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

Chapter 564 Showdown
The sound of rain outside the window gradually subsided, and a subtle atmosphere filled the room. Wang Lina raised her head, her amber eyes flickering with complex emotions. "So subtle~" she said softly, with a hint of a smile in her voice.

Tang Yin lowered his head and rubbed his fingers a little awkwardly, "You know, I'm actually very unpopular." There was a hint of self-mockery in his tone, but also a hint of seriousness.

"Ahaha." Wang Lina laughed, her voice clear and sweet, yet with a barely perceptible tremor. She paused for a moment, her eyes softening. "Tang Yin," she softly called his name.

"Thank you, thank you." Her voice suddenly choked, as if some emotion was surging deep within her. Tang Yin didn't hesitate, and immediately stepped forward, hugging her tightly in his arms. He could feel her slender body trembling slightly, like a leaf falling in the wind.

"If I, tonight, am killed by wolves..." Wang Lina's voice was intermittent, and every word seemed to be squeezed out of her throat.

"Stop talking." Tang Yin interrupted her, his voice filled with unquestionable firmness.

"No matter which part, it doesn't matter, take me away from here." Her voice was full of despair and fear, like a drowning person grasping at the last straw.

"——Don't worry." Tang Yin's voice was steady and powerful, like a bright light in the darkness.

"I'm so scared." Wang Lina's voice was as soft as a mosquito's, but it made people feel distressed.

"I'm here." Tang Yin tightened his arms around her, "I'm by your side."

This kind of unfounded promise wasn't his style. But at this moment, he knew he had to give her courage and hope. Despite his fear of the unknown, he had to appear strong and reliable.

Time slipped by, and the time for the forbidden event was almost up. Ten minutes seemed like a century. Tang Yin loosened his hands. Wang Lina forced a smile, but tears still streamed down her cheeks, like pear blossoms after rain, charming and touching.

Tang Yin walked her back to her room in silence. Neither of them spoke during the entire journey, but the tacit silence they shared was worth more than a thousand words.

—Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll bet everything. This thought became more and more firm in his mind.

As the first rays of morning light shone through the window, Tang Yin gradually regained consciousness. A sharp pang of hunger reminded him that he was still alive. Unlike the feeling of being imprisoned in the past few days, he could now move freely.

Walking to the window, I saw the thick fog still lingering outside. Through the hazy mist, I could barely make out the outline of the student dormitories. This village, isolated by the thick fog, seemed to be separated from the rest of the world, becoming a separate space.

Could he really get out? Tang Yin's rationality told him that, from a physical point of view, it was impossible not to get out. The so-called "cannot get out" was just a conjecture influenced by this supernatural atmosphere.

But how do we explain the mysterious figure last night? When Wang Lina suddenly fainted, were they mentally normal at the time? Was what they saw actually reality?

Tang Yin knew that human senses and memories were often unreliable, but to explain all this simply as an "illusion" was too rash. Perhaps the truth was far more complex than he had imagined.

Tang Yin stood by the window, his gaze piercing the thick fog, lost in thought. He became increasingly certain that it wasn't an illusion. While the figure's attire was indeed eerie and frightening, it wasn't enough to prove they were supernatural beings. They had to be human, simply cloaked in unusual attire.

As for the reason why Wang Lina suddenly collapsed, he quickly deduced various possibilities in his mind. Perhaps she was frightened, perhaps she was unwell, or even one possibility: this was all a pre-planned drama between her and the mysterious figure.

Regardless, the appearance of that figure clearly had a strong psychological impact on Wang Lina. This was no accident; it must have some hidden meaning.

"What did that figure say?" Tang Yin muttered to himself, trying to recall the scene. The fragmented words gradually became clear in his mind: [Following the scent of Huangquan, the wolf is coming, immediately robbed, Wuji, Mengzhen, the girl from Baifengzhuang].

Analyzing this, Tang Yin's brows furrowed. The other party was clearly reminding Wang Lina to return to her room and sleep immediately. Such behavior was more like that of a manager who understood the rules. Therefore, the other party must belong to the camp of the Mountain God, or Qian Ming Shen.

