# Chapter 395: Incompatibility of Time and Space Items
Xu Huo moved his limbs and found that his right hand had regained some strength. He turned his palm upward, and the stopwatch and pen appeared in his hand simultaneously.
Before he could do anything, the woman opposite him transformed into a swarm of butterflies and retreated, instantly withdrawing beyond the garden maze.
At that moment, the metal collar around Xu Huo's neck automatically snapped open, and the air that had been drained of oxygen returned to normal.
Holding the collar in one hand, he could no longer see the Butterfly Lady in his field of vision, but she hadn't left. Gripping the stopwatch in his palm, he picked up the pen to write, but at that moment, Duke Tal's voice came from the direction of the castle: "Madam is still in the mood to enjoy the flowers so late at night?"
The darkness in the garden vanished instantly, and the menacing flower trees all around returned to normal.
Xu Huo's hand paused.
"Can't sleep, so I came out for some fresh air," the Butterfly Lady said. "And why has the Duke come out?"
"I had a nightmare—dreamt that all the spiders in the annex had turned into monsters. I was worried about Madam's safety, so I searched everywhere. Before I knew it, I was at the entrance. Who would have thought Madam was actually outside?" Duke Tal's voice approached with a hint of laughter. "Madam is soaked through. Better go inside first. I'll have someone prepare hot tea."
Their footsteps faded away. Mr. Dong appeared behind Xu Huo, picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground, sheathed it, and hung it on his arm.
"Did you wake Duke Tal?" Xu Huo put away his items and examined the collar in his hand. This should be a space item—when used, it could drain all the air from the surrounding area.
"Yes. The Butterfly Lady used an illusion-inducing item inside the castle. I thought you might need assistance," Mr. Dong said.
Xu Huo weighed the heavy collar and asked, "Do time and space items counteract each other?"
He had seen this claim before when researching item data—it was also a fact recognized by many players. Wherever a high-level time or space item existed, other items of the same type often became ineffective.
This was also why super items could cause wars between game zones. Some super weapons capable of destroying an entire game zone required corresponding components to operate. Once affected by time or space items, those super weapons could no longer be used.
He had only wanted to test it, but unexpectedly, as soon as the stopwatch appeared, the collar indeed failed. However, the Butterfly Lady must have recognized the item, which was why she immediately created distance.
"Not necessarily. Some items can affect each other, but it's not one hundred percent," Mr. Dong said. "Carrying a time or space super item on your person can prevent the effects of most small-scale time or space items."
"This is the incompatibility of time and space items—especially space items. A large-scale space item, while in use, can render all lower-level space items within its range ineffective or severely weaken their effects."
"Is this the principle behind the weapons used by Zone 011's government to counteract space items?" Xu Huo thought of the weapon the Enforcement Department had used to seal off the space teleportation item of the fake He Pu.
"Yes," Mr. Dong continued. "But using time or space items in an unstable world space is very dangerous—especially the item you were holding just now. It could potentially cause the world space to collapse. If space collapses, even using a ticket might not guarantee escape."
The random instance Xu Huo had obtained earlier was originally located in an unstable world. Little Pink Hat had said the same thing when he called her out.
But then, "Are the spaces players can reach not entirely under the game's control?"
The ticket should be the most powerful space item in the game.
"The places players can go are not necessarily all within the game's range." Mr. Dong paused. "The rain has stopped."
Xu Huo nodded, picked up the collar, and walked outside. "Do you know how many items and traits the Butterfly Lady used just now?"
"Nine items, at least two traits," Mr. Dong said.
Xu Huo was slightly surprised. "Besides the butterflies, the collar, and the item that petrified my legs, what else was there?"
Those were all he could see. The loss of strength in his hands through touch should be a trait, and the garden's monstrous transformation might be her special evolution, or possibly a super item.
"A space sealing item that blocked off the maze garden, two defense items on her person, and three attack items. However, two of those were mental attack items that didn't take effect, and the third attack item she didn't use." Mr. Dong evaluated objectively, "She didn't intend to kill you."
Xu Huo's expression darkened. Before the fight began, her "friend" value had indeed jumped to 9. Had she changed her mind midway?
It seemed he would have to carry the stopwatch on him from now on. He hadn't even realized the Butterfly Lady had planted other items in the garden besides what she wore. High-level players were truly impossible to guard against.
"Thank you for tonight," he said to Mr. Dong.
"You're welcome," Mr. Dong replied, his expression unchanged. "But please be careful when you sleep. The Butterfly Lady's items can cause nightmares."
"No wonder Duke Tal ran out. What about his bodyguard?" Xu Huo asked casually.
"He should still be having nightmares," Mr. Dong said. "I only woke Duke Tal."
Xu Huo raised an eyebrow. He suddenly felt that although Mr. Dong was stern-faced, he was indeed a genuine all-purpose butler. Even if he hadn't used the stopwatch tonight, this man could have saved him in a few more seconds.
He looked up at the Butterfly Lady's room. The curtains that had been open earlier were now tightly drawn. "Lost an item in just a few minutes. I wonder if she'll be so angry tonight she'll tear down the house."
Mr. Dong's face pulled downward at an even pace.
Xu Huo chuckled and went back to his room to sleep.
He slept soundly through the night—no surprises, no nightmares. When he came out of his room the next morning, he greeted the Butterfly Lady with a bright smile as she was about to go downstairs.
The Butterfly Lady smiled back. "You stole two of my items. No wonder you could become the heir of Rose Castle."
Her words reminded Xu Huo that he had used "Hungry Gluttonous Snake" yesterday, and after using it, his stiff legs had immediately returned to normal. So he must have successfully stolen one of the Butterfly Lady's items at that time, but he had completely forgotten about it afterward.
It seemed that the clause "unable to immediately notice due to some mysterious reason" applied not only to the person being stolen from.
He didn't pick up that thread but instead asked, "Have you been to Rose Castle before?"
The Butterfly Lady looked at him with amusement. "You don't even know He Pu's identity, yet you inherited Rose Castle?"
With a hint of mischief, she added, "That butler definitely didn't tell you, did he? Want to know? If you want to know, trade me back my items."
Xu Huo smiled. "Sorry, I don't want to know."