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

Chapter 591 The First Eliminator

"Why are you so hostile to her? Are elders so disgusting?" Tang Yin couldn't help but speak. He couldn't see Qin Yi's expression in the thick fog, but he could feel the strong hostility emanating from the other party.

"Of course! If it weren't for the elders, Mom would..." Qin Yi turned around abruptly, his voice filled with suppressed anger, but he stopped mid-sentence. "Tsk," he snorted coldly, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes. "I will tear off your disguise no matter what." He stared at Hua Lu and said through gritted teeth.

Tang Yin pondered: Qin Yi's aggression was so intense this time, could he also be a Protector? But he quickly dismissed the idea. No, such speculation was too dangerous. Rather than knowing nothing, it was better to remain neutral. Perhaps preconceived judgments would bring even greater risks.

"Sister." Xiao Mei timidly tugged at Hua Lu's sleeve. Hua Lu's expression remained calm, but Tang Yin could still catch a glimpse of disappointment in her eyes. Her usually clear eyes were now shrouded in a faint sadness.

"How should I put it? It seems very complicated." Tang Yin tried to ease the atmosphere, with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"Ah, Mr. Tang Yin." Hua Lu turned her head. For a moment, her eyes flickered with confusion, then a gentle smile bloomed. "I'm so glad you're okay, really." Her voice was as gentle as the morning breeze.

"Uh, it's just fog, no big deal." Tang Yin scratched his head and tried to sound relaxed.

"The Divine River Valley." Hua Lu's gaze reached out into the distance, as if she had glimpsed something through the thick fog. "The stream at the foot of the mountain. Legend has it that the thick fog in the Divine River is the evil spirit from the underworld." Her voice was tinged with mystery. "From ancient times to the present, it has always been the greatest omen for Baifeng Manor."

"Qian Jin said the same thing. People will die if there is fog." Tang Yin recalled the previous conversation and said thoughtfully.

Upon hearing this, Hua Lu's expression became serious for the first time. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of uneasiness appeared on her beautiful face. "Mr. Tang Yin, you just moved to Wuyin Village, and Qian Jin said this to you?"

"Ah, well, what he meant was that in such heavy fog, an accident would definitely happen." Tang Yin hurriedly explained, trying to allay Hua Lu's worries.

"Even so, it's too careless," Hualu shook her head slightly, with a reproachful tone in her voice, "Now that we all live together in the Hidden Mist Village, it's too unlucky to have someone die." Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corners of her clothes, revealing her inner uneasiness.

"Hualu, although I've only been in Wuyin Village for a day, I've noticed that you're a little different from the other elders." Tang Yin gazed at this seemingly fragile yet actually strong woman, a realization dawning on him. The thick fog still swirled around them, as if eavesdropping on this profound conversation.

"Why, why do you say that?" A hint of panic flashed across Hualu's eyes, and a faint blush crept across her fair cheeks. Her slender fingers subconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, appearing a bit uneasy. The damp morning mist swirled around her, making her look even more ethereal.

"Well, whether it's Qian Jin or the people of Baifeng Village, their attitude towards Wuyin Village is very harsh." Tang Yin's eyes were gentle, and there was a hint of thoughtfulness in his voice. Thick fog flowed between them, casting a veil of mystery over the conversation. He could sense that Hua Lu seemed to be hiding some unknown secret.

"I simply maintained due respect," Hualu said softly, her eyes lowered. Her long hair was gently ruffled by the morning breeze, drifting through the mist. "For Baifeng Manor's continued existence, Wuyin Village is a very important place." Her tone held an indescribable depth, and her eyes shone with a complex light.

Tang Yin's eyes narrowed, keenly grasping the key message in the words. The chill in the mist seemed to suddenly grow even stronger. "What do you mean? Can you elaborate?" he couldn't help but ask, his heart beating faster.

"I'll tell you later. I'm a little hesitant now." Hualu hesitated, a hint of hesitation flashing in her clear eyes. Her fingers unconsciously stroked her sleeves, as if trying to calm her inner turmoil.

