Chapter 1796: Enjoying Family Bliss Ahead of Time
"Is that so?" Xu Huo wasn't surprised. It would have been strange if those two hadn't contacted the outside world. Seeing the Painting Woman's eager expression, he said, "Well done. You can keep an eye on them whenever you have free time in the future."
The Painting Woman nodded vigorously and then asked, "What if they go out?"
"Then don't bother with them anymore. 011 has Super Players, and it might not be safe for you outside." The Painting Woman wasn't as clueless as before, so Xu Huo sometimes shared a bit about the district's situation with her.
"Super Players, are they strong?" the Painting Woman asked.
"They're considered among the strongest in the game." Xu Huo walked downstairs as he spoke. "But if you want to go to someone else, that's fine too."
Plenty of people would be willing to offer the Painting Woman generous conditions.
"No way!" the Painting Woman immediately said. "They all just want me to work for them, to sell my labor!"
Xu Huo glanced at her. "Who told you that?"
"Xiao Yuan did." The Painting Woman didn't see anything wrong with listening to a child. "A lot of bad people trick kind people like her and me into working illegal jobs and force us to do labor."
"Don't worry, not many people can force you to work." Xu Huo changed the subject. "What's for dinner tonight?"
"There are shells!" The Painting Woman's eyes lit up, and she began gesturing excitedly, happily listing all the delicious food that would be ready soon.
Xu Huo listened quietly, occasionally offering his opinion. Before long, Xiao Yuan also came over with her homework to ask him questions.
Xiao Yuan was a very hardworking child. Although her studies weren't as good as Tan Qi's, her diligence still earned her decent scores. When she first came to the castle, she wanted to learn from Xu Huo how to become a Player. After being thoroughly outclassed by Tan Qi in every aspect, she decided to focus on studying knowledge and developing toward becoming an Artificer.
So, besides her regular coursework, she also read some Artificer manuals. However, the Artificer profession, unlike others, didn't have abundant reference materials. It relied more on talent and an experienced teacher to guide you in.
Xu Huo had bought some expensive Artificer notes on the game platform, but that wasn't enough. He also asked Mr. Dong to help find a teacher in District 011.
"Learning Artificing requires buying instruments, which costs a lot of money." Xiao Yuan wanted Tan Qi to learn with her, believing he would pick it up faster and better, so she dragged him to Xu Huo.
"You want to learn Artificing too?" Xu Huo flipped through the homework and glanced at the kid who practically had "rebellious" written on his forehead.
"I'm not learning!" Tan Qi met his gaze directly. "I'm going to be a Player in the future!"
"District 011 has talent tests for children, organized by the school every so often. I heard you've never participated once." Xu Huo said, "You told your classmates you're an ordinary person."
Tan Qi had been one of Dr. Zhang's experimental subjects. He had undergone drug modification and, after being abandoned, became an experiment for his own kind. The traces of the drugs hadn't disappeared from his body, which could be detected during physical examinations.
"Afraid you'll be judged unfit to become a Player?" Xu Huo asked. "Or worried your history of medication will hold you back?"
Tan Qi took a deep breath. "Can't I learn from you?"
"Good question." Xu Huo signed the homework and placed it back on the table. "Why should I teach you?"
"Then what's the point of bringing me back?" Tan Qi was very rational. "You don't want information about the doctor from me, and you don't plan to use me for experiments. Are you just going to keep me for free? What's in it for you?"
This wasn't the first time he'd asked, nor the first time Xu Huo had answered.
"Maybe I just want to raise a normal person for human society. If you feel uneasy about it, you can work to pay off the debt later."
The Painting Woman, who had been lying nearby playing a game, immediately perked up at this. "Working is bad. Someone like you, with no skills, no technique, poor health, and needing constant medication—no one will pay you well. If you work, you'll never pay off the debt in your lifetime."
The three of them fell silent for a moment, then Xu Huo asked Tan Qi, "What do you think?"
Tan Qi glared at the Painting Woman. "I can be a Player, and I can be an Artificer. I won't end up in debt for life!"
"Ambitious." Xu Huo clapped beside him.
Tan Qi stormed upstairs in anger, but Xiao Yuan was delighted. "Tan Qi really listens to Uncle. I've tried for so long to get him to study Artificing with me, but he never agreed."
After a pause, she added, "Uncle Xu, when I grow up, I'll earn money to repay you too."
Xu Huo nodded. "Tell Mr. Dong if you need anything."
Xiao Yuan nodded eagerly, then shyly pulled a drawing from her homework, placed it in front of him, and ran off.
Just then, Mr. Dong passed by. "I didn't expect you to enjoy family bliss before even getting married."
Xu Huo stared at him for a moment, then found a frame, put the family portrait in it, and hung it in the dining room.
Xu Huo had a relatively leisurely time during the half-month of his recovery. Except for the few days at the mountain villa, he spent most of his time in the castle. Aside from making necessary preparations before entering an Instance, his main task was urging Dr. Deng to work overtime to produce enough toxins and antidotes.
During this time, Lady Lily also visited under the pretense of checking on him, bringing some high-grade potions circulated within the district government. She also gave him Instance guides for two C-rank Instances, wishing him a speedy upgrade.
After staying in District 011 for nearly twenty days, Xu Huo finally prepared to enter the next Instance.
"You're really going to C33-010?" Dr. Deng found him when he heard he was leaving. "You're not going there to look for experimental subjects, are you? Please don't bring back a Xenomorph. I have no idea how to handle that thing!"
"You have a point." Xu Huo smiled. "Bringing back a Xenomorph wouldn't be bad either."
Dr. Deng looked like he'd swallowed a fly. "Have you looked into C33-010 beforehand? You should be able to find info on Under Dimension, right? That place is sparsely populated, and completing Instances there won't be easy."
Xu Huo's account permissions couldn't access B-rank Instance guides, but learning about District 010 from other Instances was no problem.
"Don't worry, I know the gist." Xu Huo looked at him. "Did you come specifically to see me? Is there something you need?"
"I heard from a friend that the ores there are good, and I wanted to ask you to bring some back." Dr. Deng said, "Some ores can be used as raw materials for potions. Since Xiao Yuan is planning to learn Artificing, ores are also one of the raw materials for props."
Xu Huo nodded. "I'll remember."
Dr. Deng seemed to want to say more but held back, only managing a "be careful" before leaving.
"Dr. Deng seems troubled." Mr. Dong brought over two baskets of fresh fruit.
"Don't worry about him." Xu Huo packed the items into the luggage compartment, gave a few more instructions, and used his ticket to leave District 011.