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

Chapter 540 Missing Gao Mei

Looking at the shocking marks on the ground, Tang Yin could easily imagine the final scene. Qin Yi had endured a brutal struggle before his death. Judging by the scattered blood and shredded flesh, he had fought desperately until the very end. This tenacious will to survive only made his death seem even more cruel.

The instigator of all this was undoubtedly the being that executed [Pollution]. But what kind of monster could tear such a young man into such a state?
The news of Qin Yi's death swept through the village square like a gust of cold wind. The pain of losing a loved one was beyond words. The moment Chen Xiang heard the news, it was as if all her strength had been drained from her body. Then, as if possessed by something, she let out a heart-wrenching scream.

"My son! My son!"

She rushed towards the scene like a madman, her long hair disheveled and her eyes bloodshot. Several strong men finally managed to restrain her frantic behavior, but she continued to cry out at the top of her lungs, as if pouring out all the maternal love she had accumulated over the past decade.

According to village custom, Qin Yi's shattered remains were thrown into the Shenge Valley. Zhao Gang brought back a bunch of faded, blood-stained hair from the scene—the only intact relic of Qin Yi.

When Chen Xiang received her son's hair, she did something shocking. Without hesitation, she stuffed it into her mouth, wailing and frantically chewing and swallowing. This almost frantic act was perhaps the ultimate expression of maternal love—a desire to hold a part of her son inside her forever.

But no matter what she did, the facts were unchangeable. Her son, that once bright and sunny boy, had left this world forever. Looking at her, Tang Yin felt a deep, bone-deep sorrow, a despair that only someone who had lost a child could understand.

"...Let's begin the [banquet]." Zhao Gang's voice broke the silence. "We must find the murderer who killed Old Man Gao and Qin Yi no matter what."

His words, like a stone dropped into stagnant water, caught everyone's attention. Only Chen Xiang remained crouched on the ground, sobbing softly. Her eldest son sat silently beside her, his head bowed, lost in thought.

Tang Yin's mind raced: What rules had Qin Yi broken? Why had he met such a cruel death? What else could this worthless death bring, besides leaving a handful of strange animal hair in his mother's mouth and causing her excruciating pain?
Such a tragedy would only infuriate the survivors. If everyone acted recklessly and disregarded the danger to their lives like Qin Yi, the consequences would be disastrous. Tang Yin's concerns strangely coincided with what happened next.

"...Where is Xiaomei?" Tong Xiaoliang's voice suddenly sounded, with a hint of uneasiness.

Damn it! Tang Yin cursed inwardly. Why do these people always rush towards the most dangerous direction? Like moths to a flame, they rush forward even though they know they will die. The village in the thick fog was becoming increasingly chaotic, and this chaos seemed to be exactly what some force was hoping for.

In the fog-shrouded village, four people quickly formed a search party. Wang Lina's expression was solemn, Tong Xiaoliang's brow was furrowed, Zhao Gang's eyes were sharp, and Tang Yin was lost in thought. The person they were looking for was Gao Mei, the missing girl.

Qin Ming stayed home to care for his mother. Chen Xiang's emotions were still unsettled, sometimes sobbing, sometimes dazed, requiring constant protection. Qian Jin did not join the search team. He stood at the cafeteria door, his expression complicated, and said, "At least one man should be left guarding the cafeteria." This was indeed true; no one could guarantee that the murderer was not lurking in the shadows.

For safety, the four of them split into two groups. Each of them held a farm tool; a wooden shovel and sickle became their best self-defense weapons. The sharp sickle gleamed coldly in the mist, and the handle of the wooden shovel was damp with sweat.

"Be careful." Wang Lina whispered, her voice filled with undisguised worry.

Zhao Gang nodded: "Call us as soon as there is a situation. The voice should be low enough but loud enough." His words sounded a bit contradictory, but everyone understood what he meant - he wanted his companions to hear him, but he also wanted not to alert the enemy.

"Okay, please, Xiaoliang--" Tang Yin turned to look at his partner.

Tong Xiaoliang changed out of his awkward dress and donned a slightly tight school uniform. Although he had long outgrown the uniform, it seemed to be the only change of clothes he had. He loved the dress, but at a time like this, practicality was paramount. He had suggested it himself, demonstrating his seriousness about the search.

