The porcelain vase was delivered by another maid, who also brought fresh flowers.

While arranging the flowers, Xu Huo asked about the origin of the vase. The maid told him that Hu Shan was exceptionally skilled at pottery. He Pu had even specially given her a workshop on the first floor. Besides vases and containers, she could even make human-shaped clay blanks, though Hu Shan was often dissatisfied with her own work and would smash them to be thrown away.

“You’ve come at an unfortunate time, Mr. Xu. The castle has been very busy with guests these days, so she probably won’t be making anything new.”

After the maid left, Xu Huo went to the study on the second floor again. He took a photo of He Pu from the bookshelf, opened the frame, tore the photo in half, then pieced it back together and returned it. Only then did he go find the Chen brothers. After giving them a brief instruction, he returned to his room.

Before dinner, the young maid returned, handing him the pawn ticket and the remaining money from the purchases. He gave her a crystal hair clip from the list of items, and the maid left happily.

He did not go downstairs for dinner and only left his room at midnight.

As soon as he stepped out, he was followed by the Ma couple.

Xu Huo pretended not to know and directly circled around the garden maze to the woods in front of the annex at the back.

Seeing this, the couple exchanged a glance and slightly increased their speed.

Before even entering the woods, Xu Huo opened the black umbrella in his hand.

Raindrops fell on the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Ma, but the two didn’t mind. It often rained around the castle. Their gazes were fixed on Xu Huo, like beasts entering a hunting state.

However, just after entering the woods, the person ahead suddenly stopped.

Just as the two were growing suspicious, Mrs. Ma suddenly grabbed her neck with both hands, her whole body arching backwards as she was dragged back, her feet scraping the ground!

Mr. Ma was about to turn back to pull her when a fire inexplicably ignited on his body. He cried out in alarm, but his reaction was swift. In a few quick motions, he tore off his burning clothes and swiftly hid behind a nearby tree.

At the same time, Mrs. Ma, relying on her explosively increased muscular strength, forcibly tore away the piano wire strangling her neck. Her entire body seemed to transform into a mass of knotted muscles as she charged toward Xu Huo with thunderous steps!

She wasn’t running in a straight line but rapidly shifting her position left and right, using this to avoid the aim of the lighter.

The Ma couple hadn’t survived up to a D-level dungeon as Player-Eaters just by luck. The moment they were ambushed, both entered combat mode, and their combat experience was rich. While Mr. Ma was on fire, Mrs. Ma quickly changed positions, absolutely refusing to give Xu Huo another chance to strike.

The more powerful an item, the more restrictions it usually had on its use. Although Xu Huo was holding the lighter, he was unable to release a second fire for a long time. His eyes followed Mrs. Ma’s movements left and right as he retreated repeatedly, seemingly a bit unable to keep up.

Seizing the moment his gaze shifted away, Mrs. Ma flashed in front of Xu Huo, swinging a knife to slash at his throat!

But Xu Huo didn’t even turn his head. A long sword suddenly appeared in his hand, executing a vertical upward slash from below!

Given the distance between them, the moment the plane of the sword energy appeared, Mrs. Ma actually spun into a top-like shape in mid-air, charging straight at Xu Huo. She dodged the slash while simultaneously drilling into his chest like an auger!

*Crack!* Xu Huo was knocked back, and the Ox Shield blocking in front of him shattered with the sound. He switched to pulling the piano wire and leaped backward, but Mr. Ma, who had been waiting for his chance, had already circled to one side and flung a wallet at him. Uncontrollably, the sword in Xu Huo’s hand fell to the ground. Mrs. Ma followed up with a flying kick, landing it on his arm!

Xu Huo retreated to the door of the annex. Glancing at the long sword on the ground, he ultimately didn’t risk picking it up. Instead, he turned and rushed into the annex.

The Ma couple didn’t care about the item on the ground. Before the original owner died, even the most powerful item could only be used as a club. They also wouldn’t give Xu Huo a chance to reclaim his item, so Mr. Ma picked up the sword and thrust it into a tree.

The two then entered the annex.

Although this annex was specifically used for raising spiders, upon entering, there was first a small living room. To the left and right were document rooms. Past the corridors on both sides was the rear area where the glass terrariums were placed.

The Ma couple hadn’t been here before, but inside, there were small lights specifically for the spiders, creating patches of light and shadow, making the visibility unclear.

“Where did that brat hide?” Mr. Ma casually closed the door behind them.

As his words fell, the lights in the spider room suddenly all went out. The two immediately pricked up their ears to listen to the surroundings. Both hearing and vision improved with evolution. Even in conditions with no visibility, they could locate by sound. Moreover, Player-Eaters had stronger physical evolution than ordinary players. Even if Xu Huo had a higher evolution rate than them, they weren’t afraid!

But before they could separate, they were doused head to toe with a shower of alcohol!

“He has a sound-muffling item!”

The couple didn’t hesitate and immediately ran for the door. But by then, Mrs. Ma, who was a step behind, was already on fire. Not just her clothes, but her hair and eyebrows were all burning. Mr. Ma instinctively looked back, coming face-to-face with Xu Huo raising a small spray bottle: *Pssst…!*

Mr. Ma covered his eyes, screaming in pain, “Pepper spray!”

Xu Huo had already picked up the “Target-Specific Chainsaw.” With a pull of the cord, he swung it down toward Mr. Ma’s head!

Mr. Ma immediately released his hands covering his eyes, swinging his arm up to block. Blood sprayed instantly. He avoided having his head split open at the cost of an arm.

Behind him, Mrs. Ma, whose body was still not completely extinguished, lunged to tackle him. Xu Huo bent at the waist. The chainsaw in his hand, along with a short arrow flying out of the darkness and passing through the range of the Sound-Muffling Figurine, simultaneously attacked the person behind!

Mrs. Ma blocked the chainsaw with a forearm guard item, but it was too late to avoid the short arrow. She formed a fist with one hand to protect her heart!

*Thud!* The short arrow pierced through the back of her hand, its momentum mostly dissipated. Although the arrowhead pierced into her chest, it only caused a flesh wound.

Mrs. Ma pulled out the arrow and reached out to grab Xu Huo. However, Xu Huo had already used that brief opening to circle behind her. After kicking Mr. Ma away, he used the butcher’s knife to slice her throat.

Mr. Ma, his eyes burning red and unable to see, heard a heavy object hit the ground and forced his eyes open. Seeing the shadow of Mrs. Ma fallen on the ground, he roared furiously, “You dare kill her! I’ll kill you!”

The fire on Mrs. Ma’s body went out, plunging the spider room back into darkness. Xu Huo swung the chainsaw, exchanging a couple of blows with Mr. Ma, while also controlling the short arrow to wound his shoulder.

Seeing his opponent take out the wallet again, preparing to throw it to the ground, Xu Huo first recalled all his items back to his item slots. Subsequently, the cigarette pack he had in his pocket fell out.

Mr. Ma couldn’t see or hear any sound from Xu Huo’s direction. Relying on instinct, he charged toward the location of the previous fight. Upon entering the range of the Sound-Muffling Figurine, he detected footsteps. Without hesitation, he swung his knife to slash toward the right side. Hearing Xu Huo retreat, he swiftly advanced forward but suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. Reaching out to touch it, he felt the chainsaw!

“Sending you to reunite with your wife. You’ll have company on the road to the Yellow Springs,” Xu Huo said, pulling out the chainsaw and kicking his corpse toward Mrs. Ma.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep