"It's still unclear why Russell Cemetery gave up its qualification for the mid-season tournament. But in any case, they are our number one enemy in the preseason."
Wang Shun clicked the panel, and a bloody lamb's head appeared on the PPT.
"Besides Russell Cemetery, the other team we need to pay attention to is the Fanatic Lambs. They finished last in last year's mid-season tournament."
"This team won the preseason two years ago. In the challenge match, they faced Deer Hunter, whose tactician was still the Reverse God. As expected, the Fanatic Lambs lost the challenge match, but they still managed to enter last year's mid-season tournament."
Wang Shun looked up. "The reason I'm highlighting that match is that it marked the first time the Reverse God—known as a moderate tactician—killed someone in a game. He killed the opposing tactician."
"However, that tactician was a popular player that year and possessed a golden immunity medal, so he survived. He is still the tactician of the Furious Lambs and remains active."
"During that challenge match, all the Deer Hunter members competed while injured—including the Reverse God. Later, I investigated and discovered their injuries weren't sustained in-game, but in real life."
"After reviewing the Lambs' preseason matches, I noticed something strange."
"Whenever the Fanatic Lambs faced a strong or reputable team, the opposing players would encounter incidents in real life and end up competing while injured."
"There were even several cases where core members of their opponents died on the eve of a match."
Wang Shun's tone grew serious. "So I made a hypothesis. The Fanatic Lambs may have an intelligence collector with abilities similar to mine—someone capable of obtaining players' real-world addresses and targeting them outside the game."
Mu Sicheng couldn't help but sigh. "That's shameless. If you can't beat them in-game, you attack them in real life."
"It's despicable," Wang Shun agreed. "But in reality, you're not as powerful as you are in the game. You're just ordinary people."
He emphasized firmly, "You're already an outstanding preseason team. You must prioritize your real-life safety."
"Especially Bai Liu."
Wang Shun looked directly at him. "Mu Sicheng is a registered college student. Liu Jiayi is under multiple layers of surveillance after her recent incident. Captain Tang has strong self-defense capabilities. Mu Ke comes from an old-money family."
"Only you…"
"You're currently marginalized in society."
Everyone turned to look at Bai Liu.
"I'm talking to you." Mu Sicheng walked over and grabbed Bai Liu's shoulders. "Want to move into my dorm?"
Tang Erda frowned. "University dorm security isn't sufficient. Bai Liu, your small rental apartment isn't safe either. I have a house near the base—why don't you move in with me?"
"That won't work," Liu Jiayi interrupted. "If something happens near the base, he'll be implicated." She looked at Bai Liu. "I think you should talk to Mu Ke and move in with him. It's convenient financially and logistically."
Bai Liu considered it. "Living alone is indeed inconvenient."
Several people leaned in at once. "So who are you living with?"
Bai Liu smiled. "My current plan is to bring Du Sanying to live with me."
There was a long silence.
Mu Sicheng blinked first. "Huh??"
-----------------
After the meeting, Bai Liu logged out of his rental apartment.
He took off his bloodstained white shirt and tossed it into the laundry basket, then removed his belt and trousers and added them as well.
He entered the bathroom naked, turned on the shower, removed his hair tie, and tilted his head back as warm water streamed over his face. Reaching for the shampoo beside the mirror, he paused.
The mirror was fogged with steam, faintly reflecting his upper body.
Compared to when he first entered the game, his body had visibly changed.
Bai Liu never ordered takeout or milk tea—they were too expensive. He rarely attended team-building dinners or social gatherings. At most, he used coupons once a month to eat at Heluyi Station. Most days, he ate the company's cheapest eight-yuan meal: one meat, one vegetable—the "meat" often being scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
From childhood through adolescence to adulthood, Bai Liu had never experienced abundance. Due to chronic undernourishment, he had always lagged behind his peers physically.
As a child, he was the shortest. As a teenager, the thinnest. Even as an adult, his height had nearly cost him job opportunities.
Now, at twenty-four, Bai Liu looked at himself in the mirror and realized—
He had grown a little taller.
Tang Erda's intense month-long training had changed more than just his height.
His skin, once pale from years of office work without sunlight, now carried a faint flush. His shoulders, neck, waist, and back were straighter. His formerly thin limbs and abdomen now showed defined muscle lines.
