# Chapter 377: Returning to the Ancient Castle
After paying for the shop, Xu Huo's wallet shrank by half again, but catching one player wasn't a loss.
However, where there's one, there will be a second. Since this player hadn't returned, the other side might endlessly send people after him.
Opening his game panel, he began searching for methods to change his appearance. Items with that effect on the bounty platform were all expensive and, like the Distortion Mask, had usage restrictions. Only the skin of a Mimic Snake and a single-use Contouring Mask could achieve the same effect.
Xu Huo had just heard about Mimic Snakes from the Enforcement Department—a common method wanted criminals used to alter their appearance. The description was rather disgusting. After peeling off a Mimic Snake's skin, a layer of mucus would be distributed inside. Applying it directly to the face could adjust the features. It would solidify after two hours, and once solidified, it would completely adhere to the face, generally impossible to remove—essentially a brand-new face.
The Contouring Mask was much simpler. Applying it would change the face's appearance. Its description was "looks like anyone but yourself." A single use lasted twelve hours, and it would automatically fall off when the time was up, similar to a human skin mask. A total of ten sheets were included, but the drawback was that it couldn't be used continuously—at least a twelve-hour interval was required, and for twelve hours after using the Contouring Mask, the face would remain red and swollen.
The Mimic Snake skin cost ten times more than the Contouring Mask. Probably because there was too much Contouring Mask stock, there was also a combo deal: buy one snake skin and get two masks free.
Xu Huo's financial situation no longer allowed for excessive purchases, so he chose the most cost-effective "buy one get two" option.
But altering his appearance couldn't guarantee absolute safety.
Taking out the painting frame again, Xu Huo stepped back a few paces and sat down facing it, remaining silent.
Two abstract faces of different colors were squeezed together. Brother Tu was playing dead, while the other was exceptionally active—not only were its eyeballs moving, but the facial lines were also slowly undulating like waves.
After staring at each other for a long time, the player in the painting said indistinctly, "Such a big sandstorm..."
The hallucinogen was only now taking effect. Xu Huo had thought he was immune to this type of agent. "Is the sandstorm blowing from the front? Can you still breathe?"
"Yes..." The abstract person answered the question, then suddenly took a deep, strained breath. "Can't breathe... save me..."
"Who do you want to save you? Call his name so he can hear you." Xu Huo guided.
"Mom... Teacher..." The abstract person called out a few vague titles.
"They're not here. Who else? He's standing right in front of you." Xu Huo patiently continued guiding.
But the player in the painting was immersed in his own hallucinations and never said anything useful. The hallucinogen wouldn't last long. After asking a few times, Xu Huo changed the question, asking about the target he was supposed to kill.
As time passed, the abstract person's speech was no longer slurred, but it was clear he hadn't fully returned to normal. Under Xu Huo's relentless questioning, he blurted out, "Who told you to be there at that exact moment...!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to wake up and immediately shut his mouth.
Not getting anything useful wasn't unexpected. Xu Huo wasn't disappointed either. He simply said directly, "You went through all the trouble of following me just to silence me. It seems my timing was very inconvenient. You must value this highly—you people must have something important to do."
He took out his communicator. "I know Ran Ying from the Enforcement Department. How about I relay this situation to her?"
The abstract person remained still.
Xu Huo's finger hovered over the connect button for a moment, then quickly moved away. "Contacting Ran Ying is not as good as contacting Shi Youzhi. I heard that a couple of days ago, someone used blood anomalies to sabotage the train. Maybe it was your group."
The abstract person sneered. "Base personnel can't interfere with matters in District 011."
"I know the Game Government doesn't interfere with district affairs, but if I say someone is plotting to sabotage the train again, the base people certainly won't ignore it." Xu Huo swiped the projection screen to find Shi Youzhi.
"Any action by base personnel outside the base will be under surveillance." The abstract person said calmly. "You won't achieve your goal; you'll only attract more attention. In District 011, a place with so many players, that's not a good thing. Why don't you use a ticket to leave District 011?"
"Preferably releasing you before I leave?" Xu Huo had gotten him into the painting partly by luck. He probably never expected to fall into the hands of a player inferior to him in both physical ability and traits. This person, Xu Huo would never let him leave the painting conscious.
"This only benefits you. If I don't go back, my companions will come looking." The abstract person added.
"You've reminded me. I still need to use some cleaning agent to wash myself, just in case I've been marked with something." Xu Huo said deliberately.
The abstract person fell silent.
Xu Huo knew he wouldn't get anything more out of him, so he put away the painting frame, used a Contouring Mask, called a car, and left the hotel.
The Contouring Mask felt like nothing on his face. His features hadn't changed significantly, but looking in the mirror, they didn't match the previous face at all—very natural and ordinary.
The driver showed no reaction to his sudden change in appearance. After confirming he had come out of the room, he dutifully drove off.
The car left the hotel. Xu Huo got off not far from the old city area, walked around the streets a few times, and only after confirming no one was following him did he take another car to Rose Castle.
In just one day, the matter at Rose Castle had been mostly resolved. The police had found very few human bones and some stolen goods before leaving. They must have coordinated with the Enforcement Department, so the castle's lockdown had been lifted.
Passing through the garden, Xu Huo also picked a yellow rose and walked to the castle gate to knock.
The door was still opened by Mr. Dong, but this time there was no servant to take his coat. Only he remained in the castle.
"I've come to visit the master of the house," he said.
"The master has passed away. This castle now has no master." Mr. Dong's expression didn't change. He answered using ventriloquism. "But you may stay here temporarily."
He reached out to take the flower and umbrella from Xu Huo's hand.
Xu Huo only gave him the flower. The castle had returned to how it looked when he first saw it—no traces of burning or electric shocks in the hall.
"Has Hu Shan left too?"
"She was fired." Mr. Dong answered briefly, then paused before adding, "Do you need dinner prepared? The chef has resigned. My cooking isn't very good."
"Do you have fresh ingredients? I can cook." Xu Huo suddenly felt like it.
Mr. Dong wasn't particularly concerned. He neither discouraged nor showed surprise, simply leading him directly to the kitchen.
"All the utensils are brand new," Mr. Dong said.
Xu Huo nodded, rolled up his sleeves, and made a simple fried rice—enough for two.
He invited Mr. Dong to eat together. Mr. Dong declined and stood properly beside the dining table holding a towel.