You said you would make games by yourself, but how did you become the richest man by doing nothing?

#545 - Heated discussion

Rain threads wove diagonally, pattering softly on the wooden roof of the assembly hall. Qian Jin leaned against the window, the glass reflecting his thoughtful face. He turned slowly, his gaze sharp as a blade: "Hmm... so, you're the wolf?"

Gao Mei instinctively took a half step back, her plain face instantly losing color: "Wha... what do you mean..."

Qin Ming crossed his arms over his chest, a hint of sarcasm appearing on his young face: "Someone without the resolve to bet their life on Hidden Mist Village is equivalent to an enemy of Hidden Mist Village, right?"

Qian Jin pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, the lenses reflecting a strange light: "That's right, people of Hidden Mist Village... the time to test your unity has come."

Tong Xiaoliang tugged at his school uniform tie, a disdainful expression on the boy's delicate face: "Uncle, you're really letting a little success go to your head..."

"I'm from Baifeng Village," Qian Jin's voice suddenly rose, "and Zhao Gang has already proven my innocence. I'm just offering suggestions to the best of my ability, watch your attitude."

Wang Lina suddenly sneered, a dangerous glint flashing in her beautiful almond-shaped eyes: "...Qian Jin, you've been holding back these words until the snake proved your innocence, haven't you."

"...Ha, what do you want to say?" There was a hint of barely perceptible wavering in Qian Jin's voice.

Wang Lina suddenly stood up, her long hair swaying with her movement: "You already realized it yesterday, didn't you? That we need a spirit of unity, even if it means sacrificing ourselves willingly!" She stared intently into Qian Jin's eyes. "But, you also realized that once your innocence is proven by the snake, your influence would increase dramatically, so you didn't say anything yesterday!"

Qian Jin's face turned pale instantly: "Th-this is just your guess!"

"That's right," Gao Mei clenched her fists, her voice trembling with anger, "this innocent person from Baifeng Village wants us to willingly go and die, I can't accept it...!"

Tong Xiaoliang anxiously turned to Zhao Gang, who had remained silent: "Gang-ge, say something!"

Zhao Gang lowered his head, his bangs obscuring his expression: "...But, he's not wrong."

"Gang-ge!?" Gao Mei's eyes widened in disbelief.

At this moment, Hua Lu, who had been sitting in the corner, spoke softly, her voice gentle yet firm: "...Well, I also agree. Whether it's a suspect or an execution, let's decide together. I have no objections."

"Uh... Hua Lu..." Qian Jin clearly hadn't expected her support and was momentarily speechless.

Hua Lu stood up, moonlight streaming through the window and casting a faint silver glow on her delicate face: "I've already said it, to Qianming God, Baifeng Village and Hidden Mist Village are all equal."

She looked around, a firm conviction in her eyes: "Even if it's wishful thinking, I'm already a member of Hidden Mist Village, that's really what I think."

The sound of the rain gradually increased, the sound of it drumming against the window frames like the beat of fate. The air in the assembly hall seemed to freeze, everyone pondering the deep meaning contained in Hua Lu's words, and the cruel choice they were about to face.

Wang Lina contemptuously tossed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a cold smile hanging on her lips: "Oh, oh, such noble sentiments, unlike someone else." Her gaze swept over Qian Jin's face, seemingly unintentionally.

Hua Lu looked down at the little girl huddled in the corner, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes: "But... this child is innocent, can't we be less cruel?"

The girl named Xiao Mie hugged her knees tightly, trembling. Her innocent face was filled with fear: "...Everyone, so scary..."

Qian Jin pushed up his glasses, the cold light reflected from the lenses obscuring his gaze: "No one can be an exception."

Hua Lu slowly stood up, the moonlight casting a faint outline on her slender figure. Her voice was soft but firm: "If it's necessary to hang this child, I'll go with her."

"Uh...!" Qian Jin turned sharply, his voice rising in panic, "You can't do that, only one person can be hanged per day!"

Hua Lu's gaze became even more determined: "I'll commit suicide, I won't implicate everyone. Only those who break the rules will be tainted."

