deltrittennovels #598 - The first protector reported his identity
#598 - The first protector reported his identity
"Sprinkle iron nails?" Qin Ming frowned, his slightly childish face filled with doubt.
"There haven't been any carpentry jobs recently, right? This poor place doesn't have anyone with spare money to buy iron nails, so someone must be doing it on purpose, right?" Qin Yi's eyes flashed with a dangerous light, his voice laced with sarcasm. His slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, as if keeping some kind of rhythm.
"...Are you saying, the elders did it?" Qin Ming's voice trembled slightly, clearly shocked by the speculation.
"Who else could it be! They just want to see people die, so they're trapping outsiders here!" Qin Yi slammed his hand on the table, making a dull "thud" that startled everyone present.
"Ah, that's certainly a possibility." Zhao Gang nodded thoughtfully, a look of realization appearing on his young face.
"Foolish...! How could the elders be so bored!" Qian Jin was flushed with anxiety, his bloodshot eyes wide.
"Young man, Qin Zhi arranged for you to move here, right?" Gao Zhijie's gaze suddenly locked onto Tang Yin, a sharp glint flashing in his cloudy eyes. Tang Yin's heart sank—things were starting to take a turn for the worse.
"Did you hear anything from Qin Zhi?" Gao Zhijie continued to press. Zhao Gang, Qin Yi, and Xia Hui all turned their gazes to Tang Yin, as if trying to see through his soul.
Gao Zhijie narrowed his eyes slightly. Planting a spy in the village the day before the banquet, as an on-site assistant to expand the scope of destruction, was indeed a convincing idea.
More damningly, Tang Yin was indeed the one who caused the flat tire on the van. Cold sweat began to seep from Tang Yin's forehead.
"...Stop it! Everything we've heard so far is just speculation, right!" Wang Lina suddenly spoke, her delicate face filled with anxiety. "What if it's a misunderstanding! Will the Mountain forgive us!"
"We can't worry about forgiveness or anything else, we have to hang the wolf to protect Mist Hidden Village." Gao Zhijie's voice was low and firm. His upright figure seemed even taller in the dim light. "Alright, I won't press Tang Yin's matter, nor the female reporter's either, I won't target you."
"However, there won't be any progress without executing someone, but I'd certainly feel guilty if I hanged a woman or a child." Gao Zhijie's brow furrowed, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "That's all I ask."
"Then hang me."
The sudden words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples through the room. Everyone's eyes instantly focused on the speaker—Wang Lina's face was calm, her delicate features showing no fear, only a look of determination. Her hands were clenched tightly at the hem of her clothes, her knuckles slightly white from the force, the only sign that her heart was not at peace.
The thick fog outside the window seemed to deepen at that moment, enveloping the entire assembly hall in an eerie atmosphere. The flame of the oil lamp flickered gently in the sudden silence, casting dancing shadows on the walls. A suffocating sense of oppression filled the air, as if even time had stopped.
"What I hate most is this atmosphere of Mist Hidden Village. Are you trying to murder a newly moved neighbor with this cowardly method?" Wang Lina's voice rang out, her bright eyes shining with determination. Her profile looked particularly resolute in the dim light.
"If someone has to die no matter what, then execute me. I've caused so much trouble for everyone, just consider it repaying your kindness." Her tone was disturbingly calm, as if discussing something trivial that had nothing to do with her.
"Lina, what, what are you saying!" Qin Ming suddenly stood up, his young face filled with panic. The chair made a grating sound as he moved.
"Qin Ming, just now, I was indeed thinking about who among us would be most suitable to die." Wang Lina lowered her head slightly, a hint of self-reproach in her voice. Her slender fingers twisted together unconsciously, revealing her inner turmoil.
"When Elder Gao Zhijie suggested sacrificing Tang Yin, I really thought that might be alright." Her voice grew softer, but it was still clearly audible in the silent assembly hall. "Even though it was just a fleeting thought, I still can't forgive myself for being this kind of Mist Hidden Village person."
"So, if someone has to be executed no matter what, then execute me, Elder Gao." She raised her head and looked directly at Gao Zhijie's wrinkled face.
