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

Chapter 594: Flower Dew

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh!" Hua Lu suddenly burst out with a series of meaningless syllables, holding her cheeks with both hands, and her fair face instantly flushed. Her bright eyes sparkled with excitement, just like a girl who had just fallen in love.

"Response completed!" Tang Yin couldn't help laughing, and then turned to Qian Jin who was standing aside with a helpless look on his face, "Come to think of it, Senior Qian Jin, was what you said just now a Qian Jin-style complaint?" He deliberately imitated the other party's tone just now.

"Oh oh oh oh oh?" Hua Lu tilted her head and made a puzzled sound. Her innocent look made everyone present couldn't help but smile.

Qian Jin frowned and said seriously, "Don't tease the elders of Baifeng Manor!" There was some anger in his tone, but more of helplessness.

"Sister, you're so weird!" Xiao Mei stood beside Hua Lu, looking at her sister with her big, clear eyes in confusion. The sunlight shone through the window onto her hair, casting a faint golden hue.

Qin Ming leaned against the wall, observing the scene with interest: "It's amazing, several people are like they are performing crosstalk." His eyes wandered back and forth between Tang Yin and Hua Lu, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.

"What a weird guy." Zhao Gang shook his head, but there was no malice in his tone.

Chen Xiang stood behind the counter of the cafeteria, watching everything gently: "Tang Yin is really an interesting person." Her voice was soft, with a hint of appreciation.

"Sister Chen Xiang, how about this expression?" Zhao Gang suddenly made a funny expression.

"It's very interesting, Zhao Gang." Chen Xiang responded with a chuckle.

"I can't get along with such uneducated people!" Qian Jin suddenly snorted coldly and turned to leave the cafeteria. His footsteps tapped out an angry rhythm on the floor. Zhao Gang hesitated for a moment, then followed him out. Tang Yin watched their backs, thinking to himself: In theory, there shouldn't be a second victim so soon.

Suddenly, an important detail flashed through Tang Yin's mind. The deaths of Tong Xiaoliang and Wolf Master during the Huangquan Feast weren't caused by contamination. Among the suspects then, were there any currently near the cafeteria? Tang Yin quickly stopped his thoughts. Regardless of who it was, if he was pursuing the truth, he shouldn't delve into it any further for now.

He decided to change his mood. Hua Lu was exhausted from the series of "ohs" she'd just let out, and she slumped down in her chair. Tang Yin walked over and sat down beside her. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a long shadow on the floor.

"Brother Tang Yin!" Xiao Mee's voice was clear and pleasant, like the singing of birds in the early morning.

"Ah, Xiao Mei, can you lend me your sister for a while?" Tang Yin asked gently, with a pleading look in his eyes.

"Yeah." Xiao Mee nodded obediently, her long ponytail swaying gently with her movements.

Qin Ming came over at the right moment, a kind smile on his face. "Anything you want to say? Um... I'll take you out to play, Xiaome." He extended his hand, inviting her. The atmosphere in the cafeteria gradually lightened, as if the heavy topics from earlier had been temporarily put aside.

"Yeah!" Xiao Mei responded cheerfully, skipping and dancing as she followed Qin Ming out of the cafeteria. Her footsteps gradually faded, disappearing at the end of the corridor. Sunlight still streamed in through the windows, casting a patchwork of light and shadow on the floor. Only Tang Yin and Hua Lu were left in the cafeteria, along with Master Wolf, who seemed to have fallen asleep in the corner.

"Bad guy," Hua Lu whispered, blushing, avoiding Tang Yin's gaze. Her slender fingers twisted together nervously, appearing both nervous and awkward.

"It feels really nice to be called that by a beautiful lady." Tang Yin deliberately gave a wicked smile and looked at Hua Lu's reaction.

"Woo woo woo woo." Hua Lu whimpered like a small animal, covering her burning cheeks with her hands. Her shy yet adorable look made Tang Yin want to tease her further. He had never imagined that casually teasing a cute older member of the opposite sex could be so much fun. This rare experience almost made him addicted, but he quickly stopped joking.