"But...!" Qian Jin wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang put his hands in his pockets, his eyes sharp as knives: "Don't say anymore, Qian Jin, don't forget the host's responsibility... and you, little girl from the Hua family."

Hua Lu lowered her head slightly: "Mm..."

Zhao Gang sneered: "Don't say such rash words either, don't forget your identity, you are also one of the Baifeng Village elders who oppress us."

Granny Rong stood up tremblingly, her wrinkled face filled with worry: "Gangzi, you're too rude to Hua Lu-daren..."

Zhao Gang turned sharply, his eyes burning with anger: "Thanks to your companions, Granny has to live in fear, don't talk as if you're on our side!"

Hua Lu's shoulders trembled slightly, her voice barely audible: "...I have no words, I'm very sorry..."

Zhao Gang stared at Hua Lu, a deep suspicion in his voice: "And, why would you stay in Hidden Mist Village? To be honest, I'm very curious whose arrangement this all is."

Qin Ming stood by the window, raindrops forming spiderweb-like patterns on the glass: "...Gang-ge, could this all be a conspiracy by the people of Baifeng Village?"

Zhao Gang clenched his fists, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound: "I don't know, but why would the people of Baifeng Village lock us up here? They should know something."

His voice grew colder: "...Like the legend of the banquet, [the Wolf God is a companion of humans], their words are not worth believing."

The air in the assembly hall seemed to freeze, each of Zhao Gang's words hitting everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer: "They definitely know that people in Hidden Mist Village will die after the fog rises. To them, not only property and status, but even our lives are inferior."

The candlelight flickered in the wind, casting swaying shadows on the wall. The sound of the rain gradually lessened, but everyone's hearts grew heavier. Xiao Mie was still sobbing in the corner, Hua Lu stood motionless, Qian Jin's fingers unconsciously caressed his glasses frame, while Wang Lina clenched her fists secretly. On this rainy night, a terrible truth was slowly surfacing.

Qian Jin's face twisted with anger, he tore off his glasses, his eyes flashing with fanaticism: "Foolish...! Even if the elders of Baifeng Village aren't saints or gentlemen, their talent and character are the true style of a noble family!"

His voice echoed in the empty assembly hall, his right hand waving wildly, as if to dispel those disrespectful words towards the elders: "Isn't this common sense! In this world of scientific supremacy, how can anyone seriously believe in superstitions like the banquet!"

Wang Lina gently lifted a strand of hair that had fallen down, a meaningful smile on the corner of her lips: "...So what?"

Qian Jin narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the glasses frame: "What do you want to say?"

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a slanted light on Wang Lina's profile, her dark pupils flashing with a dangerous light: "Qian Jin, it seems they didn't tell you the secrets of Baifeng Village."

She slowly took a step forward, her high heels making a crisp sound on the wooden floor: "To them, you're just a human megaphone to promote the correctness of the elders."

"Uh--" Qian Jin's face turned pale instantly.

Wang Lina continued to press forward, each word like a poisoned dagger: "Even at a time like this, they ignored your danger and had you return to the Qian family's Hidden Mist Village branch, right?"

Qian Jin staggered back two steps, his voice trembling with extreme anger: "--D-don't joke around! Are you saying I've been abandoned by my family!"

Tong Xiaoliang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, his voice filled with unspeakable bitterness: "Ah... who knows, Qin Ming and I are like that."

Qin Ming leaned against the wall, the expression on his face obscured by shadows: "...The elders' methods are that cruel."

He took a deep breath and continued: "Failure in power struggles or lack of ability, or even just the head of the family disliking you, sending someone to Hidden Mist Village is that simple."

Qin Ming's voice suddenly softened: "It's one thing for us, but Mom... she clearly married into the Qin family from the Northeast, but as soon as Dad died, they kicked her out..."

Chen Xiang gently shook her head, a gentle smile appearing on her weathered face: "I don't care about that kind of thing."

Qin Ming lowered his head, his voice filled with apology: "Mom... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

Chen Xiang reached out her calloused hand and gently stroked her son's face: "For me, as long as I have Qin Yi and you, Qin Ming..."

Qin Ming took his mother's hand, his eyes suddenly becoming firm: "...In short, they did twist our fate, I agree with Gang-ge's opinion."

