A Dig for Hope

　　Because of the three-day deadline, the atmosphere within the team started to deteriorate. 

　　By the afternoon of the second day, another conflict erupted within the team. 

　　Chi and Xiao had a heated argument, all because of a meal that didn't suit his taste. 

　　Chi angrily threw his food out the door, and Xiao stormed out in a fit of rage.

　　An air of suspicion permeated the atmosphere. 

　　Teammates who could once rely on each other were now seen as potential threats. 

　　A single conversation, a gesture, even a glance, could feel like the trigger for a landslide.

　　This was the first time Lin had felt so clearly that they were nearing their end. 

　　The pressure and suspicion brought by the impending death was almost enough to break them.

　　Ruan, who seemed to have foreseen this situation, didn't seem surprised. 

　　She casually found a corner to sit down, watching the increasing nervousness of everyone in the living room. 

　　Suddenly, she spoke softly, "Have you forgotten? There's another place with a corpse?"

　　This sentence was like rain falling on parched earth, instantly revitalizing the completely dried-up atmosphere. 

　　Chi asked, "What place?"

　　Lin replied, "The graveyard? But I went looking before, and I haven't been able to find the graves in this village. I couldn't find them."

　　"It's not the graveyard, of course," Ruan said. "This world probably doesn't bury people as simply as we imagine."

　　"Where is it?" Lin asked.

　　Ruan said, "Remember those few people who were crushed by the tree when you were carrying it a few days ago?"

　　Lin suddenly realized, "Oh, yeah, aren't those people considered dead things...?"

　　"Let's go. Find a time to dig up their bodies. Then the well-filling problem is solved, right?" Ruan said. "Everyone doesn't have to be like this anymore."

　　After these words, the atmosphere instantly eased, though it wasn't completely relaxed because no one knew for sure if they could find the bodies.

　　 It had been snowing constantly outside since the day they carried the tree. 

　　The bodies were already buried under the deep snow.

　　 Digging them out wouldn't be easy.

　　But no matter how difficult, it was definitely simpler than killing someone.

　　Knowing that time was of the essence, after having this idea, everyone expressed their desire to dig up the corpse as soon as possible to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

　　Lin hadn't expected everyone to accept this so readily. 

　　No one objected from beginning to end.

　　Thinking about it carefully, this was indeed the best option available at the moment.

　　 Although digging up corpses in the snow wouldn't be easy, at least they had a direction to work towards.

　　 Besides, even if someone died while digging up the bodies, it would have been convenient - they wouldn't have to kill anyone, and they would still have the necessary dead things to fill the well.

　　Half an hour later, everyone gathered at the entrance of the house, each man holding a shovel.

　　"Let's go." Chi held a cigarette in his mouth. 

　　It was his last one brought into this world, so he smoked it meticulously, "We have to dig it up today."

　　Cheng, the one who chased Wang yesterday, had red eyes with bloodshot whites.

　　 He seemed very neurotic, "If we can't dig it up, we'll all die." He glared fiercely at Wang and Lin.

　　Lin didn't give him any face and glared back rudely.

　　"Let's go," Ruan called out.

　　Chi led everyone toward the mountain path.

　　It had been snowing at night and sunny during the day for the past few days, creating a thick layer of snow on the ground. 

　　Their footsteps left soft impressions on the snow.

　　After about ten minutes, they reached the familiar mountain path. 

　　Going further up would lead them to the forest.

　　"I think it's around here," Chi said. There were no landmarks, so he could only pinpoint the approximate area, "Everyone start digging here."

　　Lin nodded, clenched his shovel, and dug up a pile of snow.

　　The path, though narrow, was wide.

　　 Searching for corpses in such a large area was quite tedious. 

　　But everyone worked hard, not a single person slacked off.

　　Ruan sat on a nearby stone, leisurely cracking sunflower seeds. 

　　Her relaxed demeanor was in stark contrast to Xiao's nervous expression. 

　　Perhaps unable to bear Ruan's indifferent attitude, Xiao suddenly spoke, "Aren't you afraid of dying? If you die in this world, you'll die in the real world as well."

　　Ruan languidly said, "Of course I'm scared."

　　Xiao said, "If you're scared, why are you acting like that?"

　　Ruan couldn't even be bothered to look at her, treating her like air. 

　　It was pure disdain, "Everyone's reactions to fear are different. Some cry, some laugh. I like to crack sunflower seeds."

　　 She stretched out her hand and scattered the seed shells onto the snow-covered path, "And I like to litter."

　　Xiao: "..." 

　　She clearly felt that Ruan was mocking her, but couldn't find the words to retort. 

　　She could only grumble angrily and turn to leave.

　　Ruan had a smirk on her face.

　　 Since arriving here, her gaze hadn't left Lin for a moment, as if there was something extremely interesting about him that drew her attention.