Chapter 121 Nie Xuan’s Probe

Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Nie Xuan’s ProbeAnother box contained 4 bottles of P0 Evolution Potion and 4 bottles of P1 Evolution Potion.

After packing the boxes, Xu Huo latched them and turned around to face the Girl in the painting, "You don’t need tickets to move between stations?"

The Girl in the painting shook her head, "I can only move with a player."

"Zone 014 is not safe anymore, and for a long time to come, there might be high-level players from other zones coming here. For safety reasons, it’s best for you to leave this place," Xu Huo said.

"I’ll follow you," the Girl in the painting typed quickly.

"I won’t be leaving Zone 014 for the time being," Xu Huo looked at her honestly, "You’re an ownerless Super Prop. Although it’s impossible for you to be killed, being discovered would inevitably cause trouble. You wouldn’t want to become just an icon in a player’s inventory, would you?"

The Girl in the painting’s expression visibly fell, and she lowered her head, fiddling with her phone without typing anymore.

Seeing that she had no intention of speaking further, Xu Huo strode to the door, pulled it open, and looked down condescendingly at Yu Qingqing, who had tumbled in while trying to eavesdrop with her ear to the door.

"Haha! You caught me," Yu Qingqing half-fell to the ground, grinning up at him, who clearly had no intention of helping her up, "I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, just walking by and my ears got disobedient."

Her eyes darted back to the Girl in the painting, catching sight of her trying-not-to-cry face, and then she paused, "Cousin, I’m glad you’ve seen the light; she’s so ugly, nowhere near good enough for you."

Ouch!

The Girl in the painting covered her face, pushed past the two, and ran off.

"The main door is this way," Yu Qingqing pointed outside, but the only response was the sound of the door closing.

Yu Qingqing pursed her lips.

Xu Huo took a lighter from the drawer, lit a cigarette for himself, "Thinking of getting me to put you on a plane again?"

"I won’t go back!" Yu Qingqing declared, "My parents have gone too far this time."

"They don’t oppose your acting career anymore?"

At this, Yu Qingqing’s face lit up with joy, "You don’t know yet, but President Zheng from the company personally came to apologize at my house. Not only did he offer compensation, but he also asked me to renew the contract with a high offer."

"Moreover, the terms were very generous. Ninety-one split, and he even gave me three villas for rest."

After the Slaughterhouse Copy incident, President Zheng from the entertainment company had contacted Xu Huo twice, but he’d ignored it. Unexpectedly, President Zheng had turned to Yu Qingqing instead.

"Since your parents agree, I won’t interfere," he said.

Yu Qingqing stared at him, her smile instantly gone, and a coldness lay hidden in her eyes.

Xu Huo took another drag of his cigarette, leaning against the door frame, looking back at her with an equally unfazed gaze.

The two faced off in the smoke until the ringtone of a cellphone broke the silence.

"Hello?" Xu Huo answered the call.

"Got time? Let’s meet up." It was Nie Xuan calling.

It just so happened that Xu Huo needed to see him too, so after setting up a place to meet, he stubbed out his cigarette, picked up the box, and left the house.

Yu Qingqing followed him step by step to the doorway, then as he turned back, she suddenly burst into a smile, "Cousin, when will you come back?"

"Tonight," Xu Huo said as if remembering something, "The woman inside, I’m leaving her to you."

"Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to drive her away!" Yu Qingqing promised, pumping her fist in assurance.

Xu Huo gave a half-smile and walked away without looking back.

Yu Qingqing closed the door with a smile, humming a tune as she grabbed a kitchen knife and knocked on the Girl in the painting’s door, "Li Chun, come out. Let’s chat."

Meanwhile, Xu Huo took a cab to a coffee shop where Nie Xuan was already waiting inside, with a waiter refilling his cup.

"Sit," Nie Xuan gestured to the seat opposite him, lifting his bitter coffee and downing half the cup in one go.

Xu Huo smiled, offering him a cigarette, "You wanted to see me for something?"

Nie Xuan waved his hand, "After the last time you tricked me, I have fresh memories. I’ll pass on smoking."

"I bought it at the supermarket," Xu Huo lit one for himself.

