deltrittennovels #565 - Werewolf revealed
#565 - Werewolf revealed
The air in the assembly hall was as still as congealed glue. Gao Mei’s anxious eyes were fixed on Tang Yin. "What exactly do you mean?" Her voice trembled slightly.
Tang Yin gently twirled the wooden stick in his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Before I explain to you, can I explain to the confused Wang Lina first?"
"Huh? Huh!?" Wang Lina looked blank, her clear eyes filled with confusion, like a lost fawn.
Instantly, the entire assembly hall fell into an eerie silence. Except for Wang Lina and Xiao Mie, everyone else looked grave. Sunlight streamed through the mottled window lattices, casting dappled patterns on the floor, making everyone's expressions even more obscure.
Tang Yin surveyed the surroundings, understanding dawning in his eyes. It seemed they had reached a consensus. He took a deep breath, gripping the wooden stick tightly. "Regardless of who the wolf is, there are two more important things."
His gaze fell on Xiao Mie, who was huddled in Gao Mei's arms. "First, everyone should know that I planned to run away with Xiao Mie yesterday, right?"
In the morning light, Tang Yin's figure appeared exceptionally tall. "I know leaving now is taboo, but the problem is whether the person who let us escape will become the target of pollution." As soon as he finished speaking, the air seemed to thicken even more.
"So you detained Xiao Mie. Am I right?" There was a hint of sarcasm in Tang Yin's voice.
He continued to analyze, "Secondly, Wang Lina already had a falling out with Qin Ming yesterday, which means today's banquet is their showdown."
Qin Ming's hand, gripping the sickle, tightened unconsciously. Tang Yin glanced at Xiao Mei standing in the corner. "And Xiao Mei should support Qin Ming. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say her vote is a sure thing."
"However," Tang Yin's gaze swept over Granny Rong, who was chanting scriptures, and the timid Xiao Mie, "Granny Rong and Xiao Mie still have uncertainties, meaning their votes are floating votes."
The sunlight gradually became dazzling, casting dappled shadows on the floor. "Therefore, reconciling with Wang Lina and targeting me, the only outsider, should be the safest and most reliable method, right?"
"That's not right." Qin Ming suddenly interrupted, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth.
Tang Yin sneered. "To keep me silent, you're holding Xiao Mie hostage."
"That's not right!" Qin Ming waved the sickle excitedly. "I was worried you'd use the child as a hostage to threaten us!"
"What good would that do me?" Tang Yin shrugged. "Let's put it this way, I'm not even participating in the banquet. You must understand that, right?"
Qin Ming's face twisted. "That's why I said we were fooled! Then tell me, who else here could be the mastermind?!" His emotions were completely out of control, the sickle reflecting a dangerous light in the morning sun.
"Xiao Mei and I both lost our families! Granny Rong also lost Gang Ge!! Everyone has lost someone important!" Qin Ming's voice was full of grief and anger, as if he wanted to attribute all the misfortune to Tang Yin.
He stared intently at Tang Yin, his eyes flashing with a manic light. "Then, who hasn't suffered any losses so far? Only you, Tang Yin." He squeezed out the last sentence almost one word at a time.
The sunlight in the assembly hall grew more intense, illuminating Tang Yin’s slightly raised face, outlining a cold and stern profile. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were as sharp as knives.
—Is that so.
Is this the story you've prepared?
Too bad, Qin Ming, you're not suited to be a writer.
Tang Yin slowly twirled the wooden stick in his hand, his voice calm, almost cold. "You always start to become eloquent when you lie or are in trouble."
"Don't change the subject." Qin Ming's voice trembled slightly, his hand gripping the sickle white-knuckled.
"This isn't changing the subject." Tang Yin's gaze swept over Qin Ming's tense facial muscles. "Qin Ming, you're getting too sentimental."
Sunlight cast dappled shadows on the floor, and Tang Yin continued, "Moreover, you're underestimating Wang Lina. Do you think you can hide the truth just by playing the emotional card?"
His gaze swept across the expressions of everyone present. "Emotionally, it's certainly easier to pin all the blame on me."
"But," there was a hint of sarcasm in Tang Yin's voice, "you're overlooking your own image. Your characteristic is calmness and composure. You'll argue reasonably even when facing unreasonable elders."
Qin Ming's face turned ashen. "Don't analyze me without permission." His voice was squeezed out from between his teeth.
