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

Chapter 631

The moonlight was like water, and the courtyard of Baifeng Manor was shrouded in a hazy mist. The shadows of the trees swayed, and the wind rustled through the dead leaves, making a sound like countless secret words whispered softly in the night. Hua Lu stood at the end of the corridor, her figure slender, her back to Wang Lina. The breeze ruffled her long hair, like scattered ink lines gently drifting.

"Wang Lina," her voice was soft and slow, yet it carried an indescribable heaviness. "Your place is right here. The one who has no place... is me."

Wang Lina was startled, looking up at Hua Lu's back, a hint of doubt and confusion flashing in her eyes. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just listened.

"And Mr. Tang Yin's final destination," Hua Lu continued, a hint of bitterness in her tone, "should be somewhere outside."

She turned around, the moonlight illuminating her face, a calm and beautiful one, but the slight trembling of her eyes betrayed her inner struggle and pain. Her gaze fell on the distant courtyard, as if peering through the mist into a place even more distant.

"We who were born in Baifeng Manor cannot expect to spend the future with him. This quagmire here will eventually belong to us, and he..." She paused and sighed softly, "He should belong to a freer world."

Wang Lina frowned, her tone a little hurried. "...You must be kidding. I don't understand what you're saying." Her tone was filled with resentment and a hint of anger. "It's not that complicated. If you like each other, then date! Since you like him, then make up your mind to do what you should do!"

Hualu looked at her, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, but it was a bitter smile. There was no mockery in that smile, only deep fatigue and helplessness.

"I can't do it anymore." Her voice was so soft that it almost blended into the night wind.

At this moment, a deep male voice came from behind the two of them: "Hua Lu is right."

Tang Yin silently thanked Hua Lu in his heart. Her words were indeed the most appropriate answer and the most appropriate choice at this moment.

"Mr. Tang Yin..." Hua Lu turned her head and called out in a low voice.

Tang Yin nodded, his tone calm but with a hint of inquiry: "I have a few questions for the Patriarch of the Hua Family - about the Huangquan Ji Feast and the secrets of Baifeng Manor."

His eyes swept through the surrounding fog and his voice was low: "But I won't open the door."

"Okay, I'll go back first." Wang Lina stood aside, glanced at the two of them, and said with a bit of dissatisfaction in her tone, "Tang Yin, after the fog clears, you must explain everything to me clearly!"

After she finished speaking, she turned and left, the sound of her footsteps gradually fading into the depths of the corridor.

As the night deepened, Hualu lowered her head, a hint of apology in her tone: "After you were poisoned, what happened in the cafeteria... I need to apologize for what I did to you."

Her drooping eyelashes cast a shadow in the moonlight. "At that time... I made you laugh at me."

A glimmer flashed in Tang Yin's eyes, but a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "If it weren't for the situation at that time, I would probably welcome it."

Hualu raised her head suddenly, her cheeks slightly red, "Please stop talking."

Tang Yin didn't stop, staring straight at her: "Then let me ask you seriously, is that your acting?"

Hua Lu's body stiffened slightly.

"Or rather, it's a mask I wear to fulfill the Hua family's mission... is that right?"

Hualu bit her lip tightly, and after a while she whispered, "...Have you discovered it?"

"The family responsible for managing all the secrets that happen at night," Tang Yin said, his voice low and inquiring. "It's not just about vigils and funerals, right?"

Hualu's eyes froze for a moment, as if some hidden pain had been touched, but she quickly lowered her head, concealing her emotions. "This also includes other unspeakable things that happened at night," she said softly, her tone as flat as if she were stating a fact, yet it felt depressing.

Tang Yin's eyes swept across her slightly lowered profile, and the scene of hunting in a spider web emerged in his mind - the spider first injected digestive fluid, and then sucked the remains of the prey. This cold and efficient method seemed to resonate with the rumors of the Hua family's secret technique.

"Spiders are often used to describe poisonous or seductive women," Tang Yin pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to her. "Also, there's the spider-like woman... You've heard of those erotic novels based on the same-named monsters, right?"

Hua Lu raised her head, a faint bitter smile on her lips, "Mr. Tang Yin, are you subtly confirming something?"

There was a certain self-mockery in her voice, as if she was already accustomed to similar hints and speculations.

