It’s a strange invasion, is it okay for me to fight back?

Chapter 562 Oasis
Feng Ling had seen many mazes, and the creatures in them were all kinds of strange shapes, but she had never seen a monster that looked exactly like a human.

The people in this group not only have human-like physical characteristics, but also human-like behavior patterns. They have language, know etiquette, and their every move reveals traces of civilized society. Could they really be products of the maze?
But if not, how do you explain the food in her hands?

Feng Ling lowered her head in thought and noticed her hands covered in scales—she had been so focused on saving people that she hadn't paid attention to her appearance.

If an ordinary human were to see her covered in scales, they would probably be quite frightened, right? But when these people saw her, there was no surprise in their eyes, not even doubt, and they naturally accepted her appearance.

...Is it really not human?

As Feng Ling rode on the camel, she felt uneasy and uncomfortable.

It's hard to describe this feeling. It's not fear, not worry, and not disgust or hatred. If I had to describe it, it would be closer to nausea and disgust.

Within her limited understanding of the world, this inhuman-like existence left her momentarily unsure how to categorize it.

However, if the food is special, then do the clothes in the other wooden box also have special effects?

With that thought in mind, she opened the wooden box and took out the ethnic costume and the red gold scimitar inside.

The outfit consisted of three pieces: an embroidered vest, silk lantern pants, and a silk headscarf. The headscarf was both large and thin, enough to cover a person from head to toe and block out the sunlight.

As soon as Feng Ling put on the clothes, she immediately felt the burning sensation in her body greatly reduced. It wasn't as cool as autumn all of a sudden; the temperature remained around 30 degrees Celsius, which is the normal temperature of summer.

And what about the golden scimitar?
We'll probably have to wait until we kill monsters to see how it works.

Following the example of the camel caravan members, Feng Ling tucked his scimitar into his waistband and silently followed the caravan.

After walking for about an hour, the camels came to an oasis.

There is a lake, vegetation, and buildings of varying heights. Flags and ribbons with exotic flair flutter on the buildings, as eye-catching as signs.

Smoke curls from chimneys, and camel bells ring out in the vast desert—everything feels so real.

If a group of villagers really lived in the desert, Feng Ling felt that their home should look like this.

Her unease intensified.

If these "people" live like real people, then what's the difference between them and real humans?
The oasis looked close, but the camel caravan traveled for another half hour before finally arriving.

Upon reaching the oasis, the camel caravan members dispersed. Some went to rest, some to heal their wounds, and some to care for the camels. In short, no one paid any attention to Feng Ling.

Just like an NPC who has completed their dialogue task, they won't do anything else.

Feng Ling wandered around the oasis. It was a small place with only seven or eight houses in total. The buildings were mainly made of sandstone, wood strips and canvas. Most of them were single-story houses, and the only building was a two-story building with a tavern downstairs and an inn upstairs.

She guessed that players could get some clues by talking to the people here, but she couldn't understand the language of these NPCs, so she couldn't get any information.

However, she did not come away empty-handed.

In the middle of the oasis lake, she discovered the labyrinthine statues.

The maze statues always appear in very conspicuous locations.

Since she was already there, Feng Ling immediately waded through the water and sat down unceremoniously in front of the smiling statue. The familiar card-drawing interface appeared on the table, and without much thought, she placed the Killer Bee and Centipede cards on it.

With a flash of white light, Feng Ling's pollution level decreased by 2%, becoming 28%.

With her energy replenished, the high-temperature problem solved, and the pollution levels reduced, it seems she can once again head towards the sandstorm, provided she can acquire a camel for transportation.

I wonder if that white camel from earlier is still available for riding.

Feng Ling looked around, searching for the white camel.

An unexpected figure appeared in the field of vision—

"Shooting star?" Feng Ling was stunned for a moment, then strode over.

Meteor was carrying two desert scorpions and trading with an NPC when he saw Wind Feather and paused for a moment.

"What are you doing here?" Feng Ling asked quickly. "Did you also come from the teleportation array? Where's Ye Zheng? Aren't you together? Did you come alone?"

Meteor slowly shook her head, "Ye Zheng has to guard the administrator and can't leave, so I came alone."

Without much thought, Feng Ling asked, "Do you have your phone? Do you know what kind of maze this is? We need to notify the people outside. We need to create a buffer zone around the maze as soon as possible to prevent the spread of contamination."

Meteor shook his head again, reminding her, "This is a maze. Even if you bring a cell phone, there won't be a signal."

“I know, but you’re here, aren’t you? You can leave the maze to inform Ye Zheng and the Taoist priest, and I’ll guard the messenger.” Feng Ling said matter-of-factly. “It’s easier to get things done with more people. Luckily you came. Why didn’t you call the Taoist priest too? I have a lot of grenades in his backpack.”

meteor:"…………"

Feng Ling continued, "Forget it, he probably wouldn't be able to handle it even if he came. This place is unbearably hot during the day and freezing cold at night. The messenger really knows how to pick a place. Oh, by the way..."

Feng Ling's gaze fell on the dead scorpion in Liu Xing's hand, and she asked, "What were you doing just now?"

“A trade,” Meteor replied. “This maze is special. You need to follow the storyline to find the messenger’s hideout. To complete the storyline, you need to do quests to exchange for language scrolls, otherwise you won’t be able to communicate with these NPCs.”

"I see." Feng Ling took two steps back, curiously watching her trade with her arms crossed. "Then hurry up and exchange for that scroll, and listen to what these NPCs have to say."

A complex emotion surfaced in Meteor's eyes.

She had fabricated numerous excuses and simulated various scenarios in her mind in order to gain Feng Ling's trust.

However, Feng Ling's trust seemed so cheap it was practically free; she didn't even need to put on an act before she believed her.

Meteor completed the transaction without making a sound, activated the language scroll, and said calmly, "The administrator of this maze died half a year ago. The maze is located in the Lut Desert of West Asia, which is an uninhabited area. Therefore, it has been spreading for half a year without being noticed by humans. It is precisely because this desert is sparsely populated and well hidden that the messenger set up the teleportation array here."

Meteor paused, then looked up at Feng Ling. "I see he's still online. Looks like you couldn't kill him."

"It was so close, what a pity." Feng Ling sighed sadly. "He was rescued by a monster. That monster's mental field was very special, it seemed to have a chaotic effect."

Meteor's lips curled into a slight sneer. "That's Momo, responsible for guarding the teleportation array. He wasn't this powerful before. The messenger must have fed him cards while I was away."

(End of this chapter)