Players, Please Board the Train

The infected individuals no longer had time to chase after Xu Huo; they hurriedly poured antidotes and healing potions into their mouths. One gray-robed person even went so far as to cut away the spot Xu Huo had just touched, but the wound didn’t improve because of it. The exposed flesh had already turned completely black, and the pollutants scuttled through like insects, spreading rapidly.

Not only that, but several players found their hands and feet blackened by the pathogens wherever they’d made contact. Though the spread was slow, it was still clearly visible—these pathogens automatically grew wherever they touched!

”Don’t come near me! Stay back!” Mr. Qiu used an item to shove away a black-cloaked person’s outstretched hand. The moment he saw pathogens clinging to the item, he threw it away without hesitation, scrambled to his feet, and tried to run. But as he passed by Tan Yang, he tripped and pitched forward, landing right in front of Xu Huo.

Xu Huo pulled off his anti-contamination gloves and tossed them aside casually, nodding at Tan Yang. ”What a coincidence.”

Tan Yang was startled. Before he could speak, Sima Xiao Er beside him recognized Xu Huo’s voice and exclaimed joyfully, ”Brother Xu, it’s you! I knew you’d come to save me!”

”Put your pants on.” Xu Huo tossed him a pair of shorts. Sima Xiao Er wasn’t shy at all; he tore off the tablecloth he’d been wearing and changed right there, then helped the female player nearby.

These five people had been too flustered earlier to stop their bleeding, but they were lucky—almost all the guests the club had invited were dead. The only one left was Mr. Qiu. They didn’t dare approach the blackened players near the club’s center, so they turned their gazes toward Mr. Qiu, who had just stood up.

Mr. Qiu was keenly aware of his situation. His eyes swept around him before finally settling back on Xu Huo. ”The First Association doesn’t have players this strong. You’re from the Special Defense Department? Do you know who I am?”

Xu Huo had set a good example, and the First Association players gradually joined in. The black-cloaked figures, who had held an absolute numerical advantage just over ten minutes ago, were now half dead or wounded. By the lake shore, two of the gray-robed figures were dead, two had fled, and the remaining ones were fighting on their last legs.

To say nothing else, the First Association had plenty of people. It was only a matter of time before the black-cloaked figures were completely wiped out.Without answering his question, Xu Huo just smiled. ”What’s the matter? Afraid to enter the dungeon?”

Mr. Qiu’s face tightened, but he quickly added, ”It doesn’t matter if you don’t know who I am. You just need to know that Double Snake has ties to the Special Defense Department. If you kill my people, the Special Defense Department won’t let you off easily either.”

”The Special Defense Department has no authority over me,” Xu Huo said coolly. ”From what you’re saying, is the Special Defense Department sponsoring Double Snake to recruit Red Players?”

”The real purpose of Double Snake’s gatherings should be to screen for Red Players, right? How many players do you have?”

Mr. Qiu let out a harsh laugh. ”More than you can imagine. This club is nothing—how many people are here? Since you’re not a Special Defense Department player either, why not follow me? I can give you anything you want!”

”I’ve been infected with a strange poison, and I don’t have much time left,” Xu Huo said. ”I heard the Special Defense Department recently obtained a type of fungus that can cure poisons. Can you get your hands on it?”

Mr. Qiu’s expression shifted, and he didn’t speak. But the moment he saw Xu Huo pull out his sword item, he quickly said, ”If you let me go, I’ll give you one!”

The others present might not know about the King Fungus, but Sima Xiao Er knew the inside story. There were only a few King Fungi, and they still needed to be cultivated! This guy dared to say he’d give one away so casually, and he clearly knew a lot—otherwise, he wouldn’t have said ”one” specifically!

Even someone as simple-minded as Sima Xiao Er realized how serious this was, and of course, Xu Huo understood what it meant.

”Looks like it’s not just the Special Defense Department that’s been infiltrated.”

As he spoke, he finished off a gray-robed figure who had tried to ambush him, then turned back to look at Mr. Qiu.

Mr. Qiu’s expression stiffened. ”You can’t kill me! Someone knows I’m here. If you kill me, everyone here today will die!”

”Get real!” Sima Xiao Er spat. ”I’ll just hide in a dungeon! Let your people storm the dungeon and avenge you!”

”He’s got a point.” Xu Huo nodded and stepped toward Mr. Qiu.

Mr. Qiu hurried back two steps, but seeing the First Association players blocking his rear, he steeled himself and shouted ”Hands up!” again.

Unfortunately, Xu Huo wasn’t falling for that a second time. The moment Mr. Qiu opened his mouth, Xu Huo had already changed position, cutting off the sound. He circled behind him, kicked him over, stepped on his back, and pressed the Crimson Sword against his neck. The sharp blade drew a thin line of blood.

”Did you enjoy eating?” Xu Huo asked him, his tone flat, without any trace of hatred. ”Did you ever think you’d end up like this one day?”

Mr. Qiu trembled all over. He tried to struggle but found he couldn’t move. Clenching his teeth, he said, ”What difference is there between Red Players and you eating pigs or sheep? You’re just lucky you didn’t become a Red Player yourself!”

”Do you think you’re any better than a Red Player? You still rely on items to kill people. If you’ve got the guts, go kill every Red Player out there! Hah! Can you kill them all?”

”Let me tell you, everything that happens here today will spread. Not just Double Snake—every Red Player in Zone 014 will know that you and the First Association are targeting them. When their lives are on the line, what won’t players do? You’re not afraid, but don’t you have families?”

The threat was devastating. Even without family or friends, no one wanted to be targeted by Red Players. And who knew how many people were behind Double Snake? With Mr. Qiu’s backing, would they come after the First Association later?

Tan Yang and Pu Kang’s faces changed color, but Xu Huo only glanced at the phone lying not far away. He stomped down hard, breaking Mr. Qiu’s ribs. After the scream died away, he said, ”If all the members of Double Snake are people like you, who don’t dare enter a dungeon even at death’s door, then there’s nothing to worry about.”

The sword pressed harder against his neck, and the blood flowed faster. But instead of being afraid, Mr. Qiu burst into loud laughter. ”My rescuers will be here any moment. Do you dare to kill me?”

The sounds of fighting gradually died down. The remaining players glumly stared at the club restaurant. Soon, the players keeping watch outside the club sent word: The Special Defense Department had arrived!

Mr. Qiu’s laughter grew more and more arrogant, but no one around urged Xu Huo to kill him.

Huang Junjie came up behind Xu Huo, his expression complicated. ”It looks like Team Leader Song is coming.”

Team Leader Song and Xu Huo had clashed before. This didn’t bode well.

In just a few breaths, the main force of the Special Defense Department indeed arrived at the lake shore. These heavily armed players were clearly different from the black-cloaked figures. The First Association players had already begun pulling back from the direction they’d entered.