However, the transmission bracelets are indeed a problem.
By around ten oāclock today, their 24-hour time limit will be up.
Before that, they must make the bracelets.
Otherwise, theyāll have to set up their treehouse on the spot before the time is up.
But currently, theyāre in Xu Xinās protected area, not far from his treehouse.
This is probably why they can relax and wait around the light beam overnight.
At worst, they can just set it up there.
After all, thereās no loss.
In reality, the distance is equivalent to about two blocks.
But thereās no way Xu Xin will let them set it up near the Transmission Array.
"Video call, I need to know their names and appearances."
"Okay."
Ji Chaoyang didnāt waste words and started the video call.
First, he showed Xu Xin the inside of the giant pit.
Hmm...
"Canāt see anything," Xu Xin shrugged.
Indeed, it was pitch black, and nothing was visible.
Night vision doesnāt help with seeing things in a video.
"Forget it then, letās make the bracelets first."
Ji Chaoyang turned the camera to the people around him.
Despite spending the night outdoors, they all looked energetic and excited.
Xu Xin made the bracelets for them one by one.
At this time, Wen Guixin also arrived by her light beam, finding the people who had camped and rested there.
Wen Guixin: "Iām here too, make some bracelets for my group too. Let me tell you, last night two people tried to find my treehouse in the dark, but no one came, and now they donāt even know where theyāve gone. Canāt they just relax?"
The survivors who joined over there were much more at ease than those on this side.
There were no statues, and they even ventured into the giant pit for a bit.
Without the threat of danger, they were indeed more inclined to search for the treehouse in the dark.
But unfortunately, they didnāt find it.
Xu Xin made and sent the bracelets to the two of them.
Lou FeiāEr watched the whole process, chatting with Wen Guixin.
He hung up the call and looked at Lou FeiāEr: "Done packing?"
"Not yet," Lou FeiāEr stood up from the sofa.
She took out some decorations, rearranged the furniture, cleaned the frequently touched spots, wiped off the dust, and then nodded in satisfaction.
"Almost done! Now, we just wait for them to arrive. Oh, and remember, youāre my little brother, donāt let it slip," Lou FeiāEr glanced at Xu Xin.
Xu Xinās identity remained Lou FeiāErās little brother.
Upon learning her location, he rushed over to help Lou FeiāEr and assist District 187 in activating the array.
This was the setup.
Xu Xin nodded, then said, "This time, your persona isnāt like the last time, right?"
Last time, she played a strong woman with a possessive streak.
"No need for that, Iāll just be myself this time," Lou FeiāEr explained, "Back then, I was just chatting with them as my normal self."
Thatās good.
Being yourself is less likely to give you away.
With everything ready, they sat on the sofa, waiting for the first arrival, Yan Haoming.
Xu Xin thought for a moment and swiped his watch twice.
He finally decided to choose affinity amplification for todayās historical boost.
Since the three they were dealing with were strangers, affinity amplification could be most effective in lowering their guards.
Todayās boost was definitely the most suitable.
Not just for strangers, even those familiar with him would be drawn by his increased affinity.
Look at Lou FeiāEr, who was initially browsing District 187ās region and world channels, but couldnāt help glancing at Xu Xin after he chose affinity boost.
As Xu Xin looked at her, she quickly averted her gaze, only to sneak a peek again.
"Is this your... affinity boost?" Lou FeiāEr didnāt shy away, glaring at him and asking directly.
"Thatās right. With this affinity boost, todayās matters will be much easier."
Lou FeiāEr pursed her lips, swallowed.
Previously, when they went after Ma Hongwei together, Xu Xin also had the affinity boost.
But back then, he didnāt give her such a strong feeling.
Maybe it was because she hadnāt fully opened up back then, or perhaps because the random boost had grown stronger over time.
In any case, today, Xu Xin gave her an exceptionally strong sense of closeness.
The affinity he radiated made her feel very comfortable, and kind of ticklish inside.
Given their contract connection, she already had a unique closeness towards him, amplified by the affinity boost...
It was genuinely hard to resist.
Made her want to turn into a cat and snuggle up to him!
No, Lou FeiāEr, you canāt do anything unfair to Wenxi!
"... This boost is really strong..." Despite inward resistance, she instinctively moved closer to Xu Xin, her shoulder resting against his.
Leaning next to him felt so good...
Just a little lean should be okay, right?
Xu Xin glanced at her and smiled slightly.
This affinity boost is even stronger than the last time he used it.
Not bad, it looks like todayās task just got a whole lot easier.
Lou FeiāEr, leaning against him, became somewhat absent-minded.
She absently swiped her watch, occasionally inching closer to him.
Until she was almost pressing against him.
Practically ready to pounce on Xu Xin.
"...You look just like my little female cat in heat," Xu Xin commented, not bothering to move away, just watching her with a bit of amusement.
He was pretty unfazed.
After all, heās been playing games with Li Wenxi every night, so he can basically ignore Lou FeiāErās kind of vague and intentional temptations.
