom over to Scattered Fireflies."

"If neither of your teams finds the exit, you will still be able to monitor each other's status. That would mean the exit is at my location, rendering any direct contact between us unnecessary."

"And even if I do not find the exit, I can still observe Scattered Fireflies' situation through the Guard Mushroom. If she discovers the way out, I will immediately know. If her location isn't the exit either, then that indicates the remaining team's direction holds the exit. This way, without maintaining real-time communication, I will still know which path is correct and can determine where to go on my own."

Bai Mu briefly explained his thought process. It required a bit of talking to explain, but the logic was not difficult to grasp.

I Love a Sword fell completely silent after hearing this. He never expected Bai Mu to voluntarily choose to act alone and shoulder the greatest risk, instead pairing him up with Scattered Fireflies.

For a moment, he actually felt quite moved. Despite only knowing Bai Mu for a short time, he was overcome with the sensation of meeting a dependable older brother and being taken care of. It reminded him of a long time ago when he was just a clueless rookie, experiencing that deep sense of security while following a mentor NPC to clear low-level scripts.

"This plan sounds excellent, but it has a very fatal flaw," Brewing Cat pointed out. "If one of the teams dies halfway there, wouldn't the whole thing completely collapse?"

"Excluding the Zombie King, do you have no confidence in yourselves?" Bai Mu met Brewing Cat's gaze.

Brewing Cat's eyes shifted, and she offered a slight smile. "If the final boss is that terrifying, then the strength of the minor mobs along the way should be appropriately reduced. In that case, Sister Work Three and I should be able to handle it."

"However... Brother I Love a Sword's complexion doesn't look too good. And as for Sister Scattered Fireflies, to be honest, I can't quite read her." Brewing Cat phrased her words tactfully, but Bai Mu knew exactly what "can't quite read her" meant. She felt that Scattered Fireflies' overall capabilities were a bit too low, and since I Love a Sword was already terrified by the Zombie King, he might not be able to perform at his usual level.

As for Bai Mu, she didn't bring him up at all, seemingly already acknowledging his strength to operate on his own.

"My judgment has always been sharp," Bai Mu stated. "I never team up with people who drag others down."

"Big Brother Bai..." Hearing this, Scattered Fireflies' eyes shimmered with faint tears. This was the first time anyone had placed such deep trust in her. Truthfully, she didn't even believe in herself this much.

"Your judgment, huh..." Brewing Cat mulled over his words. "It seems this is the only way. After all, I can't come up with a better plan either." "Captain, what do you say?" Brewing Cat turned her gaze to I Love a Sword. "Do you have any other proposals?"

I Love a Sword shook his head.

"Brother Bai's method is probably the best way to handle this right now. But... if you are all by yourself..."

"Rest assured, Captain," Bai Mu replied with a faint smile. "To be honest, I've cleared more solo scripts anyway. Even before entering Paradise, I was always alone, so you don't need to worry about me."

"Then let's group up exactly as I suggested," Bai Mu finalized. "As for which team goes to search which Evil-Warding Beast, we'll draw lots to decide. That way, if anyone ends up as the first target of the newly-awakened Zombie King, they can only blame their own poor luck."