Chapter 2750

(Modify later) Xu Huo was in no hurry to leave, but the others were not as patient. The gourmet and botanist had a conflict, reaching the point where they would become upset at each other’s presence, but once Mr. Wen returned, they each went about their own business.

The botanist, claiming a need for a final check, spent most of his time in the garden, except when eating or sleeping. He was also there at night, but after midnight, the butler would remind him to go back to sleep.

The gourmet’s task was to nurse Mr. Wen’s health, so he spent time in the kitchen and also visited Mr. Wen to inquire directly about his health status, frequently going to Mr. Wen’s study and bedroom.

The scholar came to visit Xu Huo twice, each time subtly using psychological hints. His objective seemed linked to Mr. Wen, likely aiming to learn from Xu Huo the location of Mr. Wen’s private collections.

On the second day, Xu Huo met Mr. Wen—Harry highly recommended it, as he believed Mr. Wen’s physical health was somewhat tied to his mental state, thus persuading Mr. Wen to meet a psychologist.

Xu Huo played this role, but rather than seeking treatment, Mr. Wen was more inclined not to reject the goodwill of his juniors, so he made clear from the start that he didn’t wish for psychological therapy but merely to have a casual chat.

Xu Huo readily complied, sharing some insights and chatting about flowers as Mr. Wen enjoyed.

As for the scholar’s interest in private collections, Mr. Wen did introduce some to him. Due to his passion for flowers, many stories of his collections were flower-related, and the painting hanging in the most prominent spot in his study was a work by his wife when she was young. The couple met because of flowers, and the flower in the painting was his wife’s favorite species, also his most cherished possession.

The scholar did not specify the item he was interested in to Xu Huo, but seemed to probe toward the valuable and cherished, perhaps hoping Xu Huo would pay particular attention to them when meeting Mr. Wen. However, as it was only their first conversation, Mr. Wen, despite his willingness to share, would not divulge too much, and their first conversation soon ended.

*

"Just kidding!" the photographer explained with an impish grin, "Didn’t plan anything else, just wanted to see when this bird will grow red feathers."

The spatial ray blade edging closer to his carotid artery pressed forward again, and Xu Huo’s voice was heard once more, "Finding a bird doesn’t warrant killing, but there won’t be a next time."

As the words fell, the photographer felt a release of pressure around him. He glanced back to see Xu Huo already at the coffee table, seemingly planning to pour himself a cup of tea.

At this moment, there was some distance between them, with the photographer closer to the birdcage and Xu Huo’s back turned to him...

The photographer’s nostrils flared, his breathing quickened, the tension in his facial muscles and the gleam in his eyes signaled his eagerness, but he abandoned the thought within a second and instead followed Xu Huo to the coffee table.

Xu Huo was unfazed by his change in attitude and asked, "Did the gourmet and botanist fight?"

"A minor skirmish," the photographer said. "The botanist’s objective surely isn’t the hummingbird, can’t say for the other two. They seemed in no rush after arriving."

"Have you met Mr. Wen?" Xu Huo asked again.

"Of course," the photographer replied. "An elderly gentleman with poor health—talking a few words leaves him out of breath. When taking his picture, I worried it would look like a memorial photo. Didn’t expect him to go out visiting friends, though it does facilitate others’ movements."

Speaking of Cao Cao, as soon as they finished talking, the estate’s door opened outside. A vehicle glided along the ground, bringing all of the servants from the estate to the garden. The butler and Mrs. Ti Hui also rushed to meet him: one to greet, the other standing beneath the entrance.

Mr. Wen was assisted down by a young man. He appeared to be older than Mrs. Ti Hui but had a gentle expression, speaking softly with the butler.

Soon, the butler informed Xu Huo and others that Mr. Wen planned to host a banquet in three days, inviting friends over, of course, Xu Huo and the others could attend too, with no rush to leave.

Upon hearing this, the photographer’s face fell. "Doesn’t Mr. Wen dislike hosting banquets? Could this sudden banquet trigger a sub-mission?"

He said as he glanced at the birds Xu Huo had raised, then added, "Better start with Mrs. Ti Hui, finish promptly, and leave."

Xu Huo raised an eyebrow slightly, "Haven’t you noticed? Since Mr. Wen returned, this estate feels different."

The photographer followed his gaze and saw that after dusk, the estate’s edge became somewhat unclear, as if covered by a layer of blurred glass.

"Could the estate be a dungeon venue?" He realized.

"It’s possible," Xu Huo was unsure, but since Mr. Wen entered the estate, most areas became difficult to probe with spatial rays; each space was sealed with a thick layer to obscure exploration.

As long as the dungeon isn’t completely locked down, they could leave anytime, but if it were sealed, they’d have to force their way out.

However, no such "unexpected" records existed for the estate, making this scenario unlikely.

The sole concern was the potential emergence of sub-missions.

This uncontrollable factor hinted at danger, prompting the photographer’s slight impatience. Xu Huo might have left, hinting at another plan.

Xu Huo had experienced eight Rank-B instances, completing the Wandering Melissa instance when he was still at Player Level C; due to this over-level instance, he quickly upgraded to Rank-B player. Among his subsequent instances, numerous Faith Stand doll instances only reached Rank-A, and The Stolen Declaration failed because Dou Shengnan couldn’t clear it, thus lowering his average across Rank-B S and SS-rank instances, totaling only five. The failure of The Stolen Declaration heavily reduced his average score.

For instance clearance, players have two ways to level up: either quantity—regardless of each score, completing numerous instances can elevate the level with time; or quality—Xu Huo’s rapid ascent to Rank-B was due to high ratings on each instance, allowing for quick progression despite fewer completed instances.

High scores bring many benefits, like superior prop quality, and given Xu Huo’s current skill, lingering at Rank-B is unnecessary—he should advance to Rank-A to enter instances matching his abilities, thereby obtaining greater rewards and accessing more powerful wormhole points and zones.

Of course, sub-missions are also a means to achieve high scores.