Chapter Summaries

Xu Huo invited Hu Shan and Mr. Dong into the Music Room, where He Pu’s concert incapacitated the players and turned Hu Shan against them. The battle exposed Fly as the non-mission player, while He Pu’s attack forced Xu Huo to retrieve a hidden Figurine Doll.

• Xu Huo asked He Pu to invite Mr. Dong and Hu Shan to listen, and He Pu’s music overwhelmed the room and left the players disoriented.
• Hu Shan attacked You Qiwen with a blade, but You Qiwen’s electric attack knocked her and nearby players down.
• Wei Landeng fired at He Pu and enraged Hu Shan, who attacked her until Chen Tu restrained her and Fly pulled her toward Xu Huo.
• When the music quieted, You Qiwen trapped Hu Shan in an ice-filled Ice Box and attacked He Pu, then turned on Fly.
• Xu Huo identified Fly as the non-mission player and explained that his Face-to-Face Negotiation could affect only one person at a time.
• He Pu blasted the broken chairs beneath the stage, and Xu Huo retrieved a hidden Figurine Doll on a thin thread.

You Qiwen and Wei Landeng exposed Fly as a non-task player, but He Pu revealed that their claims about finding the Vanishing Guest were a ploy to search for the missing body. Under He Pu’s five-minute deadline, You Qiwen offered a theory about He Pu’s identity, and Xu Huo began to explain what he had uncovered.

• After He Pu stopped controlling the instruments, You Qiwen explained that Li Chao’s actions had made him suspect Fly, and Wei Landeng revealed that the Cooperation Contract had let her learn what happened in Fly’s room.
• Fly pointed out that the Cabinet behind the wall was empty and accused You Qiwen and Wei Landeng of failing to complete the first mission.
• He Pu exposed their plan to use the fight as a chance for Wei Landeng to search for the missing body, while You Qiwen insisted the dungeon rules meant the body could not be hidden beyond reach.
• You Qiwen promised Xu Huo the truth about the Vanishing Guest in exchange for help, and He Pu gave the group five minutes to satisfy his curiosity.
• You Qiwen claimed that an impostor had taken He Pu’s identity and was working with Mr. Dong to kill players; Xu Huo said the theory was partly right and hinted that He Pu had revealed the real truth.

Xu Huo explained why he believed the man posing as He Pu was not Rose Castle’s Dungeon Holder and identified Mr. Dong as the likely holder. He then argued that the game still required them to uncover the impostor’s identity.

• Fly used the Contract to reveal that Yu Shuai was still alive, and the players received notification that they had completed the first task.
• Xu Huo led the players downstairs and began explaining his theory to He Pu over tea.
• Xu Huo argued that the real He Pu had been a modest scholar, unlike the narcissistic impostor pretending to be him.
• Xu Huo named Mr. Dong as the likely Dungeon Holder, reasoning that He Pu’s ability to make guests and bodies disappear would otherwise violate the game’s rules.
• Xu Huo said the real He Pu was probably dead and concluded that the game wanted them to discover the impostor’s identity.

Xu Huo exposed He Pu as a Wanted Criminal who had infiltrated Rose Castle and used evidence, a fire, and the threat of reporting him to the Game Government to corner him. He Pu attacked the Players with a shock wave and a mental illusion, while Xu Huo opened a door that let the others escape the illusion and return to the Tea Hall as he fought He Pu.

• You Qiwen explained that a Player could avoid Dungeons by working legitimately for the Game Government, and Xu Huo revealed that He Pu was instead a Wanted Criminal who had fled from another Wormhole Point.
• Xu Huo presented the qipao woman's corpse and stolen belongings, pointed out the fire in the Garden Maze, and threatened to expose He Pu to the authorities and the Game Government.
• Xu Huo and the other Players attacked He Pu, but He Pu repelled their blows with a shock wave and used a Tuning Fork to trap them in a bloody mental illusion.
• You Qiwen recognized the mental attack, and Xu Huo opened a door in the illusion so the Players could escape back into the Tea Hall.
• The Players returned to find Xu Huo fighting He Pu.

Xu Huo and the others fought He Pu, whose sound-based attacks overwhelmed their attempts to trap him. He Pu exposed his true appearance and opened a portal that began pulling everyone in, just as the Ancient Castle suddenly darkened.

