# Chapter 65: Hunting Players
"Brother Xu, do you really trust them?" Yuan Yao followed Xu Huo upstairs. "Even though what they said didn't sound like lies, they don't seem very capable. Teaming up with them might be a disadvantage."
"And you even gave them potions. What if they turn around and target us instead?"
"This initial investment is necessary." Xu Huo wasn't too worried. "Find somewhere else to stay tomorrow."
Yuan Yao was stunned. "Why? Isn't this place good? Nice environment and quiet."
"Yeah, if someone came in and killed you, it might be ten or fifteen days before anyone even found the body." Xu Huo said flatly.
Yuan Yao shuddered. "Moving! Moving right now!"
Early the next morning, Xu Huo settled the rent with the landlord and moved to a residential area in the center of the old city district. This place had heavy foot traffic, the neighborhood security was relatively reliable, and the transportation network was extensive, making it convenient for getting things done.
Xu Huo didn't have much to move, and basically Yuan Yao and the Painting Woman handled it. Yuan Yao, who had hidden under the bed last night and hadn't seen the Painting Woman turn into paper, couldn't help but give Xu Huo a thumbs up when he saw her unhesitatingly carrying luggage.
The big shot was different—a prime example of treating women like men!
After settling into the newly rented place, Xu Huo called Yuan Yao and the Painting Woman to go together to Zhou Ning's residence.
Zhou Ning lived in a resettlement neighborhood. The old, run-down buildings were short and dilapidated, every household had iron bars installed, and the windows were covered with either potted plants or clothes, blocking most of the view. It was hard to see inside each home from the outside.
"I'm here." Xu Huo precisely pinpointed the people hiding in the buildings on both sides and said into the phone.
Soon two young people came down. One was a sharp-faced man with shifty eyes, his gaze darting around constantly even in just a few steps. The other looked like a student, but he was hunched over, wearing a pair of thick-soled elevator shoes, and lacked any vitality.
"You're Xu Huo?" The sharp-faced man sized up Xu Huo and his two companions, then lifted his chin. "Follow me."
The two walked ahead, Xu Huo followed behind, and the five of them entered one of the buildings inside. They stopped in front of a unit on the fourth floor. After knocking, there was soon the sound of a lock bolt being opened.
The one who opened the door was Hu Zi, who had been at the villa yesterday. He let them in first, sniffed around the hallway, and then closed the door.
"Let me introduce you. This is Tian Yun and Yu Xiaoyu." Hu Zi said. "Tian Yun used to drive a taxi. Xiaoyu dropped out of high school and was classmates with A Xiao."
Xu Huo nodded, glanced at the scattered cut hair on the floor, and asked, "Where's Zhou Ning?"
"Sister Ning is in the bathroom." As Hu Zi spoke, Zhou Ning came out. She was holding the braid she had just cut off, looking tired but with a hint of excitement. "Mr. Xu, you're here."
Xu Huo didn't ask about the effect of the hair growth potion and cut straight to the point. "My friend has already found the person who posted the fishing bait message and also discovered someone who might be from the Holy Sword Society."
"Found that bastard! Where is he?" Hu Zi slammed the table in anger.
"Let Mr. Xu finish first." Zhou Ning stopped him and gestured for Xu Huo to continue.
"Both of these people are players. I don't know their professions or traits, and I also don't know your professions or traits. Can the four of you handle capturing them?" Xu Huo asked.
"Can't the four of us handle two players?" Hu Zi said. "Mr. Xu, you're underestimating us too much!"
"The two of you combined couldn't beat Brother Xu last night." Yuan Yao added fuel to the fire from the side.
Hu Zi said sheepishly, "That's different."
"There's no difference." Xu Huo lit a cigarette. "Evolvers enter the game at different times. You don't know how many instances your opponents have been through, whether they have powerful items, or whether their profession traits are strong or not."
"I don't have any close combat items, but I can still take down both of you with just my traits. Can you be sure the Holy Sword Society members aren't better fighters than me?"
"What if the opponent has super-strong items? How would you deal with that?"
"Have you ever encountered cannibal players who survived instances?"
These questions shook the confidence of Zhou Ning and the others, who had just regained their morale. The sharp-faced man Tian Yun said, "According to you, shouldn't we just not fight at all?"
"Of course not." Xu Huo flicked his ash. "Since we're going to war with a player organization, these issues should be considered beforehand to avoid accidents during the process."
"Do you have a plan?" Yu Xiaoyu said weakly. "A way to rescue Zhou Xiao without any mistakes?"
"There's no foolproof plan." Xu Huo paused and asked, "Among you, is Hu Wenhu the only one good at close combat?"
The four looked at each other, and finally Zhou Ning said, "Tian Yun, Xiaoyu, tell him about your traits."
Traits—once you enter actual combat, they're easy to spot. Giving a general direction is fine.
"My trait is just speed. My jumping and strength are weaker than ordinary evolvers." Tian Yun said. "But my speed can reach twice that of a normal evolver."
"My body can become very light. I can walk on the tips of grass." Yu Xiaoyu said. "It's a bit like 'walking on grass' in martial arts novels, but ever since this trait appeared, I've become very weak. My hands and feet break easily."
"That trait... isn't very useful." Yuan Yao clicked his tongue.
Xu Huo looked down at his shoes. "Added something to the soles?"
"Iron blocks." Yu Xiaoyu looked at him with some surprise. "But I walk normally. It's just that I'm not used to feeling so light, so I added weight."
"Have you tried going up walls?" Xu Huo thought for a moment and asked. "Ever seen parkour?"
Yu Xiaoyu nodded. "But just being able to run isn't very useful."
"It is useful." Just as Xu Huo was about to say something, his phone suddenly rang. He answered it. It was Huang Junjie.
"Change in situation?"
"No." Huang Junjie had driven overnight from the neighboring city after receiving Xu Huo's call last night and had been monitoring the fishing bait player since early morning. He was also the one who discovered that the fishing bait player had contact with another man bearing a triangular sword tattoo.
"The other one is a cannibal player." He said. "That bastard just killed someone."
Xu Huo frowned. "Did they leave?"
"No. I don't think they'll leave their place anytime soon. What's your situation? When do you plan to make a move?"
Xu Huo looked out the window. "After dark. Have you seen Yan Jiayu?"
Besides Huang Junjie, he had also contacted Yan Jiayu and Liu Jia. Coincidentally, neither of them had entered an instance. Liu Jia had already gone to the position Xu Huo had arranged in advance.
"She left a while ago. She should be at the construction site on Sunshine Avenue by now."
"Alright. We'll set out as soon as we're ready." Xu Huo hung up the phone and divided the group into two based on Zhou Ning and the others' traits. Zhou Ning and Yuan Yao would join Huang Junjie, while Hu Wenhu, Tian Yun, Yu Xiaoyu, and he would go together.