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

Chapter 559: Crazy Chen Xiang

In an instant, Chen Xiang's face was twisted beyond recognition. Her once gentle features seemed to have been distorted by invisible hands. Her eyes were wide open, bloodshot, and her mouth twisted unnaturally upward, revealing her sharp white teeth. Her expression was so ferocious it was chilling, like a demon crawling out of hell.

A sharp dagger appeared in her hand at some point, the blade gleaming coldly in the dim light.

"——Everyone, everyone, die together!!!"

This roar seemed to come from the depths of hell, causing pain in the eardrums of everyone present. It was obvious that she had completely lost her mind.

Chen Xiang swung her right hand violently, and the kitchen knife drew a cold arc through the air. Although her movements were not swift, and even a little staggering, the poison-soaked weapon made everyone feel as if they were falling into an icy cave.

Deterrent power.

That's how it is. When the threat of death is directly before your eyes, even the simplest evasive action becomes slow. This isn't some corpse you only see on the news, but the tangible, immediate threat of murder.

Naked, undisguised murderous intent.

Everyone stood frozen in place, their nerves paralyzed by the sticky green residue on the blade. Visual signals raced through everyone's brains—Chen Xiang staggered across the cafeteria counter, the sharp blade stained with aconite flakes, her manic laughter puncturing strange paths through the air.

Her goal is clear - money.

The poisonous weapon was pointed directly at the nearest prey, and Qian Jin's face turned pale in an instant.

At this critical moment, Tang Yin's body reacted first. This was completely inconsistent with his usual style—he was known for his eloquence, and his instinctive reaction when faced with danger should have been to turn and run. Furthermore, neither Qian Jin, who had exposed the truth, nor Madam Chen Xiang, who had gone mad, was worth risking his life to rescue.

However, when he came to his senses, he had already jumped and hit Chen Xiang's right shoulder heavily.

The intense pain caused Tang Yin to fall heavily to the ground, his entire body shaking uncontrollably. Chen Xiang's twisted laughter echoed in his ears, a sound that was like some kind of curse, terrifying.

He had to change his posture! He had to control her hand! Tang Yin's brain was working frantically, but his body's reaction speed was far behind his thoughts.

Suddenly, Chen Xiang rushed over with a grim smile and hugged Tang Yin tightly. Before he could react to what happened——

A sharp pain came from behind.

She used the dagger covered with aconite to stab Tang Yin's back cleanly and neatly, as if she was removing an obstacle.

The wound was deep, blood trickling down his spine. Worse still, the strange green toxin had seeped into his body through the wound. The sensation was uncanny, like a cold, venomous snake coursing through his veins.

The toxicity of Aconitum is so strong that it can kill people instantly.

Tang Yin felt his consciousness gradually blurring, his thoughts starting to unravel. However, his instinct for survival forced him to stay awake, and his body was surprisingly able to react.

His hand groped for an old wooden chair beside him. This seemingly ordinary dining chair was actually quite heavy. Tang Yin gritted his teeth and used his last bit of strength to lift the chair up.

He pointed the four legs of the chair at Chen Xiang, who still held the murder weapon, a flicker of determination in his eyes. Since he had been poisoned, he had to fight for a chance of survival for the others before the poison took effect.

"Surge!"

Tang Yin roared in anger, and with mortal resolve, he slammed the old wooden chair into Chen Xiang. Instantly, the entire space was filled with a flurry of sounds—the clatter of the wooden chair against the ground, Chen Xiang's shrill moans, and the terrified screams of those around them—interweaving into a chilling symphony.

He used all his strength to press the chair down firmly on Chen Xiang. The poison-stained kitchen knife was firmly pinned by the chair legs, and as she twisted her wrist, a sharp metallic scraping sound was heard. Chen Xiang's face twisted in pain, the veins on her forehead bulged, and she roared like a beast.

"Ahhh-"

With a shrill scream, Chen Xiang finally let go of the deadly weapon. The kitchen knife collided with the ground with a crisp sound.

At this critical moment, Wang Lina, who had been observing the battle from the sidelines, seized the opportunity and rushed forward like a bullet. Wearing a pair of sneakers, she accurately kicked the kitchen knife with her toe, sending it flying into the far corner. The blade traced a dazzling arc on the ground, finally hitting the corner of the wall with a dull sound.

In just a few seconds, the outcome was decided.