"You have to work harder, Uncle Tang." Although Tong Xiaoliang still spoke in that nonchalant tone, Tang Yin noticed that his eyes were unusually focused, with a determined light flashing in them.

The two began to search the village, their figures appearing and disappearing in the thick fog.

"Xiaomei!"

"Xiaomei!"

Their cries sounded hollow in the mist. Tang Yin and Tong Xiaoliang carefully searched every possible hiding place: overgrown meadows, dark corners under the shade of trees, even muddy fields. But Gao Mei seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, with no trace of her.

"...Do you have any idea?" Tang Yin stopped and turned to Tong Xiaoliang.

Tong Xiaoliang wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "I don't know. Maybe he was scared because Mr. Gao died."

"No," Tang Yin shook his head, his eyes becoming deep, "I mean, she looked very strange this morning."

"Yeah, that's true." Tong Xiaoliang suddenly put away his frivolous expression. He seemed to have remembered some important details.

In the foggy village, Tang Yin's thoughts swirled like the thick fog. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he paused his search and looked sharply at Tong Xiaoliang.

"Does she have mysophobia?" Tang Yin's voice broke the silence around them.

Tong Xiaoliang was wiping the sweat off his forehead with the sleeve of his school uniform. He was stunned when he heard this: "Mysophobia?"

"It's that feeling of disliking dirty things and behavior. I had this feeling the first time we met." Tang Yin recalled Gao Mei's always vigilant eyes, and her slender hands, which always unconsciously stroked the corners of her clothes, as if resisting the invasion of something unclean. Tong Xiaoliang's expression became complicated. He scratched his slightly messy black hair and looked into the hazy mist in the distance: "Ah, well, how should I put it? Xiaomei is the most timid person in the Hidden Mist Village. She has always been afraid of the legend of pollution, or rather, she hates being polluted."

"Is that so?" Tang Yin nodded thoughtfully. Thick fog slowly drifted around them, bringing a damp chill. This was clearly a fear caused by superstition, but why had it suddenly escalated to this point? What had happened last night to cause the usually cautious Gao Mei to act so abnormally?
Tong Xiaoliang suddenly spoke, interrupting Tang Yin's thoughts: "So I think that even if Xiaomei is a wolf, she can't kill people..." There was an imperceptible tremor in his voice.

"Is that what you think?" Tang Yin turned and looked at him.

Tong Xiaoliang's expression became unusually serious: "Whether Xiaomei is a wolf or not, she can't do it. That's what I mean."

"Very cautious, isn't that your style?" Tang Yin noticed the difference in Tong Xiaoliang's tone. The usually cynical boy was now showing such caution.

"Because it's not my own business--" Tong Xiaoliang chuckled, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

The mist flowed between them, bringing an uncomfortable, sticky feeling. Tang Yin took a deep breath. "I don't mean to pry into your privacy, but if you remember anything about Xiaomei, can you tell me?"

"Hmm... I'm not sure what you're doubting." Tong Xiaoliang's eyes suddenly grew sharp. He stopped, turned to face Tang Yin, and spoke with unprecedented seriousness: "To me, Xiaomei and Qin Ming are the most important people. I could even say that Xiaomei is more important than Qin Ming."

After saying this, he seemed unwilling to continue this topic, and changed his tone: "Okay, I'll go find it quickly."

"...You are right." Tang Yin replied softly.

But no matter how hard they searched, Gao Mei's presence remained elusive in this fog-shrouded land. Wet grass rustled beneath their feet, and withered branches looked eerie in the mist. The rotting leaves exuded a damp scent, and an indescribable sense of oppression hung heavy in the air. Had she fainted in some unknown corner, or was she deliberately evading all search?
An even more disturbing thought suddenly flashed through Tang Yin's mind: "Is it possible that she has already left the Hidden Mist Village?"

This question hit everyone like a stone. Wang Lina rubbed her hands together subconsciously, a hint of uneasiness in her voice: "...It's hard to imagine."

