You said you would make games by yourself, but how did you become the richest man by doing nothing?

#621 - Two victims

Tang Yin's voice was low and steady, like a tightly drawn string, suppressing some hidden power: "Besides, I can't vote for Xia Hui either, or it would be like telling the wolf camp that I know Xia Hui's true identity."

Zhao Gang's hand was still tightly gripping Tang Yin's neck, his eyes fixed on him, as if searching for a flaw. But Tang Yin didn't stop; he took a deep breath, his gaze firm: "So, not Xia Hui, and not Granny Rong. I have to vote for you to send a signal."

Zhao Gang's brow furrowed deeply, his eyes full of doubt and wariness: "…Signal?"

"…To be honest, this plan is very risky." Tang Yin gave a wry smile, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice, "After all, I don't know if you can understand what I mean."

Zhao Gang's fingers loosened slightly, but he didn't release his grip completely. His face was still clouded over, like a thunderstorm about to erupt.

"However, even in this form, you did come to me." Tang Yin met Zhao Gang's fiery gaze without flinching, "To confirm my intentions."

He paused, his tone even deeper: "I need this opportunity."

Zhao Gang's eyes narrowed, his gaze like a knife, as he coldly spat out, "What exactly do you mean?"

Tang Yin slowly exhaled, masking the stinging in his throat. He didn't answer, but instead raised his hand and gently pushed away Zhao Gang's hand. Zhao Gang didn't use any more force, and finally released his grip completely, taking a step back.

Tang Yin gently rubbed his neck and said in a low voice, "Form a majority, eradicate the wolves, and avenge Granny Rong."

Zhao Gang's expression changed slightly, his anger mixed with a complex emotion. He didn't speak, but just silently looked at Tang Yin.

"However, to achieve this goal, I need your trust." Tang Yin's voice gradually calmed down, his eyes showing a hint of frankness, "I trust you, because I confirmed your identity through the Serpent's Blessing—you are human."

Zhao Gang pursed his lips, the complex emotions in his eyes gradually intertwined, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't speak immediately. Tang Yin met his silence, looking directly into his eyes, his voice deep and steady: "Do you believe me?"

Zhao Gang lowered his head, as if thinking or struggling. After a moment, he raised his head, looking at Tang Yin with a complex gaze: "…I can't make a decision right now. But, I'll believe you're the Serpent for now."

Tang Yin breathed a slight sigh of relief, but his face didn't show any relaxation. He knew that this conversation was far from over.

Zhao Gang lowered his eyes, smiling as if mocking himself: "To be honest, the so-called Yellow Springs Banquet is actually a battle of belief and disbelief, isn't it?"

Tang Yin didn't answer, just listened quietly.

Zhao Gang raised his head, a dangerous coldness in his eyes: "And, you guessed right."

Tang Yin's brow twitched slightly: "Which part?"

The corners of Zhao Gang's mouth curled into a cold smile, but without any warmth: "I was indeed considering killing you yesterday."

The air instantly froze, Zhao Gang's tone calm to the point of being cold: "If I had come to you yesterday, you wouldn't even have had a chance to speak before I killed you, right?"

Tang Yin's fingers curled slightly, but he remained calm, his gaze never wavering.

Zhao Gang sighed, a touch of complexity in his tone: "But, in the end, I hesitated. Maybe it's because…" He paused, his eyes drifting to the side, "Maybe it's because I care about what you said to me."

Tang Yin secretly rejoiced in his heart, but remained impassive on the surface, only nodding lightly.

Zhao Gang's gaze returned to Tang Yin, but his tone was still cold: "…However, whether I really believe you is another matter. I can only decide whether to accept your suggestion after I hear your detailed explanation."

"That's enough." Tang Yin breathed a soft sigh, his voice slightly hoarse. But soon, he raised his head, frowning: "That reminds me…"

"You said two people died, who exactly are they?" He tried to keep his tone calm, but the unease in his heart was like a surging undercurrent, difficult to suppress.

Zhao Gang was silent for a moment, the clouds on his face even heavier. He glanced at Tang Yin and said slowly, "Well, I was just about to tell you." He turned and walked towards the door, his voice low and urgent, "Come with me, we have to find Old Man Gao."

…

The morning air was filled with a hint of dampness and cold, and the silence of Misty Hidden Village seemed particularly oppressive at this moment. Zhao Gang led Tang Yin through several small paths in the village, and only when they arrived at the small square at the entrance of the village did he speak in a low voice: "The dead found this morning were… Gao Mei and Xia Hui."

Tang Yin's footsteps stopped instantly, as if he had been nailed to the ground. His pupils shrank slightly, but he didn't cry out, and there was no obvious expression of shock on his face. In fact, his first reaction wasn't shock, but deep doubt.

Why?

Why them?