Gao Mei stood at the edge of the crowd, a trace of sympathy flashing in her bright eyes: "...I'm sorry for you, being exiled to a place like this,"

Qin Ming raised his head, his voice with a bit of stubbornness: "...Don't misunderstand, I don't mean to deny the meaning of the people of Hidden Mist Village."

The rain was still falling, the sound of it hitting the windows like endless sighs. The air in the assembly hall grew heavier, everyone immersed in their own thoughts. Qian Jin's fingers kept caressing his glasses frame, as if doing so could erase the wavering brought about by Wang Lina's words. Wang Lina leaned against the doorframe, a meaningful smile still hanging on her lips, as if waiting for something.

Gao Mei suddenly stood up from her seat, her delicate eyebrows furrowed together, her voice filled with hysteria: "Anyway, everyone is going to die! Even someone like Grandpa, who acted so great, died in an instant!"

Tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes, her carefully applied makeup instantly ruined. Her hands trembled, her nails digging deep into her palms: "I can't take it anymore...!! Why didn't you let me die back then!?"

Tong Xiaoliang frowned, his gaze behind his tea-colored glasses filled with doubt: "Huh? You weren't like this back then, what's wrong?"

Gao Mei slowly squatted down, burying her head between her knees, her voice hoarse and desperate: "...I've had enough..."

In the corner, Grandpa Wolf hunched over, his cloudy eyes staring at some point in the void, muttering to himself: "...Pitiful..."

Granny Rong quickly stepped forward to support him, her face full of worry: "What's wrong, Grandpa?"

Grandpa Wolf trembled all over, his withered fingers tightly gripping Granny Rong's sleeve: "The wolf is coming... everyone will turn into evil spirits..."

Granny Rong's eyes suddenly sharpened, a hint of ruthlessness in her voice: "...You're right, that's why we have to hang the Yellow Spring person..."

Zhao Gang took off his baseball cap and scratched his messy short hair: "Ah... so complicated, never mind, the fact is that the people of Baifeng Village won't care about us, right?"

Tong Xiaoliang walked to the window, looking at the mountain road outside being washed by the heavy rain: "The road has already collapsed."

Zhao Gang took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "In this situation, I think we can believe Qian Jin, Wang Lina has already said the reason."

Wang Lina leaned against the wall, her red lips curving into a smile that was not quite a smile: "Oh dear, condolences."

Qian Jin snorted coldly, pushing up the glasses on his nose: "...Hmph, think whatever you want."

Zhao Gang's voice suddenly became serious: "...The easiest person to be hanged right now is the little girl from the Hua family, so don't be a hero, you'll really die."

Hua Lu nervously wrung her skirt, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz: "...Well, what should I do now?"

Zhao Gang turned to Qian Jin: "Know everything, say everything, don't remain silent, don't give up thinking. That's right, Qian Jin?"

Qian Jin avoided his gaze: "Let's leave the banquet to you to host, Gangzi."

Zhao Gang shook his head: "...I was just imitating Gao Laobo, I don't have that kind of talent, I'll leave the rest to you."

There was a hint of impatience in Qian Jin's voice: "Hmph, I've said what I needed to say." He paused and continued: "Then let's start voting, and then hang the person with the most votes."

Wang Lina raised her eyebrows: "Isn't this too reckless?"

Qian Jin stood up, looking down at everyone: "Of course, everyone can speak freely, especially speeches that prove they have the value of living."

His voice echoed in the empty room: "But, saying things like 'I'm human' or 'I don't want to die' doesn't count, everyone will say that."

Finally, his tone became cold and resolute: "The chosen person should entrust the fate of Hidden Mist Village to those who remain, and willingly sacrifice themselves."

The rain continued to rage outside the window, lightning flashing across the sky from time to time, illuminating everyone's faces in a ghastly white light. The air was filled with an atmosphere of fear and despair, as if death had quietly descended on this isolated village. Gao Mei was still curled up in the corner, her shoulders trembling non-stop, while the others were preoccupied with their own thoughts, no one daring to look each other in the eye. This cruel survival game had only just begun.