"You have a strong addiction to cigarettes, and inevitably carry the scent on you, which isn’t good for a player," Nie Xuan said.

Players with exceptional senses of smell and memory could completely rely on scent to remember a person.

"Players lose their names, only a number and nickname remain, like a vague shadow. When the shadow has a distinctive smell, its vagueness is no longer relevant information."

Xu Huo raised an eyebrow, "Features can be indicative, but they can also be misleading, what do you think?"

Nie Xuan fell silent for two seconds, then said, "I am leaving Ting City tonight, and before I go, I want to invite you to join Pioneer Squad again."

"You must have also received the game notification. No matter how things develop, now is the best time to join."

Xu Huo paused, then said, "You’re going to be a bodyguard, right?"

A flash of anger crossed the depths of Nie Xuan’s eyes, but this anger was not directed at Xu Huo.

"Players’ power is ultimately weak, and due to various considerations, we have to do this."

"Even without using a potion, you’re quite good at lying," Xu Huo said as he looked at him steadily.

The state was gathering players in important places, likely the elite players identified so far, to bring them together. On one hand, it was to protect the ’seed’ players; on the other, it was probably to have them protect important figures.

After all, this world isn’t yet a world of players.

He handed over the aluminum case to him, and after digging in his pocket, he pulled out a P0 Evolution Potion vial, "The case contains some special local products. The vial is a personal gift from me."

Nie Xuan pressed his hand on the case, then covered the syringe with a tissue, and with a complex expression said, "You’re quite high-yielding among the players, why not just join Pioneer Squad?"

"Do you really need me to say it?" Xu Huo smiled, "If I said ’yes,’ we would both be feeling awkward here right now."

Nie Xuan’s expression relaxed, and he finished his coffee in one gulp, speaking with a meaningful tone, "To obey blindly is not to be a player."

Setting down his cup, he pocketed the vial, picked up the aluminum case, and was about to leave when he suddenly asked, "The super prop is in your hands."

Xu Huo’s action of drinking water didn’t stop at all, as if he had anticipated the probe, his expression was impeccable.

"No need for jokes. I actually think that the super prop shouldn’t be in the hands of any player in Zone 014."

"You’re right," Nie Xuan said with a hearty laugh, then turned and left.

Xu Huo also got ready to leave, but at that moment, the waiter came over with a smiling face, "Sir, the gentleman who was here earlier said it was your turn to settle the bill, the total is one hundred and eight yuan."

Xu Huo looked toward the door, but Nie Xuan was already out of sight, so he reluctantly took out his change to pay the bill.

After leaving the coffee shop, he took a taxi to Anxin Courtyard.

Security at the housing complex was lax, and Xu Huo went straight to Zhou Ning’s floor to knock on the door.

It was Hu Wenhao who opened the door, and upon seeing Xu Huo, he couldn’t help but shout excitedly into the house, "Sister Ning, Brother Xu is here!"

Zhou Ning poked her head out from the end of the hallway and smiled, "Mr. Xu, please come in."

Apart from the two of them, Tian Yun and Yu Xiaoyu, who had cooperated with them to deal with Holy Sword Society, were not there. Zhou Ning’s younger brother Zhou Xiao stood at the bedroom door, his mouth agape, and there was another person’s breathing in the room.

Meeting his gaze, Zhou Xiao nervously closed the bedroom door.

Xu Huo shifted his attention and casually asked, "The other two aren’t here?"

"Tian Yun’s injuries were severe; he’s recovering at home. Yu Xiaoyu too, he broke his leg when coming downstairs and can’t walk," Zhou Ning said.

Hu Wenhao waved his arm wrapped in a bandage, "Their recovery is slow, not like me, I’ll be jumping around in two or three days."

After the last incident, he was much more open in front of Xu Huo.

"Be careful," Zhou Ning frowned, "If you touch the wound again, you’ll have to change the dressing."

Hu Wenhao looked embarrassed and changed the subject, asking Xu Huo what was in the case.

"Potions," Xu Huo said as he opened the case. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Seeing the eight neatly arranged vials of potion, even the scrupulously clean Zhou Ning and her group took a heavy breath.