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

Chapter 599: Mutual Protection among Outsiders

"Taking advantage of the fact that no one fully understands something, and using seemingly reasonable analysis to gain everyone's trust, this is the method that wolves will use." Gao Zhijie's voice was low and powerful, and a sharp light flashed in his cloudy eyes.

In an instant, everyone's gaze pierced Qin Ming like sharp swords. The flame of the oil lamp trembled slightly in the tense atmosphere, casting a flickering shadow on his young face.

"Wait, Uncle Gao, are you saying that Qin Ming is a wolf?" Zhao Gang stood up suddenly, and the chair made a harsh friction sound due to his sudden movement.

"Qin Ming is right. A monkey can't pretend. Qin Ming is not a wolf, but a monkey. However, don't act on your own without explanation. Others are not as smart as you." Gao Zhijie said slowly, with a hint of blame on his wrinkled face.

"Then let me explain it again." Qin Ming sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"Yeah." Gao Zhijie nodded slightly.

With Tong Xiaoliang's cooperation, Qin Ming began to explain in detail the ape duo's behavior. Tong Xiaoliang stood in the center of the assembly hall, deliberately impersonating a wolf trying to impersonate an ape. His round face was filled with seriousness, as if he had truly immersed himself in the role. Qin Ming easily saw through his identity, and the entire demonstration was smooth and understandable to everyone present.

"That's the feeling. Once you pretend to be a monkey, your identity will be exposed soon, so it's best not to do it. Liars will be hanged~" Tong Xiaoliang concluded in a relaxed tone, with a cunning light flashing behind his thick glasses.

"So that's how it is. Now I understand!" Gao Mei said excitedly, clapping her hands.

"Is there anyone else who doesn't understand?" Qin Ming looked around. This time, no one raised their hand. The thick fog outside the window seemed to have grown even thicker, completely isolating the entire space from the outside world.

"Well, can we not let the old man and the little girl participate? I don't think they can understand." Xia Hui suddenly spoke, a hint of worry flashing in her bright eyes.

"No." Gao Zhijie decisively rejected the proposal, his voice unquestionable. No one spoke up for Xia Hui, and she could only helplessly remain silent.

Tang Yin watched all this silently. Xia Hui's concerns were indeed legitimate, but the Huangquan Jue Banquet itself was a ritual rife with anomalies. Even if some people couldn't fully understand the significance of their own protection, the lurking wolves must be completely eliminated, otherwise humanity would have no future. This was the cruel nature of the Huangquan Jue Banquet.

If those two were Guardians, the power of the Guardian might be wasted, but if they were wolves, they would have to be executed.

Before attending the banquet, the people of Kirigakure should have already made this preparation. Tang Yin looked at the different expressions on everyone's faces, and a sense of solemnity rose in his heart. The air in the assembly hall seemed to freeze, everyone immersed in their own thoughts, waiting for the judgment of fate.

"Okay, everyone understands. What should we do now, Qin Ming?" Gao Zhijie's weathered voice broke the silence in the assembly hall. The flame of the oil lamp danced behind him, adding a touch of majesty to his appearance.

"Ape, please introduce yourselves." Qin Ming's eyes swept over everyone present, his voice tinged with anticipation. However, time passed, and no one spoke to reveal their identities.

"It seems that the other monkey doesn't understand anything at all." Qian Jin frowned and said, his dark face was full of disappointment. This conclusion sounds reasonable, but
"No, that's not right. Why don't you introduce yourself, Mr. Gao?" Qin Ming suddenly turned to Gao Zhijie, a sharp glint in his bright eyes. His words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

What? Tang Yin's heart skipped a beat.

Gao Zhijie remained silent, his wrinkled face expressionless. The thick fog outside the window seemed to grow even thicker at this moment, shrouding the entire space in an eerie atmosphere.

"Old man, are you the protector of the ape?" Zhao Gang couldn't help but ask, his young face full of anticipation.

".Yeah." Gao Zhijie nodded slightly. This simple action instantly made the atmosphere in the entire assembly hall much more relaxed.

