Chapter 47 - Argument

“What have you done to Peng Fengnian!” Tang Pei immediately said, “Without him, there’s no way we can clear this level.

If you’re a player too, you better release him.

Given the danger of this copy, as long as one person completes the mission, everyone else can clear it!”

“Calm down, he’s not dead.” Xu Huo glanced at the person beside him and continued, “We’ve already decided to cooperate.

He wants you to bring the paper phone here, just you alone.”

Peng Fengnian’s face changed, and he quickly reached out to snatch the phone, but Tang Pei on the other end took Xu Huo’s words as a threat, said “I’ll be right over” and then cut off the communication on her own initiative.

“What exactly are you planning to do by deceiving Tang Pei into coming here?” Peng Fengnian looked at him warily, “She won’t come.”

“This paper phone…

Apart from the person holding the phone, no third person can hear it?” Xu Huo paused before speaking.

“Of course,” Peng Fengnian said, “This is a Rank-B prop.

I spent a lot of money and went through so much trouble to get it, how could it lack even that level of confidentiality?”

“But don’t get any funny ideas,” Peng Fengnian warned, “Just with a single thought, the paper phone will self-destruct, and even if you get your hands on two phones it won’t be any use.”

Xu Huo looked calm, his gaze falling on him, “Your suit is nice, let me borrow it.”

Peng Fengnian’s facial muscles twitched, and just as he was about to speak, Xu Huo cut him off, “I borrow your clothes and one phone, and in exchange, you get a chance to clear the level tonight.

Deal?”

Peng Fengnian looked at him in disbelief, his mouth opening and closing, closing and opening, several times without being able to say a word.

He wanted to say that Xu Huo was talking nonsense; even a Rank-C player wouldn’t dare say they could clear the Skinning Artisan’s Copy in one day.

But seeing Xu Huo’s confident demeanor, it seemed as though if he said he could do it, he really could.

Where did he get that confidence?

Suddenly thinking of something, he carefully asked, “Are you a Rank-B player?”

Players holding tickets usually matched the corresponding level of the copy, and it was rare for players to voluntarily challenge a higher-level copy or for high-level players to bother with lower-level copies, but if they were randomly pulled in, that was different.

“Guess,” Xu Huo didn’t answer the question directly.

Peng Fengnian thought it over carefully again and dismissed the idea.

If Xu Huo were a Rank-B player, how could he possibly have never heard of a prop made by the Super Player Paper Servant Master?

“You’re a Rank-C player,” he said with certainty, “You seem quite formidable, but the Skinning Artisan isn’t that easy to deal with.

If you’re thinking of taking it by force, you’ll definitely have no chance of success.”

Xu Huo’s use of props and his proficiency when starting to move didn’t seem at all like a newbie just starting the game, so he never considered that Xu Huo could be a lower-level player than himself; instead, he thought Xu Huo might be even stronger than he was.

Xu Huo didn’t speak, which was as good as an admission.

Peng Fengnian was fairly decisive, “I’ll trust you this time.”

By the time Tang Pei arrived with the paper phone, Xu Huo had already left, leaving Peng Fengnian sitting on the ground in a big T-shirt and boxer shorts.

“Why are you in such a state?” Tang Pei cautiously stood at a distance without approaching.

Peng Fengnian waved at her, “Come here and then we’ll talk.”

Seeing that he didn’t seem coerced and there was no presence of others around, Tang Pei quickly went over, “What on earth happened?

Is there a problem?

Qin An and the others are covering for me; I don’t have much time.

I have to get back before the Skinning Artisan realizes.”

Peng Fengnian quickly told them about Xu Huo, and Tang Pei said with furrowed brows, “You gave him the paper mobile phone without even knowing his specific plan?

What if he ditches us and clears the level on his own?

The tasks for random players and ticket-holding players might be the same, but his success doesn’t guarantee ours.”

“I don’t have any other strategies at the moment,” said Peng Fengnian.

“You know the situation in the collector’s room better than I do.

Our original plan won’t work, and Xu Huo could potentially be a Rank-C player.

It’s worth taking the risk.”

“Since you’ve said that, I trust you.” Tang Pei handed his own paper mobile phone to him.

“Did he ask us to do anything?”

“No,” Peng Fengnian replied.

“He said he will tell us when we’re needed.”

Tang Pei’s frown deepened as she said, “I need to get back.

You’re the one who agreed to cooperate with him, I trust you, but others might not.

If Xu Huo turns out to be unreliable, it won’t just be them taking action, but me as well.”

Peng Fengnian nodded.

“There’s no absolute trust between players.

Do as you see fit.”

After advising him to be careful, Tang Pei returned to the factory.

As she climbed back through the pigsty, she saw Qin An and the others still cleaning the workshop and let out a sigh of relief.

“What’s going on with Peng Fengnian?” Yang Can hurried over to ask.

“We’re cooperating with that random player,” said Tang Pei.

“Peng Fengnian gave him the paper mobile phone and told us to support him.”

“Has Peng Fengnian gone mad?” Zou Weichang said displeased.

“We let him lead because he has a brother who’s a Rank-C player and knows more than us.

But another random player, for what?”

“That person might also be a Rank-C player,” said Tang Pei.

“The Skinning Artisan told us to feed forty-one pigs, but when I went to the pigsty earlier, there were only forty.”

“If he has a special item, it’s possible to shed his own skin before the pigskin is grown,” remarked Qin An before asking, “What about the collector’s room?

What did Peng Fengnian say?”

“He doesn’t have a plan for now,” Tang Pei replied.

“That’s why he’s told us to wait and see if Xu Huo can make a breakthrough.”

Zou Weichang scoffed, “He might be able to wait, but I can’t.

It’s Peng Fengnian’s choice to give props to others, but I won’t be so foolish as to take whatever others say at face value!”

“As long as the tasks are the same, we have a chance,” Qin An hinted at him to lower his voice before asking further, “When is he planning to come in?

If it’s after dark, we might be able to think of a way to stall the Skinning Artisan.”

Before Tang Pei could respond, Zou Weichang interjected, “I don’t agree.

I won’t risk my life just to be a stepping stone for someone else.

If you insist on doing this, then we go our separate ways!”

“Do you have the ability to deal with the Skinning Artisan alone?” Qin An asked, his expression turning sour.

“I might not have the ability, but surviving until the copy’s time limit is not impossible.”

The game lasts half a month for ticket-holding players.

Even if they fail to clear it, they can go directly to the next copy after surviving until the end of the allowable time.

“A random player must complete the tasks of the copy to escape, with a death rate of ninety-nine percent.

That random player with the surname Xu is at much greater risk than us; it’s natural for him to want our help.

After all, we don’t know when the next copy will start after this one ends.

Dying at the hands of the Skinning Artisan is only a matter of time.”

“You…” Qin An wanted to continue, but Xian Dazhi, who was on lookout at the front gate, suddenly whispered urgently, “Stop arguing, he’s coming in through the front door!”

They all hurried over and saw a tall and handsome man with long hair standing at the entrance, wearing Peng Fengnian’s suit and with a wildflower pinned in his handkerchief pocket.

He greeted the Skinning Artisan, who stood a head taller than him, by saying, “Tax inspection, call your boss out!”