Chen Xiang collapsed to the ground, white foam pouring from the corners of her mouth as she twisted her body frantically like a stranded fish. Her eyes were bloodshot, her pupils dilated, a frantic glint in their eyes. The others frantically tied her limbs with handkerchiefs and towels they had brought with them, and then stuffed a rag into her mouth.

Even so, she still refused to give up, making a vague threat in her throat: "Mmmm!"

Through the saliva-soaked rag, she could faintly be heard screaming, threatening to kill everyone. Her eyes were filled with deep hatred, like a trapped beast, ready to devour anyone at any moment. Her body twisted and thrashed, trying to break free, but all her struggles were in vain.

Although the handkerchiefs and towels that bound her were not strong, they were enough to restrain a middle-aged woman who had already fallen into madness. Her struggle gradually weakened, but the madness and murderous intent in her eyes did not diminish at all, as if she wanted to nail everyone present to her hatred list.

A depressing atmosphere permeated the cafeteria, the chaos from earlier still lingering in the air. Tang Yin leaned against the wall, feeling the stinging pain from the wound on his back. His eyes swept over everyone present. He smiled wryly and said, "...Although this isn't the right thing for me to say,...what should I do now?"

Outside the cafeteria's glass windows, the thick fog still enveloped the entire world like a physical entity. At this moment, only the six of them were left staring at each other in bewilderment. Mrs. Chen Xiang was locked in the cafeteria's storage room, her frantic cries muffled by the door, sounding particularly muffled.

Xiao Mei squatted in the corner and uttered timidly: "...Mee..."

Granny Rong hunched over, the wrinkles on her face deepening as she muttered to herself, "...Chen Xiang has also... become a person of the underworld..."

"No, it's not like that!" Qin Ming suddenly stood up excitedly, his voice trembling. "Mom is just a little mentally disturbed..."

Wang Lina lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisted together: "...Aunt Chen Xiang is really forcing herself..."

"Of course!" Qin Ming's eyes flushed, his voice choked with sobs, "Mom likes Qin Yi so much...! Even if he's not smart, even if he often gets into trouble..." He took a deep breath, as if trying to convince himself, "...No, that's why Mom likes him so much."

Tears welled up in Qin Ming's eyes: "His impulsive personality is very similar to his father's. Mom often says so..."

Silence spread in the air.

Finally, Qin Ming raised his head, his eyes pleading: "I will calm my mother down. Can everyone forgive her?"

"This matter must be decided at the banquet," Qian Jin coldly interrupted his request. His glasses reflected a cold light, making his expression unclear. Tang Yin frowned, "Wait, this matter has nothing to do with the banquet. It's just one person's loss of control. We can't generalize."

"Don't make unfounded arguments..." Qian Jin's voice suddenly became a little crazy, "Maybe she went crazy because she was polluted..."

"Qian Jin?" Tang Yin looked at him warily.

Qian Jin's tone became more and more urgent: "What happens in the fog should be decided at the banquet... Otherwise, maybe even we will be contaminated...!"

"...That's right..." Granny Rong agreed, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes.

Gao Mei stood aside and remained silent.

"...I understand, let's go!" Qin Ming suddenly turned around and was about to leave.

Tang Yin quickly called out to him, "No! Madam Chen Xiang will be killed, Qin Ming!"

"I won't let them do that!" Qin Ming turned around, his eyes gleaming with determination. He looked at Tang Yin deeply, "...Tang Yin, I'm leaving Mom in your care!"

"Is it really okay to let me move freely?" Tang Yin's question echoed in the empty cafeteria.

No one responded. Everyone remained silent, as if the question no longer mattered. A strange aura hung in the air, and thick fog rolled outside the window, shrouding the entire world in a haze.

"Wang Lina." Tang Yin called softly. He noticed that Wang Lina's fingertips were trembling slightly, and an indescribable expression appeared on her pale face.

Wang Lina didn't respond, simply standing there quietly. Moonlight streamed through the window onto her profile, outlining a holy outline. Her black hair, stained silver by the moonlight, seemed draped in a thin veil. Her expression was dreamy and ethereal, as if she had transcended reality, just as she always did when she spoke of the gods. Those dark eyes seemed to conceal an endless abyss.

"I knew it..." Wang Lina muttered to herself, her voice so soft that it was almost inaudible. Her slender fingers clenched the corner of her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Though her eyes were cloudy, they held a strange clarity. It was a complex mixture of detachment and fear, as if she saw through everything, yet also seemed terrified of some unspeakable truth. Nine parts detachment concealed a deep fear, like a tiny glimmer of light in the darkness, or a candle about to go out.

