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

Chapter 537 Weird Morning

As the night deepened, Tang Yin dragged his tired body back to Room 203 of the student dormitory.

The worn wooden door creaked, as if telling of the building's age. The incandescent light in the room emitted a faint glow, casting mottled shadows on the wall.

Just as he was about to lie down to rest, there was a soft knock on the door.

Standing outside the door was Wang Lina, holding a cup of noodles and a pot of steaming water. She said gently, "We are neighbors now."

Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a soft silver glow on Wang Lina's delicate face. She placed the food on the table, and the two of them chatted casually for a while.

As she left, her back looked a little frail as she disappeared into the shadows of the corridor. Tang Yin looked in the direction she left, feeling a strange sense of melancholy in his heart—he wondered if they would be able to meet again tomorrow.

When he turned to go to the bathroom, Tang Yin was stumped by the old-fashioned gas water heater.

The startling iron casing was covered in rust, looking at least twenty years old. He fiddled with it clumsily for a long time, nearly shivering with cold. This last-century device was a puzzle to him, accustomed to modern life.

The only comforting thing about the room was the working power socket. Tang Yin quickly plugged his phone in to charge, and finally breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the battery slowly recover. He'd neglected to bring his watch this time, so his phone had become his only source of time, and battery life was becoming increasingly precious.

Looking around, the room's layout was very simple: a single bed, a wardrobe, a desk, but no sign of a kitchen. This discovery made Tang Yin fall into deep thought: the other rooms should have the same configuration.

Don't people here cook at home? Do they rely on the cafeteria for all three meals a day?

Thinking of this, Tang Yin's anthropologist instincts kicked in. This village was not only culturally unique, but even its most basic way of life was incompatible with the outside world.

How exactly did this unique custom come about and be passed down? If you weren't involved in this dangerous game, this would definitely be a topic worth studying in depth.

In the dead of night, Tang Yin lay in bed, his mind becoming increasingly clear. What should he do now? Even if he was excluded from the "banquet", going out at night was still full of risks.

What troubled him even more was the memory of being killed - his rationality told him that it was just a dream, but the reality of the dream made it impossible for him to completely deny its authenticity.

But this experience at least made him understand one thing: keeping absolute silence is the key to survival. This discovery gave him a bold idea: should he go out and explore tonight?
Suddenly, Zhao Gang's words about arranging people to keep watch rang in his mind.

Could it be that the man who was a [Snake] would disregard his own safety and insist on going to guard the night? Thinking of this, Tang Yin's heart tightened.

Sighing helplessly, Tang Yin felt that there was very little he could do.

Important intelligence at the Banquet was not fully shared, and even the most basic safety rules were not communicated smoothly. While information leaks are indeed dangerous, the consequences of misunderstanding information could be even more terrifying.

Moonlight shone through the gaps in the curtains onto the floor. Tang Yin stared at the silvery streak and decided to hold his ground. In this strange game, his position was too delicate to act rashly.

Tang Yin paced back and forth in the dim room. His footsteps were absorbed by the thick carpet, leaving only a faint rustling sound.

He had originally planned to continue the search as he had done during the day, but reason told him that it was too risky.

The village at night is like a huge maze. If you are not careful, you may pay the price of your life due to misjudgment of intelligence.

What worried him even more was the villagers' attitude. If his actions aroused suspicion and he lost their trust, the consequences would be disastrous. Tang Yin scratched his hair in frustration, his brow furrowed. Was he really going to be a coward and wait in his room until the banquet was over?

"No!" he whispered to himself. This was definitely not his style.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting mottled shadows on the floor. Tang Yin's gaze fell on the old mailbox on the door, its metal lid already rusted.

He gently lifted the lid and peered out through the narrow gap. The corridor was filled with a strange, thick fog, and visibility was extremely low. He could only vaguely see the corridor railings and a few branches sticking out, swaying in the wind like ghostly fingers.

Suddenly, a disturbing thought came to mind.

His room was located at the deepest part of the second floor, and from this position he couldn't see Xiaomei and Wang Lina's rooms near the stairs. In other words, by the time he could spot the intruder through the mailbox, the intruder was already very close.

