deltrittennovels #544 - A new day of banquet begins
#544 - A new day of banquet begins
The old chandelier in the cafeteria cast a dim, yellowish halo. Tang Yin and Qin Ming sat at a long table in the corner. The worn surface of the wooden table was covered with fine dust, barely visible in the light. Tang Yin tapped the table lightly with his finger, a tentative curiosity in his eyes: "I heard she used to be a delinquent?"
Qin Ming picked up the cold tea in front of him and took a sip, nodding slightly: "Yeah, sort of. She almost killed someone."
"Wait," Tang Yin's finger stopped in mid-air, his brow furrowed.
Qin Ming quickly waved his hand to explain: "Don't get me wrong, it was just an accident. But Sister Lina's cheerfulness is a bit unexpected. She used to be very introverted." His voice lowered, as if he were recalling something.
"Is that so?" Tang Yin looked thoughtfully out the window. The afterglow of the setting sun was shining through the glass, casting patches of orange light on the ground.
"The three years in college must have changed her personality." Qin Ming's gaze drifted into the distance, his tone tinged with nostalgia. "That's why I've really given up."
Tang Yin turned his head, gazing at Qin Ming's slightly pale profile: "...How should I put it? It feels like you're not being honest. It's better not to force yourself." He paused. "It's just liking someone, it's not a big deal."
"...I'm not in the mood to think about that kind of thing right now." Qin Ming's voice suddenly became low, and he gripped his teacup tighter.
"You're right." Tang Yin responded softly, his gaze falling on the darkening sky outside the window.
In this oppressive atmosphere, a few minutes later, all the villagers gathered in the cafeteria, ready to go to the assembly hall for the banquet. The crowd was filled with rustling whispers, mixed with unease and fear.
Tang Yin stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally stopping on Zhao Gang and Granny Rong: "I suggest you lock me in a room." To get them to agree, he added, "Let Qin Ming and Wang Lina take me to the dormitory together."
On the way to the dormitory, Qin Ming looked up at the tall sycamore trees outside the window, his voice cautious: "Sister Lina, can you jump from the window onto the branches?"
Wang Lina shook her head. She was wearing a dark blue knitted sweater today, which made her look particularly slender in the twilight: "...I don't think so. And if I jump down, I won't be able to get back up."
The three stood in the room, carefully checking every possible escape route. The iron railings of the balcony were covered with ivy, swaying gently in the breeze. If any of them were the wolf, then humanity probably had no chance of winning.
"I'm closing the door," Wang Lina's hand rested on the doorknob, her voice trembling slightly, "If I can, I'll come back to open it. But, in the worst case, it'll have to be tomorrow morning."
"I understand. It can't be helped." Tang Yin said calmly, but a hint of worry flashed in his eyes, "...Tonight's banquet will definitely be difficult. I wish you all the best."
Wang Lina's fingers turned slightly white, and she bit her lip: "...Thank you. I'm sorry to make you worry about this decaying village,"
"I'm worried about you." Tang Yin's voice was very soft, but it was particularly clear in the silent room.
The door closed gently, making a muffled sound. Tang Yin stood by the window, watching the two figures gradually moving away, until they disappeared into the twilight. The last rays of sunset faded away, and darkness surged like a tide, engulfing this eerie village again.
"Whoa, I'm so happy, I'll do my best." Wang Lina's voice was somewhat forced and cheerful. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her knitted sweater, and her profile looked particularly pale in the dim corridor light.
Qin Ming took a deep breath, his voice low: "...Okay, close the door."
"Yeah, be careful too, Qin Ming," Tang Yin stood in the center of the room, his gaze solemn, "Your mother only has you left."
"Yeah, you're right..." Qin Ming's voice was a little choked up, and then disappeared behind the door. The heavy wooden door closed, followed by the sound of a wooden stick bracing the door, dull and decisive.
Tang Yin walked to the window, gazing at the darkening sky outside, his thoughts beginning to sort out the current situation. So far, there were four people he could communicate with—Wang Lina, Zhao Gang, Xiao Liang, and Qin Ming. Their eyes still retained a glimmer of humanity, and their words revealed a desire to live.