"By the way, what do you want to say?" Tang Yin put away his smile and asked seriously. The fog outside the window seemed to have thickened a little, making the distant scenery even more blurry.

"." Hua Lu was silent for a moment, her slender body trembling slightly, "I'm very sorry." Her voice was so soft that it was almost drowned out by the wind.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Tang Yin frowned.

"I welcome you to the Hidden Mist Village during this most dangerous time." Hua Lu lowered her head, her long bangs hiding her expression, but the self-blame in her voice was clearly audible.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Who could have predicted that there would be fog?" Tang Yin tried to comfort her, but his words sounded a little pale as soon as they came out of his mouth.

"No." Hua Lu suddenly raised her head, her eyes becoming unusually firm, "Everything stems from the original sin of us Baifengzhuang people." Her voice no longer trembled, but instead carried a heavy sense of responsibility.

"Original sin?" Tang Yin sensed the hidden meaning behind the word. The air in the cafeteria seemed to freeze, and even time seemed to slow down.

"Well, this village prospered by killing the gods' followers." Hua Lu's voice was soft, but it struck Tang Yin's heart like a hammer. He immediately thought of the long-standing story of the wolf-killing. It seemed there was something else behind it.

"Can you explain it in more detail?" Tang Yin pressed, his gaze fixed on Hua Lu's face. "Mother Rong will explain it when the time comes." Hua Lu shook her head slightly, clearly unwilling to discuss further.

"Grandma Rong?"

"Well, Granny Rong is the representative of the Hidden Mist Village." Hualu's tone was filled with a hint of respect.

"Representative, not landlord, right?" Tang Yin keenly grasped this detail.

"Well, all the land in Kirigakure Village belongs to the village or its elders, but it still requires someone to manage it," Hua Lu explained, her voice trailing off. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting mottled shadows on her pale face, as if silently revealing the village's hidden secrets. Tang Yin gazed thoughtfully at the growing fog outside the window. Instead of resolving his doubts, they only grew more complex.

"Granny Rong is a very serious person, and she's also the oldest," Hualu said softly, her slender fingers gently stroking the tabletop, as if confirming something. "Besides, she knows how to balance the pros and cons. This is the situation." Her tone was filled with an indescribable respect. The sunlight in the cafeteria gradually dimmed, and the mist outside the window began to quietly flow in, condensing into tiny droplets on the glass.

"Is that so? So that's how it is." Tang Yin repeated her words in a deliberately exaggerated tone, a mischievous smile flickering in his eyes. He noticed Hua Lu's expression change slightly, and a sly smile unconsciously curled up at the corner of his mouth.

This time, Hua Lu wasn't shy like usual; instead, she glared at Tang Yin. Her usually gentle eyes now shone with a light, sending a shiver through Tang Yin's heart. This unexpected reaction caught him off guard, and he secretly wondered if he'd gone too far with his joke. For now, it would be best to get the important information sorted out—Grandma Rong was the representative of the Hidden Mist Village and was in charge of explaining the rules of the banquet. This information might help him survive the impending crisis.

"By the way, I heard there's a culture of hospitality here?" Tang Yin changed the subject, his gaze flickering through the thickening fog outside the window. The cafeteria lights seemed even dimmer against the backdrop of the mist, adding a somewhat eerie atmosphere to the entire space.

Hualu lowered her head slightly, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her face, and her fingers unconsciously curled the corner of her clothes: "Well, legend has it that Baifeng Manor used to have a Qianming Shrine where people prayed for hunting safety. It became increasingly prosperous because of the hunters who came to pray." Her voice was soft, as if she was telling an ancient legend, and every word carried a heavy meaning.

"To the villagers, every hunter from afar is a guest, and must be warmly entertained," Hua Lu continued, her slender fingers unconsciously intertwined, as if hiding some unspoken secret. Tang Long nodded thoughtfully. If faith had been the primary means of attracting visitors, it wouldn't be surprising that this unique hospitality had survived to this day. But there seemed to be deeper secrets hidden behind this, questions that clearly weren't for him alone to pursue.

