Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu
So what about my stethoscope?
Xiao Ji didnt seem scared at all of Lin Qiushis suspicions, asking his question sharply in return.
You used the stethoscope this morning, right? Lin Qiushi asked.
Xiao Ji didnt answer yes or no; keenly, hed detected that Lin Qiushis question was a trap, so he didnt speak.
However, Xiao i sat beside him spoke up calmly: Yes, he used the stethoscope to open a chest this morning. Soone else saw it too.
She pointed at a person in the crowd.
The person Xiao i was pointing to nodded, indicating that Xiao i wasnt lying.
When I passed by the living room today I saw Xiao Ji opening a chest. He also used the stethoscope.
Ah, so that ans your stethoscope is currently operational? Lin Qiushi said. If there are no problems, may I have a look at it?
With a scoff, Xiao Ji took the stethoscope from his neck and tossed it to Lin Qiushi.
Id like to see what youre trying to sell here.
Lin Qiushi took the stethoscope.
Xiao i, you havent eaten, right?
Xiao i nodded, and spoke with indifference: Yes. Xiao Ji heard a Hakobito yesterday, so I didnt eat anything.
This wasnt a strange turn of events, in fact was quite normal. The number of Hakobito had gradually increased, after all. It would be odder if, from the start until now, Xiao Ji had never encountered a Hakobito.
Mh, if it can hear the Hakobitos movents, that ans this stethoscope definitely works, Lin Qiushi said. Lets give it a try then.
He put on the stethoscope and picked a random person beside him, pressing the stethoscope to his own chest[1]. As expected, the stethoscope that shouldve allowed him to hear sothing did not pick up any sounds; the end that went into the ears was completely silent.
I cant hear anything, Lin Qiushi said. You all can try it too.
He tossed the stethoscope to sobody else.
Another person picked up the stethoscope, and after carefully listening, confird that there was nothing audible inside.
Xiao Jis expression went cold. He said, you want condemned based on just that?
Lin Qiushi shrugged.
Your stethoscopes broken, so how did you hear sounds from inside the chests?
Xiao Ji lifted his chin.
And here I thought youd have so way to prove Im guilty. Well sorry, but Ive already tried it before. This stethoscope is special. It cant hear human heartbeats at all.
Lin Qiushis lips curved up.
Oh? You sure?
Xiao Ji, props inside the door are different from stuff outside to begin with. Yu Linlin, youre not thinking of besmirching with this in order to take my stethoscope from , are you?!
He banged on the table violently, seemingly on the verge of a fit over being so wrongly accused.
Lin Qiushi asked, youre sure that this stethoscope cant hear heartbeats, and that its just a special item?
What? You saying you know my item better than ?
Xiao Ji was locked in on this answer. After all, the stethoscopes always been on him. He could say whatever he wanted about it and nobody could do a thing.
But Lin Qiushi took the stethoscope back in hand with a sigh.
What a sha. If you hadnt said that, I really dont know what I wouldve done.
And as he spoke, he began taking apart the stethoscope.
The earpieces on the stethoscope had tal rings that could be twisted off, with special sound-amplifying discs installed inside. However, when Lin Qiushi twisted one of the rings apart and removed the disc, everybody looking at the stethoscope grew shockedbecause the space behind the disc had been stuffed with a wad of solid cotton, firmly blockading the path of sound transmission. Of course it hadnt been able to hear a thing.
When Xiao Ji first saw the cotton, he froze. Then, expression drastically changing, he roared, who said you could take my stethoscope apart
He lunged in front of Lin Qiushi, trying to take the stethoscope back, but Sun Yuanzhou, already standing ready beside him, held him back.
Xiao Ji saw that he could no longer get his hands on the stethoscope and began to cuss. It wasnt difficult to see that the intensity of his reaction was weird.
Faced with Xiao Jis threats and insults, Lin Qiushi remained impassive. He calmly removed the cotton and put the stethoscope back together. This ti, with the stethoscopes amplifier placed on his chest, a heartbeat could be clearly and readily heard.
