Players, Please Board the Train

Xu Huo picked up the book and checked his item slots. This adult fairy tale book was in the ordinary item slot without any special grade designation—it should be an E-grade item.

However, this fairy tale book seemed different from other ordinary items.

Turning off the terrifying music, he opened the book again. This time, the patterns appearing on the pages were different, having transformed into a regular red pattern, while the original black text had turned into bloody red characters.

The previous narration, though hoarse and dry, was relatively fluent. But now it was interspersed with throaty sounds like ”gurgle” and ”cough-cough,” as if someone was reading with their last breath.

Xu Huo listened for about ten minutes before suddenly saying, ”If your throat isn’t good, do you want some medicine?”

The narration paused momentarily, then gradually faded away. Soon, both the bloody characters and patterns completely disappeared, and the book closed itself.

Xu Huo immediately reached out to open the book again, but this time it wouldn’t open no matter what.

Setting the book aside, he checked his other items.

This dungeon in Fairy Tale City hadn’t developed any new traits, and this book was the only item obtained. However, compared to other ordinary items, this fairy tale book could engage in simple communication with the outside world, making it a relatively promising item.

Apart from this, his personal list had increased by two thousand White Bills. Combined with his previous income and expenses in Fairy Tale City, his personal wealth hadn’t changed much.He now had three additional bottles of P1 Evolution Serum, three bottles of D-grade healing potion, five bottles of D-grade Hair Growth Potion, one bottle of E-grade skin beautifier, and two bottles of E-grade health potion.

The note for the health potion stated that ordinary people could use it, but he didn’t trust game products. He gave one bottle to Team Leader Wu along with various potions purchased from Fairy Tale City, planning to decide whether to use them only after they underwent testing.

Additionally, he had gained one more D-grade train ticket, and the countdown for his next game had changed to 43 days.

Taking out the ”tooth” given by Granny Bai, this White Block neither looked like a tooth nor matched the description of one in any way.

The introduction was extremely brief, with only one sentence: 【A component within components. As a lost item, it has lost its intended capabilities.】

In other words, this White Block couldn’t be used, and he didn’t know why Granny Bai had given this thing to him.

When he left the dungeon, Fairy Tale City had suffered heavy damage, and Granny Bai’s fate was unknown, leaving him no way to ask. But even if Granny Bai remained in Fairy Tale City, it would be difficult for him to return.

After fiddling with the block briefly, he stored it in his item slot. At that moment, Yu Qingqing knocked twice on the door outside and, without waiting for his response, turned the handle herself and poked her head in. ”Cousin, I want to discuss something with you.”

”Becoming a player is off the table,” Xu Huo said without looking up.

Yu Qingqing pushed the door open angrily. ”Why can’t I become a player?”

Xu Huo gestured with his chin toward the fairy tale book on the table. ”Read it.”

Yu Qingqing immediately walked over and flipped the book open with a ”smack.” Seeing the bloodstains on the pages, her eyes lit up. ”An item!”

A terrifying voice began narrating the story content. Yu Qingqing stood there listening for a while, her puzzled gaze shifting between Xu Huo and the fairy tale book before she couldn’t help saying, ”Is this a courage test? I’m a materialist—I don’t believe in ghosts.”

”Smack!” This time the book closed loudly.

Xu Huo smiled instead, signaling her to hand him the book. He casually tried to open it but still couldn’t, so he simply stored it back in his item slot.

Yu Qingqing looked at him enviously. ”Cousin, I think I can contribute to our country.”

”I’m not stopping you. You can go register,” Xu Huo said. ”But not using my name.”

Yu Qingqing pouted. ”You don’t know how many people want to become Evolvers. Not everyone can become one—you have to undergo checks first. I heard there are long queues of people waiting. I just want to skip the line.”

Seeing Xu Huo remain silent, she continued, ”Actually, it’s not just because of the invasion by players from other zones. There are many reasons—even domestically things aren’t stable. If you’re not an Evolver, you don’t dare go out easily. If I become a player, I could protect our family too.”

Xu Huo knew that there actually weren’t that many people registering—it’s just that becoming a player would definitely require going through screening.

”Register yourself,” he said, shooing her out before washing up and turning off the lights to sleep.

The next day when Xu Huo went out, she still hadn’t given up, so he simply had the armed personnel block her at home, not allowing her to leave.

After driving for over half an hour to the cemetery, he parked outside and got out of the car with flowers he had bought along the way.

Compared to the deserted streets outside, quite a few people were coming and going from the cemetery. Avoiding the funeral procession, he walked to his elder brother Xu Zhi’s grave, placed the flowers, lit a cigarette and put it on the tombstone, then lit one for himself:

”Don’t know if you’ve quit smoking or not.”

Gazing at Xu Zhi’s photo, Xu Huo stood before the grave for a long time.

”Isn’t this the Gambling King Xu? You dare come back after hiding out all these years?” Three people came over from a funeral procession not far away. One of them, a woman with a clearly smiling face, was none other than the movie star Gu Yu whom he had encountered in Decibel Town.

She had intended to greet Xu Huo, but hadn’t expected her companion to open with such provocative words.

”Zheng Liang,” she called to her companion, then asked, ”Do you know each other?”

”We were neighbors for a few years,” the man who had spoken first, Zheng Liang, said while crossing his arms and scrutinizing Xu Huo. ”I heard Gu Yu praising some player like he was a blooming flower—I thought it might be someone with the same name, but it’s really you.”

”Someone like you, who caused his own brother’s death because of gambling, actually became a player too. There’s no justice in this world.”

Xu Huo glanced behind him. ”Who died in your family?”

Zheng Liang’s face darkened as he fell silent.

Gu Yu quickly pulled him back, smiling at Xu Huo. ”I’ve been wanting to contact you. I’m glad you’re okay. Would you like to visit our newly established headquarters? You might be interested in joining.”

When players from other zones invaded, the small group she originally belonged to had banded together. While ensuring their own safety, they had also absorbed some local players, and now their numbers were considerable, with several core members fully establishing their operation.

”No need. I don’t plan to join any organizations for now,” Xu Huo said.

Zheng Liang beside him sneered, ”Forget it. He’s a lone wolf—if he’s going to work with anyone, it’ll be with the government. Why would he listen to people like us?”

Gu Yu frowned. ”Can’t you speak properly?”

”This is my attitude toward people with poor character. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to look!” Zheng Liang provocatively stared at Xu Huo.

Xu Huo didn’t even give him a glance, turning and walking away.

”Xu Huo! Don’t get cocky! I’ll settle our old scores sooner or later!” Zheng Liang shouted from behind.

Unfortunately, Xu Huo didn’t look back even once. Meanwhile, Gu Yu pulled Zheng Liang back. ”You have a grudge too? What grudge?”

”None of your business,” Zheng Liang said hatefully, watching Xu Huo’s retreating back while grinding his teeth. ”I’ll have a reckoning with him sooner or later!”

Xu Huo didn’t pay him any mind. After leaving the cemetery, he drove to the airport.

Ms. Fang had already arrived, and her current boyfriend had returned with her.

”You must be Xu Huo. My surname is Tang. I’m three years older than your mother—you can call me Uncle Tang,” the middle-aged man offered kindly.

Xu Huo didn’t shake his hand, instead asking, ”Are you from Country Y?”