But he quickly dismissed this theory. The figure looked more like a being from another faction—the Yellow Springs—than a messenger of the mountain god.

The shroud covered in inscriptions and the triangular mask were all the attire of the deceased. More importantly, the chilling aura, like [pollution], was filled with ominous signs of misfortune and disaster.

But if this were true, a new contradiction arose. The Qianming God and Huangquan factions were clearly in opposition, so how could the Huangquan people help Qianming God deliver information? This strange contradiction, like the mysterious figure itself, was both terrifying and exuded an irresistible dark charm.

Tang Yin shook his head, temporarily putting these complicated thoughts aside. The most important thing now was to get Wang Lina and the others who wanted to escape away from this place. Everything else could be discussed in depth once it was safe.

He hurried back to his room and neatly put the bedding into the closet. The room was empty, with nothing but the bedding. He searched carefully but couldn't find a single item that could be used as a weapon for self-defense.

With trepidation, Tang Yin walked towards Wang Lina's room. If the worst happened, he would find a way to fulfill her last wish. However, when he arrived at the door, he found it locked.

"That's exactly what happened," he whispered, but his heart sank. This discovery seemed to confirm a terrible suspicion—about the wolf's true identity.

Just then, he knocked gently on the door. Surprisingly, Wang Lina opened it almost immediately. She was neatly dressed, her backpack packed, clearly prepared. Her amber eyes gleamed with determination, as if she had already made an important decision.

Seeing her well-prepared appearance, Tang Yin felt a mixture of emotions. But now was no time to hesitate. Time was ticking, and they had to seize every opportunity.

"I need weapons." Tang Yin looked directly into Wang Lina's eyes, his voice filled with unquestionable firmness.

Wang Lina nodded slightly. "I know." She took out a finely crafted leather sheath from her waist, which contained a hunting knife. The sheath was covered with traces of time, and it was obviously the equipment she often used when hunting.

Tang Yin took the hunting knife and stroked the rough texture of the leather sheath with his fingers. "What about you?"

"This is the only knife I have. I can't find the kitchen knife." Wang Lina's voice was a little nervous, and a hint of uneasiness flashed in her eyes. "You will protect me, right?"

"Leave it to me," Tang Yin answered firmly, even though he felt unsure. But at this moment, he couldn't show any cowardice. Fear was like an infectious disease; once it spread, it could no longer be controlled.

They cautiously approached Xiaomei's room. The door was unlocked, a discovery that made Tang Yin's heart skip a beat. He pushed it open, and the sight before him was breathtaking—the room was a mess, bedding scattered across the floor, drawers wide open, and belongings strewn about.

Most disturbing, however, was the absence of a body. Tang Yin's mind raced: Did Xiaomei leave without locking the door? Or, like Qin Yi, had she died quietly somewhere outside?
At times like this, Tang Yin's habit was to first consider the worst. "Where's Qin Ming?" he suddenly asked.

"Same." Wang Lina answered briefly, her voice trembling slightly. Tang Yin was silent for a moment, "Let's go find Xiao Mei."

The fog was unusually thick today, even thicker than the last few days. Tang Yin stretched out his hand, and his fingertips were immediately engulfed by the damp mist. He held his hunting knife tightly in his right hand, holding Wang Lina's hand with his left, and walked ahead like a guard. The surroundings were eerily quiet; not even the chirping of insects or birds could be heard, as if the entire world had been swallowed by this strange, dense fog.

Visibility was poor, and the road was bumpy and uneven. If it weren't for Wang Lina's warning, they wouldn't have been able to move forward smoothly. She knew the terrain like the back of her hand, every protruding rock and every hidden pothole.

Finally, they arrived at the square. As expected, it was deserted. The cafeteria was supposed to be the agreed-upon gathering place, but now that tacit agreement seemed meaningless.

They slowed their pace as they passed Hua Lu's home. The closed door remained intact, and the cottage was silent. Tang Yin couldn't help but wonder: Was she sleeping peacefully, or had something happened to her? But in their current situation, they could only choose to let her die.

