Chapter 462: Uncle Is Sick
"Hey!" A yellow-toothed player behind him laughed. "Old pal, look—the front and back carriages are both blocked. Where can you go? It's only a matter of time before we're all mixed up together. Why run away at the first sight of us? That's too standoffish, don't you think?"
The cannibal players let out a chorus of uneven laughter. Dr. Deng's legs were trembling so badly that Xu Huo worried he might scare himself into a fit, so he called for the flight attendant.
"Kid, you're pretty cocky," the yellow-toothed player said, sizing him up just like the others, though his caution was visible.
In truth, the cannibal players present hadn't rushed forward to tear Dr. Deng apart immediately because of Xu Huo's demeanor.
Although most of the people on this train were D-class players, no one could be sure there wasn't an advanced player hitching a ride. Besides, Dr. Deng was obviously a weakling, and Xu Huo was clearly playing the role of protector. His calm, unhurried attitude made the other players tread carefully.
Xu Huo ignored the yellow-toothed player's probing words. Instead, he sat down, stared straight ahead, and waited for the flight attendant to arrive.
The yellow-toothed player exchanged a glance with the player beside him, then stood up and walked toward Xu Huo.
All the other players were waiting for the first confrontation. Dr. Deng heard the footsteps and couldn't help turning his head. Seeing the player approaching, he frantically grabbed Xu Huo's arm. But Xu Huo's expression didn't change, as if he didn't even notice the menacing figure behind him.
"Putting on airs," the yellow-toothed player muttered, quickening his pace and reaching out to grab Xu Huo's shoulder. Just then, Xu Huo turned his head and gave him a cold look. "You'd better sit down."
The yellow-toothed player's outstretched hand froze involuntarily. His earlier casual probing vanished, replaced by a grim expression as he stood rooted to the spot.
A person's reactions can't lie. The yellow-toothed player was clearly intimidated by just one look from Xu Huo. The other players weren't stupid—beyond raw strength, advanced players possessed something called "presence." That wasn't something gained from special evolution; it was the sharp edge accumulated from countless kills. One glance was enough to know it was someone you couldn't afford to provoke.
The players present knew little about mental evolution, so they lumped this kind of mental attack and suppression under the umbrella term "presence." But presence was more intangible—better described as "aura"—while mental evolution was a tangible enhancement of power.
They were cowed by Xu Huo's aura, missing their best chance to strike. Soon after, the flight attendant came through the dedicated passage beside the carriage.
Ignoring the tension in the carriage, the flight attendant smiled and asked, "Which guest needs assistance?"
The word "assistance" snapped Dr. Deng out of his speechless terror. He blurted out, "It's me! It's us!"
"This carriage has terrible conditions. I want to change seats," Xu Huo said directly, pulling out two thick stacks of white notes. "If you don't have the authority, you can ask someone else. I'm a member of the Eternal Star Restaurant."
The two stacks of cash already brought a smile to the flight attendant's face, and the mention of membership made her even more sincere. "Please, sir, come this way. I don't need the chef's authorization. I can take you to the first-class carriage right now. Today's special dessert is complimentary for members."
"Not bad." Xu Huo rose calmly, stepping out of the carriage as the flight attendant made way for him. He asked casually, "Also, what are the signature dishes?"
The flight attendant quickly and politely introduced a few options. Xu Huo ordered without hesitation, then added, "I trust the taste of the Eternal Star Restaurant."
The flight attendant was delighted and proactively let Dr. Deng walk ahead.
And so, the entire carriage full of cannibal players could only watch helplessly as the two left under the flight attendant's protection. As the front door closed behind them, the remaining players turned their attention back to each other.
Compared to the bloodshed and unbearable scenes behind them, the first-class carriage was an entirely different world. The interior was lavishly decorated, with fresh flowers placed around. The scent of blossoms mixed with the aroma of food. Several elegantly dressed players were dining gracefully. One table looked like a family of three—a man and a woman chatting, while their teenage daughter, in a dress, lightly ran across the carpet, tugging at decorative designs and peppering the flight attendant with questions.
"Vivi," the woman called out. "Don't bother the adults."
The girl named Vivi stuck out her tongue. As she ran past Xu Huo, she gave him a playful wink.
Xu Huo's gaze followed her for two seconds before he continued to his seat with the flight attendant. Dr. Deng sat across from him. "This is much better. Hopefully, nothing happens along the way."
"Let's eat first," Xu Huo said, not sparing another glance at the others as he focused on his meal.
"I haven't eaten this well in days," Dr. Deng said contentedly. "Money really is great."
Without money, even getting out of that previous carriage would have been a challenge, let alone switching to such a safe place without shedding a single drop of blood.
After the meal, the train provided holographic news glasses. Xu Huo didn't talk to Dr. Deng but instead put on the glasses to browse the latest news about the areas the train was passing through.
A moment later, he reached out and covered his "Peeping Eye" prop on the table, then took off the holographic glasses to look at the little girl who had come to touch them. "This is mine."
The girl clasped her hands behind her back, rubbing the carpet with her shoe in a coquettish manner, her eyes fixed on him. "I'm really curious about this prop. Uncle, can you let me see it?"
Xu Huo put the prop away directly and said, not very warmly, "No."
Vivi didn't mind. She sat down beside him, placed her hands neatly on her knees, and smiled at him. "Uncle, are you a D-class player?"
"Guess."
"I guess you are." Vivi's eyes curved into crescents as she swung her legs and continued, "Uncle must be really strong, right?"
"Guess again."
"Then you must be very strong. My mom said that men who do big things don't smile at women."
Xu Huo glanced at her, took a sip of tea, and said, "You're right."
"What are you drinking, Uncle? Can I have a taste?" Without waiting for an answer, she reached out.
"Uncle has a contagious disease." Xu Huo moved his cup away and said to the flight attendant, "Give her a glass of milk. Tea isn't good for children's health."
Vivi propped her face on her hands, elbows on the table. "I stopped drinking milk a long time ago. It has no flavor. But adults all like tea, and I want to try it too."
At the nearby table, the man and woman seemed not to hear her, engrossed in their own tender conversation as if they had endless things to say.
"Being an adult isn't that great," Xu Huo said offhandedly. "When you grow up, you'll get sick like Uncle. Not only is it incurable, but you'll also have no friends. Everyone you meet will think you're crazy. If you don't respond, they think you're admitting it. If you deny it, they think you're unaware of your own illness. And if you dare to fight back, that just confirms you're crazy. Tell me, isn't that pitiful?"
The smile on Vivi's face faded a little. "I'm not an adult yet, but I'm not stupid. Uncle is lying."
"I'm not lying to you," Xu Huo cleared his throat and continued. "Uncle has seen a lot. Everyone wants to use a facade to cover up their ugly true selves. But adults are all very shrewd. No one can't see that you're sick. Everyone will avoid you like the plague, no matter how beautiful your smile is or how innocent you pretend to be."
(End of Chapter)