She cast one last glance at Tang Yin, her eyes filled with a thousand words, yet ultimately they dissolved into a sigh. Then, she silently followed the others toward the assembly hall. Her figure seemed particularly lonely, as if carrying a heavy fate, her footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

The hall was dimly lit, its light only dimmed by a few old chandeliers. The air was filled with a musty smell, mingled with the aroma of aged wood. Qian Jin sat in a chair in the corner, his legs trembling nervously, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "...Where's the wine?" His voice tinged with anxiety, his glasses misting over.

Gao Mei leaned against the wall, crossed her arms over her chest, and gave him a cold look: "That kind of thing doesn't matter anymore..." There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Meditation is very important..." Grandma Rong hunched over and took out a blue and white porcelain wine pot from her patched cotton jacket, "Here you go, Mr. Qian Jin." Her hands trembled slightly due to her old age.

Qian Jin practically snatched the wine jug, tilted his head back, and gulped down a few mouthfuls: "Okay... Gulp, um... all right..." The wine dripped down his chin, leaving dark marks on his collar. His expression calmed down a little, but his eyes were still evasive.

"Lina." Grandma Rong called again, with some obscure meaning in her voice.

Wang Lina remained silent, her eyes gazing blankly into the distance, as if she were glimpsing some distant place through the dimly lit meeting hall. Granny Rong turned to Xiao Mei, who was curled up in the corner, and said gently, "Just give it a lick and it'll be fine."

Xiao Mei sat on the ground, hugging her knees. Her skirt was stained with mud, and her hair was messy and stuck to her cheeks. She asked timidly, "Where is Sister Hualu?" Her voice was filled with the innocence of a child.

"Miss Hualu is no longer able to live." There was a hint of pity in Grandma Rong's voice, but there was a subtle hint of vigilance in her eyes.

"...Mee..." Xiao Mee lowered his head and let out a soft sob, like a wounded animal.

Gao Mei walked to Xiao Mei and patted her shoulder gently: "Let me take care of her." Her voice was unusually soft.

"It's useless anyway..." Wang Lina suddenly spoke, her voice full of deep despair, as if she had already seen the end of it all.

"Sister Lina, don't give up...!" Qin Ming shouted anxiously, his voice echoing in the empty assembly hall.

Qian Jin put down the wine jug, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and his voice became cold: "Let's get started. I'll vote for Chen Xiang." The lenses of his glasses reflected the light, making it impossible to see his expression.

"...What is your basis?" Qin Ming asked, his fists clenched unconsciously.

"She is very dangerous." Qian Jin answered briefly, with an unquestionable determination in his tone.

Qin Ming sneered, his voice full of sarcasm: "Then I'll vote for Hua Lu, and the reason is that she is very dangerous."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, as if the air had frozen. Qian Jin pushed up his glasses, a cold glint flashing across his lenses. "...I don't know what others think, but let's do a mock vote first."

"...I think they should all be hanged...the order doesn't matter." There was a hint of cruelty in Granny Rong's words. Her cloudy eyes looked straight ahead, as if she was looking at something terrible.

Wang Lina leaned against the wall, her eyes as empty as a broken mirror: "...I can't think anymore." Her voice seemed to come from far away.

"It's Hualu who should be hanged!" Gao Mei suddenly stood up excitedly, knocking the chair to the ground with a sharp sound. "Even if Aunt Chen Xiang is crazy, Hualu has already become a monster!"

"...What do you think, kid?" Qian Jin turned to Xiao Mee and his voice suddenly became gentle.

"...Did you eat your sister...?" Xiao Mee's words were innocent and cruel, and everyone present couldn't help but shudder.

Qian Jin said excitedly: "Do you know what you are saying? If you want to protect your favorite sister Hualu, vote to hang Chen Xiang!" His voice became sharp because of excitement.

“…Mee…” Xiao Mee curled up into a ball, tears welling up in her eyes. She was obviously unable to understand this complicated situation.

"It's useless, she doesn't understand..." Qin Ming pushed the chair away and stood up. "Three people have abstained. Now it's two to one. It's settled!" There was a hint of determination in his voice, as if he had already seen the impending tragedy.

The entire assembly hall fell into a terrible silence, with only the howling of the wind outside the window, like some ominous omen.

(End of this chapter)