Liu Hui was overjoyed; he had finally found a new trading partner. Whether the trade succeeded or not, this was a new beginning.

On the interface of the Plane Trader, a young white boy appeared, staring at the screen in surprise.

"Esteemed Plane Trader, I am Liu Hui of the Human Race. I am delighted to establish trade with you!"

"You... are you talking to me?" the white boy stammered, clearly taken aback.

"Indeed, esteemed Plane Trader. Might you introduce yourself?" Liu Hui asked congenially, sensing the boy’s nervousness.

"I... I am Alexander, a slave to Master Phil," the boy replied tensely.

"Ah, Alexander. Could you tell me about your world? For instance, how large is it?" Liu Hui asked, deliberately posing a broad question to ease Alexander's tension.

"I am Master Phil's slave; everyone calls me Alexander. I don't know how large our world is. I don't even know what the world outside the Great Divide Forest looks like. In fact, I've never left the Great Divide Forest," Alexander's speech began to flow more smoothly.

"Oh, I see. This Master Phil you mention, what kind of person is he?" Liu Hui showed no concern for Alexander's slave status. Anyone possessing a Plane Trader could stir up monumental change in their world, becoming a giant of the era. Alexander seemed weak now, but if handled correctly, he could bring immense profit in the future. Besides, 'Alexander' was a figure of renown in his own world!

"Master Phil is our owner; he is a noble of the Elven race. He owns mines 271 through 275 in the Great Divide Forest, and we all work in his mines. Every month, we provide ore to the steward dispatched by Master Phil, and Master Phil, in turn, allocates food based on the quantity of minerals we supply."

"I understand. Then how did you come to possess this Trader?" Liu Hui asked curiously.

"You mean this thing that can store items and speak with you?"

"That's right. We call it the Plane Trader. Obtaining it can drastically alter your life."

"Today at noon, our mining zone failed to deliver the required ore quota. Steward Phil threatened to cut next month's food rations for our zone. When I begged him, the steward became displeased and ordered his subordinates to beat me. They left me bleeding profusely, then threw me into the mining pit to perish. I was severely injured and passed out when I hit the bottom. I don't know what happened next, but I suddenly woke up, all my wounds healed, and I had this thing. It looks somewhat like the ring I used to wear around my neck," Alexander recalled slowly.

Liu Hui surmised that Alexander was incredibly lucky. The Plane Trader must have been the ring he wore. The steward's beating must have caused his blood to flow onto the ring, which was then absorbed by the device, resulting in the Trader's appearance.

"Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, I haven't eaten all day. Could you spare me some food?" Alexander asked sheepishly, his face flushed.

"My dear Alexander, please wait a moment while I prepare something for you." Liu Hui went to the kitchen, scooped a bowl of the leftover porridge from dinner, and traded it to Alexander.

Alexander pressed the trade button, and the bowl of porridge materialized in his hand. He found it unbelievable but couldn't resist the allure of food. He immediately raised the bowl and began slurping, finishing it in just a few gulps.

"Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, what is this? I have never tasted anything like it, and it is delicious," Alexander asked, filled with wonder.

"This is called porridge in our place. My dear Mr. Alexander, would you care for another bowl? Know that one bowl of porridge rarely fills a stomach," Liu Hui explained.

"Thank you so much for your generosity! I would like another bowl!" Alexander traded the empty bowl back.

It was clear Alexander had been starving; he drank four bowls of porridge before finally feeling satisfied. He let out a full burp, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, I have eaten your porridge, but I have nothing to trade you in return. What should I do?"

"Haha, it's fine this time. Just remember to make up for it in future trades," Liu Hui chuckled.

"Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, what kind of things might you need to trade for?"

"Haha, I might need anything from your world. Why don't you collect some items from your world for me? I can assess their value, and then you can gather more for me. How does that sound?"

Alexander casually picked up a rock from the ground and asked, "Do you want this too?"

Liu Hui smiled. "Trade it to me, and I will examine it first."

Alexander instantly traded the rock to Liu Hui. Upon receiving it, Liu Hui noticed it was extremely smooth, fiery red, and formed a regular diamond shape, appearing quite mysterious.