Tang Yin smiled wryly and shook his head. Strangely, he found that his fear for his own safety was less than his curiosity about the intruder's identity. Perhaps it was that strange dream that had given him the illusion that even death could lead to a fresh start.

"Let's wait until late at night," he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. There were simply too many things to think about right now.

Unconsciously, fatigue invaded his consciousness.

……

When he woke up again, he felt a sharp pain on his forehead. It turned out that he had hit the door handle directly.

"Hiss—" He took a breath and realized that he had fallen asleep leaning against the door.

Every bone in his body protested against this twisted sleeping position. Tang Yin fumbled for his phone. The fully charged screen was particularly dazzling in the darkness. The time read six o'clock.

The morning light had begun to seep into the room through the gaps in the curtains, casting a faint golden glow on the walls.

Although he was so sleepy that his eyelids were drooping, Tang Yin was more concerned about the subsequent development of the "Banquet" than taking a wonderful nap.

……

Tang Yin splashed cold water on his tired face, and the sleepiness faded slightly. After putting on his shoes, he walked to the door again as if possessed, and habitually opened the metal lid of the mailbox.

In an instant, his pupils suddenly contracted—Wang Lina was holding a sharp kitchen knife, standing quietly outside his door! In the morning light, the blade shone with a cold gleam, reflecting her slightly pale face.

Tang Yin trembled all over, and he involuntarily stepped back, stumbling and falling to the ground.

Cold sweat streamed down my spine, and my heartbeat was as violent as a drum. This scene was like a scene from a horror movie, giving me chills.

My mind raced, all sorts of possibilities flashing through my mind: Could Wang Lina be the wolf lurking among the crowd? Why would she be guarding my door in the early morning with a weapon in hand?

Just as he was in confusion, there was a sudden knock on the door, which scared him and made him scream.

"Tang Yin, Tang Yin, are you up?" Wang Lina's voice came through the door, gentle but with a hint of anxiety.

Tang Yin's Adam's apple rolled, and he stared at the door. Was she going to kill him?

"Tang Yin, get up quickly! Let's go and see how everyone is doing!" Wang Lina shouted again, her voice full of concern.

Tang Yin was speechless for a moment, cold sweat soaking the clothes on the back.

As if sensing his fear, Wang Lina quickly explained: "The kitchen knife in my hand is for self-defense, don't worry."

"I was scared to death!" Tang Yin finally found his voice and his tense nerves relaxed a little.

"Ah, are you up yet..." Wang Lina's tone was apologetic. "Don't worry, don't worry. Look, I've already put the kitchen knife on the floor!" Tang Yin cautiously opened the mailbox again and looked out. Wang Lina gently placed the kitchen knife on the corridor floor and waved to him in a friendly manner. The morning sunlight added a soft layer of silhouette to her.

After the two of them reunited, they immediately went to check on the other three students.

Fortunately, everyone was safe and sound, which made Tang Yin feel a little relieved. After confirming everything, they decided to head to the nearest Qian Group.

The Hidden Mist Village was shrouded in a strange silence, shrouded in thick fog. The grayish-white mist spread across the streets, casting a hazy veil over everything.

Just like yesterday morning, they took every step carefully, fearing that they would disturb something that should not be disturbed.

If you encounter that monster, the consequences will be disastrous.

Tang Yin walked ahead, holding Wang Lina's hand. The warmth from his palm gave him a glimmer of courage. He secretly vowed in his heart that even if he was attacked by a monster, he would create a chance for Wang Lina to fight back or escape. His hand unconsciously tightened a little, as if this would protect her behind him.

Just as the two were moving forward carefully, a vigilant voice suddenly came from the thick fog: "Who's there?" The voice seemed particularly hollow in the fog, with a bit of uneasiness and vigilance.

Tang Yin immediately recognized the owner of the voice and quickly responded, "Are you Qian Jin? We are Tang Yin and Wang Lina."

"Where - there?" Qian Jin's voice came from far away, and a haggard face gradually emerged from the white mist.

He had thick dark circles under his eyes, obviously he hadn't slept all night, and his suit was a little messy, completely different from his usual refined image.

Wang Lina smiled gently, trying to ease the tense atmosphere: "Oh, good morning!"

