Zhou Xiaopang rushed to his feet, "Manager Li, Hao was just watching the trailer to learn more about the game!""Learn more?" Li Haitao scoffed, his voice booming across the dining hall. "In this game, every second counts! Falling behind now will only hurt you later.""But..." Zhou Xiaopang tried to protest, but Li Haitao cut him off."This club doesn't need dead weight, Lin Tianhao. You're fired."Lin Tianhao, unfazed, simply rose from his seat. "It's fine, Fatso.""But your sister needs the money for surgery," Zhou Xiaopang insisted, his voice filled with concern."Don't worry," Lin Tianhao assured him. "I'll find a way."He turned and walked out of the club, a sense of liberation washing over him. He had wasted too much time here, entangled in the club's rigid structure.Outside, Zhou Xiaopang caught up with him. "Here, Hao. Take this. It's all the money I have left." He thrust a wad of cash into Lin Tianhao's hand. "Don't worry about your sister. We'll find a way to get her the money she needs."Lin Tianhao was touched. Zhou Xiaopang, along with Shouhou and Yanjing, were his closest friends, the brothers he had chosen. They had stood by him during the darkest times, and he would never forget their loyalty."Thanks, Fatso. I'll repay you soon.""Don't worry about it," Zhou Xiaopang said, "I'm quitting too. I'm with you.""Good."Zhou Xiaopang returned to the club, a defiant glint in his eyes, and promptly resigned. He didn't care about the money he'd lose. Loyalty trumped everything.Shouhou and Yanjing, informed of the situation, immediately agreed to join them.Lin Tianhao and Zhou Xiaopang headed to a nearby cybercafe, purchasing two new gaming pods.Back in the game, Lin Tianhao resumed his relentless grind."9998...""9999...""...10,000!"Finally, he had collected the necessary number of Red-Eyed Rabbit eyes.He returned to the village and approached the Old Man, the quest giver."Brave adventurer," the Old Man declared, his voice booming, "your perseverance is truly remarkable. I shall reward you handsomely.""Ding! You have completed the 'Red-Eyed Vigil' quest. Reward: Experience +1000, Silver Coins +5, Skill: Enhanced Attack Range +1.""Learn Skill."Lin Tianhao immediately selected the skill.Enhanced Attack Range (Passive Skill): 1 StarEffect: Increases attack range by 5%.Cooldown: None.Consumption: None.Skill Proficiency: 0/1000.Just as he had anticipated."Brave adventurer," the Old Man continued, "Your dedication surpasses all expectations. I have a new challenge for you: slay ten of the most fearsome creatures in the Novice Village. Failure will result in the forfeiture of your 'Enhanced Attack Range' skill. Success… well, let's just say the rewards will be worth it."Ten bosses? Lin Tianhao was surprised. He had expected a more straightforward challenge, but the Old Man's words piqued his interest. This was far more intriguing."Accept," he replied without hesitation.Hunting bosses would not only provide valuable experience but also rare drops, a crucial step in his plan to amass wealth and power.He turned his attention to the Twisting Treefolk, a fearsome level 10 monster lurking deep within the Novice Forest."Whoosh!" An arrow arced through the air, burying itself deep within the creature's bark.-424.The true damage inflicted by his "Hand of Fate" was a terrifying spectacle. The Twisting Treefolk, despite its imposing stature, was no match for Lin Tianhao's relentless assault."Ding! You have slain the Twisting Treefolk. Experience +90."The experience reward for defeating a higher-level monster was significantly higher, a welcome boost to his slow leveling progress.He continued his hunt, each victory bringing him closer to his goals. His health bar, a testament to his unique talent, continued to climb, an ever-growing reservoir of resilience.The path to the top would be long and arduous, but Lin Tianhao, armed with his unwavering resolve and the power of the "Hand of Fate," was ready to face any challenge.This was just the beginning. The legend of the Snow Emperor was about to be written.