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"That thing just now wrapped its black hair around me, yet no skill prompt appeared. Was it because it was merely an illusion, or does that thing lack a physical form entirely?

Or perhaps, are there hidden conditions I have yet to meet, preventing me from downloading skills from such entities?"

Various thoughts flashed through Hu Long's mind.

Unfortunately, the current information was too limited to determine the true cause.

He stopped overthinking, withdrew his focus, and cast his gaze toward the desk in front of him.

There wasn't much on the tabletop.

Only a brand-new computer and a mobile phone, their screen protectors still intact.

A light-colored sticky note was attached to the corner of the desk, bearing a line of elegant handwriting:

"Love, Mom and Dad."

This was likely left behind by the original owner's mother.

Hu Long picked up the phone, peeled off the film, and after a quick setup, gave it a casual test.

Next, he flipped open the computer and pressed the power button.

Whether it was the phone or the computer, the operation methods were no different from his previous life.

Coupled with the fact that the original owner already possessed the "Master-Level Network Offense and Defense" skill.

Hu Long used these devices without the slightest awkwardness; instead, he moved with a fluid, practiced ease.

He navigated the browser with familiarity, clicked into a frequently visited forum, and typed a few keywords into the search bar.

Patter... patter...

Outside the window, the fine rain was like gauze, dense and soft. Looking out from the second floor, one could see droplets of water falling one by one from the eaves.

The droplets first landed on the edge of the second-floor tile overhang, hanging and trembling, gathering weight until they fell straight down.

Then, they landed precisely on the wider, sloped green tiles of the first floor below.

In the distance, the gray-white buildings resembled waves, layered and overlapping. Each garden villa looked like an independent manor, possessing a unique charm amidst the misty rain.

As time passed.

The clock on the wall ticked away.

The sound of rain outside gradually faded.

"As expected, there's no useful information!"

After a long while.

Hu Long leaned back in his recliner, rubbing his temples with a headache.

The results of his search just now were, unsurprisingly, unsatisfactory.

It wasn't that there was nothing online.

On the contrary.

There was a vast amount of information online, but it was far too chaotic. Encounters with bizarre occurrences, similar to his own, were not rare.

However, in Hu Long's view, most of these were fabricated stories or mysterious legends heard from the older generation.

They were fine to listen to as stories, but upon closer scrutiny, one could find numerous loopholes.

Others were simply matters where the truth could not be distinguished from falsehood.

They held no real reference value.

He had even resorted to unconventional means, attempting to hack into certain official databases to investigate the issues plaguing him.

Logically, the authorities should have records of such anomalous situations.

However, he had barely breached the perimeter before being detected, and he had nearly been traced back to his location.

After all, this world was never short of computer geniuses.

"It seems I must seek other methods. But I possess an advantage the original owner could never match.

The Primordial Plain Panel allows me to acquire and download skills simply by touching others.

Since such bizarre things exist, there might be corresponding Buddhist or Taoist arts that can restrain them. Perhaps I can start from that angle..."

Hu Long pondered, gradually forming a clear plan.

Next.

He needed to map out his future path.

He had to resolve the hidden dangers within himself.

Then, he would see if he could find other ways to obtain Source Value without having to bask in the sun, so he could exchange it for bandwidth to download more skills.

After all, while this method of relying on the "mood of the heavens" to gain Source Value was stable, it was far too slow.

Knock, knock...

Suddenly, a knocking sound echoed.

Simultaneously, Wendys's steady voice drifted in.

"Second Young Master, Sir and Madam have returned. They would like you to come over."

"Understood."

Hu Long shut down the screen in front of him, stood up, and pulled the door open.

Wendys was waiting quietly outside. Seeing him emerge, she turned slightly to lead the way.

As Hu Long followed her through the corridor and arrived outside the main hall, Hu Zhao was already waiting by the door.

She had changed into a black spaghetti-strap dress, her long hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, making her skin appear even fairer.

Seeing Hu Long, she stepped forward and gently linked her arm with his.

"Let's go in."

She whispered.

"Mom and Dad are both inside waiting for you."

Faced with this sudden intimacy, Hu Long's footsteps faltered almost imperceptibly, but he then allowed her to hold his arm as they walked into the main hall together.

Inside the main hall.

Two figures were present.

A middle-aged couple sat on the sofa in the main seating area.

The man was looking at a newspaper in his hands.

The woman, dressed in a plain-colored cheongsam, glanced toward the door from time to time.

Upon seeing Hu Long enter.