Tang Yin looked around. The quaint western-style house was barely visible in the morning mist, but it looked remarkably intact. "It seems that this house is alright."

Upon hearing this, Qian Jin straightened his back immediately, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance: "Of course. Although it's a bit old, the security system of this mansion is very complete. How could it be invaded by monsters?"

"Really?" Wang Lina's eyes lit up. "Then let everyone take refuge here?"

Qian Jin's expression instantly turned cold, and he pursed his lips and said, "That's Kirigakure's problem, it has nothing to do with me."

Wang Lina heard this, the smile on her face did not diminish: "Really? I understand. Then we will go first to solve the problem of the Hidden Mist Village." Then she turned and was about to leave.

"Wait, wait!" Qian Jin shouted hurriedly, his voice filled with undisguised panic, "It's dangerous to act alone!"

Tang Yin secretly shook his head in his heart. It seemed that Qian Jin was indeed a master of talking.

This kind of person often has a strong sense of self-esteem and vanity, is stubborn and has no contribution to the banquet.

His nervous behavior revealed a deep-seated fear. This man was just bluffing. He probably never truly understood the Hidden Mist Village, let alone the strangeness of Baifeng Manor.

The three of them walked down the winding mountain road and soon met up with three students waiting at the foot of the mountain. A damp mist swirled around them, shrouding the world in a hazy haze.

Qin Ming crossed his arms and sighed softly, "...Even the road I've been accustomed to has become so gloomy."

His eyes wandered around restlessly, as if something terrible would jump out of the fog at any time.

"Well, the fog is incredible." Wang Lina responded softly, with a hint of worry in her tone.

Tong Xiaoliang suddenly made an inappropriate joke: "Even if I'm naked now, no one can see me!"

He looked at Gao Mei expectantly, obviously waiting for her usual venomous retort.

"..." Gao Mei remained unusually silent.

Qian Jin frowned and glared at Tong Xiaoliang with disgust: "Shut up, idiot."

Everyone's eyes turned to Gao Mei at the same time.

Something was clearly wrong with her. The usually cheerful and cheerful girl now lowered her head, her body trembling slightly, her pale face visible even in the thick fog. She was like a frightened bird, ready to collapse at any moment.

The atmosphere suddenly became solemn.

Although everyone noticed Gao Mei's abnormal condition, they seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding and chose to remain silent.

The spark of doubt burns silently in everyone's heart.

Gao Mei's unusual behavior made Tang Yin think of a terrifying possibility - could she be the wolf lurking among the crowd? Did those innocent lives die at her hands last night?
Just as this thought was circling in her mind, Gao Mei's legs suddenly went limp like a puppet with its strings cut.

Her slender figure swayed in the thick fog, as if she would fall down at any time.

"Are you okay, Xiaomei?" Qin Ming stretched out his hand with concern, wanting to support her.

"……Do not touch me!!"

Gao Mei screamed, her voice hoarse and hysterical. She curled up like a frightened animal and dodged Qin Ming's hand.

"Xiaomei...?" Qin Ming stood there in a daze, his hands hanging awkwardly in the air.

"...Brother, I..." Gao Mei's voice trembled, as if she was trying hard to suppress something.

Qin Ming was silent for a moment, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but... I'm..." Gao Mei's words were fragmented, like glass that could shatter at any time.

"...It's nothing, I understand how you feel. Don't be nervous and be careful where you step." Qin Ming withdrew his hand and comforted her softly.

The team continued to move forward, but the speed slowed down significantly.

Gao Mei walked alone at the end, refusing everyone's help. She lowered her head, as if she was suffocating under the weight of an invisible burden.

Thick fog rolled around them, occasionally revealing patches of wooded forest and massive standing rocks. The world seemed covered in a layer of frosted glass, and every scene was distorted by the mist.

The mountain tunnel is deep and mysterious, the field path is winding, the standing rock plateau stands tall, and the mottled concrete steps extend upward one by one and disappear in the white mist.

Tang Yin looked at this strange scene, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind - could this be the entrance to another world? This thought sent a chill down his spine, yet it inexplicably made sense.

(End of this chapter)