WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!?

As Huo-zui entered the imperial waiting hall, he greeted his parents with a kowtow. "Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, this humble son greets you."

The king and queen exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes fixed on their son's battered face. "Rise, Huo-zui," the king commanded, his voice laced with amusement. "What happened to your teeth, hmm? And why did you sneak out again?"

Huo-zui's mind raced as he concocted a tale of a midnight thirst and a tumble in the dark. The queen's chuckles and the king's skeptical gaze suggested they saw through his ruse, but they mercifully spared him further inquiry.

As Huo-zui departed, he encountered the imperial concubines, who whispered among themselves, their eyes fixed on his bruised face. "Something is amiss with the Crown Prince," the second imperial concubine whispered. "He seems...different."

Meanwhile, Zheng-tai, She-ying, and Yuan-hue converged outside a restaurant, their reunion marked by explanations and disbelief. Zheng-tai remained skeptical of their tale, but the game instructor's call shed new light on their predicament.

"Listen carefully," the instructor said. "Your friend, Zheng-tai, is the key to your return home. You must find a box in the palace, take what's inside, and appoint one of you to shout 'Assassin raid!' But be warned, you must enter the palace like ghosts, invisible and silent. Your new friend, Zheng-tai, possesses the skills to lead you. Use her abilities wisely."

"I daresay, the most capable among you shall take the lead, and that, my dear friends, is undoubtedly her. Thus, I bid you adieu until you procure the box in question. Until then, you shall be bereft of Wi-Fi's conveniences. Do ensure your companion checks her bag for the tracker trio she brought with her. Farewell for now, and by 'sleep tight,' I mean, do not underestimate the allure of the real world's comforts - use them to your advantage, as one would a plush mattress. Good day, then."

As the call ended, the trio exchanged determined glances, their quest to escape the game world now fraught with danger and intrigue.

She-ying turned to her companions, her voice low and urgent. "Did you not hear the instructor's words? We must away at dawn, when the streets are bustling and our faces will be lost in the throng."

Zheng-tai nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Tomorrow, we make our move. Finish your repast, and then let us retire, for we must be well-rested if we are to succeed."

Yuan-hue's gaze drifted to Zheng-tai, a hint of awe in his voice. "You are a force to be reckoned with, my dear. Your prowess is matched only by your enigmatic smile."

Zheng-tai's lips curled, a mischievous glint in her eye. "And I think, Yuan-hue, that your teeth could benefit from a beautifying touch, don't you, my friend?" She cracked her knuckles, a subtle threat lurking beneath her words.

She-ying, meanwhile, had risen to secure a room for the night, her voice calling out to the waiter as she strode towards the desk. "Ah, good fellow, we require a room, if you please."

As they settled in for the night, Zheng-tai's thoughts turned to the morrow's attire. "She-ying, my dear, I require something in black - a hue so dark it won't be seen".

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