Lin Qiushi laughed, this is what you used to distinguish whether a chest contained a box person? Very impressive.
Xiao i joined him with a sneer. Since the death of her lover, an irreversible change had taken place in her body that had completely expelled the awkwardness and timidity of a newbie and made her incomparably cold.
When he saw such an interaction between Lin Qiushi and Xiao i, Xiao Ji finally cottoned on, shooting Xiao i a vicious glare.
You betrayed ? he spat. Fucking bitchyou stuffed my stethoscope with cotton?!
Xiao is arms wrapped around her chest as she watched Xiao Ji coolly.
And what if I did?
Why the fuck did you sell out?? Xiao Ji asked. Im the one who helped you kill Wei Xiude
At this, Xiao i began to laugh, loud and hard enough for tears to fall. She wiped the corners of her eyes and said, are you that simple? You helped ? Werent you just helping yourself? Besides
Her voice grew brutal, and her tone was like it wanted to tear a piece skin off Xiao Jis body itself.
The Hako Onna killed my lover, and youre working with her?! You deserve to die!!
Xiao Ji was panting, so angry that his eyes went red.
In order to prevent him from getting away, soone else fetched ropes and tied him down. Lin Qiushi put the stethoscope back together and set it on the table.
Anything else youd like to say? he asked.
Xiao Ji gritted his teeth, and sneered.
Hah, so what if it was ? Kill if you can.
He truly hadnt been relying on the stethoscope to determine whether or not there were people in the chests, because he was required to open three chests per day and could only listen to the Hako Onnas directions when doing so in order to avoid any errors.
If he hadnt told them that the chest Xiao i wanted to open yesterday contained a Hakobito, he might have been able to make an argunt for himself. The way things looked now though, these people seed to have suspected him for a very long ti.
What a sha. You really think I cant kill you? Lin Qiushi stood up and walked in front of Xiao Ji, head down and staring. There will be plenty of ways.
Xiao Ji first shivered at Lin Qiushis gaze, but then grew angry at his own reaction. Teeth bared, he laughed,
Hahahah, youre pathetic too! So what if you kill ? If you kill your lovers going to co back to life? Shes already deadshe died last night, the Hako Onna killed herdidnt you want to ask where the fire extinguisher is? Let tell you, I was the one who hid it. I hid it in a chest, and so none of you will ever find it!
Before Lin Qiushi could even move, Xiao is foot ca flying in from the side. She kicked Xiao Ji straight to the ground, and then ground Xiao Jis hand viciously underfoot.
Its all your fault, she scread, its your fault hes dead. Youre the monster, youre the monster who sided with the demons!! Die!!
"Xiao i, calm down! Sun Yuanzhou rushed to grab hold of her, worried that she was going to do sothing out of control. Though itd be a way to get the anger out, shed pay for it with her life.
I know. Xiao i halted, and spoke icily: I know. I wont die. Im going to live. Im going to live for him.
Reaching up, she wiped away her tears, and her tone went quiet.
I was supposed to be the one who opened that chest
When he heard her, however, Xiao Ji only started laughingbig hearty hahahas. He turned to Lin Qiushi with malice in his gaze and horrible words at the ready, planning on further provoking these two about their dead lovers, when there ca the sound of light footsteps at the door, followed by a laughing voice that said:
Who told you I was dead?
Everyone jolted and looked up toward the doorthey saw that Ruan Nanzhu, who should have died the night before, had appeared before them. Ruan Nanzhu looked back at everyone with a smile, slowly trodding before Lin Qiushi before saying: Honey, Im ho.
Lin Qiushi looked at him and didnt speak.
While he didnt answer, Xiao Ji began a piercing scream: No way, no way, how could you have survivedNo way!!
Killing Ruan Nanzhu had been his most successful move. Not only had he buried the key, but he had also destroyed an item that could kill the Hako Onna. But this person who shouldve died had suddenly appeared before him, whole and hale!