The woman seemed unable to hold back any longer; she hurried forward a few steps and pulled Hu Long into a tight embrace.

Her voice was choked with sobs, trembling:

"Long... you've suffered so much..."

After a moment, she pulled back slightly, her hands gently caressing his cheeks as she examined Hu Long through tear-blurred eyes.

"Let Mom get a good look at you... How did you get so thin? Have you not been eating properly at the hospital..."

The middle-aged man did not stand up, merely glancing at him once with a calm expression.

"As long as you're fine!"

Hu Long was no stranger to the woman and the middle-aged man before him. They existed in the original body's memories, and he had even spoken to them via video call when his "condition improved" earlier.

The two were none other than the original body's parents, Hu Chengwen and He Yanling.

Watching the woman before him tremble as she wept while holding him.

It made Hu Long feel a sense of discomfort.

Although he possessed some of the original body's memories.

That did not mean he was the original body, capable of accepting the original's family without any psychological burden, or calling other people's parents "Mom" and "Dad."

Therefore, Hu Long had no choice but to change the subject.

"Mm, I'm fine now."

Having said that.

He turned his head to look around, as if searching for something.

"By the way, where is my younger brother?"

Hearing this.

The two glanced at Hu Long, seeing that he did not display any significant abnormality.

Recalling what Hu Zhao had told them earlier.

He Yanling hesitated for a brief moment.

Only then did she call out toward the side: "Nanny Liu."

Before long.

A female nanny in her thirties appeared, carrying a small child.

The child was adorable, with double eyelids and large, bright eyes, playing with a toy robot in his hands.

Upon coming out and seeing Hu Chengwen and He Yanling nearby.

He reached out his arms, babbling "Papa" and "Mama" in a slurred voice.

"Come, say hello to your brother."

Hu Long chuckled, clapped his hands, and reached out to take him.

The nanny was clearly aware of Hu Long's status.

At first, the little guy was unwilling and kept struggling.

But after Hu Long lifted him up, he was amused and started laughing.

"He's only just over a year old and can't talk yet. He usually only calls for Mom and Dad; he can't even say 'sister' yet."

Hu Zhao explained from the side.

"What's his name?"

Hu Long asked.

"His name is Hu Yu."

Hu Chengwen spoke up from the side.

"You just recovered from your illness, don't overexert yourself. Put him down."

"Hmm, you're right. You have to stay healthy and not end up like your brother."

Hu Long smiled and said this to the Hu Yu in his arms.

He reached out and handed the child to He Yanling, who was standing nearby.

Whether she was worried about him getting tired, he didn't know, but this cheap father was likely more afraid that he hadn't fully recovered and might go crazy and drop the child.

However, there was no need to bring that out into the open.

Hearing Hu Long say this, a trace of guilt flashed imperceptibly in Hu Chengwen's eyes.

His eldest son had been locked up in a mental hospital, yet he had only been focused on caring for the youngest.

This gave him a sense of guilt.

"Right, I'm a bit hungry. When are we eating?"

Hu Long naturally caught this with his keen senses.

He didn't continue the topic; bringing it up appropriately could stir up the other party's guilt, which was to his advantage, but going too far would be counterproductive.

Therefore, he changed the subject and asked.

Although not much time had passed since his last meal, thanks to the physical talent "High-Efficiency Absorption and Metabolism," he was hungry again.

Coupled with the strange figure in his body that was absorbing something from him, he naturally required more food.

Sure enough.

Hearing Hu Long say this, He Yanling seemed even more guilty.

"You're right, I was so busy talking that Long must be starving."

"Mom will go cook for you personally."

"Mom, the maids are already preparing the meal."

Hu Zhao explained from the side.

Afterward, through Hu Long's intentional efforts, the family atmosphere became harmonious and warm.

After dinner, the family chatted for a while longer.

The center of the conversation was naturally Hu Long and the one-year-old Hu Yu.

Facing He Yanling's solicitous inquiries, Hu Long only answered sporadically.

When the time was right, he made an excuse that he was a bit tired.

He then returned to his room.

Back in his room, after closing the door, Hu Long walked to the window and looked out at the dark, hazy night in the distance.

His brows furrowed slightly.

He was willing to return to the original owner's life.

Aside from the fact that he had nowhere else to go and a few other factors, there was one extremely important point.

He wanted to figure out exactly what that strange figure was.

According to the original owner's residual memories, he didn't have a hobby of exploring strange places.

So, it was unlikely he had provoked anything unclean.

The possibility of that was greatly reduced.

Thus, there remained a more sinister possibility.

It was the work of someone close to the original owner.