Gao Mei's mental state had always been unstable, and Xia Hui was the one who called herself a "Blessed One." These two seemed to have no direct connection, but they were killed on the same day. This result was too strange, even incomprehensible.

However, now wasn't the time to think deeply. Tang Yin quickly adjusted his emotions and followed Zhao Gang's footsteps.

"According to Zhao Gang, if Old Man Gao sees Little Mei's body, he will definitely fly into a rage." Tang Yin murmured in a low voice, the scene from before flashing through his mind—Old Man Gao's reaction was already unusually intense when Gao Mei was mentally deranged that day.

"It seems Little Liang was right, Old Man Gao really dotes on Little Mei. That should be true," he thought to himself.

Zhao Gang's voice suddenly sounded, interrupting Tang Yin's thoughts: "Before I came to you, I patrolled around Misty Hidden Village, but I didn't find Old Man Gao's figure." Zhao Gang's face was stern, a hint of hidden unease in his tone, "He must have already discovered Little Mei's body, right? I don't know where he is now, or what he's doing."

Speaking of this, Zhao Gang paused, a trace of fear flashing in his eyes: "Old Man Gao with a shotgun is more dangerous than me."

…

The two were silent all the way until they met Wang Lina near the square.

Her face was haggard, and her eyes were swollen like walnuts, obviously she had just cried not long ago. When she saw Tang Yin and Zhao Gang, she immediately hurried forward, her voice choked with sobs: "Brother… Tang Yin…"

Zhao Gang coldly opened his mouth: "Have you met Old Man Gao?"

Wang Lina shook her head, her eyes filled with deep weariness: "Hey, no… Brother Gang, I thought you would go to Tang Yin for trouble."

Zhao Gang just snorted coldly when he heard this, avoiding the topic: "…Let's not worry about this matter for now, Little Mei's room door is open, right? It seems that Old Man Gao should have seen everything."

Wang Lina nodded, a trace of unease flashing in her eyes: "Yes, I went to see, there is no one in the room."

Zhao Gang frowned, his tone more serious: "Don't act separately, everyone go find Old Man Gao together. Wang Lina, where are Little Liang and Qin Ming?"

"They should not be up yet…" Wang Lina said in a low voice.

Zhao Gang said in a deep voice: "Then call the people in this area up first and then go to the dormitory. Tang Yin, bring a stick or something."

Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Ah… I understand." He looked down at the ground, vaguely feeling a chill crawling up his back. "Where exactly will Old Man Gao with the shotgun be?"

…

Hua Lu, Little Mian, Madam Chen Xiang and Qin Yi… Everyone living near the square was found. The cold morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with a damp chill. Tang Yin stood aside, watching Zhao Gang briefly explain the current situation. The expressions on the faces of several people were different, shock, unease, and exhaustion intertwined, but no one interrupted.

"We don't have time to wait now," Zhao Gang glanced at Hua Lu and Madam Chen Xiang, his tone cold and hard, "Qin Yi, you stay here. If you meet Old Man Gao, you must stop him no matter what. The women and children will be left to you to protect."

Qin Yi was slightly stunned, then nodded, a trace of solemnity in his eyes: "Understood, Brother Gang."

Zhao Gang stared at him, his tone carrying a hint of probing sharpness: "…You voted for Granny Rong yesterday, maybe Old Man Gao will directly attack without saying a word. You must be fine, you won't run away, will you?"

Qin Yi raised his head, calmly meeting Zhao Gang's gaze, and bit his lip: "How is that possible, don't worry, Brother Gang."

Madam Chen Xiang suddenly frowned, and asked hesitantly: "Wait, Zhao Gang, why would the people who voted for Granny Rong be attacked by Old Man Gao?"

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Hua Lu also echoed softly, her tone revealing incomprehension: "…Yes, Old Man Gao said yesterday that Granny Rong and Xia Hui should both be hanged. Moreover, he personally sent Granny Rong on her way."

Zhao Gang was silent for a moment, his eyes becoming deep. He raised his hand and supported his forehead, his voice low: "…Indeed, Old Man Gao is different from me, he won't lose his composure because of Granny Rong's death."

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming cold: "However, the female reporter Xia Hui is a wolf."

These words were like a thunderbolt hitting the top of several people's heads, and everyone subconsciously held their breath.

"In other words," Zhao Gang continued, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "Old Man Gao is likely to suspect everyone who voted for Granny Rong besides her."

Qin Yi's face changed slightly, and he asked in a low voice: "…How did you determine that? What do you know about that woman?"

Zhao Gang coldly replied: "You'll know when you see it."

…

The thick fog gradually dissipated, and the bare land on the hillside appeared particularly moist, making a slight "creak" sound when stepped on. Tang Yin followed behind Zhao Gang, his footsteps very light, but the feeling of oppression in his chest was gradually increasing. A strange smell permeated the air, and the nauseating aura gradually became strong.