• Liu Zheng Ping used his Return Ticket to leave the game while You Qiwen, Wei Landeng, the Chen Brothers, and Yu Shuai stayed to fight He Pu.
• Wei Landeng and the others cornered He Pu, but his tuning fork unleashed a blast that shattered their abilities and drove Xu Huo into the ceiling.
• Xu Huo drew He Pu into his Spiritual World for an instant, while Wei Landeng and You Qiwen used an electrical trap that left her dead and He Pu badly burned.
• He Pu attacked You Qiwen, but Yu Shuai pulled him into the wall; He Pu then opened a disc-shaped portal that began drawing everyone toward it.
• Xu Huo resisted the pull with the Strings and took out the Five or Five Open Air Window, but the Ancient Castle suddenly grew dim.

As the Ancient Castle disintegrated, Xu Huo escaped but was pulled into a Black Water trap by Fake He Pu. They were carried by the Five or Five Open Air Window to a District 011 Game Government facility, where Fake He Pu attacked a building and government agents moved to capture them; Xu Huo was restrained while Fake He Pu was lifted into the air.

• The Ancient Castle transformed and began collapsing, while Fly was swallowed by the staircase and Fake He Pu escaped through a black hole pursued by Rainbow Light.
• You Qiwen, Wei Landeng, Yu Shuai, the Chen Brothers, and Xu Huo left the castle as Government Players arrived.
• Two androids examined Xu Huo, identified him as not being their marked target, and continued toward the castle.
• Fake He Pu pulled Xu Huo into Black Water, but Xu Huo used the Five or Five Open Air Window to bounce them both inside and carry them to the Game Government facility.
• Fake He Pu tried to destroy a shock-wave-emitting building, while government agents restrained Xu Huo and the crew cut man lifted Fake He Pu into the air.

Xu Huo helped the District 011 Enforcement Department capture Fake He Pu, a Wanted Criminal, and learned that reporting the capture could help him obtain a Player ID. He agreed to answer the Department’s questions and went with the short-haired captain to a hotel.

• Xu Huo identified Fake He Pu as the Wanted Criminal he had been pursuing, and the Enforcement Department exposed the criminal’s disguise.
• The Jacket Man and the other officers subdued Fake He Pu with guns and a Metal Cage, then began interrogating him.
• The short-haired captain questioned Xu Huo about his resistance to Fake He Pu’s mental attack and asked the robots what charge could be brought against him.
• Xu Huo learned that the Department could specially apply for his Player ID because he had helped capture a Wanted Criminal.
• Guo Yingguang asked Xu Huo to cooperate with further questions, and the short-haired captain offered him a ride to a hotel.

After the Rose Castle incident, Ran Ying brought Xu Huo to a secure Yongxing Hotel in Main City and treated him to a room. Xu Huo checked his S-class Dungeon rewards and examined a new Ability and theft item.

• In the car, Xu Huo explained how he identified the wanted criminal, and Ran Ying learned that the police had already sealed Rose Castle and were searching for He Pu.
• Ran Ying told Xu Huo that the castle and its contents might eventually be auctioned, and Xu Huo decided to watch for news about the auction and He Pu’s research notes.
• Ran Ying and Cheng Bing took Xu Huo to a Yongxing Hotel, where Ran Ying paid for his room and promised to return for breakfast.
• After Ran Ying left, Xu Huo checked his Game Panel and received the Power of Writing, a special item, a D-class common item, Potions, and White Cash.
• Xu Huo read that the Power of Writing could make people focus on him for five seconds, then examined the Hungry Gluttonous Snake, which could steal a valuable possession without its owner noticing right away.

Xu Huo examined his new items and learned that the Super Artifact Field Battle Angel had been claimed by Paper Puppeteer. He reflected on how the search for the artifact drew attention away from District 014 and considered the vast reach of Super Artifacts, including his own Three Seconds of Life.

• Xu Huo attached the Gluttonous Snake to his umbrella and used Mona Lisa to conceal it from sight.
• Xu Huo reviewed his potions and found an extra D-level ticket for Great World at Sea among his rewards.
• Game broadcasts announced that Paper Puppeteer had acquired Field Battle Angel, weapons had been stolen from Platinum Eye, and war had broken out in District 012.
• Xu Huo searched for details about Carmen Field’s ruins and learned that Kailuoer Field had opened them to players, drawing numerous powerful players and sparking battles.
• Xu Huo concluded that the hunt for Field Battle Angel had diverted players from District 014 and reasoned that Three Seconds of Life had rewound everything in Decibel Town, not just his own life.