At the same time, there were seven people who were difficult to communicate with—Granny Rong, Hua Lu, Xiao Mie, Chen Xiang, Gao Mei, Qian Jin, and Grandpa Wolf. They were like ghosts shrouded in mist, behaving strangely and acting suspiciously. Although he didn't know if it was meaningful to understand them in depth, Tang Yin decided to collect information on everyone as much as possible.
Moonlight shone through the window lattices, casting mottled shadows on the floor. Four people had already died, leaving eleven people besides himself. Today, the snake would reveal Qian Jin's identity, leaving nine suspects besides Zhao Gang and Qian Jin. One person would be executed during the day, leaving eight people today; one person would be sacrificed at night, leaving only seven people tomorrow. Time was flowing away ruthlessly like sand in the palm of his hand.
If he didn't find a solution quickly, it would be too late. Tang Yin urged himself silently: Be proactive, human camp.
"Hello." Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Whoa, what's wrong?" Tang Yin turned around abruptly, looking towards the door.
The wooden door was pushed open a crack, and Wang Lina's voice came from outside: "I forgot to say, I probably won't have time to bring you food today. If you're hungry, use this to make do."
A fair hand reached in from the crack in the door, stuffing in a box of solid food with bright yellow packaging. The words on the packaging were faintly visible in the moonlight.
"...Thank you for doing this every day." Tang Yin took the food, a warmth rising in his heart.
"Don't mention it." Wang Lina's voice was gentle.
"I have a suggestion." Tang Yin said suddenly, his voice with a hint of urgency.
"Oh, what suggestion?"
"The guardians of the apes should also reveal their identities together." Tang Yin's tone was firm.
"..." There was a moment of silence outside the door.
"...Wh-why?" Wang Lina's voice clearly began to tremble.
Tang Yin looked at the shadow in the moonlight and said in a deep voice: "You'll know if you think about it. If you don't take the initiative, it'll be too late."
"Sister Lina, what are you doing?" Qin Ming's voice suddenly came from a distance.
"There's no time, hurry up and go." Tang Yin reminded in a low voice.
"Y-yes, I understand..." Wang Lina's hurried footsteps gradually faded away, disappearing at the end of the corridor. Tang Yin stood there, clutching the food in his hand, his expression solemn. The moonlight outside the window was blocked by dark clouds, and the room fell into darkness, as if foreshadowing the impending crisis.
The heavy wooden door closed behind him, accompanied by the muffled sound of a wooden stick bracing the door. An oppressive atmosphere filled the air, as if even breathing had become difficult.
Qin Ming turned around, his gaze falling on Gao Mei's bandaged arm, and asked with concern: "Xiao Mei, is your wound okay?"
"...I'm fine." Gao Mei lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum, and no expression could be seen on her pale face.
Qin Ming hesitated for a moment, his voice with a hint of probing: "...Can you tell us what happened...?"
"Is it dangerous to leave now?" Tong Xiao Liang suddenly interjected, wringing his hands nervously, his eyes wandering in the dim corridor.
Gao Mei raised her head slightly, then quickly lowered it again, "...I don't know, let's just leave it at that." After saying that, she turned and walked away quickly, disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.
The scene shifts to the assembly hall. The old wooden floor creaked slightly due to the dampness, and the light of the oil lamps cast swaying shadows on the walls. The villagers sat in a circle as they had the day before, each person's face filled with exhaustion and vigilance.
Granny Rong sat hunched over in the main seat, her cloudy eyes scanning everyone present: "...Everyone has drunk the wine, let the Yellow Spring Feast begin." Her hoarse voice echoed in the silent hall.
"Let's get straight to the point..." Qin Ming's gaze locked on Zhao Gang, "Brother Gang, did you receive the snake's oracle last night?"
Zhao Gang lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of his teacup, "...Yes, I received it."
"! What did it say!?" Wang Lina stood up abruptly, the hem of her knitted sweater wrinkled in her hands.
"Qian Jin is human." Zhao Gang's voice was terrifyingly calm.
Qian Jin adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, a faint smile on the corner of his mouth: "Of course I'm not a wolf...So, my and Zhao Gang's suspicions can now be ruled out, right?"
"That's right." Qin Ming responded briefly.
Qian Jin straightened his tie and continued, "Then let's sort out the matters that must be decided. If we follow the thinking of Gao Zhijie, who unfortunately sacrificed himself last night..."