Especially his shoulders, back, and abdomen—lean muscle wrapped around his frame, making him look far stronger than before.
He didn't have Tang Erda's sharply defined six-pack, but shallow grooves had formed along both sides of his rectus abdominis. With a little more training, real abs would likely appear.
Mr. Bai Liu, nearly twenty-five years old, felt oddly as though he had finally begun to grow up.
While drying himself, he suddenly paused.
His fingers brushed over the whip marks Spades had left on his back.
He only paused for a moment.
Then he dressed as usual—white shirt and suit pants, the only types of clothing in his wardrobe.
He was going to pick up Du Sanying from the sanatorium. To look more formal, he even put on a tie he rarely wore.
After completing numerous procedures and having Du Sanying sign document after document, Bai Liu successfully brought him out under the stunned and suspicious gaze of the staff.
"Sorry for the trouble," Du Sanying scratched his head awkwardly. "Since I was diagnosed as having no independent mobility, it's complicated to get discharged. Did you find someone to help?"
Bai Liu hummed. "Captain Tang helped."
In truth, it had been Su Yang.
Su Yang felt Du Sanying's presence endangered both himself and others at the sanatorium. He had originally planned to transfer Du Sanying to a training camp near the base. When Bai Liu volunteered to take responsibility, Su Yang was surprised—but helped arrange everything.
Du Sanying followed Bai Liu quietly, occasionally glancing at the suitcase Bai Liu carried.
"If you have questions, ask," Bai Liu said without turning around.
Du Sanying hesitated. "…If I live with you, will it really not affect you?"
"Maybe I should live alone…" His voice trailed off.
"Do you want to live alone?" Bai Liu asked calmly.
Du Sanying stared at his clothes. "I've lived alone since middle school. Anyone who lived with me—friends, parents, my sister—something happened to them."
"Yes," Bai Liu replied. "I've read your file."
"So do you want to live alone?"
Du Sanying shook his head faintly. "I don't."
"You living with me won't harm me. You can help me. You don't want to live alone. I can resolve the risks you're worried about. Any other questions?"
Du Sanying straightened up, eyes red. "No! No more!"
"Thank you, Mr. Bai Liu!"
He suddenly smacked his forehead. "Wait—can I keep a parrot?"
"Probably," Bai Liu replied. "The landlord didn't forbid pets."
"You live in a rental apartment?!" Du Sanying asked, stunned.
"Yes. Don't you like rentals?"
"No! I rented before, too, but… someone like you living in a rental feels strange."
"What's strange?"
"…Why do you live in a rental?"
"Because I can't afford to buy a house."
"Aren't you rich?"
"I'm a laid-off worker," Bai Liu said mildly. "Though I've earned some money in the game, spending it on property would make me unhappy."
"Why?"
"I dislike paying premiums for overpriced goods."
Du Sanying nodded vaguely.
Later, he asked cautiously, "Are we taking a taxi?"
"I don't like taxis," he added quickly. "Can I walk?"
"Too many traffic accidents?" Bai Liu asked.
Du Sanying nodded gloomily. "Drivers who meet me are unlucky."
"I don't like taxis either," Bai Liu said. "Let's walk."
Du Sanying's eyes lit up—then welled with tears. "Mr. Bai Liu, please take care of yourself!"
"I don't like taxis because they're expensive," Bai Liu clarified.
Du Sanying: "…"
They walked back through old streets and narrow paths.
Du Sanying became tense whenever people brushed past, so they avoided crowds.
At one roadside stall stood a height-and-weight measuring machine. An old man sat beside it with a sign: One yuan, three measurements.
"That's cheap," Du Sanying remarked.
Bai Liu stopped.
"…You want to measure?" Du Sanying asked in surprise.
Bai Liu handed the old man a coin and stepped onto the scale.
The rod descended slowly.
The speaker blared: "Height 176 cm! Weight 58 kg! Normal thin!"
Bai Liu stood there until the announcement repeated three times before stepping down.
Du Sanying assumed he was finished.
Instead, Bai Liu stepped back on and repeated the process.
Du Sanying: "????"
After all three measurements were done, Du Sanying followed him, puzzled. "Why measure three times?"
Bai Liu replied calmly, "To confirm the established fact that my product has appreciated in value."