"Sister Lina, don't be like this ~" Tong Xiaoliang was so anxious that he almost cried, his thick glasses already filled with tears.
"Yeah! Even, even if we don't let Sister Lina die in their place, that..." Gao Mei stammered, clutching the hem of her clothes with her small hands, her big eyes filled with worry.
Gao Zhijie remained silent, his weathered face showing no expression, but his slightly furrowed brow betrayed his displeasure. The flame of the oil lamp flickered behind him, casting his shadow on the wall, making him appear particularly large and sinister.
"...Lina is right." Hua Lu suddenly spoke, her lively eyes flashing with a strange light. "If we demand that a guest die for no reason, even if it invites suspicion like Xia Hui, it will be difficult for us to deny it, right?"
"...Then you can take his place and die! Elder!" Qin Yi said with a sneer, his young face filled with mockery.
Hua Lu fell silent, her pale face showing no emotional fluctuations.
"I don't mind." Gao Zhijie's voice was low and calm, as if discussing something insignificant.
"You, what nonsense are you talking about!? She's the last descendant of the Flower family who protects dreams, right!? How can you do this...!" Qian Jin suddenly stood up excitedly, his dark face flushed red with anger.
"Shut up, bitter gourd face!" Qin Yi shouted sternly, his voice with an undeniable authority.
"...Indeed, I'm not a Guardian, and, I might even cause trouble for everyone." Hua Lu said softly, a trace of sadness flashing in her clear, watery eyes. In the dim light, her pale face looked even more fragile.
"It's just... I'm very worried about this child." She gently stroked Xiaomei's hair, the tender gesture as if soothing a frightened little bird.
"Mei," Xiaomei called out timidly, clutching Hua Lu's clothes tightly.
"Using a child to beg for mercy?" Qin Yi sneered, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes. His young face was filled with disdain, as if watching a clumsy play.
"Qin Yi, say less." Qin Ming warned with a frown, his voice with a hint of undeniable authority.
"Stop pretending to be a good kid, big brother! It's all because of them that Mom!" Qin Yi suddenly stood up, pushing the chair back with a grating sound. His bloodshot eyes flashed with angry flames.
"Those things have nothing to do with Hua Lu! Don't cause trouble for Mom!" Qin Ming also stood up, the two brothers facing each other with swords drawn.
"...Qin Ming, Qin Yi... Waa..." Chen Xiang sobbed, her wrinkled face filled with pain.
The situation had reached its limit. Tang Yin silently observed the scene, frowning deeply. Gao Zhijie's idea wasn't entirely unreasonable, but like Zhao Gang and Qin Yi's dislike of the elders, there were probably some unspeakable thoughts buried deep in his heart. If these emotions were allowed to dominate the situation, the entire banquet would become increasingly out of control.
Tang Yin was well aware that the allocation of wolves had nothing to do with personal grudges. Therefore, these off-field factors must not be allowed to influence the direction of the banquet. Of course, as a prerequisite, he would never easily accept his fate of death.
Let a volunteer die in his place? No, that approach was unacceptable.
"That..." Tang Yin was about to speak when he was interrupted by a sudden declaration.
"I am the Ape!" Qin Ming's voice boomed in the silent assembly hall.
Tang Yin then realized that he had underestimated the complexity of the Yellow Springs Feast. This was not a situation that could be easily controlled, everyone had their own calculations, and all intentions were intricately intertwined. He silently glanced at Qin Ming's profile, his young face filled with determination.
"Qin Ming, you..." Chen Xiang covered her mouth in surprise, tears streaming down her face.
"I am the Guardian of the Ape, this is the Guardian I hate the most, what exactly does the Mountain want me to do, Mom?" Qin Ming's voice was choked with emotion.
The latest novels are first published on 69shu.com!
"...Really, big brother?" Qin Yi's anger disappeared in an instant, replaced by deep confusion.
"It's true, Qin Yi... Elder Gao, I also think we must eliminate the wolf." Qin Ming took a deep breath and continued, "However, choosing the person to be hanged based on matters unrelated to the banquet will only sow the seeds of conflict."
