Players, Please Board the Train

“Will you stop talking?” the Teenager floating above them couldn’t help saying.

Shangguan Xi glanced sideways at him. “This guy isn’t a player, is he?”

“He’s probably a local,” Xu Huo reminded him. “If you’re too loud, you might attract the flying Mutants.”

Shangguan Xi clamped his mouth shut and hurriedly took out a sound-dampening item. “Brother Xu, how about we leave first? What if we really do attract the flying Mutants?”

As if on cue, three enormous Mutants appeared beneath the distant sky and flew toward them together. They were mutated eagles. Their wingspans reached ten meters, their talons had grown an extra pair of claws, and teeth had sprouted inside their beaks. Their cries weren’t clear and sharp like a bird’s, but low and hoarse, almost like growling.

“They really came!” Shangguan Xi let out a “heh,” then took out a crossbow-shaped item and fired three shots in rapid succession. These weren’t real crossbow bolts. Each small projectile had a tracking function, and he aimed them separately at the three flying Mutants!

“Boom!” The first Mutant was blown into a cloud of blood before it could accomplish anything. Half of the second one’s wing was blasted off, and it fell into the swarm. The third successfully dodged the bolt, but Shangguan Xi immediately pulled out a pistol.

It wasn’t a real firearm. When he pulled the trigger, a light, oval object seemed to fly out. It stuck to the flying Mutant’s feathers, then burst open like a flower, sending more than a dozen beams of laser through the creature’s belly.

“That’s a wrap!” Shangguan Xi chuckled. “These items aren’t much good against the insect swarm, but they can handle a few Mutants.”

Unfortunately, the two above him couldn’t share his confidence. Xu Huo said, “Turn around and look behind you.”

The noise from the eagle’s explosion had attracted more flying Mutants. This time, though, there weren’t just a few strays. They were swarming in by the hundreds!

“Brother Xu, we need to get out of here!” Shangguan Xi hurriedly said.

Calmly, Xu Huo replied, “My item can only transport two people through space.”

The Teenager floating beside him and Shangguan Xi fell silent at the same time. If there hadn’t been an insect swarm below, they could have taken shelter inside a building. But going down now would be as good as throwing their lives away.

“I have a box I can hide in,” Shangguan Xi said. “We should be fine if we get inside. I’m just worried the insect swarm might carry it off.”

Xu Huo glanced at the direction the swarm was moving in below and asked, “What’s in the city center? The swarm isn’t heading that way.”

The Teenager’s expression changed. “It’s not safe over there either. Two super-sized Mutants have made their territory there!”

Before Xu Huo could say anything, Shangguan Xi cut in. “Don’t try to fool me. There aren’t any super-sized Mutants anywhere near W18 Base. Are the surviving locals from the base city hiding there?”

He was clearly right. The Teenager struggled as he said to Xu Huo, “Throw me down! Escape wherever you want, just don’t go there!”

In the time it took to exchange a few words, the flying Mutants were already right on top of them. Xu Huo threw a bottle of poison onto the nearest rooftop, driving back some of the scavenger beetles, then landed on the roof first. He took out Shelter 101, collected one item each from Shangguan Xi and the Teenager, and pushed them inside.

Anyone other than its owner had to hand over supplies to enter Shelter 101. The Teenager had no choice but to comply when Xu Huo took something from him. Shangguan Xi only made a token attempt to resist before pulling his hand back.

The three of them entered the shelter. As soon as the door closed, Shangguan Xi said, “Brother Xu, this item of yours is incredible. You could live in here!”

The shelter did indeed come furnished with beds, chairs, and other furniture, as well as some dry food and water.

Xu Huo tossed the item back to him. Then, he pulled the Teenager away from the wall, where he’d been tapping and knocking on it. “Don’t touch the things in here without permission. Feel free to eat and drink.”

The outside of Shelter 101 could withstand an impact on the scale of a nuclear blast, but its interior was easily damaged.

Shangguan Xi cocked his head and listened to the insect swarm crawling outside. “Looks like those flying Mutants didn’t come down.”

The Teenager, who had refused the food, crouched in a corner and said, “No Mutant can withstand a scavenger beetle swarm.”

“Then why are you afraid of the swarm?” Shangguan Xi poked him on the forehead. “There’s nothing to eat around here.”

“Some small mutated animals are edible,” Xu Huo added.

The Teenager angrily swatted at Shangguan Xi’s hand. When he missed, he grumbled, “Because of you, I didn’t hunt a single thing today!”

Shangguan Xi casually grabbed a packet of dried meat and waved it in front of him. “You don’t want food when there’s some right here?”

The Teenager swallowed, then stubbornly turned his head away. “Who knows if it’s poisoned!”

“You’re young, but you’ve got a stubborn mouth.” Shangguan Xi stopped teasing him and turned to Xu Huo, who had already sat down to rest. “Brother Xu, I’ve got a few decent items here. See if any of them catch your eye.”

Xu Huo had already checked the time. He looked up and said, “There’s no need to be so polite.”

“Of course there is.” Shangguan Xi placed several items on the table. “You saved my life. A few items are nothing!”

He tactfully didn’t ask about Xu Huo taking an item from him and then returning it.

Seeing Shangguan Xi’s expression, as if he wouldn’t give up until Xu Huo picked something, Xu Huo casually took one. To his surprise, it was a C-grade Item.

He looked at the carefree young man across from him in surprise, then smiled and nodded.

Both of them were pleased. The only one who wasn’t was the Teenager crouching to the side, whose stomach was growling with hunger.

Xu Huo tossed the dried meat back to him and proposed a deal. “I’m going to W19 Base and would like to hire a guide. If you can help with that, I’ll give you five jin of food. The guide’s fee will be separate.”

The Teenager immediately raised his head, clutching the dried meat and looking doubtful. “Really?”

“It won’t be hard for players to find where the locals are hiding,” Xu Huo said. “You should understand that.”

Shangguan Xi chimed in. “Doesn’t the fact that we’re not forcing you to guide us show that we’re sincere?”

The Teenager’s expression darkened. Xu Huo glanced at Shangguan Xi, who rubbed his nose, realizing he’d overstepped. “Little brother, I was joking. We’re not bad people. If we were, we would’ve left you behind and run off just now.”

Since Xu Huo could only take one person with him, bringing Shangguan Xi and abandoning the Teenager would have been the best choice. Xu Huo hadn’t done that, and Shangguan Xi hadn’t suggested it either. Instead, he’d offered to leave on his own. That alone spoke volumes.

The Teenager’s expression finally softened a little. Looking past Shangguan Xi, he turned to Xu Huo. “I can’t trust what he says. I’ll agree only if you swear you really won’t force me or my fellow locals to do anything.”

Xu Huo glanced at him. “Lie detectors don’t work on players.”

The Teenager instinctively reached behind his waist, but his attitude remained firm. “I’ll introduce you to a guide if you agree. Don’t underestimate the people of W18. If you dare threaten us, we’ll take you down with us!”

“I can see that.” Xu Huo rested both arms on the table and interlaced his fingers beneath his chin. “All right. Six jin for the introduction fee, and ten jin for the guide’s fee.”

The Teenager held his chin up stubbornly.

“Seven jin, and I’ll add another two to the guide’s fee.”

The Teenager’s expression shifted slightly.

“I’ll add three jin to both the introduction fee and the guide’s fee. This is your last chance. If you don’t agree, I’ll find someone else.” Xu Huo lowered his hands, seeming to have lost interest in the deal.

“Wait!” the Teenager blurted out.