Chapter 1689: Stance
That's right, the "X" mentioned in the post was Xu Huo, especially since the poster started with this evolution site incident—anyone who had just heard about it or was already involved didn't need to guess blindly.
The poster used a code name to conceal Xu Huo's identity, but the first example they gave was undoubtedly a deliberate attempt to reveal who he was.
As the current strongest Super Evolver in Country X, Xu Huo's identity information naturally couldn't be leaked, so Jing Qing's first reaction was that someone was targeting him. After all, once Xu Huo's identity was made public, not only he himself but also his family could be in danger.
Wang Chaoqing saw it from a different angle. "The content in the post practically praises Brother Xu as an unparalleled great sage. It's definitely not targeting him."
He rubbed his chin and said, "I'd say eighty percent that post was written by that Zong Lanzhi."
Jing Qing was surprised. "Why would he do that? How can you tell?"
"You're dumb," Wang Chaoqing shot him a sideways glance. "Back when we first entered, those few Super Evolvers weren't too convinced about Brother Xu, right? They thought the Special Defense Department and Brother Xu had already cut a deal, but Brother Xu gave the opportunity to us instead."
Jing Qing nodded. "But they didn't say anything."
"Exactly, when you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. They still needed to beg Brother Xu, so they wouldn't offend him." Wang Chaoqing analyzed logically. "But Zong Lanzhi isn't part of the Special Defense Department, and he's a beneficiary too. Why would he say something that ungrateful? It must have been to test Brother Xu."
"Test what?" Jing Qing certainly didn't believe the excuse Zong Lanzhi came up with later.
"To test Brother Xu's stance," Wang Chaoqing said, deeply skilled in reading the room. "If he leans toward the Special Defense Department or the military, then he's not on the same side as the Player Organizations. But you heard what Brother Xu said—he won't blindly follow the Special Defense Department just because he took their benefits. He has no prejudice against us leftovers, or the Player Organizations and some free players. On the contrary, he thinks highly of us. That already shows his stance."
Jing Qing finally caught on. "Not standing with the Special Defense Department actually means standing with the ordinary players."
Wang Chaoqing gave him a "you're teachable" look. "You're not dumb either. Last time, that military incident blew up so big. Not just the Player Organizations, even ordinary free players were affected. I reckon everyone's legs are still shaking. Of course they want someone to step up and represent them against the Special Defense Department."
"Otherwise, why wouldn't they prop up Team Leader Nie? He's impressive too—handled several player riots and cult incidents on his own. No one in the Special Defense Department disputes his authority."
"So that's what it's about..." Jing Qing frowned. "Can they really force the issue like this?"
Dealing with Xu Huo, the Special Defense Department had plenty of experience. He was definitely not someone who would tolerate coercion. Even if the Player Organizations represented by Zong Lanzhi wanted to do this, it depended on whether Xu Huo was willing to play along.
"Who knows?" Wang Chaoqing shrugged. "We're not X, so why worry?"
Jing Qing stared at him. "Aren't you the one who can't forget his kindness?"
Wang Chaoqing chuckled. "Kindness is fine to talk about verbally... But as long as it doesn't affect me, I'm definitely on Brother Xu's side!"
Jing Qing let out a "Hah."
Wang Chaoqing, completely unbothered by the slight, quickly typed on his screen, adding to the mysterious legend of "X." "Brother Xu is so powerful, the undisputed number one player. And he takes care of us like this. If one day he unifies the Player Organizations and I can't make it in the Special Defense Department, I can still go to him."
Jing Qing gave him an indescribable look and refreshed the post.
Whether the poster had done too good a job preparing, or there really were that many people who knew and understood Xu Huo's past, in just half an hour, many stories about "X" had been added below the original post. The poster even deliberately appended content under the original text, adding notes like "verified true" or "unverified" after each event.
Among them, the most heated discussions revolved around the "escort" for the Super Evolvers entering the evolution site mentioned this time, the recently settled internal strife within the Special Defense Department, the not-yet-completely-resolved "Mutant Fungus" incident, and the Black Rain event from further back.
These four incidents were highly representative.
First, they affirmed Xu Huo's strength—striking down foreign players and saving the infected during the Black Rain event, getting involved in the conflict between the Special Defense Department and the military and influencing both sides' attitudes, and protecting the Special Defense Department's Super Evolvers. All of this proved that his personal power had become so strong that the nation couldn't ignore him. No matter what his level, at least in current Country X, he was a player who could sway the nation's stance.
Second, his character stood the test. Whether it was serving the country, going to dangerous zones to find Detox Fungus for strangers he didn't know, or cooperating with the Special Defense Department despite past grievances to benefit ordinary players—all of it proved his noble conduct.
Of course, more people were asking about "X"'s identity, doubting the poster's motives, and questioning how those "verified" claims were actually verified.
As time went on, all kinds of messy arguments emerged. Some thought the Player Organizations were hyping up their own people, others thought the Special Defense Department was fishing for information, and some even warned those who supported "X" to be careful not to get a knock on their door.
The post quickly spread from the forum to other media platforms. Because "X"'s deeds didn't just involve players, soon those who had been infected in Jing City, as well as those quarantined and not yet recovered from the Mutant Fungus infection, joined the public discussion.
In two hours, for a Country X that was abnormally focused on the internet at this stage, that was enough time for netizens to go through several rounds of heated debate.
Xu Huo, meanwhile, began preparing for the second round.
This time, his personnel configuration was similar: four Super Evolvers arranged by the Special Defense Department, four players with Special Traits, and three non-official organization players.
These people had just come off the internet, their minds not yet back on track.
Xu Huo didn't bother with them. The Spiritual Interference within the Chaos Space would naturally keep them from having the energy to think about other things.
This round's personnel configuration was much better than Yu Qingqing's group, so he took them a bit further. While materializing the Space-Time Rays, he deliberately triggered a special Time Ray, briefly returning the surrounding environment to two hundred years ago—it might not have any effect, but trying wouldn't hurt.
Unfortunately, none of these eleven people evolved on the spot.
As he sent them out, one of the Special Trait players couldn't help asking, "Mr. Xu, do you know about X?"
"Don't know, never met, never heard of him." Still some distance from the entrance, Xu Huo tossed them out one by one.
(Chapter End)