Gao Zhijie was silent, a complex look flashing in his cloudy eyes. The thick fog outside the window seemed to deepen at that moment, swallowing all the light. The flame of the oil lamp flickered gently in the oppressive atmosphere, casting flickering shadows.
"Compared to that, there are other things we can do." Qin Ming's voice was calm and firm, a thoughtful expression appearing on his young face. The light of the oil lamp danced on his face, adding a touch of mystery to him.
"I am the Ape. Another Ape, please reveal your identity." His gaze swept over everyone present, as if searching for some clue.
"W-wait, Qin Ming, Guardians can't just reveal their identities, right!?" Granny Rong suddenly stood up, her weathered face filled with panic. Her trembling hands clenched the corner of her apron tightly, revealing her unease.
"No, Granny Rong, only the Ape's Guardian has the significance of actively revealing itself. Xiaomei, can you understand what I mean?" Qin Ming turned to Gao Mei, a hint of probing in his eyes.
"...S-sorry, I don't understand." Gao Mei lowered her head and replied softly. Her young face was slightly red from nervousness.
"There are two Apes, but they don't have any special abilities, they just hold the identity of the Ape, so it's difficult to pose a great threat to the wolf." Qin Ming continued to explain, his voice with an undeniable logic. "Revealing their identities can directly eliminate two suspects, making it easier to choose the wolf."
"...Is that so, just ordinary people, instead, they are very safe..." Gao Mei nodded thoughtfully, a look of sudden understanding flashing in her big eyes.
"Alright, reveal your identities!" Qin Ming's voice echoed in the assembly hall.
Tang Yin's eyes narrowed slightly—this was clearly a trap carefully set by Qin Ming.
The Apes already know each other's identities, if they really want the other party to reveal their identity, they can just name them directly. But Qin Ming didn't do that, instead, he deliberately emphasized the advantage of revealing their identity to clear suspicion.
He was fishing, wanting to lure out the wolf who hadn't fully understood the situation!
Tang Yin's gaze wandered around the dim assembly hall, silently analyzing Qin Ming's move. If a wolf was foolish enough to claim to be an Ape, Qin Ming only needed to deny it on the spot with the other real Ape to easily expose this greedy wolf. The flame of the oil lamp flickered gently as he pondered, casting mottled shadows on the wall.
Even if no wolf took the bait, according to Qin Ming's statement, the Ape's active exposure of their identity could effectively narrow the range of suspects, which was indeed a wise move. With a little thought, one could understand this characteristic of the Ape's Guardian, but at present, the wolf might really take the bait because of this tempting benefit.
Jiang Taigong fishes, those who are willing take the bait.
This move, although seemingly simple, has almost no risk. More importantly, since Qin Ming had already revealed the identity of the Ape, then he must be on the human side—
This realization made Tang Yin feel more at ease than anyone else present. Last time, it was this man who led the wolves to defeat the humans, and now being able to stand on the same side as him was undoubtedly a rare stroke of luck.
However, just as Tang Yin was secretly rejoicing at this discovery, his understanding was completely subverted by a sudden scene.
"Qin Ming, don't act on your own." Gao Zhijie's voice suddenly sounded in the silent space, his wrinkled face filled with displeasure.
"Act on my own?" Qin Ming frowned slightly, a look of confusion flashing in his clear eyes.
"Let the Apes reveal their identities? Now, is there anyone who understands Qin Ming's opinion?" Gao Zhijie looked around, his aged voice with a hint of authority.
Few people raised their hands—Tong Xiaoliang timidly raised his hand, his thick glasses reflecting a faint light under the lamp; Qian Jin also raised his hand, his dark face filled with determination; Wang Lina and Xia Hui raised their hands almost simultaneously, exchanging a knowing look; finally, Gao Mei, shrinking back, raised her hand, her young face slightly red from nervousness.
Including Qin Ming himself, there were only six people in total. There were fifteen people present, such a ratio Tang Yin's heart sank sharply, was this actually a minority?