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

Chapter 621 Two Victims

Tang Yin's voice was low but steady, like a taut string, suppressing some hidden power. "Also, I can't vote for Xia Hui either. Otherwise, it would be like telling the Wolf Camp that I know Xia Hui's true identity."

Zhao Gang's hand was still tightly gripping Tang Yin's neck, his eyes fixed on him, as if searching for a flaw. Tang Yin didn't stop. He took a deep breath, his eyes firm. "So, it's not Xia Hui, nor Granny Rong. I have to send you a signal by voting."

Zhao Gang's brows furrowed, his eyes filled with confusion and vigilance: "...Signal?"

"...To be honest, this plan is very risky." Tang Yin smiled bitterly, a hint of self-mockery in his voice, "After all, I don't know if you can understand what I mean."

Zhao Gang's fingers loosened slightly, but he still didn't let go completely. His face was still covered with dark clouds, like a thunderstorm that could erupt at any moment.

"However, even in this form, you did come to me." Tang Yin's eyes met Zhao Gang's anger without a trace of retreat, "To confirm my intentions."

He paused, his tone becoming heavier: "I need this opportunity."

Zhao Gang narrowed his eyes, his gaze like a knife, and he said coldly: "What do you mean?"

Tang Yin exhaled slowly, masking the stinging pain in his throat. He didn't answer, but instead raised his hand and gently pushed away Zhao Gang's grip. Zhao Gang didn't press any harder, eventually releasing his grip completely and taking a half step back.

Tang Yin gently rubbed his neck and whispered, "Form a majority, eradicate the wolves, and avenge Granny Rong."

Zhao Gang's expression changed slightly, a complex emotion emerging from his anger. He didn't say anything, but simply stared at Tang Yin in silence.

"However, in order to achieve this goal, I need your trust." Tang Yin's voice gradually calmed down, and his eyes were calm. "I believe you, because I have confirmed your identity through the blessing of the snake - you are human."

Zhao Gang pursed his lips, his eyes filled with complex emotions. His Adam's apple rolled up and down, but he didn't speak immediately. Tang Yin met his silence, looked him straight in the eyes, and said in a deep and steady voice, "Do you believe me?"

Zhao Gang lowered his head, as if thinking, or struggling. After a moment, he raised his head and looked at Tang Yin with a complicated look: "...I can't make a decision right now. However, for the time being, I believe you are a snake."

Tang Yin breathed a sigh of relief, but his face didn't show any sign of relaxation. He knew that this conversation was far from over.

Zhao Gang lowered his eyes and laughed at himself: "To be honest, the so-called Huangquan Ji Banquet is actually a showdown between belief and disbelief."

Tang Yin did not answer, but just listened quietly.

Zhao Gang raised his head, with a dangerous coldness in his eyes: "Besides, you guessed right."

Tang Yin's brows twitched slightly: "Which part?"

The corner of Zhao Gang's mouth curled up into a cold smile, but there was no warmth in it: "I was indeed considering whether to kill you yesterday."

The air froze instantly. Zhao Gang's tone was calm and almost cold: "If I had come to you yesterday, you wouldn't even have had a chance to speak before I killed you."

Tang Yin's fingers curled slightly, but he remained calm and his eyes never moved away.

Zhao Gang sighed, his tone becoming more complex. "But, in the end, I still hesitated. Maybe it's because..." He paused, his eyes drifting to the side. "Maybe it's because I really care about what you said to me."

Tang Yin was secretly glad in his heart, but he remained expressionless and just nodded slightly.

Zhao Gang's gaze returned to Tang Yin, but his tone remained icy. "...However, whether I truly believe you is another matter. Only after listening to your detailed explanation can I decide whether to accept your suggestion."

"That's enough." Tang Yin exhaled softly, his voice slightly hoarse. But soon, he raised his head and frowned: "Well, speaking of which."

"You just said that two people died. Who were they?" He tried to keep his tone calm, but the uneasiness in his heart was like a surging undercurrent that was difficult to suppress.

Zhao Gang was silent for a moment, the gloom on his face growing darker. He glanced at Tang Yin and said slowly, "Well, I was just about to tell you." He turned and walked out the door, his voice low and urgent, "Come with me. We must find Uncle Gao."

……

The morning air was damp and chilly, and the silence of the Hidden Mist Village seemed particularly oppressive. Zhao Gang led Tang Yin through the village's lanes until they reached the small square at the entrance. He whispered, "The victims found dead this morning were... Gao Mei and Xia Hui."

Tang Yin's footsteps stopped instantly, as if nailed to the ground. His pupils shrank slightly, but he didn't cry out in surprise, nor did his face show any obvious shock. In fact, his first reaction wasn't shock, but deep confusion.

why?
Why them?