"Really? I can rest assured now!" Zhao Gang excitedly slapped the table, making a crisp sound.

"Xiao Gao is human, so he's incredibly reliable." Granny Rong smiled with relief, the wrinkles on her weather-beaten face smoothing out. The assembly hall was immediately filled with whispers and sighs of relief.

It was indeed good news that Old Man Gao wasn't a wolf. Tang Yin thought to himself that if he were a wolf and continued to hold the reins, the human camp would probably be wiped out even faster than the last time Qin Ming took the lead.

"Why don't you reveal your identity?" Qin Ming's voice interrupted Tang Yin's thoughts. The atmosphere seemed somewhat tense—when Old Man Gao acted dictatorially, Qin Ming chose to reveal his identity to contain him. Perhaps this was a hidden attempt to seize control. Compared to the seemingly clueless opponent, he, who understood the significance of the protection, seemed more qualified to take the lead.

However.
"From my point of view, if you can't point out my identity, I can't believe you." Gao Zhijie said slowly, his voice low and steady, as if it contained unfathomable wisdom.

"This is ridiculous." Qin Ming's voice was filled with helplessness and anger.

"Don't act on your own." Gao Zhijie's tone remained calm, but with unquestionable majesty.

The atmosphere in the assembly hall grew increasingly tense. Qin Ming's proposal had failed to gain sympathy from the outset, but this delicate atmosphere was cleverly exploited by Old Man Gao. The flame of the oil lamp danced on his weathered face, adding a certain undeniable majesty to it.

Uncle Gao's innate leadership qualities, coupled with his timely rebuttal of Qin Ming's rash behavior, further solidified his leadership position in everyone's minds. As a result, his dominance not only remained unshaken, but was further strengthened. This also meant that Qin Ming's attempt to rescue Tang Yin had completely failed, and Tang Yin's situation remained extremely dangerous.

I can't just sit there and wait for death. A hint of determination flashed in Tang Yin's eyes, and he took a deep breath.

"Excuse me, could you please listen to me for a moment?" Tang Yin turned to Old Man Gao. He knew full well that openly defying the existing order would only push him into opposition. Such a result would be tantamount to seeking his own death. "Hmm?" Gao Zhijie raised his head slightly, a hint of doubt flickering in his cloudy eyes.

"I don't want to die yet, but it's not because I'm afraid of death. I think I can help everyone more if I'm alive than if I'm dead." Tang Yin's voice was steady and firm. He could feel everyone's eyes were focused on him.

".Hmm." Gao Zhijie nodded thoughtfully.

"Uncle Gao, the blessing will be written on the belly. That's what you told me this morning, right? Does everyone know about this?" Tang Yin's eyes swept over everyone present, carefully observing their reactions. Sure enough, there was a slight commotion in the meeting room. Some people began to whisper, while others looked confused.

"I forgot to mention this. I heard that the mark of the protection appears on the body." Granny Rong suddenly spoke, a hint of apology on her wrinkled face. "If they were from Kirigakure, they would have had their bodies checked this morning. If there were marks on their bodies, they couldn't be seen by others."

"Do we have to hide it?" Tang Yin asked. He felt that he seemed to have grasped some key clue.

"No, just wipe it clean." Grandma Rong shook her head, a trace of nostalgia flashed in her cloudy eyes, as if she was recalling something.

"So that's how it is. Xia Hui and Xiao Mei are both from other places. They probably don't know about this, right?" Tang Yin's voice was tentative. The thick fog outside the window seemed to grow even thicker at this moment, shrouding the entire space in an eerie atmosphere.

"I've already told Xiaomei about this and asked her to confirm it," Hualu said softly, gently stroking Xiaomei's hair. The little girl nodded timidly, a flicker of anxiety in her clear eyes.

"OK, then, Xia Hui, what about you?" Tang Yin turned his gaze to Xia Hui. He noticed that the young girl's expression suddenly became a little stiff.

".I haven't seen it yet. What is that?" Xia Hui's voice trembled a little, and her delicate face was full of confusion.