"Yeah, yeah, now's not the right time." Tang Yin nodded tactfully, not pressing the issue. He could sense Hua Lu's inner struggle and understood that now wasn't the best time to discuss these matters.

"I," Hualu said, taking a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, "I want to protect the Hidden Mist Village." Her voice was soft, but it was filled with a firm determination. Her usually gentle eyes now gleamed with a resolute light.

Tang Yin was speechless for a moment, gazing at Hua Lu's silent profile. An unspeakable awkwardness hung in the air, and he could only wait and see how things unfolded. The surrounding mist seemed to sense the heaviness, growing thicker.

Not long after, Zhao Gang emerged from the thick fog, leading Qian Jin. Upon seeing Hua Lu, Qian Jin immediately circled her like a cheerful little bird, asking about her well-being. His eyes gleamed with unconcealed admiration. But Hua Lu remained indifferent, ignoring his advances as if they were invisible air. Watching this, Tang Yin couldn't help but internally apologize: It seemed he'd accidentally gotten in the way of someone's relationship.

Finally, Mr. Gao Zhijie returned with his students. Their figures loomed in the thick fog, drifting like ghosts. "Xia Hui, over there, watch your step." Wang Lina's voice rang out from the thick fog, her tone tinged with concern.

"Ah, that was a close call." Xia Hui's voice remained lively, completely oblivious to the eerie atmosphere surrounding them. Seeing her familiar figure emerge from the thick fog, Tang Yin secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But then, realizing what was about to happen, his heart sank, and his throat felt as if something was blocking it.

"Good morning, everyone." Xia Hui smiled her usual bright smile, her bright eyes scanning everyone in the square, seemingly oblivious to the heavy expressions on those around her. However, no one from the Hidden Mist Village responded to her greeting. The thick fog seemed to have frozen, shrouding the square in an eerie silence.

"What's going on, everyone? The fog is really thick, but so what?" Xia Hui glanced around, blinking in confusion. The smile on her face gradually froze. Suddenly, a thought struck her. "Hey? Is Zhou Zhengxiong still asleep?" Her innocent question echoed in the silent square, like ripples from a stone dropped into stagnant water. No one answered her, only the thick fog flowed silently.

A deathly silence enveloped the square, and no one responded to Xia Hui's question. A thick fog flowed among the crowd like an invisible veil, shrouding everyone's expression in a hazy haze.

"Um, is he still up there? I'll go check." Xia Hui asked tentatively, a hint of uneasiness in her voice. She was about to leave when she was interrupted by a deep voice.

"No need." Gao Zhijie's voice was hoarse and cold. Tang Yin looked at the old man's stern face, knowing that he was about to personally announce this heavy fact. The morning light filtered through the mist, casting shadows on Old Man Gao's wrinkled face, making him look even older.

Suddenly, a suppressed sob broke the silence. It was Xiaomei's voice, and it wasn't just pure fear; it also contained a premonition of the cruel truth that was about to be revealed. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"That." Xia Hui finally noticed the unusual atmosphere, her voice became hesitant, and the smile on her face gradually disappeared. But before she could finish, Gao Zhijie interrupted her.

"That big guy is dead." The old man's rough voice unabashedly announced this cruel truth, like a sharp knife piercing the hearts of everyone present. "What do you mean by 'dead?'" Xia Hui's face turned pale in an instant, her voice trembling so much that she could barely form a sentence. Her hands clenched unconsciously, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

"He died up there, at the place where the landslide occurred." Gao Zhijie continued, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Xia Hui's heart.

"What are you talking about!" Xia Hui suddenly screamed, her sanity completely consumed by this unusual atmosphere. Her eyes widened, tears welling up in her sockets. "Don't be ridiculous! We need to fix the car and leave this morning! I'm going to wake him up now."

"Don't move." Gao Zhijie's voice became even colder, with a warning tone.

"What right do you have--" Xia Hui was interrupted by a loud shout before she could finish her words.

"Uncle Gao!" Tang Yin called out subconsciously, as he saw that Uncle Gao had already raised the black hunting rifle. A cold light flickered on the barrel, like the gaze of death.