Gao Mei's mental state has been unstable, while Xia Hui is the self-proclaimed "protector." These two seemingly unrelated individuals were murdered on the same day. This result is so bizarre it's almost incomprehensible.

However, now is not the time to think deeply. Tang Yin quickly adjusted his mood and followed Zhao Gang's footsteps.

"According to Zhao Gang, if Mr. Gao saw Xiaomei's body, he would definitely be furious." Tang Yin murmured softly, and the previous scene flashed through his mind - when Gao Mei was mentally disturbed that day, Mr. Gao's reaction was already extremely intense.

"It seems that Xiaoliang is right. Mr. Gao really dotes on Xiaomei. This must be true." He thought to himself.

Zhao Gang's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Tang Yin's thoughts. "Before I came to find you, I patrolled around Wuyin Village, but I didn't see any sign of Old Man Gao." Zhao Gang's face was grim, and there was a hint of unease in his tone. "He must have discovered Xiaomei's body, right? Now I wonder where he is or what he's doing."

Zhao Gang paused, a hint of fear flashing across his eyes. "Mr. Gao, holding a hunting rifle, is much more dangerous than me."

……

The two walked in silence until they met Wang Lina near the square.

Her face was haggard, her eyes swollen like walnuts, clearly having just cried. She saw Tang Yin and Zhao Gang and immediately hurried over, her voice choking with sobs: "Brother... Tang Yin..."

Zhao Gang said coldly: "Did you meet Mr. Gao?"

Wang Lina shook her head, her eyes filled with fatigue. "Ah, no...Brother Gang, I thought you were going to cause trouble for Tang Yin."

Zhao Gang snorted coldly upon hearing this and avoided the topic: "... Let's not talk about this for now. Xiaomei's room door is open, right? It seems that Mr. Gao should have seen everything."

Wang Lina nodded, a trace of uneasiness flashed across her eyes: "Well, I checked, there is no one in the room."

Zhao Gang frowned, and his tone became more serious: "Don't act separately, let's go find Uncle Gao together. Where are Wang Lina, Xiaoliang and Qin Ming?" "They should not have gotten up yet..." Wang Lina said in a low voice.

Zhao Gang said solemnly, "Then let's get everyone around here up before we go to the dormitory. Tang Yin, bring a stick or something."

Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Ah... I see." He glanced down at the ground and felt a chill creep up his spine. "Where on earth could Mr. Gao with the hunting rifle be?"

……

Hua Lu, Xiao Mei, Madam Chen Xiang, Qin Yi...everyone living near the square had been found. The cold morning mist had not yet dissipated, and a damp chill hung in the air. Tang Yin stood aside, watching Zhao Gang briefly explain the current situation. The expressions on their faces varied, a mixture of shock, unease, and exhaustion, but no one interrupted.

"We don't have time to wait now," Zhao Gang glanced at Hua Lu and Madam Chen Xiang, his tone cold and hard, "Qin Yi, you stay. If you meet Old Man Gao, stop him at all costs. The woman and child are in your care."

Qin Yi was slightly stunned, then nodded, with a hint of seriousness in his eyes: "I understand, Brother Gang."

Zhao Gang stared at him, his tone sharp and tentative: "...You voted for Granny Rong yesterday. Maybe Uncle Gao would take action without saying a word. You're sure you can do it. You won't run away, right?"

Qin Yi raised his head, met Zhao Gang's gaze calmly, and gritted his teeth: "How is it possible? Don't worry, Brother Gang."

Mrs. Chen Xiang, who was standing by, suddenly frowned and asked hesitantly, "Wait, Zhao Gang, why would someone who voted for Granny Rong be attacked by Old Man Gao?"

Hualu also echoed softly, her tone revealing confusion: "...Yes, Uncle Gao said it himself yesterday. Both Granny Rong and Xia Hui were to be hanged. Moreover, he was the one who personally sent the gift to Granny Rong."

Zhao Gang was silent for a moment, his gaze darkening. He raised his hand to his forehead and said in a low voice, "...Indeed, Uncle Gao is different from me. He won't be so flustered by Granny Rong's death."

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming cold: "However, the female reporter Xia Hui is a wolf."

These words were like a bolt of lightning striking several people's heads, and everyone subconsciously held their breath.

"In other words," Zhao Gang continued, his eyes sweeping over the crowd, "Mr. Gao is likely suspicious of everyone who voted for Granny Rong, except her."

Qin Yi's expression changed slightly, and he asked in a low voice: "...How did you conclude that? Do you know anything about that woman?"

Zhao Gang replied coldly: "You'll know when you see it."