"Mr. Alexander, are there many of these stones in your world?" Liu Hui asked, holding the rock.

"Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, this is not a stone; it is the crystal core of a magical beast," Alexander corrected him.

"What? Not a stone, but a magical beast's crystal core?" Liu Hui was greatly surprised. 'Magical beast' and 'crystal core' sparked several associations in his mind.

"Yes, it's what remains after those very powerful monsters die. We call them crystal cores," Alexander explained.

"Does no one in your world use the magical beast crystal cores? For instance, to sell for money or for cultivation?" Liu Hui asked, puzzled.

"This thing is valuable? It can be used for cultivation? They are everywhere here, as common as stone, and nobody wants them," Alexander asked, genuinely bewildered.

"Alexander, are there any Mages in your place? People who can summon fireballs or lightning, very powerful individuals?" Liu Hui grew increasingly curious about Alexander's world.

"Yes, there are. Master Phil can conjure fireballs; he calls himself a Mage. And he can handle a Night Leopard by himself."

"Besides Mages like Master Phil, do you have Warriors there?"

"What is a Warrior?"

"They are people who fight magical beasts using only their bodies, without magic. They can emit a powerful energy, truly formidable," Liu Hui explained patiently.

"We don't seem to have people like you describe here! However, Master Phil has a group of archers; they are very skilled with their bows," Alexander replied after thinking it over.

"Alexander, how can you be a slave to an Elf? Are there Elves who are masters elsewhere?"

"Elves are meant to be masters. After all, every master in the world is an Elf," Alexander looked at Liu Hui strangely, as if the question were idiotic.

"What, Elves as masters? Do humans not have masters?" Liu Hui found this world increasingly bizarre.

"How could humans be masters? Elves are taller than us humans, better looking, and more powerful," Alexander stated as if it were self-evident.

"Alexander, you mean that in your world, all humans are slaves to the Elves, is that correct?"

"Yes, and not just humans, but other races too. If we weren't Elven slaves, how would we survive?" Alexander asked strangely.

Liu Hui organized his thoughts: Alexander's plane seemed to be a magical one, evident from Master Phil being a Mage. What was bizarre was that in this magical plane, Elves ruled over humans and other races. The humans in this world were incredibly weak, requiring Elven protection to live. And Alexander here was a slave to the Elf Phil. This world also contained an abundance of magical beast crystal cores that were not being utilized. For now, this was all the information he could gather.

"Alexander, you look quite fit. How is it that you can't mine enough ore and your food is being cut?"

"Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, our pit is Mining Zone 271. This zone has been excavated for many years, and most of the ore is depleted. Completing the quota is getting harder, and our food supply shrinks constantly. Next month, people might starve," Alexander said with a touch of gloom.

"Alexander, how numerous are your people? I mean, in your mining zone?"

"There are over eight hundred humans in our pit. The neighboring pit has about the same number," Alexander calculated and gave Liu Hui the figure.

"What about the mining situation in the other zones?"

"It seems to be similar to ours; everyone has started going hungry recently."

"How does your Master Phil manage your people?"

"They venture into the mountains once a month. That's when we submit ore and receive food. They don't come at other times. We manage the entire mining zone ourselves."

"If he finds out you've been lazy, will he hit you?"

"He won't hit us. He only decides how much food to give based on the ore we submit. If we are lazy, the food will be meager. Also, we are forbidden from leaving the mining zone."

"Alexander, I will provide you with food. Then, use that food to gather the other miners. Have them find things for you, and you trade what they find with me for more food. What do you think of that proposal?" Liu Hui suggested after some thought.

"This... Esteemed Mr. Liu Hui, there are over eight hundred miners in our zone. Most of them lack food. Can you guarantee food for all of them?" Alexander hesitated.

"Better than the food I just gave you. Do you think they would like that?" Liu Hui smiled.

"I'll have to discuss it with them. As long as there is food, they should be very happy," Alexander brightened up.

"Alexander, I must warn you: you cannot tell anyone about obtaining this Plane Trader. Otherwise, they will kill you and steal it," Liu Hui warned him seriously.

"Understood. I must be careful how I approach this with them," Alexander seemed quite taken with Liu Hui's suggestion and was already pondering it.