Xu Huo went to the Game Government Base to make a statement and saw how the facility monitored Players. The chapter left him waiting to explain what happened in a smoke-filled records room.

• Xu Huo researched the Field Battle Angel and the Enforcement Department, then messaged Shi Youzhi to arrange a visit to the Government Base.
• Xu Huo changed rooms at Yongxing Hotel, hired a car, and learned from the floor manager how the hotel’s security and billing systems worked.
• Xu Huo declined to meet Ran Ying for breakfast and traveled to the Game Government Base.
• Shi Youzhi escorted Xu Huo through the base’s security system and directed him to the records department.
• Xu Huo entered the smoke-filled records room, where an unseen person gestured for him to sit.

Xu Huo answered questions at the Game Government Base and received an unregistered citizen ID after helping on the train. He left with advice about trading and Ran Ying’s invitation to lunch.

• Xu Huo told the curly-haired man that he wanted a place to stay and described what he had noticed about the Train Chaser.
• The curly-haired man sent Shi Youzhi to give Xu Huo a citizen ID as thanks for his help on the train.
• Shi Youzhi explained the ID’s limited uses and warned Xu Huo about private and underground trading channels.
• Ran Ying called Xu Huo, and Shi Youzhi revealed that Xu Huo had come to the base for an ID.
• Ran Ying teased Shi Youzhi and invited Xu Huo to have lunch with her.

Xu Huo sold unwanted items and bought two C-class defensive items after considering his limited budget. Back at the hotel, he summoned the little girl and gave her candy, clothes, and toys, while she claimed she had known he was a good person.

• Xu Huo sold ten unwanted E-class items for ninety thousand White Cash and went to an Exchange to shop for equipment.
• Xu Huo rejected cumbersome Battle Armor and searched for defensive items that could help counter item and Ability attacks.
• Xu Huo bought the C-class items "Stuttering Malice" and "Seeing Is Believing" for three hundred thousand White Cash.
• Xu Huo bought candy, local specialties, children's clothes, and toys before returning to the hotel.
• Xu Huo summoned the little girl with the Awakening Doll, and she eagerly ate the candy and said she had known he was a good person.

Xu Huo learned why District 011 had no Random Instances and considered leaving to find more information about its Super Dungeon. He left his hotel with Ran Ying while Brother Tu remained trapped in the painting.

• Xu Huo examined the items he had bought and asked Pink Hat to put Brother Tu into a Random Instance, but she could not open one in District 011.
• Xu Huo questioned Brother Tu about missing instances and learned that a Super Dungeon prevented Random Instances from appearing in District 011.
• Brother Tu explained that District 011 was sought after by Players and that its Tickets were the most expensive among the five lower districts.
• Xu Huo decided he would need to leave District 011 to seek more information, and Pink Hat departed with the treats and clothes.
• Xu Huo put the painting away, changed into a suit, and left the room with an umbrella to meet Ran Ying in the lobby.

Xu Huo explored District 011 after dining with Ran Ying, who warned him about the dangers of working as auxiliary staff for the Game Government Base. In a lawless area, three men tried to rob him, and Xu Huo asked them if they knew Deng Xuan.

• Ran Ying took Xu Huo to dinner, explained how District 011 treated players and outsiders, and warned him that auxiliary staff at the Game Government Base died quickly.
• Ran Ying offered to help Xu Huo settle in before an emergency call summoned her away.
• Xu Huo toured public spaces and learned that citizen IDs gave residents access to certain places while outsiders faced extra restrictions.
• Xu Huo walked into a labyrinthine Lawless Zone, where three men confronted him and demanded money.
• Xu Huo gave the men cigarettes and asked whether they knew Deng Xuan.

Xu Huo visited Deng Xuan to arrange a discounted Potion purchase, then noticed signs of a hidden gathering and realized someone was following him. He went to Yongxing Hotel and watched the pursuer, deciding to give him a chance to act.

