You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 544 A New Day Banquet Begins

The cafeteria's old chandelier cast a dim glow as Tang Yin and Qin Ming sat at a long table in the corner. Fine dust accumulated in the worn lines of the wooden table, faintly visible in the light. Tang Yin tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers, his eyes filled with tentative curiosity. "I heard she used to be a bad girl?"

Qin Ming took a sip of the already cold tea in front of him and nodded slightly: "Yeah, I guess so. I almost killed someone."

"Wait," Tang Yin's finger stopped in mid-air, his brows slightly frowned.

Qin Ming quickly waved his hands and explained: "Don't get me wrong, it's just an accident, but Sister Lina's cheerfulness is a little unexpected. In fact, she used to be very introverted." His voice lowered a little, as if he was recalling something.

"Is that so?" Tang Yin looked out the window thoughtfully. The afterglow of the setting sun was pouring in through the glass, casting an orange-red spot of light on the ground.

"I think those three years at university changed her personality." Qin Ming's gaze drifted off into the distance, a hint of nostalgia in his tone. "So, I've really given up."

Tang Yin turned his head and stared at Qin Ming's slightly pale profile. "...How should I put it? I feel like I'm not saying what I want to say. I'd better not force myself." He paused. "I just like someone. It's no big deal."

"...You're not in the mood to think about this right now." Qin Ming's voice suddenly became low, and he gripped the teacup in his hand tighter.

"You're right." Tang Yin responded softly, his eyes fixed on the darkening sky outside the window.

Amidst this oppressive atmosphere, a few minutes later, all the villagers gathered in the dining hall, preparing to go to the assembly hall for a banquet. From the crowd came whispers of discussion, mixed with anxiety and fear.

Tang Yin stood up, his eyes sweeping over everyone present, finally stopping at Zhao Gang and Granny Rong. "I suggest locking me up in a room." To get their approval, he added, "Let Qin Ming and Wang Lina take me to the dormitory."

On the way to the dormitory, Qin Ming looked up at the tall sycamore tree outside the window, and said cautiously: "Sister Lina, can you jump from the window to the branches?"

Wang Lina shook her head. She was wearing a dark blue sweater, which made her look particularly thin in the twilight. “…I can’t do it. Besides, if I jump, I won’t be able to get up.”

The three of them stood in the room, carefully checking every possible escape route. The balcony railings were covered in ivy, swaying gently in the breeze. If one of them was a wolf, the humans would have no chance of success.

"I closed the door," Wang Lina said, her hand on the doorknob, her voice trembling. "If I'm still in time, I'll come back to open the door, but the worst-case scenario will be tomorrow morning."

"I understand. It can't be helped." Tang Yin said calmly, but a hint of worry flashed in his eyes. "...Today's banquet must have been very difficult. I wish you all the best."

Wang Lina's fingers turned slightly white, and she bit her lip: "...Thank you, I'm sorry for making you worry about this decaying village."

"I'm worried about you." Tang Yin's voice was soft, but it was particularly clear in the silent room.

The door closed gently with a dull thud. Tang Yin stood by the window, watching the two figures gradually recede until they disappeared into the twilight. The last trace of sunset glow on the horizon gradually faded, and darkness surged in like a tide, engulfing this eerie village once again.

"Wow, I'm so happy. I will try my best." There was a hint of forced lightness in Wang Lina's voice. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corners of her sweater. Under the dim light of the corridor, her profile looked particularly pale.

Qin Ming took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "...Okay, close the door."

"Well, you should be careful too, Qin Ming." Tang Yin stood in the middle of the room, his eyes solemn. "Your mother is the only one left with you."

"Well, you're right..." Qin Ming's voice choked with sobs as he disappeared behind the door. The heavy wooden door closed, followed by the dull and decisive sound of a wooden stick against it.

Tang Yin walked to the window, staring out at the darkening sky, and began to process his current situation. So far, there were only four people he could communicate with—Wang Lina, Zhao Gang, Xiao Liang, and Qin Ming. There was still a glimmer of humanity in their eyes, and their words revealed a desire for life.

