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

Chapter 520: If the evening mist rises, the feast will come

This "meh" sound, tinged with confusion and surprise, made Tang Yin stunned for a moment. He helped the tearful girl up and found that her clothes were stained with mud and her knees, which were covered with Band-Aids, had many new scratches.

Tang Yin tried to comfort the little girl, saying softly, "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Why are you here alone?"

However, the little girl broke free from his hand and stumbled towards someone nearby. Tang Yin looked in her direction and was surprised to see a familiar figure.

The person who appeared in front of Tang Yin was the white-haired girl whom he had caught a glimpse of this morning.

She stood in the sunset, her long silver hair fluttering gently in the breeze, as if glowing.

Her eyes were cold and deep, as if they could see through people's hearts. She was wearing a simple white dress, which made her stand out in this desolate scene.

Tang Yin stood there in a daze, feeling as if he had entered a mysterious realm.

The appearance of the white-haired girl made this already bizarre scene even more incredible. She stood there quietly, like the guardian of this wasteland, or like a being that did not belong to this world.

The little girl ran to the white-haired girl and hugged her legs tightly. The white-haired girl looked down at the little girl, then turned her gaze to Tang Yin. Her eyes were filled with vigilance and curiosity, as if she was evaluating this intruder.

……

As night fell, a white-haired girl stood before Tang Yin in the wasteland of the Hidden Mist Village, looking mysterious and stern. She began to chant, her voice like a whisper from ancient times:
"When the evening mist rises, a feast is about to begin."

This inexplicable line echoed in the air, carrying a hint of ominous foreboding. The purple-haired girl hiding behind the white-haired girl stared at Tang Yin with eyes filled with fear and hostility. Those large, watery eyes were now filled with vigilance, as if Tang Yin were some terrifying monster.

The white-haired girl hugged the little girl tightly in her arms, staring at Tang Yin with a cold gaze, and said with a warning in her tone: "Go quickly."

Before Tang Yin could react, she added, "It's too late." As soon as she finished speaking, she repeated, "But hurry up."

These contradictory words left Tang Yin confused. Just as he was about to ask, he suddenly noticed a thick fog rising behind the girl. The fog came strangely and swiftly, as if it had life, swallowing up everything around it in just a few seconds.

The fog grew thicker and thicker, soon obscuring all vision. Tang Yin could only vaguely make out the outlines of the white-haired girl and the little girl, and then even this final image was swallowed up.

Fear surged through Tang Yin's heart like a tide, and he turned and ran. But where could he go? The fog was so thick he couldn't even tell east, west, or north. Tang Yin could only run instinctively in the direction of the village he remembered.

After running for an unknown amount of time, Tang Yin returned to the village square in a daze. However, the scene before him made him even more terrified.

Thick fog, like a giant white python, entwined the entire village. The streets were deserted, with only the dim glow of streetlights appearing and disappearing through the mist, forming eerie halos. The outlines of the houses became blurred, as if they would disappear in the white ocean at any moment.

The air was filled with a damp, decaying smell, as if emanating from deep beneath the earth. The occasional sound of the wind, distorted by the fog, sounded like the whispers of some living creature. The entire village was shrouded in an ominous silence, as if cut off from the world.

Tang Yin stood in the center of the square, feeling dizzy. His mind went blank, and his body seemed out of control. Just then, he felt someone shaking his shoulders.

When he regained consciousness, he realized Wang Lina was standing in front of him. She looked very anxious, tears welled in her eyes, and she asked in a sobbing tone, "Where have you been?"

Tang Yin finally came to his senses and said subconsciously, "Sorry, I'll fix the car now."

However, Wang Lina's reaction was beyond his expectations. She said anxiously, "Don't say it, it's too late, Mr. Tang Yin, hide quickly!"

Tang Yin's mind was completely bewildered. He didn't understand Wang Lina's words. "Too late?" "What the hell?" These questions swirled in his mind, but he couldn't find the answers.

At this moment, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. Zhao Gang walked over and shouted, "What are you doing, Wang Lina? Go back to your room!"

Wang Lina wanted to say something, but swallowed it back: "However, Mr. Tang Yin also..."

Zhao Gang tutted impatiently, "Tsk, forget about the outsiders. Uncle Gao and I will go check on other people's homes. Let's go home now, Wang Lina!"

Tang Yin stood there, completely bewildered by the situation before him. What were they talking about? Why were they so frightened? What terrifying thing was hiding in the thick fog?

