Chapter 2657: Negotiate on My Behalf
Many members of the Wan Family present were affected by mental interference. Under Xu Huo’s instruction, they immediately pounced on the players nearby, but Wan Family’s players couldn’t harm them; they could only shut down the simulation equipment first and use props and characteristics to control them.
But if they can use props, so can Xu Huo. The Time Ring spins, and most of the people present remain standing in place.
"Even the non-game venue simulation equipment can be acquired, indicating Gao’s family indeed has the necessity to pass down their inheritance." Xu Huo looked at Wan Ping, "Since I’m here, this matter definitely won’t end here. Without the Wan Family, the Moon Corner Duchy still has other Gao family inheritors. Without the Moon Corner Duchy, there’s still Yongta and Yu Country. I don’t believe the Peng family won’t appear after searching your Gao Family."
Wan Ping shed his previous gentle harmless demeanor, sharply glancing at Beibao, then looked back at Xu Huo, "I’ve said everything I can. I really don’t know what the National Treasure is. I wanted to drive Gao Hui away indeed because he held a list of resource donations."
"Our ancestors were born in Yu Country, and the inherited wealth and experience, knowledge benefited descendants. When there’s capacity, it’s our intention to give back to the homeland, but that’s the extent of it."
"After several hundred years, we’re no longer pure Yu Country people. Yongta and Moon Corner have also become our homelands. We can’t risk our assets and lives to stabilize Yu Country’s situation. Moreover, if we withdraw from Moon Corner, another round of war would arise in Moon Corner."
Outer Zone players are looking for Gao Family descendants for two reasons: to find the National Treasure and to leverage Gao Family descendants to aid the Yu Country Government. The first, Wan Family doesn’t know about, and the latter is absolutely impossible.
"Harassing the Wan Family is pointless," Wan Ping said, "Even if you kill all the Wan Family members, you still won’t get what you want."
"I am willing to believe what you say," Xu Huo smiled, "If you are unaware, then among other Gao family descendants in Moon Corner Duchy, is there anyone aware?"
Wan Ping paused for a moment before saying, "High-ranked family descendants like the Wan Family are few; more simply pass down their surname quietly."
"You haven’t finished," Xu Huo reminded him, "There’s a Peng Guan descendant by Beibao’s side."
"Although centuries might have merged Gao and Peng surnames into one family, Peng Guan’s descendants are different. As famous assassin family descendants, ostensibly you are continuing Gao’s surname, but in reality, you should be selectively cultivating. This family still has some members with the surname Peng; they are the backbone of this family."
"Somewhat linked with Yu Country’s Supreme God Court, otherwise twenty years ago, people from the Court wouldn’t have disappeared so thoroughly."
"I understand your situation well, nor do I wish to find you out, but concerning the game completion, I can only ask for your understanding."
Xu Huo used a prop and pulled Wan Ping into the library building, "Your Gao Family should have a register documenting bloodline inheritance. Despite multiple generations of adoption, there must be one branch that is truly Peng Guan’s descendants. Wonder which book the Yu Country Government holds."
"I guess it’s likely not the branch with bloodline inheritance, as once someone becomes a player, it’s hard to find them."
Seeing his face involuntarily change to look unpleasant, Xu Huo continued, "Given the current district dynamics, even if Gao Family’s register is published, it wouldn’t significantly affect the Three Kingdoms’ mutual containment. It’s impossible to divide allies and enemies based on bloodline for the Three Kingdoms."
"To use this to blackmail you into helping Lian Qingkong is even more impossible."
"Therefore, we can change negotiation partners."
"You mean for us to help you?" Wan Ping remained composed, following along to express Xu Huo’s intention.
"Correct." Xu Huo nodded, "Maybe Lian Qingkong may have reservations, but Outer Zone players won’t."
If the register were published, the greatest threat to Gao and Peng family descendants would not be locals but Outer Zone players. The offense-defense camps and stranded players might do unimaginable things because of the instance.
"This is a time bomb. Before coming, I checked, and the instances related to your Gao and Peng families aren’t just one or two. National Treasure, Supreme God Sect, other player organizations, all are involved with you."
"Making instances disappear is your best choice."
Wan Ping couldn’t hide his shock and said after a long while, "I am from the Gao Family and yet know less about it than you, an outsider."
"However, I think you guessed wrong about one thing. Even if the register exists, it’s either been destroyed or is within Gao Family’s hands. Such a time bomb, how could Gao Family let it drift outside?"
His previous statements weren’t entirely false; he truly doesn’t know of the register. From his perspective, the list Gao Hui brought was traced by Yu Country players through resource donations, and some of those people were simply found following clues as he saw it.