Kiddo, you want to know why veterans dont like jumping newbies through too many doors? Ruan Nanzhu was watching him with eyes full of pity. Because only by passing the previous doors do us veterans get the cards up our sleeves. You really think all those doors are for nothing?
Lin Qiushi stood next to Ruan Nanzhu, sizing up the person beside him. He spotted a red circle newly marking Ruan Nanzhus wristit looked as if it had been tattooed on, and made for a particularly piercing sight on the pale skin.
Take a look. Arent I perfectly fine? Ruan Nanzhu spoke to Xiao Ji. Are you surprised? Is your mind blown?
Xiao Ji trembled, so angry he could pass out.
Holy fuck Zhu ng, how the hell did you survive! When she saw Ruan Nanzhu, Liang Miye too was astonished. Now she was asking the question everybody wanted to ask. You, werent you
I told you, Ive got cards up my sleeve, Ruan Nanzhu said. No need to worry
He peered at Lin Qiushi as he spoke, but found Lin Qiushi utterly expressionless and ignoring him completelyand in his mind he began to curse.
Lets get the fire extinguishers location out of him first, Lin Qiushi said. Thats more important.
Let do it, Xiao i spoke warmly, twirling at a strand of hair by her ear. I guarantee that when I get the answer from him, hell still be alive.
What are you going to do?! Xiao Ji was terrified by the look in Xiao is eyes, and began to cuss again, a whole series of really bad words. When Xiao i seed unmoved, he tried appealing to pathos once more: Xiao i, I really do like you! Or I wouldnt have helped you kill Wei Xiude!
But Xiao i only laughed.
Hah, kill Wei Xiude? She spoke without much emotion at all. Of course a dumb newbie would be easier to control than a wily veteran. Plus, I dont believe you wouldve let go.
Since Xiao Ji and the Hako Onna had co to an arrangent, he definitely wouldve killed everybody else inside the door in order to prevent the Hako Onna from going back on her word, so hed be protected by the rule of the doors. Xiao i wouldve really been stupid if shed believed his nonsense.
This, Xiao i was quite clear on. It was also why she chose to cooperate with Lin Qiushi.
After that, Xiao i looked toward Ruan Nanzhu.
I really thought you were dead.
Ruan Nanzhu just smiled, noncommittal.
After that, other people began interrogating Xiao Ji about the location of the hidden fire extinguisher. Lin Qiushi sat at the side, not saying much. As a matter of fact ever since Ruan Nanzhu returned, Lin Qiushi hadnt said anything to him at all.
Ruan Nanzhu was still smiling and teasing Lin Qiushi at first. Only a bit later did he realize sothing was wrong, and quickly called Lin Qiushi outside for them to speak alone.
Lin Qiushi followed Ruan Nanzhu impassively out to a side room and said, go ahead. What did you want to say?
Linlin, are you angry? Ruan Nanzhu made that pretty face of his all sad and pitiful as he whimpered, dont be angry with , please?
Truthfully, on any other day, Lin Qiushis anger likely wouldnt have lasted after seeing Ruan Nanzhu like this. But today, he only huffed once, unfeeling and equivocal.
Linlin, Linlin Ruan Nanzhu said. Dont be angry anymore, I feel so bad when I see youre upset.
He took Lin Qiushis hands and carefully pecked at the corners of Lin Qiushis mouth.
Please?
Lin Qiushi was unmoved.
Let just ask you one question.
Ruan Nanzhu, mh.
Lin Qiushi, were you sure youd survive?
Ruan Nanzhu said, of course I was s
But before hed even finished speaking Lin Qiushi cut him offand with suppressed rage on the brink of breaking through the dam, Lin Qiushi called out Ruan Nanzhus full na.
Ruan Nanzhu, after all that, youre still going to fucking lie to ?!
Linlin, I really did have a way out, Ruan Nanzhu said. Rember the Humans as Mirror door, when I gave you that red bracelet inside? That bracelet can offset three supernatural attacks"
He held out his wrist, showing Lin Qiushi that bright red mark on his arm.