……

After thinking for a while, Tang Yin seemed to gradually understand. This fog came from the direction of the Divine River Valley below the Hidden Mist Village, just like what he had seen in the wasteland before. The thick fog was extremely transparent, swirling as if it had life, slowly engulfing every corner of the square.

The dim glow of streetlights could be seen through the mist, like a faint ray of hope in the darkness. Tang Yin felt dizzy, as if the whole world was spinning. Just then, a familiar voice pierced the silence.

"Mr. Tang Yin, come here quickly!" Wang Lina's voice was filled with anxiety.

Before Tang Yin could react, Wang Lina rushed to his side and grabbed his hand. Her palm was cold and trembling, revealing her inner fear.

Tang Yin felt a splitting headache and spoke with difficulty: "What's going on? My head... feels a little dizzy..."

Wang Lina's voice was tearful, but she remained firm: "Hold on a little longer, you must stay awake. There's a room somewhere that can be locked! Hide in there alone, or you will die!"

Tang Yin's consciousness became increasingly blurred, and he muttered to himself: "What on earth is going on... why..."

Wang Lina was almost crying, her voice pleading: "Please, Mr. Tang Yin, do as I say!"

Without further ado, Wang Lina grabbed Tang Yin's hand tightly and pulled him into a run. They crossed the misty hillside, the soil beneath their feet soft and damp. As they passed through the winding field paths, the scent of straw and weeds, mixed with the damp mist, filled Tang Yin's nostrils.

Finally, in the mist, they found a refuge—a simple toilet on the side of a field path. The shabby wooden door was half-open, as if waiting for their arrival.

Wang Lina panted and said, "This place should be..."

Tang Yin regained consciousness a little and asked in confusion, "What happened? Even though it's foggy, it shouldn't be that stressful, right?"

Wang Lina's beautiful face was filled with anxiety and fear. She said anxiously, "Listen to me, Tang Yin. There's no time to explain now. Please, do as I say. You must do as I say! From now on, hide in this bathroom all night, lock the door, and don't make any noise. Absolutely!"

For some reason, Tang Yin, who had been dazed just moments before, was now remarkably lucid. He carefully studied Wang Lina's expression. Her eyes, usually filled with smiles, were now filled with fear and worry. Her slightly trembling lips and clenched hands spoke volumes about the gravity of the situation. Although still somewhat baffled, Tang Yin understood every word Wang Lina was saying. She was serious, and he felt he should accept her advice.

Tang Yin forced a smile, trying to ease the tense atmosphere: "...Hahaha, what an incredible instruction."

When Wang Lina heard this, a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes: "Tang Yin..."

Tang Yin continued, "Let me make this clear first. This is a rather arduous task. When I complete it, you must give me a generous reward and a corresponding explanation."

Wang Lina felt relieved, her voice choking with sobs: "Okay, okay, I'll tell you everything. So you have to survive tonight no matter what."

Looking at Wang Lina's serious tone and tearful expression, Tang Yin felt that she was serious. An inexplicable sense of responsibility rose in his heart, as if he was shouldering a great mission.

The night deepened, and the thick fog swallowed everything around it like a giant monster. Tang Yin stood in front of the dilapidated toilet door, feeling the night's chill seeping into his bones. He glanced back at Wang Lina. The usually lively and cheerful girl now looked so fragile.

"I will survive," Tang Yin said softly, "not only to solve the mystery, but also to see your smile again."

Wang Lina was slightly startled, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She looked at Tang Yin deeply, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just nodded slightly.

Tang Yin pushed open the creaking wooden door and stepped into the small, dark space. The smell of rotting wood and damp air hit him, but at this moment, this place became his only refuge.

……

He took a deep breath, turned around and said to Wang Lina, "Okay, go back quickly."

Wang Lina hesitated for a moment and responded softly: "Well, I'm leaving, Tang Yin." Her eyes flashed with complex emotions, as if she had thousands of words to say, but she didn't know where to start.

Tang Yin noticed her strangeness and couldn't help asking, "What's wrong?"

Wang Lina lowered her head, her long hair covering her expression. After a moment, she raised her head and forced a smile: "Well, it's nothing. Let's talk about it tomorrow."

These profound words lingered in the air, as if foreshadowing some unknown fate. Wang Lina gave Tang Yin one last look before turning and leaving. Her figure gradually blurred in the thick fog until she vanished.