As for whether there are Peng family inheritors within Gao Family, he’s completely unaware. Over the years, no one knows how many Gao family descendants became players nor how many of these players were cultivated by other players, likely not even their families know, and neither does the Wan Family.
Wan Ping hasn’t yet touched the core of the Gao Family.
Realizing this, he also understood the meaning behind Xu Huo telling him these things.
"If the namelist truly exists, then it certainly can’t be the only copy," Xu Huo said. "Beibao’s boss is a descendant of Peng Guan, and afterward, they will definitely come to find you. You can negotiate with them on my behalf. This matter doesn’t necessarily have to end in a life-and-death struggle; we can resolve this issue with a relatively peaceful method."
Since the number of players stuck in the Outer Zone due to the National Treasure is quite substantial, if the descendants of Peng Guan could eliminate hidden threats, the instance wouldn’t exist till now. The only explanation is that they haven’t found the one originally held by Gao Hui.
After leaving Yu Country, Gao Hui was running around Yongta and Moon Corner, most likely looking for potential allies based on the list. Of course, he wouldn’t be that foolish; the real namelist might not even be on him; if it is, it’s likely a fake.
Yu Country confirmed Gao Hui’s death, making it highly probable Lian Qingkong got the list... It’s unclear whether there’s more to this issue in between, but given the current situation, the chances of whether he got it or not are Fifty-Fifty.
Even though the goal is to locate the lost treasures, it doesn’t mean they aren’t in the hands of Lian Qingkong’s Faction. As for why they aren’t working, there’s a multitude of possibilities.
"Can you guarantee you have no ill intent towards the descendants of Gao?" Wan Ping asked. "I’ve seen too many players who fear chaos won’t arise."
"Using the fake genealogy crafted by the Dou Family, I can also find the descendants of Gao," Xu Huo replied calmly. "Your players survived after attempted assassination, which proves my sincerity."
"What do you plan to do?" Wan Ping asked meaningfully. "Can you truly retrieve the National Treasure?"
"That depends on whether the Gao Family cooperates."
Wan Ping was skeptical of his statement but asked further, "If the Gao Family refuses, what will you do? If the story that the National Treasure might be the namelist leaks, your chances of passing the level will be even smaller."
This hinted that Xu Huo didn’t actually have many negotiation chips. If he wants to threaten the Gao Family by claiming the National Treasure is the namelist, the Gao Family won’t compromise, even if he spills some names from the list. This would only increase the difficulty of passing the level without benefiting him otherwise.
Of course, if he simply decides to create chaos with no intention of passing, he could also do this.
"I can find one Peng Guan descendant; I can find another," Xu Huo said. "I don’t know how many secrets remain for your Gao and Peng families to uncover, but you wouldn’t want me lingering in Zone 039."
After speaking, he retrieved the Spiritual World and released the Wan Family, then added, "Contact me within three days."
Beibao watched as he walked away, hesitating for a moment, but quickly followed suit when she saw the hostile gazes from the Wan Family.
After leaving the Wan Family, Xu Huo didn’t immediately leave Moon Corner Duchy; instead, he went to find another family on the Dou Family genealogy.
This time, however, he found no one, as everyone from that family died in player wars two years ago, leaving only tombstones behind.
"Sometimes, I don’t know what they’re doing," Beibao said as she looked at the rows of tombstones.
She, like many others, couldn’t understand why people living in the same country were dead set on killing every person in sight, as if they were mortal enemies. What meaning does that have?
Meanwhile, Xu Huo received three pieces of data sent by a few unlucky souls he had dispersed. Their task was to trace the families, experience, and connection to Gao Hui based on the names he provided.
The unlucky souls delivered detailed reports. They investigated a relatively renowned player family in a medium city in Yongta. The person Xu Huo mentioned has passed away, with the family’s leadership falling to his daughter, who is quite low-profile and locally known for her charitable acts. This city fares better than other Yongta cities; at least the third-class residents aren’t as miserable.
As for Gao Hui, he approached this family twice more than a decade ago, both times causing trouble, and ultimately was driven away dejectedly. Still, this family suffered considerable losses and was caught in power struggles among local forces until new players in the family rose up.
Gao Hui’s visits were reasons other factions used to attack this family, claiming all sorts of things. The more credible claim was that this family received aid from Gao Hui, though it eventually ended unresolved.
With so many players and frequent personnel changes, it’s difficult to track this family’s members.
The documents on the female player and Bald Head were much simpler. The two even hinted at having discovered crucial clues and demanded face-to-face exchanges for the antitoxin.
Xu Huo didn’t rush to deal with them but instructed the unlucky souls to continue tracing Gao Hui’s actions based on the information found and mentioning several pieces that needed re-verification. He then took out the Teleportation Prop and arrived directly at Yu Country’s Capital City, where the Girl in the painting and Xiao Mei were engaged in combat.