See? Arent I perfectly fine?
As he spoke, he smiled cajolingly at Lin Qiushi. But at this explanation, Lin Qiushi only scoffed.
If you really knew you were going to live, would you have put the key and wooden stake together? He grew angrier and angrier, until his last words were basically suppressed shouting. Youre just going to play like Im so kind of idiot?
Ruan Nanzhu wanted to explain further, but Lin Qiushi was done listening. He said, well talk about this more outside. Im not in a good mood right now, if we keep talking, I really will get angry with you.
After that, he turned and left, giving Ruan Nanzhu no further opportunity to explain himself.
Ruan Nanzhu groaned without sound.
Back then, Lin Qiushi had really thought Ruan Nanzhu was done for. It wasnt until he heard Ruan Nanzhus farewell"Yu Linlin, I love you"that Lin Qiushi ca to knowledge. Hed understood in a split instant.
If Ruan Nanzhu really thought he was going to die, then when he gave his last confession, he wouldve at least called out Lin Qiushis real na, not Yu Linlin.
Lin Qiushi, once he understood everything, had steadied his crumbling emotional state. He also took all his fury for Ruan Nanzhu and buried it deep within himself.
On the other end, the interrogation had yielded resultsXiao Ji told them where the fire extinguisher was hidden. As for what thod Xiao i used, Lin Qiushi didnt ask. He wasnt kind enough to forgive sobody who almost got Ruan Nanzhu killed; not taking care of Xiao Ji himself had been his last act of tolerance.
Xiao Ji confessed to everything. He said that imdiately after he got here, hed made a deal with the Hako Onna. Hed gotten a lot luckier than the dead Tian Guxue; the mont he entered the door hed received the item set on the table and also the hidden rulebook.
Of course, to prevent other people from suspecting him, hed hidden the item in one of the chests in the living room. Then, after reading the rulebook, hed put the rulebook away in a corner of the dining room.
After that, Xiao Ji opened three chests in a row before everybodys eyes. Hed opened up the item and one of the Hako Onnas powers to boot.
As for Tian Guxue, she was entirely a smokescreen that the Hako Onna cooked up. Back when Ruan Nanzhu was having suspicions about Tian Guxue, hed felt sothing was off, because Tian Guxue hadnt seem anywhere clever enough to be a competent partner. Sure enough, right behind her had been the better player Xiao Ji, whod been so much better that nobody even suspected him.
But when the unexpected happened to Ruan Nanzhu, it prompted Lin Qiushi to start thinking about all this. He contacted Xiao i in private and got her to tamper with Xiao Jis stethoscope. Then hed gotten quite luckyXiao Ji imdiately exposed himself and allowed Lin Qiushi to confirm that he was the mole.
Everything had gone smoothly, aside from the person whod lied to him.
Ruan Nanzhuhe must have already guessed there was a second mole. Hed even predicted that the second mole would target him, and in order to leave Lin Qiushi out of danger, hed hidden everything and directed two of Hako Onnas powers onto himself. The reality was that everything Ruan Nanzhu did bore risk; even if hed been eighty percent sure the bracelet could weather damage from the Hako Onna, there was still that twenty percent uncertainty. That was why he decided to leave behind the key and item, shutting himself up alone in Tian Guxues room.
Lin Qiushi understood all the logic, but he still couldnt control his anger. The mont he thought about Ruan Nanzhu dying alone in that room without even a body to recover, he found it so damn difficult to bear.
Are you two alright? When the two ca back out, the peculiar atmosphere between them was worrying, so Liang Miye asked a quiet word or two.
Were fine, Lin Qiushi answered coolly. What could possibly be wrong?
Liang Miye, Y'all sure dont look fine. And this was the first ti shes seen such an ingratiating expression on Ruan Nanzhus face.
Baby are you hungry?
No.
Baby are you thirsty?
No.