Meanwhile, there are seven difficult individuals to communicate with—Grandma Rong, Hualu, Xiaome, Chenxiang, Gaomei, Qianjin, and Master Lang. Like ghosts shrouded in mist, they behave strangely and suspiciously. While unsure whether getting to know them well is worthwhile, Tang Yin resolves to gather as much information as possible about each of them.

Moonlight streamed in through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on the floor. Four people were already dead, leaving eleven besides himself. Today, the Snake Society would reveal Qian Jin's identity. Besides Zhao Gang and Qian Jin, there were nine other suspects. One executed during the day, leaving eight; one sacrificed in the evening, leaving only seven tomorrow. Time slipped away relentlessly like sand in the palm of one's hand.

If we don't think of a solution quickly, it will be too late. Tang Yin urged silently in his heart: Be more proactive, human camp.

"Hello." Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Woo wow, what's wrong?" Tang Yin turned around suddenly and looked towards the door.

The wooden door was gently pushed open a crack, and Wang Lina's voice came from outside: "I forgot to tell you, I probably won't have time to bring you food today. If you're hungry, just use this thing to make do."

A white hand reached through the crack in the door and stuffed a box of solid food in bright yellow packaging. The words on the packaging were faintly visible in the moonlight.

"...Thank you so much for doing this every day." Tang Yin took the food and felt a warmth in his heart.

"Don't mind." Wang Lina's voice was gentle.

"I have a suggestion." Tang Yin said suddenly, with a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Oh, what suggestions?"

"It would be better for the monkey's protectors to reveal their identities together." Tang Yin said in a firm tone.

“…” There was silence outside the door.

"...Why, why?" Wang Lina's voice began to tremble.

Tang Yin looked at his shadow in the moonlight and said in a deep voice, "You'll know once you think about it. If you don't take the initiative, it will be too late."

"Sister Lina, what are you doing?" Qin Ming's voice suddenly came from a distance.

"There's no time left, let's go." Tang Yin reminded in a low voice.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it..." Wang Lina's frantic footsteps faded away, disappearing at the end of the corridor. Tang Yin stood there, clenching the food in his hand, his expression solemn. The moonlight outside the window was obscured by dark clouds, and the room was plunged into darkness, as if foreshadowing an impending crisis.

The heavy wooden door closed behind him, accompanied by the muffled sound of a wooden stick against the door panel. The air was filled with a sense of oppression, as if even breathing had become difficult.

Qin Ming turned around, his eyes fell on Gao Mei's arm wrapped in gauze, and asked with concern: "Xiaomei, is the wound okay?"

"...I'm fine." Gao Mei lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito, and there was no expression on her pale face.

Qin Ming hesitated for a moment, with a hint of tentativeness in his voice: "...Can you tell us what happened...?" "It's dangerous to leave now, right?" Tong Xiaoliang suddenly interrupted, rubbing his hands nervously, his eyes wandering in the dim corridor.

Gao Mei raised her head slightly, then quickly lowered it, "...I don't know, that's all." After that, she turned around and walked away quickly, disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.

The scene shifted to the assembly hall. The old wooden floorboards creaked softly from the dampness, and the light from the oil lamps cast flickering shadows on the walls. The villagers sat in a circle, just as they had yesterday, each expression filled with fatigue and vigilance.

Granny Rong sat hunched over in the main seat, her cloudy eyes scanning everyone present: "...Everyone has had a drink, let's start the Huangquan Ji Banquet." Her hoarse voice echoed in the silent hall.

"To make a long story short..." Qin Ming's eyes were fixed on Zhao Gang. "Brother Gang, did you receive the snake's oracle last night?"

Zhao Gang lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the teacup, "...Yeah, got it."

"! What did you say!?" Wang Lina stood up suddenly, and the hem of her sweater was wrinkled by her pulling.

"Qian Jin is a human being." Zhao Gang's voice was terrifyingly calm.

Qian Jin adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, a faint smile playing on the corners of his mouth: "Of course I'm not a wolf... So, Zhao Gang and I can be ruled out as suspects now, right?"

"That's it." Qin Ming responded briefly.

Qian Jin adjusted his suit and tie and continued, "Then let's sort out the things that need to be decided. If we follow the thinking of Gao Zhijie who unfortunately died last night..."