……

The thick fog gradually dissipated, revealing the bare earth on the hillside, which seemed exceptionally moist, making a slight crunching sound when stepped on. Tang Yin followed Zhao Gang, his steps light, but the oppressive feeling in his chest gradually grew. A strange smell filled the air, a nauseating odor that gradually grew stronger.

"Do you smell it?" Zhao Gang suddenly spoke in a low voice, "You'll understand once you get closer."

Tang Yin frowned, but said nothing. They hurried toward the concrete steps near the dormitory. Before they got close, Zhao Gang suddenly reached out to stop Tang Yin and whispered, "Watch your step."

Tang Yin looked down, his pupils shrinking sharply. On the ground lay a large, bright red bloodstain, stretching out irregularly like some kind of distorted work of art. On the steps, the bloodstains gradually converged into a single mass, a dazzling crimson against the morning light.

Then, he saw it.

On the steps lay a "corpse"—no, more accurately, a pile of thoroughly torn human remains. Every part had been torn to pieces, arms, legs, and internal organs scattered across the steps like some malicious jigsaw puzzle. The twisted pieces of flesh, soaked in blood, exuded an unbearable, rotting stench that was sickening.

Tang Yin held his breath, and with difficulty, he turned his gaze away from the wreckage. His eyes caught a glimpse of a piece of remaining facial tissue - pale skin, a broken nose, and torn lips with lipstick on them.

Xia Hui.

"She died outside." Zhao Gang's voice was low and cold, with a hint of suppressed anger.

Tang Yin suppressed the churning in his stomach and took a deep breath. He tried to keep his voice steady, but it still trembled slightly: "...This is..."

Wang Lina covered her mouth. After a violent retching fit, she could no longer vomit. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her eyes were filled with fear, and her face was pale. The stench of blood and rotting flesh seemed to have turned into an invisible yoke, pressing tightly on everyone's chest. Tang Yin lowered his head and walked at the end, trying to avoid everything on the stairs, and followed Zhao Gang up the steep slope beside.

The steep slope was shrouded in morning mist, and the moist, loose soil made a slight crunching sound when stepped on. Tang Yin took a deep breath, and the cold air poured into his nose, slightly suppressing the discomfort in his heart. They finally arrived at the dormitory door, and were greeted by a dead silence.

Xiao Liang sat on the first-floor stairs, his hands draped between his knees, his head bowed. He had always been a frivolous boy with a mischievous smile, but at this moment, a look of sadness that Tang Yin had never seen before appeared on his face.

"...Xiaomei is dead..." Tong Xiaoliang said in a low voice, his words were dry and hoarse, as if squeezed out from the depths of his throat.

Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, a complex emotion flashing through his heart. He had thought Xiao Liang was the kind of person who had a very indifferent view of life and death, with a unique sensibility, who only wanted to do whatever he pleased. But he was wrong. In his previous life, he knew Xiao Liang loved Gao Mei, but thinking about it now, these things no longer meant anything.

Zhao Gang ignored Xiao Liang and hurried up to the second floor. Tang Yin followed closely behind him. The wooden stairs in the dormitory building creaked harshly. When he opened the door, the scene inside the room gave Tang Yin a slight jolt.

Qin Ming knelt on the ground, his head hanging helplessly. His eyes were empty, and he looked like a puppet without a soul. "...It's all my fault," Qin Ming muttered softly, his tone filled with deep remorse.

Zhao Gang frowned, stepped forward, and shook his shoulders vigorously, his tone hurried and firm: "It's all the wolf's fault! Otherwise, it's my fault for not being able to stop Old Man Gao." He emphasized the tone, almost shouting, "Your mission has just begun, cheer up, Qin Ming!"

Qin Ming raised his head, his eyes still vacant, his face filled with struggle and pain. He said nothing, his slightly trembling fingers clenching the floor.

Wang Lina turned to look at Tang Yin, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. But Tang Yin quickly dismissed his thoughts—perhaps it was just his illusion, or perhaps simply narcissism.

"...We have to go downstairs," Wang Lina said in a deep voice, then reached out to pull Qin Ming, "Wait, Qin Ming!"

She chased after him and tried to grab Qin Ming's hand, but he decisively shook her arm off. The two of them quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

……

The air in the room was eerily quiet, as if even time had frozen. Tang Yin stood at the doorway, his eyes slowly sweeping over the corpse on the ground.

Xiaomei leaned against the wall, her empty eyes staring straight ahead, like a frozen statue. Unlike Wolf's previous killing methods, this time, there was no bloody headshot or brutal smashing, but rather a strange "completeness." A trace of dried blood stained the corner of her mouth, the crimson seeming to highlight the sadness on her face. That emotion seemed deliberately preserved, even possessing a touch of... beauty.

(End of this chapter)