Tang Yin nodded slightly, his tone gentle yet serious: "Women of the Hua family are destined to carry the family's legacy from birth. Is it the same for you...?"

Hua Lu was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "When a woman of the Hua family gives birth to a child, the child will become the new heir to the family head. He will learn the teachings and secret techniques of the Hua family, abide by all kinds of unreasonable rules, and finally become the real head of the family." Her voice was not loud, but it pierced Tang Yin's ears like a needle.

She looked up at Tang Yin with a complicated look, as if she wanted to see through his heart, but was afraid of seeing disgust in it.

"...Mr. Tang Yin, you are really gentle," she suddenly said softly, with a hint of bitterness in her smile, "You didn't say I was a dirty woman."

Tang Yin was slightly startled and did not answer, just looked at her quietly.

"But your gentleness makes me suffer," Hualu continued, her voice trembling slightly, "Why don't you hate me? That way I can completely give up on you."

Her eyes flickered, as if she was suppressing the emotions buried deep in her heart, "I finally understand Wang Lina's feelings now."

Tang Yin lowered his head and thought for a moment before speaking: "Can I ask you one last question?"

"...Please speak." Hua Lu lowered her eyes, and there was a hint of fatigue in her tone.

"As an elder," Tang Yin paused and asked calmly, "are you really not connected to the secret of the Huangquan Feast?" Hua Lu shook her head, her tone remaining calm. "Well, I don't know what those elder families are thinking. To them, the maids in the bedroom are just insignificant people."

Tang Yin's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes: "If that's the case, why were you so sure you could help me escape?"

Hualu raised her head and let out a long breath, as if she was brewing something. After a moment, she spoke:
"I am the last descendant of an ancient, jealous, and superstitious family. I used my bloodline to purify your virus... Perhaps my ability could really allow you to escape unscathed. That was my thought at the time."

Her voice was low, carrying a certain sense of relief and honesty. The room fell into a brief silence, the only sound being the flickering candlelight, like the countless secrets hidden in Baifeng Manor, looming in the night.

Tang Yin stared at Hua Lu, his gaze deep, as if trying to grasp more information through her expression. However, Hua Lu's face remained as calm as ever, a calm that was heartbreaking. Silence, like the darkness of night, enveloped the two of them, with only the candlelight flickering and crackling softly.

After a long time, Tang Yin finally spoke: "Thank you very much, I hope we can see each other again tomorrow. Go back to sleep." His voice was a little tired, but still gentle.

Hua Lu raised her head slightly, a trace of struggle flashing in her eyes, and then, as if she had made some kind of determination, she whispered: "...Mr. Tang Yin, you will not die."

Tang Yin didn't respond, but just looked at her quietly.

"The spider's blessing bestowed by Qianming Shen will definitely protect you." Her voice was soft, but with an unshakable firmness.

Tang Yin curled his lips and revealed a helpless smile: "I already know Xiao Mei's identity. Tomorrow, after you receive my signal, tell the truth. Then, let's end this killing game." He paused, his tone low, "If, by then, you are no longer here, I will hand Xiao Mei over to the police outside."

Hua Lu's lips trembled slightly, but she forced herself to smile: "Thank you, I believe you." After that, she turned and left, her back disappearing into the darkness at the end of the corridor.

The room fell silent again, leaving only Tang Yin sitting on the quilt. He pinched the bridge of his nose, then lay back exhausted, staring at the dim light overhead, his mind a mess.

"Breaking up with two girls in one night? That's unprecedented." He laughed self-deprecatingly, but it was bitter. The purpose of a heartbreak trip isn't to continue heartbreak... If I still can't get out, I might as well do it like last time, coming in from the Godhead Valley, meeting Wang Lina, and then getting sick of her. That would be the happiest thing, right?

But this time was different. Tang Yin closed his eyes, and Hua Lu's face appeared in his mind. What would happen to her life or death? This question was like a fine needle, piercing his mind and disturbing his sleep.

"Don't think about it... Let's sleep," Tang Yin muttered, trying his best to clear his mind. However, chaotic thoughts and worries about the future continued to surge in like a tide, and only when the sky was slightly bright did he drift off to sleep.