"Do you smell it?" Zhao Gang suddenly said, his voice low, "You should understand as soon as you get close."

Tang Yin frowned, not saying anything. They quickly walked towards the concrete steps near the dormitory. Before they got close, Zhao Gang suddenly reached out and stopped Tang Yin, reminding him in a low voice: "Watch your step."

Tang Yin looked down and his pupils suddenly shrank. On the ground was a large patch of bright red blood, irregularly extending, like some kind of distorted work of art. On the steps, those bloodstains gradually gathered into one piece, reflecting the morning light, a dazzling red.

Then, he saw it.

A "corpse" was lying on the steps—no, to be precise, a pile of completely torn human remains. Every part was torn to pieces, arms, legs, and internal organs scattered on the steps, like some kind of malicious puzzle. Those twisted pieces of meat were soaked in blood, exuding an unbearable stench that made one want to vomit.

Tang Yin held his breath, his gaze struggling to move away from the remains. His eyes caught a glimpse of a surviving piece of facial tissue—it was pale skin, a broken bridge of the nose, and lips painted with lipstick but torn apart.

Xia Hui.

"She died outside." Zhao Gang's voice was low and indifferent, with a hint of suppressed anger.

Tang Yin suppressed the churning in his stomach and took a deep breath. He tried to keep his voice steady, but it still carried a trace of trembling: "…This is…"

Wang Lina covered her mouth, and after a violent vomiting, she couldn't vomit anymore. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her eyes were horrified, and her face was pale. The stench of blood and rotten flesh intertwined seemed to turn into invisible shackles, pressing heavily on everyone's chest. Tang Yin walked at the back, trying to avoid everything on the steps, and followed Zhao Gang up the steep slope beside him.

The steep slope was shrouded in morning mist, the moist soil was loose, and the soles of the shoes made a slight "creak" sound when stepped on. Tang Yin took a deep breath, the cold air pouring into his nasal cavity, slightly suppressing the discomfort in his heart. They finally arrived at the entrance of the dormitory, greeted by a deathly silence.

Little Liang sat on the stairs on the first floor, his hands hanging between his knees, his head lowered. He had always been a frivolous-looking teenager with a wicked smile, but at this moment, a look of sadness that Tang Yin had never seen before appeared on his face.

"…Little Mei is dead…" Tong Liang said in a low voice, his words dry and hoarse, as if squeezed out from the depths of his throat.

Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, a complex emotion flashing through his heart. He had originally thought that Little Liang was the kind of person with an extremely weak view of life and death, with a different sensibility, only thinking about doing what he liked. But he was wrong. In the previous cycle, he knew that Little Liang liked Gao Mei, but these things, thinking about it now, were meaningless.

Zhao Gang ignored Little Liang, just quickly walking to the second floor. Tang Yin followed closely behind, the wooden stairs inside the dormitory building making a harsh creaking sound. When the door was pushed open, the scene inside the room made Tang Yin's heart shake slightly.

Qin Ming knelt on the ground, his head drooping weakly. His eyes were hollow, and he looked like a wooden puppet who had lost his soul. "…It's all my fault." Qin Ming murmured in a low voice, his tone filled with deep self-blame.

Zhao Gang frowned, stepped forward, and shook his shoulders hard, his tone urgent and firm: "It's all the wolf's fault! Otherwise, it's my fault for not being able to stop Old Man Gao." He emphasized his tone, almost shouting, "Your mission has just begun, cheer up, Qin Ming!"

Qin Ming raised his head, his eyes still scattered, his face full of struggle and pain. He didn't speak, his slightly trembling fingers clenching the floor.

Wang Lina turned her head and glanced at Tang Yin, a trace of hesitation seeming to flash in her eyes. But Tang Yin quickly denied his thoughts—maybe it was just his illusion, or, simply narcissism.

"…We have to go downstairs," Wang Lina said in a deep voice, and then reached out and grabbed Qin Ming, "Wait, Qin Ming!"

She chased after him, wanting to grab Qin Ming's hand, but Qin Ming acted decisively, shaking off her arm. The two figures quickly disappeared around the corner of the stairwell.

...

The air inside the room was terrifyingly silent, as if even time had been frozen. Tang Yin stood at the doorway, her gaze slowly sweeping over the body on the ground.

Xiao Mei's body leaned against the corner of the wall, her empty eyes staring straight ahead, like a solidified statue. Different from Wolf's previous methods of killing, this time, there was no bloody head explosion or brutal smashing, but a strange "completeness." A trace of dried blood stained the corner of her mouth, the crimson seeming to accentuate the sadness on her face. That emotion seemed to have been deliberately preserved, even carrying a hint of... aesthetic beauty.