Chapter 2191: Mental Breakdown
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire space seemed to freeze.
Carol Field stood there, her expression shifting from shock to disbelief, then to a dazed confusion. Her lips moved slightly, but no sound came out for a long time.
Asis Werner, standing nearby, also froze. His eyes widened as he stared at Xu Huo, as if he had just heard the most absurd joke in the world.
"You... what did you say?" Carol finally managed to speak, her voice trembling.
Xu Huo looked at her calmly, repeating word by word: "I said, I'm not going to the Werner family's territory."
"But..." Carol's voice rose, "You promised! You said you would come with me to see the Werner family's collection of spatial artifacts!"
"I did say that," Xu Huo nodded, "but that was before. Now I've changed my mind."
Carol's face instantly turned pale. She took a step forward, grabbing Xu Huo's arm: "Why? Is there something wrong? Did something happen?"
Xu Huo gently pulled his arm away, his tone still calm: "Nothing happened. I just think it's better for me to stay here for now."
"Stay here?" Carol looked around at the surrounding ruins, her voice incredulous, "Stay in this place? This is the edge of the wasteland! There's nothing here!"
"Exactly," Xu Huo said, "that's why it's safe."
"Safe?" Carol's voice grew sharper, "Do you know how dangerous this place is? The monsters here—"
"I can handle them," Xu Huo interrupted her, "I've always been able to handle them."
Carol stared at him, her eyes gradually turning red. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Asis Werner stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Carol, calm down," Asis said in a low voice, then looked at Xu Huo, "Xu Huo, is there some reason you can't tell us?"
Xu Huo was silent for a moment, then said: "I just think it's better to keep some distance."
"Distance?" Carol's voice choked up, "Distance from whom? From me?"
Xu Huo didn't answer, but his silence was the best answer.
Carol's tears finally fell. She took a step back, her voice breaking: "I thought... I thought we were friends."
"We are friends," Xu Huo said, "that's why I don't want to drag you into trouble."
"What trouble?" Carol wiped her tears, her voice firming up, "Tell me what trouble it is! We can solve it together!"
Xu Huo shook his head: "This trouble, I have to face it alone."
"Xu Huo!" Carol suddenly raised her voice, "You always do this! Always making decisions on your own, never telling anyone else! Do you think you're the only one who can handle things?"
Xu Huo was silent.
Asis Werner watched the two of them, frowning slightly. He looked at Xu Huo, then at Carol, and finally said: "Xu Huo, if you have concerns, you can tell us. The Werner family isn't some small power; we can—"
"I know," Xu Huo interrupted him, "but this matter... the fewer people who know, the better."
Carol bit her lip, her eyes filled with hurt and anger. She stared at Xu Huo for a long time, then suddenly turned around.
"Fine," her voice was cold, "since you've made up your mind, I won't force you."
"Carol!" Asis called out, but Carol had already walked away without looking back.
Asis looked at her retreating figure, then turned to Xu Huo: "You... you really hurt her."
Xu Huo lowered his eyes: "I know."
"Then why—"
"Because it's better this way," Xu Huo said softly, "for her, and for me."
Asis stared at him for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh: "I don't know what you're thinking, but... I hope you won't regret it."
After saying this, he turned and chased after Carol.
Xu Huo stood alone in place, watching their figures gradually disappear into the distance. The wind blew, stirring up the dust on the ground.
He stood there for a long time, then slowly turned around and walked toward the ruins.
In the shadows, a figure slowly emerged. It was a woman with short hair, her face expressionless.
"Done?" she asked.
Xu Huo nodded: "Done."
"You know," the short-haired woman said, "you could have gone with them. The Werner family's protection—"
"It's not enough," Xu Huo said, "the ones coming after me... they're not something the Werner family can handle."
The short-haired woman was silent for a moment, then said: "So, what's your plan?"
Xu Huo looked up at the darkening sky: "Find a place to hide first, then... wait."
"Wait for what?"
"Wait for them to make a move," Xu Huo said, a strange smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "since they're coming after me, they'll show themselves eventually."
The short-haired woman looked at him, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes: "Are you sure you can handle it alone?"
Xu Huo didn't answer directly. He just turned around and walked toward the ruins, his voice drifting back: "I've always been alone."
The short-haired woman watched his back, sighed softly, and followed.
The night wind blew, carrying a faint chill. In the distance, the howls of monsters echoed, but Xu Huo's footsteps never paused.
He walked into the ruins, disappearing into the darkness.
And in a place even farther away, a pair of eyes quietly watched all of this. A low voice murmured: "Interesting... very interesting."
The voice faded away, as if it had never existed.