Baby
Dont call baby.
Linlin
Shut up.
The above was their dialogue, and everyone around them listening in began to look queer; Sun Yuanzhou forced down a laugh and cleared his throat a couple of tis before saying you two sure are cute together, but this was no ti to flirt. Lets talk about the matter of the Hako Onna first.
How to get the items, how to kill the Hako Onna and get out of herethese were the most important matters at hand.
We have at most six days, Ruan Nanzhu said. After six days, the Hako Onna can probably activate 'Im Behind You again. If were not out by thenwell, we might never get out.
The item we have right now that can kill the Hako Onna is the wooden stake. Once we figure out the Hako Onnas location we can hit her with it, and for her to use a power, she has to cry. Sun Yuanzhou too had straightened out his thoughts. As long as we wait
Thats right, Ruan Nanzhu said. But the stake can only be used once, and if we use it in the wrong place, well have lost a critical opportunity. The wooden stake had to be used prior to opening a chest. He continued, I havent used the gasoline we put through the door either. This is also a key item.
Mh, we just dont know if theres any notable difference between the Hako Onnas chest and the Hakobitos, Lin Qiushi said. If the stethoscope can tell the difference between those two, thats for the best. If it cant, then things will be a bit more difficult.
By the current look of things, when the Hako Onna cried, they could only confirm which room she was in, not which specific chest.
So there was still risk in it for them.
Finding more items would be safer, Ruan Nanzhu said, but ti isnt waiting for us.
Everybody began to ponder the matter.
Today, the Hako Onna seed to have realized that things werent looking good, and so didnt use a power or cry aloud. Lin Qiushi could only confirm the Hako Onna was on the first floor, but didnt know a more concrete location.
If the Hako Onna didnt cry, then they could make no progress. They could only wait.
While they waited, Ruan Nanzhu brazenly kept trying to make conversation with Lin Qiushi. At first, Lin Qiushi answered on and off, but after he grew annoyed he didnt even bother replying, just kept his head down and played with his phone.
A resentful expression appeared on Ruan Nanzhus face; he wanted to be the thing held in Lin Qiushis hand.
Liang Miye spectated their interactions and held back laughter from the sidelines. Obsidian Leader Ruan Nanzhu was so austere and cold outside the doorwho knew hed be like this inside? Of course, she didnt dare laugh out loud, because if she irritated Ruan Nanzhu and got him truly angryShe wasnt about to get the sa treatnt as Lin Qiushi.
Lin Qiushi was clearly still angry, and it wasnt just any small upset.
Seeing him like this, Ruan Nanzhu was troubled. He thought that if he couldnt even get Lin Qiushi to co around with an advantage as huge as Zhu ng inside the door, then itd be even harder outside the door.
And so going to sleep at night, Ruan Nanzhu crept his way into Lin Qiushis bed.
Linlin, Im scared. The person before him stared with big, dark, beautiful eyes, watching Lin Qiushi all innocently. Will you sleep with please?
Lin Qiushi was impassive: Youre scared?
Ruan Nanzhu, yeah.
Thats great. Im scared too.
With that he got up, leaving Ruan Nanzhu on the bed, and switched over to Ruan Nanzhus bed.
Ruan Nanzhu, Oh crap, oh crap, his dearest Linlin was actually angry, and of the type that couldnt even be sweet-talked.
Authors Note:
Ruan Nanzhu: Are you angry?
Lin Qiushi: No.
Ruan Nanzhu: Are you angry?
Lin Qiushi: No.
Ruan Nanzhu: Are y
Lin Qiushi: Ask again and I will kill you.
Ruan Nanzhu: _(:)_
The Daily Life of Popuruan and Pipilin[2] hahahaha
Translators Note:
Thats definitely what the Chinese said so Im wondering if theres a typo. LQS grabbed soone in the group, but put the stethoscope to his own chest and listened to the stethoscope himself.The Daily Life of Popuko and Pipimi is the Chinese title of Pop Team Epic
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