Players, Please Board the Train

Half an hour later, several off-road vehicles drove into the construction site. The doors opened, and Zhou Xiao, with his hands tied, was kicked out first. Then three men got out, pushing and shoving as they brought Zhou Xiao to the front of the building. From a distance of over ten meters, they shouted inside.

The construction site had tower crane lights, providing decent visibility in the open area outside. However, the interior of the building remained unclear. Soon, a dark figure emerged from inside.

Zhou Xiao immediately recognized Zhou Ning and shouted, ”Sis!”

Zhou Ning stepped forward, glaring hatefully at the people opposite her. ”Let him go!”

”Where’s Zhao Sheng?” The young master with shiny leather shoes got out of the car, looking Zhou Ning up and down. ”Not bad looking. How about you come with me, and I’ll let your brother go?”

Hu Wenhu, hiding behind a pillar, came out carrying the unconscious Zhao Sheng, his nails digging into the neck flesh. ”Enough nonsense! Release Zhou Xiao!”

The young master looked at them with surprise. ”You don’t actually think I care about the life of some thug, do you? I’ll give you a chance—be obedient, and I’ll let you live today.”

”Stop wasting words with him!” Hu Wenhu threw Zhao Sheng aside and suddenly pounced toward the young master. But at that moment, the tower crane lights went out, plunging the surroundings into complete darkness!

”Ambush!” Zhou Ning shouted. ”Fall back into the building first!”

”Trying to run?” The young master, relying on his memory from before the lights went out, accurately dashed toward Zhou Ning’s position. However, as soon as he lunged forward, he became entangled in a web of flexible, prickly fine threads. It felt like plunging into water—these things not only bound his limbs but also continuously wormed their way into his mouth and nose, dragging him toward the building!Meanwhile, Hu Wenhu and Tian Yun coordinated their efforts. One created confusion while the other used his speed to snatch Zhou Xiao away. Once they had rescued him, they didn’t linger and retreated back into the building.

”Currently three players directly ahead, a woman in a dress on the tower crane, and two players entered the second floor from the construction site gate direction.”

In the darkness, Liu Jia reported everything she observed through her binoculars.

”I only see one on my side, but he’s holding something very strange—dragon-shaped, probably an item.” From another lit area, Yu Xiaoyu spotted Ma Yu. ”Long-haired man, also on the second floor.”

”Tap!” Painting Woman, responsible for monitoring the building’s rear, clicked once on her earpiece.

”At least nine players have arrived so far: one on the tower crane, three on the second floor, five on the first floor. First priority is to keep the other players occupied on the first floor while we eliminate the three on the second floor.” Xu Huo said grimly.

”No problem...” Zhou Ning said, ”What about the one I dragged in? He’s not dead yet. Should we keep him for interrogation about the Holy Sword Society’s whereabouts?”

”Unnecessary. For players who enter, prioritize killing them if possible. Second priority is delay tactics.” As soon as Xu Huo finished speaking, a whistling sound shot toward his face. He raised his hand to catch it, and the ”Omnipresent String” pulled him backward, avoiding the attack.

By now his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and he could vaguely make out a human figure standing before him. He leaped into the air and kicked the opponent’s temple!

”Bang!” The opponent crashed heavily against the wall, the noise attracting the two other players on the same second floor. Hearing two sets of footsteps approaching, Xu Huo acted decisively. Using the string, he hoisted the player up, grabbed his legs, and twisted—a crisp crack sounded, and the struggling immediately ceased.

After putting the body down, he delivered another stab to the heart before standing up, then stepped on the string and hid in the corner.

The thick smell of blood quickly drew the next player over. The moment the person stepped over the stone threshold, they looked up and aimed whatever they were holding toward Xu Huo’s hiding spot. A jet of flame shot out!

Xu Huo flipped to the ground, lighting a lighter with a ding. ”Burn, burn, burn!”

Three small flames ignited on the opponent’s body but failed to catch fire. The man laughed, ”I use fire myself. Did you think my clothes wouldn’t be fireproof?”

Xu Huo narrowed his eyes. When the flames flared up just now, he barely made out the man’s face—this was the long-haired man Yu Xiaoyu mentioned. He held a dragon-shaped toy gun, though the flames it emitted were very real.

”Since you play with fire too, want to join the Holy Sword Society?” Ma Yu patted the toy gun. ”They have plenty of good stuff. This thing came from the Holy Sword Society.”

Xu Huo smiled slightly. ”What future does a second-rate Player-Eater’s group have? Within three days, the Holy Sword Society will completely disappear from Ting City.”

Ma Yu laughed heartily. ”I know you ordinary players have characteristics and think you’re something special, looking down on Player-Eaters. But characteristics need time to develop. Too bad for you, you ran into me.”

”Is that so?” Xu Huo raised two fingers, and the string that had already slithered near Ma Yu suddenly jerked his neck straight, forcefully pulling him into the air!

Ma Yu was shocked. Seeing the man opposite charging toward him, he immediately raised the toy gun. But before he could pull the trigger, Xu Huo—whose speed was no less than a Player-Eater’s—kicked the gun away and stabbed toward his chest and abdomen!

”Shick!” The sharp blade pierced through the fabric but failed to injure Ma Yu. He wore black tight-fitting clothing underneath, seemingly thin yet capable of resisting blade attacks!

The failed strike gave Ma Yu a chance to catch his breath. He grabbed the string, threw his head back, scraping off a layer of skin to break free from the restraint. Kicking out to force Xu Huo back, he followed up swiftly, throwing a series of fierce, crackling punches!

Xu Huo retreated step by step. Even with his arms crossed in front for defense, he couldn’t withstand the opponent’s assault. Finally, a punch sent him crashing through the brick wall behind!

As soon as he stood up from the debris of bricks and fragments, Ma Yu was already upon him. At the same time, another Holy Sword Society player on the second floor closed in from behind!

”I’ll help!” Huang Junjie, who had been on the same floor, arrived at the sound and deflected the other player’s attack with a knife, drawing him away from Xu Huo.

Xu Huo glanced that way, tore off his right glove, and was pulled up by the string. Hanging mid-air, he charged toward Ma Yu!

Kicks met punches, both moving so fast they became blurs. After exchanging dozens of blows, Ma Yu couldn’t endure any longer and retreated. Looking at his hands, the backs of his hands and arms were swollen badly, with a faint pain suggesting bone fractures!

”You’re a Player-Eater too?” he asked doubtfully. ”Then why oppose us?”

Xu Huo didn’t stop, controlling the string to pursue him. He stomped Ma Yu through the brick wall, and before he could get up, delivered another crushing step!

Ma Yu rolled continuously across the ground, leaving one sunken pit after another until they reached the balcony!

Seeing that Xu Huo wouldn’t speak and only pressed the attack fiercely, Ma Yu grew furious. ”Who are you really? Are you with the Special Affairs Department?”

”Guess.” Xu Huo intercepted him at the balcony window, sweeping his leg to force the man trying to jump from the second floor back inside!

Ma Yu landed back inside the building, his eyes flashing as he suddenly lunged toward the dragon-shaped toy gun in the corner!