Zhao Gang's expression also grew solemn. He looked up at the increasingly thick fog and said, "Granny Rong said that the foggy Wuyin Village is connected to the Land of the Underworld. If we leave now, we will definitely get lost in the Land of the Underworld."

Mist flowed through the mountains like an invisible river, shrouding the entire Hidden Mist Village in a mysterious veil. The damp air was filled with the smell of decay, and withered leaves rustled softly underfoot. Tong Xiaoliang gazed at the hazy mountain silhouettes in the distance, his voice tinged with a rare solemnity: "Besides, fog or not, the mountains are dangerous, right?"

Tang Yin stuffed his hands in the pockets of his windbreaker, his deep gaze piercing the mist, as if searching for something. His black windbreaker was dampened by the mist, appearing even heavier. Water droplets slid down his hair, leaving a cool touch on his cheeks. "I understand how you feel, but I have a serious question for you." He paused, his voice low and clear: "In this case, assuming she really left, what exactly has happened to her state of mind?"

This question was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. Everyone fell silent. This possibility was clearly beyond their imagination. Wang Lina twisted her fingers unconsciously, her eyes dodging.
Zhao Gang's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with worry. Even the usually cheerful Tong Xiaoliang remained silent, his expression grave. Tang Yin, observing the confusion and worry on their faces, grew increasingly anxious.

If Gao Mei really left the village and they were still wasting time here, the consequences would be unimaginable if an accident happened.

Tang Yin's gaze swept over everyone present, determined to break the deadlock. Even if it meant using forced arguments, he had to make them realize the seriousness of the situation. "What if this village or its people are no longer trustworthy to her?"

Zhao Gang frowned, his weather-beaten face full of worry: "...What do you mean?" There was a slight tremor in his voice.

"Maybe she saw something last night or this morning, or found some evidence."

Tang Yin's voice deepened, as if he were revealing a truth he didn't want to mention. Mist slowly drifted around him, adding a touch of mystery to his words. "...For example, if someone you're very familiar with were actually a wolf who killed people without a care in the world, what would she do if she discovered something?"

These words were like thunder, and the expressions of the three people froze instantly. Wang Lina's face turned pale, Zhao Gang subconsciously took a half step back, and even Tong Xiaoliang showed an expression of disbelief, with a glint of disbelief in his eyes.

Tang Yin observed their reactions and continued, "She's too young, and there are many uncertainties." There was a hint of pity in his voice, and his gaze shifted toward the mist-shrouded mountains in the distance. "In a small society like the Hidden Mist Village, it's normal to feel homeless once you lose your spiritual support."

An indescribable sense of oppression permeated the humid air. Mist slowly drifted around them, bringing a piercing chill. Tang Yin's voice continued to echo in the air: "Xiaomei has such a strong character. Under these circumstances, is it really impossible for her to just leave like that because of a momentary change of mind?"

Wang Lina bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes flickering, and her fingers unconsciously tugged at the corner of her clothes: "...very convincing." Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's hum, but it was particularly clear in the silence.

Zhao Gang paced back and forth anxiously, rubbing his calloused hands constantly. His clothes were wet by the mist and seemed particularly heavy: "But what should we do now? Give up?" This is the most natural reaction of an ordinary person in the Hidden Mist Village, choosing to retreat in the face of unknown danger.

Tong Xiaoliang suddenly stood up, his handsome face filled with determination, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. "Even if it's contaminated, it doesn't matter. I'm going to find Xiaomei." Such determination was clearly not something an ordinary Kirigakure would have. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the exertion.

Tang Yin turned to Tong Xiaoliang, his eyes gleaming with approval. He saw the fire burning in the boy's eyes, a determination that transcended fear. "I'll go with you. I'm from another place, and I have no objection to leaving now."

Wang Lina hurriedly took a step forward, her slender figure looking particularly frail in the mist: "Didn't I say I would stop you?" Her fingers were twisted together nervously, and her exposed wrist was trembling slightly with fear.

Tang Yin smiled soothingly, his eyes firm and gentle. "Don't worry, if there's any danger, we'll come back immediately. She probably won't take the road to the Divine Valley. We can just look for her along the way to school." His voice was steady and powerful. "Besides, I'm an adult. How can I just stand by and watch a child die?"

(End of this chapter)