• Xu Huo beat three punks who tried to lead him into an alley, then followed a middle-aged man to Deng Xuan.
• Xu Huo arranged to buy Evolution Potions, a Self-Healing Agent, and other strength-boosting Potions from Deng Xuan in five days.
• Xu Huo noticed the streets changing as he left, while the middle-aged man returned to a concealed courtyard where Deng Xuan and others met with Brother Zhao’s group.
• Brother Jing warned Deng Xuan not to bring outsiders to the courtyard, and Brother Zhao sent someone to follow Xu Huo after leaving.
• Xu Huo spotted the pursuer and went to Yongxing Hotel, where he watched the man and decided to give him a chance.

Xu Huo fought off the Player who had tracked him to a mall, using his items and a sandstorm to overcome the man’s abilities. After trapping the defeated opponent in World in the Painting, Xu Huo opened the VIP room door to the store manager.

• Xu Huo confronted the pursuing Player in a mall VIP room and countered his Wooden Man ability with the Fair Wallet and other items.
• The Player used flower vines, rapid movement, and Plant's Lament to attack Xu Huo, temporarily deafening and blinding him.
• Xu Huo unleashed the Desert Windmill, filling the room with a sandstorm that disrupted the Player’s attacks.
• Xu Huo fought back with the Butcher Knife and, after the sandstorm vanished, collected the scattered items and trapped the Player in World in the Painting.
• Xu Huo opened the room to the store manager and explained that he had broken some things.

Xu Huo questioned the captured Player about why he had tried to kill him, then changed his appearance and returned to Rose Castle. He found Mr. Dong alone in the castle and stayed to cook dinner.

• Xu Huo searched for ways to disguise himself and bought an Imitation Snake skin with two Reshaping Masks.
• Xu Huo questioned the Player trapped in the Picture Frame, who hinted that Xu had appeared at the wrong time and warned that contacting base staff would draw attention.
• Xu Huo used a Reshaping Mask, left the hotel, and traveled to Rose Castle after checking that no one was following him.
• Xu Huo learned from Mr. Dong that the castle's master had died, Hu Shan had been dismissed, and the cook had resigned.
• Xu Huo cooked fried rice for himself and Mr. Dong, who declined to eat and stood beside the table with a towel.

Xu Huo stayed at Rose Castle to study He Pu’s notes, then left to meet Deng Xuan in the transition zone between the Ancient City District and the Main City. He disguised himself and approached Deng Xuan while others watched the meeting.

• Xu Huo questioned Mr. Dong about He Pu’s body, will, castle, and ability, Static Reversal, then continued reading He Pu’s notes at Rose Castle.
• Xu Huo’s Reshaping Mask came off, swelling his face, and he declined Ran Ying’s dinner invitation and offer of work.
• Xu Huo spent several days studying He Pu’s belongings but found no information about the Perfect Potion, then told Mr. Dong he was leaving.
• Xu Huo traveled toward the transition zone and watched Deng Xuan arrive at a Beverage Shop from a nearby Mall.
• Xu Huo entered the shop in a tracksuit as Deng Xuan waited and began to speak into his Communicator.

Xu Huo used the Elusive Screaming Chicken to trace the men tailing him to a Rongxin Group simulation game building. He entered the same multiplayer room as one of them, leaving his next move inside the game uncertain.

• Deng Xuan mistook Xu Huo for someone else, while two other men continued to watch him.
• Xu Huo planted juice at a station locker, then used the Elusive Screaming Chicken to track his pursuer through the city.
• Xu Huo learned that the simulation game building and the neighborhood where the pursuer stopped both belonged to Rongxin Group.
• After following the men for three days, Xu Huo saw them enter the game building and chose the same multiplayer Palace Night Tour session as one of them.
• Xu Huo entered a control pod and watched the white interior transform into a luxurious Baroque-style room.

Xu Huo attended Rongxin Group’s mysterious Night Tour and examined murals said to carry traces of a Super Player’s Ability. In the crowded hall, he kept watch on Fox, the Hyena-masked man tracking him, and a Black Wolf mask moving closer to Fox as a white-haired man appeared on the speaking platform.

• Xu Huo joined four masked Players, including Fox, as they discussed the Night Tour and the rumors surrounding its murals.
• The lights went out, and the group took candles into the corridor, where they learned the game had suppressed their night vision.
• Seal described how the murals could cause hallucinations and perhaps help Players evolve, while Xu Huo studied their story of believers receiving a miracle to fight Aliens.
• The crowd gathered in a hall, and Xu Huo spotted Fox, the Hyena-masked man watching him, and a Black Wolf mask approaching Fox.
• A white-haired man was projected onto the speaking platform.