"Hey, Uncle, why are you hosting?" Tong Xiao Liang interrupted him, with undisguised disgust on his face.
Qian Jin's glasses reflected the light of the oil lamp, obscuring his eyes: "...Then let's leave it to Granny Rong, I don't mind."
Granny Rong waved her withered hand: "I'm not good at this kind of thing."
"In that case," Qian Jin's voice was tinged with pride, "Whether it's based on seniority or considering identity, Zhao Gang and I are the most suitable people to host the banquet, right?"
"Brother Gang, this uncle is too annoying, you should host it." Tong Xiao Liang said with a pout.
Zhao Gang gripped his teacup tightly, his knuckles white: "...I can't do it, Qian Jin, please."
Qian Jin scanned the people present, his voice filled with false sympathy: "He hasn't recovered from the shock of his elder's sacrifice, there's no need to force him."
He stood up, straightened the hem of his suit, and continued, "Then let's take on the responsibilities we can handle. Zhao Gang, Mrs. Chen Xiang is entrusted to you."
The light of the oil lamp flickered behind him, casting a huge and distorted shadow on the floor, like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue. A faint smell of blood filled the air, foreshadowing the impending horror.
The dark clouds outside the window blocked the moonlight, making the assembly hall even dimmer. Chen Xiang huddled in the corner, hugging her knees tightly, tears silently streaming down her face. "...That child...that child, wuu..." Her voice was fragmented, like shards of glass crushed by fate.
Zhao Gang stood beside her, his eyes flashing with helpless light: "...Sister Chen Xiang..."
Qian Jin suddenly slammed the table hard, the crisp sound startling everyone. He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and said calmly, "Alright, let's get straight to the point, we must choose someone to hang today."
"Wait! This is too much of a mess!?" Wang Lina stood up abruptly from her seat, her delicate face flushed with anger.
Qin Ming lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously stroking his sleeve: "...No, it's necessary, Sister Lina. If we don't do this, we'll all be slaughtered by the wolves sooner or later."
Qian Jin's mouth curled into a meaningful smile: "That's right, the banquet is so ruthless, am I right, Granny Rong?"
Granny Rong hunched over, her cloudy eyes staring straight ahead: "...That's right, the Yellow Spring person must be hanged."
A cold wind blew in from the crack in the window, and the oil lamps flickered violently. Grandpa Wolf's hoarse voice rang out in the darkness: "One person per day, the hanging penalty."
Wang Lina's voice trembled with fear: "...What if we choose the wrong person!? Even if only the people here know, we'll have to bear the sin of killing someone for the rest of our lives!?"
Qian Jin straightened his tie, his voice calm and chilling: "This matter is indeed unpleasant, but it's not a sacrifice in vain."
Gao Mei suddenly stood up, a mocking smile appearing on her pale face: "Are you kidding me? Even if we choose the wrong person, it's not a sacrifice in vain?"
"Watch your attitude," Qian Jin's glasses reflected a strange light, "Listen carefully, we now have two means of eliminating suspects."
He turned to Qin Ming: "Qin Ming, you already know, right?"
"...Yes, the snake's oracle and..." Qin Ming's voice grew smaller and smaller.
"Executing someone, reducing the number of people!?" Wang Lina interrupted sharply, "So what, do you think we'll accept it!?"
"...I can't accept it either!" Gao Mei clenched her fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms, "Even if we win, will the victims be resurrected!?"
Qian Jin looked around, his gaze as cold as a snake: "So it's necessary for us to form a consensus." He paused, "--A consensus that even sacrificing oneself is fine in order for others to live."
"Uh..." Gao Mei involuntarily took a step back.
Granny Rong remained silent, staring intently at the floor.
Zhao Gang suddenly raised his head, his voice filled with despair: "...Is this the only way...!"
"Yes, this is the only way..." Qian Jin's voice was laced with a kind of cruel pity, "The rules of the mountain are so vicious."
Gao Mei suddenly rushed to Qian Jin, her eyes flashing with angry tears: "Don't joke around! If you were to be hanged for the sake of others, could you accept it calmly!?"
The light of the oil lamps cast huge shadows on the walls, like the curtain of a death theater about to be staged. An atmosphere of fear and despair filled the air, and everyone was waiting for the cruel pronouncement of fate.