"Haha, Alexander, you should go down and think it over carefully. Call me if you have news. Remember to save my plane coordinates, or you might not find me again," Liu Hui said with a smile.

"I will, esteemed Mr. Liu Hui. Thank you for the porridge. Goodbye!"

"Farewell!"

Liu Hui exited the Plane Trader and saved the plane coordinates, labeling it: Magical Plane, Alexander.

Contacting another plane trader today made Liu Hui extremely happy. Although there were no immediate trades, if he managed things well, this plane would bring him enormous returns. The only pity was that the trader's status was too low; he required considerable support. However, there was plenty of time for gradual manipulation. Moreover, this magical plane seemed fascinating—humans being slaves to Elves! That offered some intrigue!

After communicating with Alexander, Liu Hui was so pleased that sleep overtook him almost magically. He quickly fell asleep once in bed.

The next morning, Liu Hui woke up very early, a habit ingrained by years of discipline. His mother had spared no effort in cultivating this trait in him.

After waking, Liu Hui first checked on Hu Xian'er; she was sleeping soundly. Then he went into the yard to exercise. The thrill of soaring through the treetops yesterday lingered in his memory. Conveniently, there was a dense wood behind the house, so he jumped into the trees and began his leaping drills. He soon covered a great distance before slowly making his way back, savoring the sensation of unbridled freedom. The morning's exercise left him invigorated and bursting with energy. The only downside was the morning dew in the mountains, which soaked him completely, making his clothes cling uncomfortably.

Liu Hui returned to his room, took a cold shower, and changed into a fresh set of clothes retrieved from his storage space. By then, the sun was fully up. Liu Hui started making breakfast; due to limited ingredients, it was still just thin congee. As the congee finished cooking, Hu Xian'er woke up and smiled at him as he busied himself.

"Miss Hu, you're awake. Wait a moment, I'll be done shortly," Liu Hui returned the smile. He then took a hot towel to wash Hu Xian'er's face. Overnight, her injuries showed no discernible change. Liu Hui had considered using the biological healing tank for her, but he worried it was too astonishing. If outsiders discovered it, it would cause trouble. Furthermore, the tank, acquired in exchange for fifty kilograms of drugs, only had one use remaining. He and Hu Xian'er weren't that close; it wasn't worth incurring such a high cost for her.

Liu Hui drank several bowls of porridge himself before feeding Hu Xian'er two. Liu Hui entertained a mischievous thought: Hu Xian'er only had one bowl of porridge last night, yet she hadn't asked to use the restroom. Could her stomach be a bottomless pit, only taking things in?

After Hu Xian'er finished eating, Liu Hui tidied the room, then carried her onto his back and began descending the mountain. He ran with his usual speed, leaping directly down any incline that wasn't too steep. Hu Xian'er, on his back, turned pale and eventually closed her eyes, clinging tightly to Liu Hui's back.

Liu Hui quickly arrived at Pingding Mountain Town and brought Hu Xian'er to his home. His mother and father were astonished to see him bring a woman home. Seeing their surprised expressions, Liu Hui explained the entire sequence of events, which calmed them down, and they both marveled at Hu Xian'er’s luck in surviving.

His mother took Hu Xian'er and laid her gently on the bed. Hu Xian'er was still wearing Liu Hui’s shirt, so his mother changed her into one of her own clothes.

Just then, the phone in Liu Hui's hand rang. He glanced at it—it was Hu Xian'er's father calling.

"Hello, Mr. Hu? Where have you arrived?" Liu Hui asked.

"Little Brother Liu Hui, is the Pingding Mountain you mentioned nestled among the mountains, appearing like a platform where the summit was sheared off?"

"That's right. Have you arrived?"

"We've arrived. Where are you?"

Before Liu Hui could answer, the roar of machinery echoed from the sky. He ran out of the room, looked up, and saw a helicopter approaching in the distance.

"Mr. Hu, are you in the helicopter?"

"Yes, we are directly above Pingding Mountain Town."

"Mr. Hu, tell the pilot to head towards the three o'clock position from the nose of the aircraft, about five hundred meters away."

