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

Chapter 611 Xia Hui Jumps into the Prophet

"I don't understand what you're talking about, but we uphold peace because once it's destroyed, everyone will be in danger." Zhao Gang paused, his voice low but firm, "As long as we can protect peace, most people will be safe."

His words echoed throughout the hall, like a thin veil covering the tense situation shrouded in fog. Zhao Gang stood up, his eyes scanning everyone's face. "No one was hanged at the banquet yesterday, right? Wolf was among us, wasn't he?"

Qian Jin sneered, folded his arms, and leaned against the wall, like a wild beast ready to strike back at any moment: "This is just your blindly optimistic guess. Maybe you failed simply because you couldn't collect enough tickets!"

"Maybe they split the votes to protect their uncle?" Tong Xiaoliang's clear voice came from the back of the crowd, his tone inappropriately brisk.

This sudden statement instantly silenced the hall, and everyone's eyes turned to him. Tong Xiaoliang stood in the corner, a barely perceptible smile on his face, as if he had deliberately dropped a bomb.

Qin Ming frowned and spoke first: "...Xiao Liang, what do you mean?"

Tong Xiaoliang shrugged, his tone sounding casual. "Well, after Qin Ming, Aunt Chen Xiang, and I voted for Uncle, no one voted for him anymore, right? It only takes one more vote, but no one voted. It's like a wolf protecting its comrades."

"What I mean is, are there any wolves among the people who voted later...?" Chen Xiang widened her eyes slightly, with a hint of hesitation in her tone.

Gao Mei stood up suddenly, her voice rising sharply: "Wait, Xiaoliang! Are you trying to say I'm a wolf?!"

"Ah, no, no, I just wanted to contradict my uncle, sorry." Tong Xiaoliang waved his hands repeatedly with an innocent expression on his face.

The hall was filled with silence as everyone digested his words. Tang Yin leaned against the corner, silently observing Tong Xiaoliang's expression. Did Xiaoliang notice this keenly, or could anyone notice something of this magnitude?

Qian Jin snorted coldly, breaking the brief silence. "...I hope everyone won't be affected by Xiaoliang's nonsense." He glanced across the hall with a hint of disapproval, but his tone shifted. "Of course, we can't completely deny this possibility. In short, I suggest you don't be too optimistic."

"There's obviously no one dead, but you're still thinking about killing someone?" Zhao Gang retorted coldly, his tone full of anger.

"Who said no one died!!" A sharp voice suddenly rang out, and Xia Hui stood up abruptly. Her emotions were out of control, her face was full of anger, and her eyes were fixed on Zhao Gang.

Everyone was shocked by her sudden outburst and looked at her.

"What do you mean? In your eyes, Zhou Zhengxiong is not a human being!?" Xia Hui asked loudly, with strong indignation suppressed in her voice.

Zhao Gang frowned and waved his hands irritably, as if he was annoyed by her unreasonable accusations. "I'm so annoyed! It's really tragic that this happened to him, but we didn't kill him!"

"How can you be so sure?" Xia Hui was aggressive, with anger in her eyes almost bursting out.

Zhao Gang raised his head, his anger finally uncontrollable. His tone became even colder and harsher: "I told you, being killed by wolves is different from dying from contamination!"

"...Brother Gang, can you interrupt me?" Wang Lina's voice came. She stood at the edge of the crowd, her hand slightly raised, with some hesitation in her eyes.

Zhao Gang turned to look at her, frowning slightly: "What's wrong, Wang Lina?"

Wang Lina took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "I don't want to kill anyone, but I'm still a little worried." She paused, her eyes scanning the complicated gazes around her, and continued, "According to Qian Ming Shen's rules, hanging at the banquet is our only means of fighting the wolves."

Her tone was neither hurried nor slow, but every word was like a heavy stone, smashing into everyone's hearts. She looked at Zhao Gang, her gaze fixed on him. "If we give up this method... we will most likely be wiped out."

Zhao Gang's brows furrowed even more. He was about to retort when Wang Lina interrupted him: "So, perhaps the person who advised us to give up this method is a wolf. Maybe someone else has already thought so."

"...Uncle Gao." Wang Lina suddenly turned to Uncle Gao who was sitting in the corner, her voice low but clear.

Old Man Gao raised his head, his eyes like knives piercing Zhao Gang: "Today, one person must be hanged. Anyone who opposes this is a companion of the wolf."

