Chapter 42: Entering the Hollow Again

He also has a little selfish motive! If Ling can get together with Ye Qingfeng, then someone will be there to watch documentaries with him!

Ye Qingfeng glanced at Ling’s lewd grin, then at Zhe’s sly smile beside him, his face darkening as he gritted his teeth and spoke slowly, word by word: “So who can tell me what the hell is going on?!”

“Cough!” Zhe cleared his throat, shot a look at the useless Ling, and briefly explained to Ye Qingfeng what had just happened.

After hearing Zhe’s explanation, Ye Qingfeng exhaled in relief; only then did his tense heart settle, knowing they posed no immediate threat.

Ye Qingfeng understood the situation could only be waited out—he knew he couldn’t help, so he walked over and sat on the sofa. No sooner had he sat down than Ling shouted at him: “Qingfeng, just watch me work!”

“Please, you’re our only hope!”

“Leave it to me!”

Ling solemnly nodded at Ye Qingfeng, took a deep breath, and focused entirely on operating the HDD.

Ye Qingfeng’s mood was utterly terrible! He could do nothing for Nico—or for Ling...

A sense of helplessness was steadily eroding his inner resolve.

【Ding! Host has six more draws remaining. Draw now?】

『Draw...』

Hearing the voice in his mind, Ye Qingfeng felt no strong emotion. Though each reward was useful, it still changed nothing...

【Ding! Drawing now...】

【Congratulations! Host has received the following reward:】

【A-Rank Reward: Shooting Talent (Mastered)】

【Note: You are now a marksman—your bullets will obey your will!】

『Wait! Wait a second! Pause! Qingzhi, come out!』

【You better have a good reason...】

『Didn’t I already get Gun Mastery? Why am I getting Shooting Talent again? Aren’t these the same thing?』

【Obviously they’re not! Fine—think of it like the difference between figure skating and speed skating!】

『...』

With this reminder, Ye Qingfeng instantly understood. And if he’d gone into the Hollow with Nico... he’d have been completely screwed by this system!

【Since the Missus is here already, I’ll announce your remaining rewards! Be grateful to me!】

【S-Rank Reward: One set of real-time updated Rosetta data!】

【Cough! I know you don’t know what that is! Let me explain in detail!】

『Can you stop acting like a drama queen? Just spit it out!』

【You’re impatient again?!】

【First, Host, you must know the Hollow changes constantly—and the Radish is its real-time map!】

【But as the Hollow shifts, the Radish develops errors. To ensure data accuracy, you must calibrate it every few days using a special Hollow master data set—this S-Rank reward: Rosetta data!】

【In short—it’s the Radish’s dad. Extremely useful, period!】

【I know you’re excited, Host, but calm down!】

Sometimes being too human isn’t a good thing... it feels like someone’s living inside his head—and they’re incredibly talkative...

If there was any upside, this childish, crisp voice was slightly better than the usual emotionless tone...

【B-Rank Reward: Ding Ni 100,000 × 3】

…

【S-Rank Reward: Harem Master (Title)】

【Note: Essential for preventing harem fires! No matter how many wives you take, you’ll never suffer a brutal knife attack!】

!!! What the hell?

『I’m a pure love guy! Pure love! Do you seriously think I want a harem?!』

【Loving everyone purely? No problem! Perfectly reasonable! Gone!】

Whatever... I guess I can accept it...

Ye Qingfeng took out the pistol Nico had given him from his spatial backpack and played with it in his hand.

Besides the familiar feeling from this morning, he now sensed that within his line of sight, he could hit anything he wished.

“What’s the situation now?”

Ye Qingfeng slipped the pistol into his sleeve—it vanished magically—and stood up, walking over to Zhe’s side to ask softly.

“Still connecting data... might take a while...” Zhe, thinking Ye Qingfeng was still anxious, placed a hand on his shoulder and comforted him: “Trust Nico and the others!”

“I understand...”

Ye Qingfeng knew worrying wouldn’t help—he might as well trust them.

But... he now felt terrifyingly strong!

With his Gun Mastery and Shooting Talent, he now had the power to fight a Yihai. The Rosetta data granted him unrestricted movement within the Hollow. His spatial backpack held ample supplies.

And his lack of useful close-combat skills meant he had the agility to flee.

Hexagonal warrior... the true value of a marksman! Don’t you get it yet?

Now that he had the ability, Ye Qingfeng had no reason to stay here waiting.

It was time for his own moment of glory!

“Are Nico and the others still in the Hollow on Fourteen-Point Street?”

“Yes.”

Zhe frowned, standing beside Ling, glancing at the computer screen as he answered casually.

It took Zhe about ten seconds to realize—he turned around to find the room empty, the door wide open, a cold premonition rising in his chest.

“Sister...”

Zhe whispered shakily to Ling, who sat focused before the computer.

“What?”

Ling answered absently.

“Qingfeng probably went to find Nico...”

“What?”

“Even if I message Qingfeng to come back, he’ll refuse. Right now, the priority is contacting Nico and telling her.”

“That’s true... I hope Qingfeng doesn’t get hurt...” Ling pouted playfully, but worry flickered in her eyes as she murmured softly: “I haven’t even let him try on the suit I bought...”

At this moment, Ye Qingfeng had already boarded a taxi—for the first time ever, he told the driver to go faster.

Using the excuse of “Ding Ni and my wife’s about to give birth,” he arrived near Fourteen-Point Street in just over ten minutes.

As soon as he stepped out, Ye Qingfeng rushed to a trash bin and vomited everything he’d eaten—only then did he feel better.

No matter what happens next, he’d never again tell a driver to speed up...

Because the Hollow on Fourteen-Point Street was now relatively stable, many residents had returned to live there, though it still felt quieter than Guangying Square.

Ye Qingfeng followed his memory to the spot where he’d exited last time, glanced around, confirmed it was the right place, then deliberately slammed into the wall before him.