Tang Yin remained unmoved. "This matter shouldn't be judged by us, but by someone who's been with you for over a decade." His gaze intentionally fell on Wang Lina.
The atmosphere in the assembly hall grew even more tense, even the air seemed to solidify. "Of course, a lot has happened these days. It's understandable even if your state of mind has changed."
"Alright, answer my question." Tang Yin took a step forward, the wooden stick tapping the ground lightly, making a crisp sound.
His eyes sharpened. "Are you completely losing your mind, venting your anger on me, an outsider?"
In the morning light, Tang Yin's figure appeared exceptionally tall. "Or are you calmly inducing everyone to hang me, wasting today's banquet opportunity, thereby making the situation even more advantageous for yourself?"
"Let's put it this way, is wasting the daytime execution beneficial to the human camp?"
Finally, Tang Yin turned his gaze to Wang Lina, who had been silent all along. "What do you think, Wang Lina?"
Wang Lina lowered her head, her long hair obscuring her expression, "..."
She slowly raised her head, took a deep breath, and stared unblinkingly at Qin Ming. Her clear eyes no longer held the dependence of the past, replaced by deep doubt. Her gaze seemed to penetrate Qin Ming's soul, searching for the truth hidden deep within.
Tang Yin watched this scene and said softly, "Qin Ming, you can just say I'm the wolf."
His voice was unhurried but incisive. "But you didn't. Your wording was 'mastermind' because you know you're the wolf yourself."
These words were like a heavy hammer, instantly shattering the last trace of calm in the assembly hall. Qin Ming's face turned pale, the sickle in his hand trembled slightly, and everyone else's eyes turned to him in unison, a suffocating tension filling the air.
In the morning light, Tang Yin's gaze sharpened. "Actually, you're not good at lying, are you? Now is the time to decide the outcome. You can't lie well."
Qin Ming's face instantly turned deathly pale. He suddenly turned to Wang Lina, his voice almost a roar. "Sister Lina!! Do you believe this person's words!?" His bloodshot eyes were filled with despair and pleading.
"Trying to play the emotional card again," Tang Yin shook his head gently, as if looking at a child who didn't understand. "You're still too naive. You should argue your case to the very end."
"Enough!" Qin Ming finally exploded. "What do you know! Besides talking big here, you can't do anything!!" His roar echoed in the assembly hall, shaking the windows slightly.
Ah, indeed. Tang Yin was also feeling frustrated. Sunlight streamed through the window lattices, casting dappled shadows on his face. He sighed softly. If he had chosen to infiltrate the banquet in the first place, he wouldn't have wasted so much time. But there was no point in saying that now.
However.
Tang Yin's gaze suddenly turned sharp, like a drawn sword. "In my opinion, someone who clearly has the ability to think independently but chooses to stubbornly believe in superstitions, and who stood by and watched their younger brother and mother die, frankly speaking, as an adult, your behavior infuriates me, Qin Ming."
These words were like a heavy hammer, striking Qin Ming directly in the heart. He slowly lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, the sickle in his hand almost slipping out.
The assembly hall fell into a deathly silence. Ten seconds, as long as a century. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Qin Ming's response. The silence was like an admission of defeat.
However, to everyone's surprise, Qin Ming slowly raised his head. His expression no longer showed any fluctuations, as calm as a pool of stagnant water. "I am indeed the wolf," he said in an almost indifferent tone.
"However, you misunderstood a few things." There was a hint of a victor's composure in Qin Ming's voice. Sunlight shone on his face, outlining a chilling arc.
"We've already won."
Before the words were finished, he made an unexpected move—he put down the sickle in his hand. The sound of metal colliding with the ground was crisp, especially jarring in the silent assembly hall.
The current Qin Ming was completely different from the agitated and out-of-control person just now. His voice was as cold as ice in the dead of winter, every word revealing a chilling calmness. Even more terrifying was that his attitude seemed unusually confident.
Tang Yin frowned, feeling confused for the first time. Qin Ming's behavior completely exceeded his expectations. This was illogical, and it didn't fit the behavior of someone about to be exposed.
"The other wolf can identify themselves," Qin Ming's voice echoed in the assembly hall.
—What exactly does he want to do?
"Is that really okay, Qin Ming?" Granny Rong's hoarse voice suddenly sounded, like a thunderclap striking everyone's heart.
