Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 1277 Actually, It’s Very Simple

Chapter 1277: Chapter 1277 Actually, It’s Very Simple

Everyone counted the numbers and realized that there were still five people missing. Although it was sad, at least so many companions had been rescued, and now was not the time to be upset.

Gu Fan stared ahead into the forest engulfed in darkness, falling into bewilderment. How to break through the barrier was a big problem.

According to speculation, it was definitely the area around the small lake that was filled with a kind of colorless and odorless gas that drove people to insanity after inhaling it.

Not knowing the extent of the gas’s coverage area, nobody dared to act recklessly. Without full assurance, no one dared to try to break through the barrier rashly.

"What should we do?" Gu Fan was anxious in his heart. He had, not without difficulty, secured three days’ worth of food and water for everyone from Mo Yun, who claimed this would be the only time she would do so.

If they couldn’t make good use of these three days to continue forward and find new sources of food and water, the team might be plunged into chaos due to a shortage of supplies. God knows to what extent people would go to fighting each other over the remaining food and water.

With his arms crossed, Gu Fan closed his eyes to ponder. If one were to crawl forward, perhaps it might be possible to avoid the colorless and odorless gas, but who would be able to endure crawling for a long stretch? Even for mercenaries, who were trained for long periods, it would not be easy.

Protective masks couldn’t meet everyone’s needs. Passing protective masks back and forth to send people across in batches wasn’t feasible in terms of time either.

Gu Fan went over the situation again. There was a small lake up ahead, and after people drank its water, they turned into statues. Then there was the gas, covering the area around the lake, driving people insane upon inhalation. Could there be a connection between the two? And where was the gas coming from?

"The colorless and odorless gas is near the small lake, and then people go mad?" Gu Fan imagined himself as someone oblivious to the dangers. As he walked forward, unaware of what lay ahead, and inhaled the gas, he would go insane. In that case, would he still think to drink the lake water?

No, Gu Fan decided. Such a crazed person would only attack moving things; theoretically, they wouldn’t think to drink water, right?

Since one driven mad wouldn’t drink the lake water, then what’s the deal with the statues beside the lake?

"Maybe, the coverage of this gas that drives people mad isn’t as extensive as I thought." After much deliberation, Gu Fan decided to verify his judgment.

It didn’t take long for Gu Fan to find Ouyang Jin. To ask Ouyang Jin to go again?

Ouyang Jin immediately objected, "What? You want me to take such a big risk again? I haven’t even received my hazard pay from last time. Look at my butt; I’m still bitten, and you haven’t compensated me for my medical expenses yet. And look at these dark circles under my eyes, caused by insomnia over these past few days. Look at these few strands of white hair, they show how much worry I’ve suffered for your affair. And look at these shoes, they might not be a famous brand, but they were a gift from a good friend. This isn’t just a pair of shoes; it’s a friendship, the only pair in the whole world. Now they are so dirty; how can I face that old friend now? You also..."

"Alright, brother, please don’t go on. I’ll find someone else." Helpless, Gu Fan could only look at Lu Yi with a pleading expression.

Lu Yi responded by saying that he would support his good brother in this matter without hesitation. Even if he had to go alone, he would incessantly talk to himself if he got scared, so the others shouldn’t blame him if he became a doomsayer.

"You two are ruthless!" Just when Gu Fan couldn’t find a suitable candidate, Irina declared that the Hunter’s Guild would take on this task.

After discussing, it was decided that someone from the Hunter’s Guild would go to check things out and verify Gu Fan’s speculation.

This time, they didn’t tie a rope, and no one followed; they completely let the person from the Hunter’s Guild go alone toward the small lake. Moreover, according to Gu Fan’s instructions, they shouldn’t walk cautiously or slow down out of fear.

The Hunter’s Guild member followed Gu Fan’s instructions and walked at a normal pace towards the small lake.

Naturally, Gu Fan wouldn’t just sit idly by. He donned his protective mask and followed from the treetops. Before setting off, he had promised everyone that he would bring back good news.

In less than fifteen minutes, the person from the Hunter’s Guild, following Gu Fan’s lead, reached the small lake. Looking at the empty lake surface and around at the desolate surroundings, he grew somewhat fearful, not knowing when he might go mad.

Gu Fan watched the person from the treetops, cautiously observing as time ticked by.

Another fifteen minutes passed, and the person from the Hunter’s Guild was still calm, showing no signs of going mad.

For safety’s sake, Gu Fan waited another fifteen minutes. In total, half an hour had passed, and still there were no issues with the Hunter’s Guild member. Gu Fan couldn’t help but laugh, seeing that he had made the right bet.

"Alright, you can walk along the edge of the lake, but be careful not to fall in," Gu Fan called out to the Hunter’s Guild member without showing himself.

Without going mad, it seemed that there was a turn for the better. The Hunter’s Guild member began to trust Gu Fan’s judgment. Following Gu Fan’s instructions, he walked along the lake shore and in ten minutes covered half of the lake’s perimeter.

Gu Fan followed, keeping an eye on the time and then he made his decision. He directly removed his mask, leaped down to the lakeside, and joined the person from the Hunter’s Guild.

"I’m fine, but why is that?" The Hunter’s Guild member was puzzled.

Gu Fan said, "Alright, go back the way you came and tell the others about this. Have the rest come here. Remember one thing, the more people there are, the faster you must go. Approach the lakeside with a light jog, and you’ll be safe."

"Got it, I’ll go now." The Hunter’s Guild member, realizing something, became excited and ran back.

Gu Fan folded his arms and gazed at the lake surface with a worried expression, even letting out a sigh, "There are so many traps here, but it seems my luck isn’t so bad either."

Meanwhile, Mo Yun and a few vampires watched everything, puzzled. One of the vampires said, "Strange, why would they go mad? We’ve never encountered such a thing."

"Isn’t it obvious? Because we move quickly, plus we don’t like to walk on the ground much, especially not linger in this area," Mo Yun didn’t explain directly, confusing the other vampires.

From a distance, Mo Yun stared at Gu Fan’s figure, secretly admiring him, "Gu Fan, you’re still the same as before, always able to find the key to solving problems through subtle clues. It’s a pity, why must you be my adversary?"