Xu Huo stared at the food in front of him, still showing no intention of touching it. Uncle Guan and the others sitting with him were the same. Gradually, the atmosphere in the dining hall turned uneasy.
The people from Zone 002 across from them were eating with gusto, so absorbed that they had completely stopped paying attention to their surroundings. The players, meanwhile, were like dry kindling facing a raging fire. One spark would be enough to set it all ablaze.
There was no need to look. More than two or three players were standing behind him. As the first to have refused again and again, Xu Huo drew the attention of a big man who looked half a head broader than he was. The man came over and clamped a hand on his shoulder. "Brother, I can't stand people who waste food. We've laid out a feast for you, and you're still putting on airs? I'm going to watch you eat it today, no matter what."
Xu Huo seemed to turn even paler. Angrily, he said, "Who said we had to eat your food? Do you think we didn't bring anything of our own?"
Then he turned to Mr. Kang. "Is this how you treat your guests? I thought I'd walked into a bandit's den!"
"I've heard of people being forced to buy or sell, but never of anyone being force-fed. We only wanted somewhere to stay. Since we clearly don't get along, we'll just leave!"
His furious outburst didn't anger the players from Little River City. Instead, they burst out laughing. The tense atmosphere vanished in an instant, and they were back to their earlier, warm hospitality. The big man swung his broad palm and smacked Xu Huo on the back again and again. "I was just