The next morning, Tang Yin was awakened by the cool air. He opened his eyes and saw he was still alive, letting out a long sigh. His next task was to put an end to all this.

He washed his face and tried to remain calm. However, a question emerged in his mind: Would wolves go crazy before the banquet? Who would be sacrificed today?

He walked out of the room. The fog outside was still frighteningly thick, as if it was about to swallow the entire world. Uncle Gao's figure was faintly visible not far away, seemingly on patrol. Tang Yin didn't rush to greet him, but took cautious steps, trying not to make any noise with each step.

Yet, the silence of this world was terrifying. With every step he took, the rustling of weeds and the scraping of gravel became infinitely amplified, as if the entire Mist Village could hear his presence.

"Tang Yin..." Hua Lu's words from last night echoed in his mind, "You won't die."

But can her voice really resist the breath of death in this thick fog?
He didn't dare look back and could only move forward. He knew that today, everything had to end.

……

Thick fog filled the air, like a heavy curtain, shrouding the entire Mist Village in a dead silence. Tang Yin took cautious steps, the only sound in his ears being the soft rustle of gravel against the soles of his shoes. Suddenly, a sharp gasp echoed from the fog, like a heavy hammer striking Tang Yin's nerves.

Tang Yin paused, his eyes warily scanning the source of the sound. A figure emerged from the mist. It was Qin Yi. His face was ashen, his eyes bloodshot, and his chest heaved violently, as if ready to explode.

"Qin Yi?" Tang Yin called out tentatively, his heart sinking. This man was so agitated, as if he had just experienced an unbearable shock.

Qin Yi didn't answer, but clenched his teeth, his fists clenched white, and his breathing was short and short like a wounded beast. His eyes were burning with anger, but beneath that anger, there seemed to be a hint of fear.

"Could it be... the one who was killed..." Tang Yin was shocked, but he didn't say anything. He didn't ask any more questions, but just nodded and gestured for the two of them to walk towards the square together.

The square gradually emerged from the thick fog. Qin Yi's steps were hurried, as if he wanted to vent his anger with every step. Tang Yin followed closely behind him, his eyes always scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

Entering the cafeteria, the air was filled with a sense of oppression. Tang Yin's eyes quickly swept around. The glass on the bowl rack was shattered, and the pottery fragments were mixed on the floor, reflecting the dim light. He knew without hesitation that this was the "masterpiece" of Qin Yi's uncontrolled anger.

But this wasn't the point. Tang Yin looked upstairs, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart. He took a step, cautiously ascending the stairs, his feet making subtle creaking sounds as they stepped on the wooden planks. The stairs and walls were covered in shocking bloodstains and scars, as if some horrific hunt had just taken place.

The higher they went, the stronger the smell became. The stench of blood mixed with the stench of decay rushed straight into Tang Yin's nostrils. He held his breath and pushed open the door to Chen Xiang's bedroom. A hellish scene appeared before his eyes.

The floor was covered in large, clotted blood, a sea of ​​crimson. Chen Xiang's body lay quietly on its back in the pool of blood, its body covered in neat knife wounds, as if it had been cut into pieces of sashimi. Each wound was of uniform depth, its cross-sections so neat and precise it was almost mechanical.

Tang Yin squatted down, carefully examining the corpse. His eyes swept over the wounds, his brow furrowed. "Was the cause of death excessive blood loss..." he muttered softly, but that wasn't what puzzled him most. Strangely, the corpse's face was intact, even uncanny in its cleanliness.

Tang Yin's gaze shifted to the corpse's arms. He noticed that there were no wounds on the outside of either arm, but when he examined it more closely, he discovered that the wounds on the inside of the arms were close to the ground. The hands were placed with the backs of their hands facing upwards, palms facing downwards, and the hideous wounds extended from the forearms to the palms.

"Why does the wound stop here?" Tang Yin's eyes narrowed slightly. He squatted down and observed more carefully.

Chen Xiang's fingers were clenched into a strange shape. The pinky and ring fingers of her right hand were tightly clenched, while the rest of her left hand, except for the thumb, was also tightly clenched.

"Could she have been conscious while being tortured?" Tang Yin's heart trembled. He reached out and tried to gently pry open the corpse's fingers, but the dead muscles were as stiff as iron and could not be moved at all.

(End of this chapter)