"Yes, it's no problem anymore." The corner of Qin Ming's mouth curled into a strange arc.
Granny Rong was silent for a moment, "..."
"I am the other wolf."
These words were like a bombshell, instantly detonating in the assembly hall. Everyone's expressions froze, and even the air seemed to stop flowing at this moment. Tang Yin's pupils contracted slightly, and he felt a real sense of crisis for the first time.
Tang Yin's brain raced, trying to sort out this bizarre situation. He couldn't understand, he couldn't understand at all. What exactly made them so confident?
In the thin morning light, the atmosphere in the assembly hall was so heavy that it was almost suffocating. Sweat trickled down Tang Yin's forehead, and he frowned, trying to think about the current situation. Could it be because they were at their wit's end, so they simply smashed the pot and sold out their companions?
No, that's not right. Tang Yin shook his head, rejecting this idea. Qin Ming had just confidently said that they had already won, his tone full of confidence. This made no sense at all.
Tang Yin silently calculated in his mind: there were only two werewolves, and the human camp, including himself, had a total of four people. From any point of view, whether in terms of numbers or votes, the human camp had an absolute advantage. In this situation, the werewolf actively exposing their identity was tantamount to seeking their own death. So, why were they doing this? There must be some unknown secret hidden within.
Just as Tang Yin was lost in thought, a weak voice suddenly broke the silence.
"—Brother..." Gao Mei's voice trembled, filled with disbelief. Her eyes were fixed on Qin Ming, her pupils slightly dilated.
Then, her expression suddenly underwent an amazing change. The original doubt and fear instantly dissipated, replaced by pure joy: "Brother—!! You really, really are the Wolf God!!"
This joy came too abruptly, too clearly. Gao Mei's position was inexplicably completely reversed at this moment. Before anyone could react, she had already rushed to Qin Ming like an arrow, opening her arms and hugging him tightly. Qin Ming seemed a little caught off guard, his body stiffening obviously for a moment, before hesitating and finally reaching out to hug her back.
This bizarre scene stunned everyone present. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor, and the tiny dust particles floating in the air danced slowly in the light, adding a touch of surrealism to the moment. Even Xiao Mie walked blankly to Tang Yin's side, seemingly seeking some sense of security.
"Brother," Xiao Mie called out timidly, her voice filled with unease.
Tang Yin gently patted her shoulder, trying to give her some comfort: "Sorry, hide behind your sister."
"Mie," Xiao Mie responded obediently, hiding behind Wang Lina.
Wang Lina finally couldn't help but ask: "...Tang Yin, what exactly is going on?" Her voice was full of confusion and unease, her eyes darting back and forth between Qin Ming and Granny Rong.
Tang Yin shook his head, his voice low: "I don't know."
All of this was indeed too inexplicable. But strangely, in this chaotic situation, a strange sense of relief suddenly surged in Tang Yin's heart, as if all the mysteries were about to be revealed. Of course, there was also a lingering unease, like a beast lurking in the dark, ready to pounce at any moment.
"...Okay," Tang Yin took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady, "The initiative is already in your hands. Can you explain it a little?"
Faced with Tang Yin's question, Qin Ming was silent for a moment. Sunlight shone on his pale face, outlining a clear profile. His eyes showed fatigue, but also a certain determination.
"Granny Rong, please," he said softly, his voice with a hint of entreaty.
Granny Rong nodded slowly, the wrinkles on her face appearing particularly deep in the play of light and shadow: "...Okay, Qin Ming has also worked hard these days."
—In other words, the truth is about to be revealed.
Granny Rong turned to Wang Lina and Xiao Mie, deliberately ignoring Tang Yin's existence. Her hunched figure cast a long shadow in the morning light: "...Xiao Na, Xiao Mie."
Her voice was low and hoarse, as if coming from a very far away: "I have something I haven't told you."
The air seemed to freeze at that moment. Granny Rong took a deep breath and continued, "This happened a very, very long time ago, when I was just a little girl. A man from Baifeng Village, drunk during a mountain祭 offering, told me about it."
Her gaze deepened, as if she wanted to pierce through the river of time and see those long-sealed past events: "The truth about the Yellow Springs忌 Banquet."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room fell into a deathly silence. Everyone's breathing seemed to stop, waiting for this truth that could change everything. Tang Yin could feel his heartbeat particularly clear in the silence. He knew that the following words would reveal all the mysteries of this strange game.