"We're here." Tang Yin stopped in front of Xiaome's cabin.

"Yeah." Wang Lina replied softly.

But the sight before them made them gasp—the door was wide open. Tang Yin's grip on the knife unconsciously tightened, "——!"

The scene inside was identical to Xiaomei's room: the bedding was piled in a mess, clearly having been through a tangle. This was the third room to have the same condition; it couldn't be a coincidence. Something must be wrong.

Tang Yin's pupils constricted slightly, his temples throbbing. Behind this uniform "chaos," there must be a terrifying truth hidden. And they were gradually approaching the abyss of that truth.

In the early morning light, Tang Yin suddenly stopped and turned to face Wang Lina. "Wang Lina, I'm sorry. I'll give this back to you." His voice was solemn.

"Huh?" Wang Lina looked surprised as she watched Tang Yin hand the hunting knife back to her.

Tang Yin's eyes fell on a wooden stick against the wall. It was a piece of polished oak, about the thickness of an adult's forearm. He bent down, picked it up, and weighed it.

"What's wrong?" Wang Lina asked in confusion, frowning slightly.

"I need a weapon that works well with me." Tang Yin gripped the stick tightly, his knuckles turning white. "By the way, where are we going now?"

Wang Lina was silent for a moment, "Let's go to the assembly hall."

Passing through the foggy path, the gray-white building of the assembly hall gradually emerged. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Tang Yin saw that everyone else was already there. Glancing around, his heart tightened—except for one person.

"It's so slow, no, are we too early..." Gao Mei sat in the corner, still with her signature sad expression on her face, her slender fingers twisted together nervously.

Granny Rong lowered her head, her hunched figure looking particularly frail in the morning light. She muttered to herself, completely immersed in the world of scripture, as if the outside world had no bearing on her.

Xiao Mei sat there bewildered, like a lost lamb. Xiao Mei gently hugged her shoulders, trying to comfort her, but her own eyes also showed anxiety.

"Good morning, Sister Lina." Qin Ming spoke first, then paused, "- and Tang Yin." His expression was extremely serious, and there was a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.

Tang Yin's heart sank. "Is it finally Qian's turn to come in?"

That's right, Qian Jin has already left. A sense of oppression hangs in the air, like the calm before the storm. Okay, time to decide the outcome.

"Xiao Mei, come here." Tang Yin suddenly spoke, with an unquestionable command in his tone.

"Mee..." Little Mee responded timidly and was about to walk towards Tang Yin.

"No!" Gao Mei suddenly leaped up and hugged Xiao Mei tightly like a mother bird protecting her cub. Her delicate body burst out with amazing strength.

Tang Yin reacted extremely quickly, raising the wooden stick instantly and taking a defensive stance.

"Oh——" Wang Lina exclaimed, obviously not expecting the situation to take such a sudden turn.

"Your true nature has finally been exposed, Tang Yin." Qin Ming sneered as he stood in front of Tang Yin, a sharp sickle in his right hand. The gleaming blade pointed directly at Tang Yin, instantly suppressing his opponent's momentum.

"You are the root of all misfortunes. I expected you to take action this morning." Qin Ming's voice was full of sarcasm.

"No, no way, hey, what's going on--" Wang Lina looked around in panic, completely unable to understand the situation in front of her.

"Sister Lina, you've been fooled," Qin Ming continued, "He is the culprit of the pollution. Excluding him from the banquet was a wrong decision. If he had been hanged on the first day, neither Mom nor Qin Yi would have died."

"Wait, this kind of thing." Wang Lina wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Qin Ming.

"As long as we hang him today, all this will be over--" Qin Ming's eyes flashed with madness.

"Qin Ming, this is not your style. Don't lie with your eyes open." Tang Yin's voice was surprisingly calm.

"You're the one talking nonsense, aren't you? Why did you suddenly attack me?!" Gao Mei asked angrily.

Tang Yin raised the corner of his mouth and revealed a meaningful smile, "Ah, this matter? Because I want to take back the hostage."

(End of this chapter)