His tone was calm and cold, without a trace of emotion, as if he was announcing an iron rule. Wang Lina lowered her head and sighed, "I don't want to kill anyone either."

"Too naive." Old Man Gao shook his head, his eyes sharp as if he could see through people. "But Zhao Gang is even more naive."

"...Look, it's just as I said." Wang Lina said softly, with a hint of helplessness in her tone.

Zhao Gang's expression turned even uglier. He gritted his teeth and finally burst out, "Then tell me what we can do now! Can we decide today what we couldn't decide yesterday?!"

"The situation today is different from yesterday, Brother Gang," Qin Yi interrupted. His tone sounded nonchalant, but his eyes were fixed on Zhao Gang. "That woman outside and that psychopath should both have something to say."

Qin Ming also nodded and continued, "...That's right, let's listen to what they say first. If no one wants to kill anyone by then, then there's nothing we can do, right, Uncle Gao?"

"That won't happen." Mr. Gao's voice was as cold as ice, and his words were final.

Zhao Gang was silent for a moment, then finally waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of helpless compromise: "Alright! Then you guys go ahead and talk. At least it's better than being stuck here!"

Xia Hui stood out from the crowd. Her face was pale, but her eyes were resolute, as if she had finally made up her mind.

"...Then I'll speak first." Her voice was not loud, but clear enough to draw everyone's attention to her.

She took a deep breath and spoke slowly: "I am the protector of the snake."

--what?

Almost everyone gasped, and a low murmur instantly echoed in the assembly hall. Tang Yin's brows jumped, his eyes fixed on Xia Hui, while Qin Ming's expression was filled with shock.

"Really? Did you check yesterday and found out it was this mark?" Qin Ming asked anxiously, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Xia Hui nodded, raised her hand and pointed to her back, her voice still calm: "Yes, that's right! Then I used the snake's protection to check a person's identity!"

Her words were like a bomb, blasting everyone's nerves. The hall fell into dead silence again, and everyone held their breath, waiting for her next words.

"How is that possible?" Qian Jin's voice broke the brief silence. His brows were furrowed, and there was a hint of subtle uneasiness in his tone. "But... even if that's the case, it's too dangerous to reveal your identity now. After all, the protection of the snake is extremely important..."

Xia Hui did not retreat at all. She stood in the center of the assembly hall with a firm gaze and an unquestionable determination in her tone: "Because the results of this inspection must be made public, I will announce it even if it means taking the risk!" Her voice echoed in the narrow space, and everyone's attention was drawn to her.

"Granny Rong is a wolf...!"

——The situation in the field completely reversed in an instant!

Hearing this, everyone exploded in anger. Granny Rong stood up abruptly, her face wrinkled with anger, her eyes filled with shock and fury: "She, she is the wolf!!"

"I said, you are the wolf!!" Xia Hui did not give in, her voice was sharp and aggressive.

Their argument was like a fire, instantly igniting the entire assembly hall. Granny Rong pointed at Xia Hui, her hand trembling, her words incoherent with anger. Xia Hui pressed on, her glare sharp as a knife, unconcealing her hostility. The distance between them grew closer and closer, the tension so intense that one could almost hear the air tearing apart.

"Stop! Mother-in-law, calm down! No one is doubting you!" Zhao Gang shouted loudly. He quickly walked between the two of them and reached out to help Mother-in-law Rong step back.

"Xia Hui! Stop it!" Wang Lina also stood up and said in a hurried voice, "You'll only get the opposite effect if you do this!"

Despite the two trying to control the situation, the two parties' emotions continued to escalate, and they almost came to blows. Everyone rushed forward and finally managed to pull them apart.

Tang Yin stood in the corner, his eyes calm, but his heart was like a surging tide. The situation was so dire, and his mood was getting worse.

"Is there anyone else claiming to be the Snake's Protector?" Qin Ming suddenly asked, his tone carrying a hint of oppression. He stared directly at Xia Hui, as if testing, yet also as if giving a warning.

Xia Hui turned her head abruptly and glared at him: "What do you mean by that?!"

"Don't shout!" Qin Ming frowned, a hint of impatience in his tone, "If you are a real snake, calm down."

He looked around and added, "We believe Xia Hui only if no one else claims to be the snake's protector. Are there any other snakes at the scene?"