"You're kidding, right? What the hell is going on? Is this a prank? It starts where the tire burst? Ah, hahaha, I get it." Xia Hui's voice became more and more hysterical, and there was an obvious sense of collapse in her laughter.

"We don't know the rules here. Even if you threaten us with a gun, we don't necessarily have to do what you want." Tang Yin forced himself to calm down and looked directly into Old Man Gao's eyes. He could feel his back soaked with cold sweat.

"What do you want to say?" Gao Zhijie's eyes were as sharp as a knife, and the hunting rifle in his hand did not move at all.

"Ah, don't be impulsive, Mr. Gao. What's going on? You must never aim a gun at people. You said this yourself, right?" Zhao Gang hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over, his voice filled with obvious nervousness.

"." Gao Zhijie was silent for a moment, and finally slowly put down the gun.

"If this isn't a prank, then it's a crime. This is too much. Let's stop here. I'm leaving here now." Xia Hui's voice was trembling with hysteria. She turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by Zhao Gang.

"Xia Hui, is that you? I'm sorry, but you can't leave here yet. You absolutely cannot go into the mountains until the fog clears." Zhao Gang's voice was low and firm, a barely perceptible trace of grief crossing his young face. "Also, although it's difficult to say this, your partner is indeed gone. He's been murdered."

"Killed, killed? I don't understand what you're saying." Xia Hui's face turned pale, and her legs trembled slightly, as if she would collapse at any moment. Thick fog swirled around her, like an invisible net, trapping her in place.

"Zhao Gang, take her to see a doctor." Gao Zhijie's voice came from the fog, hoarse and cold.

"Will you faint from blood?" Zhao Gang asked softly, with a hint of concern in his eyes.

"Are you kidding?" Xia Hui's voice was already filled with tears, her fingers tightly clenched the corner of her clothes, her knuckles turned white.

"I'll go too. After all, I just received his care yesterday." Tang Yin stood up, mentally prepared for the worst.

"Well, help me out when the time comes." Zhao Gang gave Tang Yin a meaningful look. Tang Yin immediately understood what he meant - to clean up the mess. "I understand," he replied softly.

"I'm going too, Xiaome, you stay here." Hualu gently touched her sister's head, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

"I'm going too." Wang Lina whispered, with a hint of trembling in her voice.

"I'll go too. There's nothing to be afraid of with that kind of thing." Qin Yi snorted disdainfully, but a hint of uneasiness flashed in his eyes.

"Boring, didn't he just fall to his death in the fog? And it happened at my construction site. I'll go take a look too. It's so annoying." Qian Jin pretended to be indifferent, but his tone could not hide his nervousness.

In the end, everyone except the old man, Mrs. Chen Xiang, Xiaomei, and Xiaome followed Zhao Gang up the mountain road. In the thick fog, their figures were extremely blurry, as if they would disappear in this white world at any moment.

They climbed up the winding path through the fields, occasionally people slipping or sinking into the muddy paddy fields because they couldn't see the road clearly. About ten minutes later, they finally arrived at the scene. The scene before them was almost identical to the one in Tang Yin's memory, except that it was much more brutal.

The corpse lying on the ground was a horrific sight. It lay beneath a rock formation near a mobile home. The waist-high rock seemed to be trying to conceal something, but it couldn't hide the enormous body. The shattered remains lay there, strewn with torn and broken organs and bones, leaving no trace of a human form. The heap of flesh and clothing, a small mountain, was the only clue to the deceased's identity.

Tang Yin's heart was beating violently - this time, Zhou Zhengxiong still couldn't survive the first night.

"Going out tonight." Zhao Gang sighed with a wry smile. At this moment, a heart-wrenching scream broke the deathly silence.

"What the hell is going on? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Xia Hui collapsed to the ground, her voice hoarse as she watched the unbelievable scene, her voice rasping with frantic wailing. Her eyes widened, tears streaming uncontrollably. "What! What on earth has happened?! How could Zhou Zhengxiong become like this?! What on earth is going on? What on earth is going on? What on earth is going on?!" Her voice echoed through the mountains, only to be met with a silent response from the thick fog.

(End of this chapter)