They say men become even more susceptible to temptation after knowing how delightful it is, but thatās after a long period without playing games.
With the frequency and intensity of their game playing now, heās indeed not really interested in other women.
Not even if a voluptuous beauty intentionally brushes against him.
Maybe this is the effect of "paying the public grain."
Lou FeiāErās body shook, and her face flushed bright red instantly as she shifted tens of centimeters to the side: "I... you... youāre the one turning into a green-eyed mother cat!"
As she said it, she moved to the other end of the couch twice, and then said somewhat exasperatedly: "Itās all because of your damn affinity amplification! And the contract! Iām completely controlled!"
This guy, saying it way too bluntly!
What about my dignity?
Besides, whatās wrong with me giving you a rub, youāre not losing out!
No, no!
Canāt betray Wenxi!
Her face brimmed with conflict.
Xu Xin glanced at her and asked, "Affinity amplification, is the effect strong?"
"...Very strong, at least stronger than last time." Lou FeiāEr replied honestly.
She moved again to the other side of the couch.
Then she couldnāt help but glance at him again.
Grinding her teeth, she decided to go all out: "Your familyās mother cat has turned green, just tell me what to do!"
"...? What, do you want me to grab the tail and pat the butt? Or use a Q-tip to help you?"
"Cotton... Come on, donāt just talk, do it!"
"...Forget it."
"Heh heh."
Lou FeiāEr won this round shamelessly, somewhat complacent.
If Iām not embarrassed, the embarrassed one is someone else!
"Focus!" Xu Xin warned her, "People are coming soon, and youāre still messing around here."
"Thatās because of you... Okay, got it."
Seeing Xu Xin raise his left hand, Lou FeiāEr quickly settled down.
The two sat on the couch again.
This time, although Lou FeiāEr still occasionally glanced at him, she didnāt lean over again.
Not long after, while lounging on the couch and fiddling with her watch, she suddenly sat up straight.
"Heās here! Heās here!"
Xu Xin also straightened his body.
Finally here!
"Where is he?" he asked.
"He said heās almost ten minutes away from here."
She got up and walked to the window, looking outside.
"I told him my treehouse is about twenty kilometers west of the light column, and from around the light column, you can see the canopy of the treehouse." Lou FeiāEr explained, "He said heās also coming from the west and heās now already twenty kilometers from the light column, and can even see a blue-level treehouse."
A blue-level treehouse is taller than a regular treehouse, naturally making it more easily visible.
"He also mentioned seeing a very tall treehouse that must be the purple-level treehouse described by seekers in the world channel, but he didnāt approach it and came straight this way."
So he saw a purple-level treehouse?
Around here, only Ji Chaoyang and him have purple-level treehouses.
Since he came from the west, the treehouse he saw must be Ji Chaoyangās.
Having already passed Ji Chaoyangās treehouse, heās now positioned between Ji Chaoyangās treehouse and Lou FeiāErās.
Likely within ten kilometers.
"What about the other two people? Where are they?" Xu Xin asked.
"Well, one of them is halfway here."
Lou FeiāEr swiped on her watch connecting to zone 187: "But he said his treehouse is at least over two hundred kilometers from here so heāll be slower, arriving around midday."
"The other person is even worse, she hasnāt left yet and told me sheāll start after daylight. But her distance isnāt far, just over a hundred kilometers, so these two should arrive together."
Xu Xinās eyes slightly brightened.
Good news.
This Yan Haoming is about to arrive, and he has no helpers.
Besides, itās their treehouse here, their home ground advantage.
Yan Haomingās situation is even less favorable than Ma Hongweiās initially.
Lou FeiāEr stood at the window looking out, silently waiting for Yan Haoming to arrive.
"Heās here! Heās here!"
Xu Xin also walked over to look outside.
They saw someone wearing blue-level leather armor and ski goggles, riding a skateboard toward them from a few hundred meters away.
"Didnāt you say he had a means of transport? Isnāt this just a skateboard?"
Xu Xin was a bit disappointed.
Previously, Lou FeiāEr mentioned that Yan Haoming might have a means of transport.
He thought that person might also have some ability regarding transport.
"Ah... I just deduced it from his speed." Lou FeiāEr sheepishly touched her lips.
Speaking of speed, this person is indeed fast on a skateboard!
Normally, a regular skateboardās average speed is only twenty kilometers per hour, but this guyās skateboarding is probably faster than a motorized skateboard!
Is this person a snowboarding expert?
Or does he... have some ability related to this?
A few dozen seconds later, Yan Haoming had already skated near the treehouse.
But he didnāt come closer, instead, he stayed behind a tree a few meters away, vigilantly eyeing the heavy crossbows on the treehouse.
"Yan Haoming?" Lou FeiāEr leaned out the window and called his name.
Upon hearing his name, Yan Haoming immediately turned to look.
As soon as he saw her face, his eyes visibly lit up: "Are you Lou FeiāEr?"
"Thatās right, itās me. Come closer, Iāll pull you up." Lou FeiāEr waved to Yan Haoming, "Someone has already arrived; youāre the second."