In truth, Xu Huo had still overestimated the Special Defense Department. His residence was right across from the Branch Office, and the moment he stepped into the building, at least seven or eight gazes fell on him.

The vast majority of people living in this building were ordinary citizens. Hardly any players would deliberately choose to live across from the Special Defense Department, so these people must have moved into the complex recently.

Xu Huo picked a spot with a wide field of vision, mentally locking onto each direction where the gazes came from, before entering his own building.

The moment he went upstairs, the door swung open from the inside, and Yuan Yao jumped out excitedly. “Surprise? Unexpected? I’m still alive!”

That was pretty unexpected.

“How long have you been back?” Xu Huo stepped inside along with the Painting Woman.

“Yesterday,” Yuan Yao said cheerfully. “I didn’t call because I wanted to surprise you guys. You have no idea how hard it was for me to hold back. Brother Xu, you’re incredible—you actually declared war head-on against both the Special Defense Department and the player organizations!”

“Don’t worry, I’m not the most capable player, but I’m one hundred percent on your side for this. If you go to Capital City, I’ll go to Capital City too. Need money? I’ve got it. Need muscle? I’ll give it. If anyone wants a fight, we’ll fight!”

Xu Huo glanced at him. “You’re especially hyped up this time.”

Yuan Yao pushed up his glasses with a shy expression. “I’ve fallen for a female player.”

“Congratulations.”

“And she’s from Zone 014.”

“Joyous occasion.”

“She’s even from our country.”

“Rejoice with the world.”

As he replied, Xu Huo instructed the Painting Woman to clear out an empty room.

The Painting Woman, stubbornly maintaining her persona of a virtuous homemaker, brought him a basin of hot water before going to tidy up the room, bending down to roll up his pant leg.

Xu Huo didn’t move, looking down at her from above.

The Painting Woman explained, “Your father and grandfather both like to soak their feet, but your stepmother isn’t too fond of it.”

“Of course the stepmother wouldn’t like it, that’d be creepy,” Yuan Yao chimed in, leaning toward the Painting Woman. “Sister Lichun, let me teach you—don’t get close to men who have spouses or partners, otherwise their partners will treat you like an enemy.”

Xu Huo wasn’t into that habit and told her to pour out the water. Yuan Yao quickly tried to stop him, “No way, Brother Xu doesn’t like it, but I do…”

Before he could finish, he shut his mouth under an icy glare and even volunteered to help the Painting Woman dump the water.

“You’re disgusted by me!” The Painting Woman wiped her tears and ran into the room.

Xu Huo had no idea what TV show she’d been watching. He picked up his phone and sent a text to his stepmother, Ms. Yu, marking the three spots where Xu Huo’s father had hidden his private stash of cash, along with a few secret compartments where the old man had stashed his liquor.

He figured they probably weren’t home anymore, but having someone clean up a few small spots wouldn’t be a problem.

Yuan Yao returned to the living room, plopped down opposite him, propped his chin on both hands with a lovesick look on his face. “Even though Little Xiaohui’s health isn’t great, her plum blossom-like demeanor is just too captivating. She’s calm in the face of danger and sharp-minded—completely different from any woman I’ve ever met before.”

Xu Huo figured he probably didn’t care whether he had an audience or not, so he took out the “Murmuring Sphere” and started fiddling with it.

This item looked somewhat similar to the “Constraining Star Sphere,” but the outer filigree was made of black metal, while a white round stone shaped like a pebble was threaded through the center of the sphere.

The item was only the size of a finger, making it more convenient to carry—easy to clip onto clothes.

Its effective range was larger than the “Constraining Star Sphere.” The Constraining Star Sphere had a range of three meters in radius and lasted five minutes, but the “Murmuring Sphere” covered an entire enclosed space with no time limit.

Additionally, using the Constraining Star Sphere allowed him to project his mental world outward, during which time it was difficult for him to move.

The “Murmuring Sphere” had no such limitation because it indiscriminately affected everyone within a given space—attacking both the opponent and the holder.

However, according to the game’s description, this item should similarly affect a person’s mental state. Xu Huo had undergone a secondary evolution in terms of mental power, so he wasn’t sure if he could resist the item’s effects.

“…When I carried her, I realized she was way too light. Little Xiaohui is so pitiful, fighting alone in the game. I really want to go protect her.” Yuan Yao was still talking.

“Did you leave contact info?” Xu Huo interjected.

“Of course I did,” Yuan Yao said. “Little Xiaohui was really happy to take it and said she’d definitely contact me. But it’s been over twenty hours now—no call, no text. She’s not just brushing me off, is she?”

Before Xu Huo could answer, he shook his head and waved his hands again. “No way, no way. Little Xiaohui isn’t an ordinary woman. She’s more manly than most men—she means what she says!”

Xu Huo stared at him for two seconds. “Make an appointment at the Special Defense Department for a psychological evaluation one of these days.”

Yuan Yao said dejectedly, “I’m serious this time.”

“Maybe she accidentally lost your contact info,” Xu Huo held the “Murmuring Sphere” up to the light to examine it closely. He noticed a spiral pattern on the round stone at the center. Even though the item hadn’t been activated, when he held it to his ear, he could hear a very faint sound—like wind or voices.

Listening more closely, the rhythm sounded a bit like Yuan Yao’s voice.

He paused his hand and signaled Yuan Yao to keep talking.

“Even if she lost my contact info, she could still find me,” Yuan Yao said. “Little Xiaohui’s family is rich. Knowing my name, finding me isn’t a big deal. There’s only one reason she wouldn’t contact me—she just didn’t like me.”

Xu Huo’s expression shifted slightly, and he turned to look out the window.

Two minutes later, a helicopter descended over the complex, its spotlight shining directly on the windows of Xu Huo’s floor. Then a ladder dropped down, and a tall, masked man—carrying a woman in his right arm like a child and gripping the rope with his left hand—leaped onto the balcony.

The woman was wearing pants, and when the wind blew, it was clear that her legs were exceptionally thin, disproportionate to her body.

The man carried her into the house, and the woman curled her lips into a faint smile. “We meet again.”

“Little Xiaohui…” Yuan Yao immediately started to approach her, but at that moment, Xu Huo said, “Wang Xiaohui.”

This woman was the disabled female player who had illegally moved from third class to second class on the Preliminary Trial Train.

Xu Huo’s gaze swept over the hideous scars on the back of the man’s hand holding her, then he gestured for them to come in with a “please” motion.

“Brother Xu, uh… you and Little Xiaohui know each other?” Yuan Yao asked hesitantly.

Wang Xiaohui, now seated on the sofa, also greeted him. “On the Preliminary Trial Train, it was Mr. Xu who helped me survive.”

“You’re too kind.” Xu Huo sat down. “I just wanted to know what the penalty was for rule-breaking. I wasn’t trying to be a Good Samaritan.”

“Whatever your intention, you still saved me.” Wang Xiaohui had a refined appearance and spoke gently. “I saw the news online. Right now, all civilian airports in the country are under the Special Defense Department’s surveillance, and many players have gathered around Ting City, making land travel difficult too. My father has a private plane in Ting City that can take you to Capital City.”