"Oh, uncle, why are you hosting it?" Tong Xiaoliang interrupted him with undisguised disgust on his face.

Qian Jin's glasses reflected the light of the oil lamp, obscuring his eyes. "...Then leave it to Granny Rong. I don't mind."

Granny Rong waved her skinny hands: "I'm not good at this kind of thing."

"In that case," Qian Jin said with a hint of pride, "regardless of seniority or status, Zhao Gang and I are the most suitable candidates to host the banquet, right?"

"Brother Gang, this uncle is so annoying, you should be the host." Tong Xiaoliang said with a pout.

Zhao Gang gripped the teacup tightly, his knuckles turning white. “…I can’t do it, Qian Jin, please.”

Qian Jin glanced at everyone present, his voice filled with false sympathy: "He hasn't recovered from the loss of his elders yet, so there's no need to force him."

He stood up, straightened the hem of his suit, and continued, "Just take responsibility for what you can do, Zhao Gang. Madam Chen Xiang is now in your hands."

The light from the oil lamp danced behind him, casting a huge, twisted shadow on the floor, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue. The air was filled with a faint smell of blood, foreshadowing the horror to come.

Dark clouds outside the window obscured the moonlight, and the hall grew darker. Chen Xiang huddled in a corner, her hands tightly wrapped around her knees, tears streaming silently. "...That child...that child, wuu ...

Zhao Gang stood beside her, a helpless glint in his eyes: "...Sister Chen Xiang..."

Qian Jin suddenly slammed the table hard, and the crisp sound startled everyone. He pushed his gold-rimmed glasses and said calmly, "Okay, to make a long story short, we must choose one person to be hanged today."

"Wait! This is too outrageous!?" Wang Lina suddenly stood up from her seat, her delicate face flushed red with anger.

Qin Ming lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his sleeves: "...No, this is necessary, Sister Lina. If we don't do this, we will all be slaughtered by wolves sooner or later."

Qian Jin raised his lips to a meaningful smile. "That's right. Banquets are so ruthless. Am I right, Granny Rong?"

Granny Rong hunched over, her cloudy eyes staring straight ahead: "...That's right, the Yellow Springs man must be hanged."

A chilly wind blew in through the window, causing the oil lamp to flicker violently. Master Wolf's hoarse voice echoed through the darkness: "One person a day, the penalty is hanging."

Wang Lina's voice trembled with fear. "...What if I make the wrong choice? Even if only those present know, I'll have to bear the sin of murder for the rest of my life, right?!"

Qian Jin straightened his suit and tie, his voice chillingly calm: "This incident is indeed very unpleasant, but it is not a wasted sacrifice."

Gao Mei suddenly stood up, a sarcastic smile appearing on her pale face: "Are you kidding me? Even if I made the wrong choice, my sacrifice wasn't in vain."

"Watch your attitude," Qian Jin's glasses reflected an eerie light. "Listen carefully, we now have two ways to eliminate the suspect."

He turned to Qin Ming: "Qin Ming, you already know, right?"

"...Well, the snake oracle and..." Qin Ming's voice became smaller and smaller.

"Execute one person to reduce the number of people?" Wang Lina interrupted sharply, "So what? Do you think we will accept it?!"

"...I can't accept that either!" Gao Mei clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. "Even if we win, what's the point? Will the victims be resurrected?"

Qian Jin looked around, his eyes as cold as a venomous snake. "That's why we need to reach a consensus." He paused, "—a consensus that in order to keep others alive, even if it means sacrificing ourselves."

"Uh..." Gao Mei took a step back involuntarily.

Granny Rong remained silent, just staring at the floor.

Zhao Gang raised his head abruptly, his voice filled with despair: "...Is this the only way...!"

"Well, this is the only way..." Qian Jin's voice was filled with a kind of cruel pity, "The rules of the mountain are so cruel."

Gao Mei suddenly rushed in front of Qian Jin, tears of anger flashing in her eyes: "Don't joke! If I asked you to be hanged for others, could you accept it calmly?!"

The light from the oil lamp cast a huge shadow on the wall, like the curtain of a death theater that was about to be performed. The air was filled with fear and despair, and everyone was waiting for the cruel judgment of fate.

(End of this chapter)