"That is to say, maybe even Xia Hui herself doesn't know that she is a protector. In that case, can we temporarily interrupt the banquet?" Tang Yin's voice echoed in the dim assembly hall.

Dusk had quietly fallen outside the window, and thick fog, like a heavy curtain, completely isolated the entire Mist Village from the outside world. The dim light from the oil lamp cast constantly swaying shadows on the walls, adding a sense of eeriness to this tense space.

"No one can leave until the person to be hanged is decided." Gao Zhijie's voice was firm and unquestionable. His bloodshot eyes flickered uncomfortably in the dim light, and his wrinkled face was filled with determination.

"I understand. Then, Xia Hui, please confirm this before tomorrow's banquet. We shouldn't hang her before then, is that okay?" Tang Yin asked in a negotiating tone, secretly observing the others' reactions. Xia Hui shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her slender fingers clutching the hem of her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

".Yeah." Gao Zhijie nodded slightly, and an elusive look flashed in his turbid eyes.

"If I have a Protector, then don't hang me. If I don't, then hang me. That's what you were thinking when you asked me earlier, right?" Tang Yin's eyes suddenly grew sharp, as if they could see through Gao Zhijie's disguise. "Then you concluded that I probably wasn't a Protector, so you suggested hanging me. Is that right?"

"..." Mr. Gao was stunned for a moment, then a surprising smile appeared on his weather-beaten face. The light from the oil lamp danced on his face, making the smile seem particularly profound.

"You have a good brain and good eloquence, young man." Gao Zhijie said softly, with some admiration in his tone, but also seemed to hide some deep meaning.

"Grandpa Gao, this is too much!" Wang Lina suddenly stood up from the chair, and the wooden chair made a harsh friction sound on the floor.

"Wang Lina, it's okay. I understand this stance and the corresponding natural course of action." Tang Yin raised his hand to calm her down, but his eyes never left Gao Zhijie's face. "As a human being, I won't lie to survive, but I hope everyone can give me another day."

The air in the assembly hall seemed to freeze, and everyone could hear their own rapid heartbeats. Tang Yin took a deep breath and continued, "I will use this day to think about and search for valuable intelligence for humanity's victory. I will make this information public tomorrow. If everyone agrees that it is worthless by then, you can hang me."

Tang Yin deliberately maintained an ambiguous attitude, neither stating whether he was a protector nor clarifying whether the so-called intelligence came from the power of the protection or simple strategic analysis. In this critical moment, he had to demonstrate his spirit of sacrifice while leaving room for maneuver.

"Tang Yin." Wang Lina's voice was filled with heartache, and her hands unconsciously clenched into fists. Her reaction precisely confirmed the effectiveness of Tang Yin's strategy—not everyone could calmly accept the fate of execution, and in this desperate situation where someone had to die, Tang Yin was still willing to step forward as a substitute.

Everyone can intuitively feel that this is definitely not a choice a wolf can make.

Compared to Tang Yin, who is speaking so eloquently at this moment, those who remain silent are perhaps more likely to be the wolves lurking among them.

The flame of the oil lamp danced restlessly in the heavy atmosphere.

"If everyone has no objection," Qin Ming's voice broke the suffocating silence, "Except for me, the ape, Old Man Gao, Tang Yin, and Xia Hui, the person to be hanged today will be chosen from the remaining eleven people."

The assembly hall was utterly silent; no one dared to speak. Everyone lowered their heads, as if fleeing an impending fate. The thick fog outside the window seemed to grow even thicker at that moment, casting the shadow of death over everyone's heart.

"Let it be." Gao Zhijie's voice was filled with undeniable authority. This decision meant that tomorrow this place would become a bloody battlefield, but for Tang Yin, as long as he had one more day, he could find a way out.

"So, who should we choose? Why not just the elder?" Qin Yi suddenly spoke, a strange smile crossing his gloomy face. His words pierced the oppressive atmosphere like a sharp blade, and everyone's eyes turned to him. A suffocating tension hung in the air, like the calm before a storm.

(End of this chapter)