A brief silence fell in the hall, and everyone's eyes began to flicker between each other. Tang Yin lowered his head, his eyes dimming slightly. His heartbeat was steady, but he could almost hear a hidden alarm bell ringing in his mind.

He is the real snake!
Xia Hui was a complete fake, and her words were filled with obvious malice—not only was she attempting to manipulate the situation, but she was also directing everyone's attention towards Granny Rong. Tang Yin clenched his fists. Reason told him that he should reveal his identity now, otherwise it would be tantamount to acknowledging that Xia Hui was a snake, allowing her to continue to control the rhythm of the banquet.

But his intuition caught a subtle sense of danger.

He had an inexplicable premonition that he was in an invisible ocean, surrounded by dangerous whirlpools. If he revealed his identity, he might be immediately drawn into it.

Tang Yin raised his head and glanced at everyone again, but ultimately chose to remain silent.

"...Then let's assume that Xia Hui is the real snake and continue the discussion." Qin Ming said, his voice calm, but obviously testing.

"What do you mean by assumption?" Xia Hui's voice suddenly rose, and a trace of panic flashed in her eyes.

"...doubt your reasons, just like what Sister Lina said just now." Qin Ming's tone was still calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Why are you suddenly so excited?"

Qin Ming frowned, his voice low and somewhat tentative: "Xia Hui, haven't you always been calm? What happened?"

Xia Hui pursed her lips, as if trying her best to control her emotions, but her voice still trembled slightly. "...How can you expect me to stay calm in this situation? I woke up early in the morning and found blood written on my stomach. No matter how I think about it, it must be a supernatural phenomenon!"

Her tone grew increasingly sharp, her gaze sweeping across everyone, as if seeking approval, or perhaps searching for an enemy. "And, you've even discovered there's a wolf in human skin among us! How can I possibly remain calm...!"

"You, you're lying!!" Granny Rong stood up suddenly, the wrinkles on her face twisted together with anger, and her voice was so sharp that it almost pierced her eardrums, "That's why I said you young people, you city people!!"

Her voice echoed throughout the assembly hall, drawing everyone's attention to her and Xia Hui. He didn't know what others thought of this conversation, but at that moment, Tang Yin's eyes narrowed slightly, capturing the changes in their expressions.

Qin Yi stood aside, his hands in his pockets, a sneer of disdain on his lips: "...You mean, mother-in-law is a wolf?"

Xia Hui raised her head without hesitation, her eyes as sharp as a knife: "That's right! I've already said it!"

Qin Yi shrugged, his tone mocking: "Mother-in-law, you'd better think carefully before answering. Are you really a wolf?"

Granny Rong's face flushed crimson, her eyes wide as bells: "Qin Yi! You idiot! There's no hope! All the young people are dead!"

Qin Yi was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand and said lazily: "Ah? I understand, that's it..."

"Wait, Granny Rong, don't say that!" Gao Mei quickly stepped forward, her tone filled with anxiety, "And Xiaoyi, why are you fanning the flames!"

Qin Yi snorted coldly, pointed at Granny Rong, and raised his voice a few notches: "This old witch voted for me yesterday and almost got me executed! Isn't that suspicious?!"

"Qin Yi! Are you done yet?!" Zhao Gang turned abruptly, his voice thundering, shocking everyone. His gaze was like a knife, fixed directly on Qin Yi, then on Xia Hui, his tone filled with suppressed anger. "And you, what on earth do you want to do?! What are you trying to do by grabbing an old lady and cursing at her?"

"Can't you figure it out?!" Xia Hui almost yelled, her emotions completely out of control, her eyes full of anger and anxiety.

"...Ah, this is too much..." Hua Lu stood in the corner, muttering softly, with a hint of fear in her eyes. She subconsciously took a step back, as if trying to stay away from this out-of-control quarrel.

"Damn it..." Zhao Gang clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Hey, everyone calm down! Even though it's a bit crowded here, try to keep your distance from each other. Don't talk, and calm down!"

He looked at Uncle Gao and lowered his voice, but still remained calm: "Is everything okay, Uncle Gao?"

Old Man Gao stood aside, his eyes slowly sweeping over everyone. His eyes were cold and sharp, as if he was examining everyone's soul.

"Hmm..." He hummed and nodded slowly.

"If anyone causes trouble again," said Old Man Gao in a low and cold voice, like a cold blade across everyone's neck, "I will take action."

(End of this chapter)