Tang Yin watched Wang Lina leave, a strange sense of loss welling up in his heart. He turned and looked around, finding that the square had been completely engulfed by thick fog. The fog seemed to have a life of its own, swirling along the contours of the terraced fields, like a giant tongue licking the earth. This eerie scene made Tang Yin shudder.

Despite his doubts, Tang Yin decided to keep his promise to Wang Lina and hide in this simple toilet. He took a deep breath, pushed open the creaking wooden door, and stepped into the small space.

However, within ten minutes, Tang Yin began to doubt his decision. He leaned against the rough wooden wall, questioning himself: Am I going to stay here all night?
This wasn't a shelter at all; it was just a dilapidated hut. Tang Yin looked around, his disappointment evident. The village toilets were completely different from the prefabricated buildings he'd seen on construction sites before; they lacked even the most basic amenities.

What's worse is that there is no toilet here, only a simple pit toilet. Tang Yin smiled bitterly and thought, I can't even sit down, I can only stand like a wooden stake.

But the most unbearable thing was the smell. The pit didn't even have a lid, and the stench of decay assaulted my nostrils. Someone, lacking common sense, had placed a box of air freshener in there, and the pungent chemical odor mixed with the already stench, making it nauseating.

Tang Yin thought to himself with self-mockery that the only advantage of this place might be that it could be used at any time if needed. However, in this situation, this "advantage" seemed meaningless.

As time went by, Tang Yin's doubts and disgust grew. He began to wonder if this was some large-scale prank show, or if there was something wrong with the villagers' brains.
Even if the thick fog was truly dangerous, what good was hiding in a leaky toilet like this? Tang Yin noticed that fine mist had seeped in through the cracks in the wooden boards and was floating in the dim space.

As time went on, the temperature dropped and the air became more humid. Tang Yin couldn't help but think, since there was thick fog inside and outside, instead of standing here breathing in the foul air, it would be better to lie down on the grass outside and rest. At least I could breathe fresh air and look at the starry sky.

Just as he was about to push the door open, a voice rang in his mind: "Stop this stupid behavior immediately." Reason slowly took over, and Tang Yin's hand stopped on the doorknob.

But... he couldn't help but question his decision. At that moment, Wang Lina's face suddenly appeared in his mind. Her eyes, filled with worry and pleading, seemed to silently remind him of his previous warning.

Tang Yin took a deep breath and slowly lowered his hand. He told himself that he couldn't go against his promise to Wang Lina; this was his principle. However, when this thought came to mind, Tang Yin couldn't help but laugh at himself: Isn't this reason a bit too hypocritical?
He leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and tried to clear his mind. Wang Lina's warning, the strange fog, the villagers' unusual behavior, everything seemed like a huge puzzle waiting for him to solve.

In fact, his real thought was that as long as he abided by the agreement, he could obtain new information, which was his greatest goal.

Squatting in the toilet, Tang Yin sorted out the information he had obtained today:

This is the [Mist Hidden Village] attached to [Baifeng Manor].
At the foot of the mountain in the Hidden Mist Village, there is a stream called the Divine River.

For the people in this area, the Shenge River is a very special place.
The villagers of Kirigakure are:
Beautiful college student [Wang Lina],
A seemingly mature high school student [Qin Ming], his mother, the cafeteria owner [Chen Xiang], and his rebellious younger brother [Qin Yi].

The high school student [Tong Xiaoliang] who looks short,
Fashionable high school girl [Gao Mei] and her grandfather [Gao Zhiwei]

A strong-looking young farmer [Zhao Gang]

As well as the other old people in the village [Grandma Rong] and the crazy [Grandpa Wolf]

Qian Jin of the Qian Group should not be from Wuyin Village, but from Baifeng Village on the other side of the mountain. For some reason, he is currently living in Wuyin Village.

There are eleven people in total.

There are also two people Wang Lina mentioned that I haven't seen before. They should be the [white-haired girl] and [purple-haired little loli] that I met in the wasteland just now.

That little Lolita should be the child who got lost in the Divine Valley yesterday morning and was picked up by the village.

As for the white-haired girl, this was the second time Tang Yin saw her, but the scene seemed unreal each time, and the possibility of hallucination could not be ruled out.

There are thirteen people, including the white-haired girl, who live in the Hidden Mist Village. There are now a total of thirteen people.

In addition, there is the beautiful foreign reporter [Xia Hui] and the strong photographer [Zhou Zhengxiong].

Including Tang Yin, there are three outsiders in total.

(End of this chapter)