"Is that so." Tang Yin suddenly showed a sly smile, his eyes narrowed slightly, "So, Hualu, is it because I am a guest that you are so nice to me?" He deliberately made his voice soft, looking directly into Hualu's eyes, wanting to see how she would react.

"Oh, no, that's not the case." Hua Lu waved her hands hurriedly, her fair cheeks instantly flushed, like cherry blossom petals blown by the wind. Her panic made Tang Yin feel particularly cute, and he couldn't help but want to tease her again.

"Or is it because I treated you when you were injured?" Tang Yin continued to ask. Seeing her panic, he felt a sense of joy in his heart. The air in the cafeteria seemed to become lighter, and even the fog outside the window seemed less oppressive.

"Um, well, thank you so much." Hualu's voice was as soft as a mosquito's. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, her head lowered, making it difficult to discern her expression. Sunlight filtered through the window, shimmering on her hair, casting a faint halo over her, making her look even more ethereal.

"But..." She hesitated, her eyes flickering, as if she was struggling with something difficult to say. Tang Yin waited patiently, watching her struggle, but a strange feeling rose in his heart.

"Do you need a reason?" Hua Lu finally mustered up the courage to raise her head and look directly into Tang Yin's eyes. Although her voice still trembled slightly, her eyes were extremely firm, as if she was expressing some emotion that could not be expressed in words. These words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in Tang Yin's heart. The cafeteria suddenly became quiet, even the sound of the wind outside the window seemed to stop, leaving only the breathing of the two people gently echoing in the air. Time seemed to freeze at this moment, making this moment seem particularly long and beautiful.

"Uh, no, no." Tang Yin waved his hands hastily, trying to ease the sudden awkwardness. "I just thought there was some special reason." His voice softened unconsciously, a hint of tentativeness in his voice. The sunlight in the cafeteria gradually softened, adding a touch of ambiguity to the atmosphere between them.

".What if there is?" Hua Lu's voice was so soft that it almost disappeared into the air, but it carried a hint of imperceptible expectation.

"Maybe I'll be very happy." Tang Yin blurted out, and regretted it the moment he finished speaking. This sentence was too straightforward.

Hua Lu lowered her head, her long hair obscuring her expression, but the slightly reddened tips of her ears betrayed her feelings. Her slender fingers were tightly intertwined, and her entire body exuded a heart-warming aura of shyness. This reaction was so adorable that Tang Yin was momentarily at a loss for what to do.

He was clearly the one teasing the other person, but now he was the one who felt embarrassed. Tang Yin sighed secretly. Perhaps he should treat Hua Lu more sincerely. However, facing her sincere friendship, how should he deal with it? This question lingered in his mind, but he could not find the answer. Forget it, now is not the time to think about these things. As a person with a heavy responsibility, he must find a way to keep humanity alive. This thought made him sober up instantly.

"It's almost time to go." Chen Xiang's voice rang out at the right moment, breaking the delicate atmosphere between the two. She stood at the entrance of the cafeteria, her elegant figure blurred by the mist outside the window.

After hearing Mrs. Chen Xiang's words, everyone stood up and silently walked out of the cafeteria. No one spoke, but everyone clearly understood that it was time to say goodbye to their peaceful daily lives. The footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, like a silent farewell.

A number of people had already gathered in the assembly hall. Old Man Gao sat in a corner, a serious expression on his face; Zhao Gang and Qian Jin were whispering to each other; Qin Yi leaned against the wall, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. At the other end of the room, Wang Lina and Xia Hui had also arrived.

"Everyone." Wang Lina greeted softly, with a hint of fatigue in her voice.

Xia Hui said nothing, but stood there with a look of melancholy on her face. Although she seemed to have calmed down, her dull eyes showed that she still couldn't accept the reality before her.

At that moment, Wang Lina quietly approached Tang Yin and whispered, "The memory card is damaged and the data cannot be read." This news weighed on Tang Yin's heart like a heavy stone—it meant that their crucial clue to the truth had been completely interrupted. The atmosphere in the assembly hall grew increasingly solemn, as if even the air had grown thicker. The fog outside the window had thickened even more, shrouding the entire world in a hazy mist.

(End of this chapter)