Liu Hui immediately ran to an open area, took off his shirt, and began waving it toward the sky. Soon, the helicopter overhead spotted Liu Hui and angled toward him. Amidst the loud roar, the helicopter descended slowly, the downdraft from the rotors whipping Liu Hui's shirt violently.

Three people disembarked from the helicopter and rushed toward Liu Hui, battling the wind. A middle-aged man grabbed Liu Hui’s hand and asked directly, "Are you Little Brother Liu Hui? I am Hu Xian'er's father. Where is my daughter?"

"Mr. Hu, please follow me." Liu Hui recognized Mr. Hu instantly from the video call they had shared. Along with Mr. Hu were two doctors in white coats, carrying a stretcher.

Liu Hui led Mr. Hu and his party to his home, directly to Hu Xian'er's bedside. Upon seeing her father arrive, tears streamed down Hu Xian'er's face, but alas, she couldn't utter a sound. Mr. Hu immediately instructed the doctors beside him to conduct a preliminary examination of Hu Xian'er.

Liu Hui and his parents stood by, watching the doctors examine Hu Xian'er. Seeing Mr. Hu's anxiety, Liu Hui offered reassurance: "Mr. Hu, please don't worry. With the doctors here, Miss Hu will receive treatment soon."

Mr. Hu then turned to Liu Hui. "Little Brother, I must thank you. You saved Xian'er's life. If anything happened to her, I wouldn't know what to do for the rest of my life."

"Mr. Hu is too kind. Rescuing your beloved daughter was merely a small effort; it does not warrant such praise from you."

"Right, Little Brother, tell me, where exactly did Hu Xian'er meet with danger?"

"It was deep in the mountains, far from here, in a place called the Misty Valley. The scenery is beautiful. It seems your daughter slipped into a gorge while sightseeing, but luckily, she was caught by vines in the mountain, which saved her life. When I found her, several days might have already passed; she is quite weak now," Liu Hui explained the details thoroughly to Mr. Hu.

"Alas! I know she was emotionally distressed, but why travel to such a distant and dangerous place for a trip, nearly getting killed? Little Brother, to be frank, we are from Hong Kong. After receiving news about her yesterday evening, I immediately started making calls and only managed to charter a flight late into the night. We arrived in Bashan this morning. However, Bashan is inconveniently located, and I feared transport might aggravate her injuries, so I used connections to rent a medical helicopter from Bashan Medical University. That's how we managed to arrive so quickly!" Mr. Hu sighed deeply.

By this time, the doctors had completed a preliminary check on Hu Xian'er. Without large diagnostic equipment, they couldn't obtain detailed information, but the examination confirmed that traveling by helicopter was safe.

Concerned for his daughter, Mr. Hu quickly bid Liu Hui farewell. He produced a business card and handed it to Liu Hui, saying, "Little Brother, you saved my daughter today. I, Hu, have no way to repay you now, but if there is anything important I can assist you with in the future, I will certainly exert all my efforts."

Liu Hui accepted the card and smiled. "Mr. Hu, you are too polite. Your daughter's health is paramount; please prioritize your return trip!"

Mr. Hu nodded to Liu Hui's parents, escorted his daughter onto the helicopter, and bid Liu Hui goodbye. Liu Hui waved back at them. The helicopter ascended higher and higher until it vanished into the horizon.

Only then did Liu Hui raise the business card in his hand, intending to see what was written on it. Unfortunately, a sudden gust of wind blew the card right out of his hand. He hastily chased after it, trying to catch it, but the card flew higher and higher until it disappeared.

Liu Hui was left feeling somewhat helpless. That card represented a promise, one that might have been useful someday, and now it was blown away—what a pity. He had just handed Hu Xian'er's cell phone to Mr. Hu, and now the card was gone too. Contact with Hu Xian'er was completely severed. In truth, in the photos from her passport, Hu Xian'er looked quite lovely!

Returning home, Liu Hui gave his parents a detailed account of the trip to pay respects to his grandfather. He had just paused to take a few sips of water when his phone rang. It was Mei Peng. He answered the call, and within a few sentences, his expression changed drastically.

"What? Someone forcibly broke into Han Tang Hospital last night?"