As they had lunch, each of the eight players harboured their own motive they needed to achieve.
Their lunch was beef potato stew, which was poisoned by Li Shuangshuang earlier. After the food was served, the whole room was filled with its fragrance, but everyone could only sll it and eat pickles instead.
This was what people called a self-inflicted cri.
Jin Cheng was not at all interested in such a lunch, so he turned to a slightly less undesirable cup of instant coffee. He put his slender legs on the chairs armrest, his smiling eyes scrutinising all the people in the room. He tapped his finger on the cup and asked Tang Cuo inquisitively: You dont seem to have any doubts about Zhang Zhiqiu.
Tang Cuo: Is that so?
Jin Cheng: Yes.
Tang Cuo glanced at Zhang Zhiqiu and said: Our nas didnt turn up during the voting just now.
If the system had indeed intervened, the voting results didnt make sense. Li Shuangshuang received three votes but Tang Cuo and Jin Cheng received zero votes, and two of them were the only ones without any votes. This seed more like soone had intentionally avoided them, perhaps because the person was afraid of their attack or wanted to please them. In short, there was deliberate planning involved.
In one corner, Li Shuangshuangs anxiety grew and the food tasted bland in her mouth. It tornted her that they had to wait until after lunch to vote by raising their hands, because no matter how she thought about the result, eventually, it would be either her or Zhang Zhiqiu.
It was like a knife hanging above her head. Anyone could at least struggle a bit, but how could Li Shuangshuang even struggle? She had no ability to resist.
Dont worry too much, it likely wont be you. Zhao Ping comforted her.
Zhao Ping had figured it out: the mission this ti was different from their previous ones. If these players were replaced by the teammates he t before, they probably would have attacked Li Ying Jun without a care, or they would have simply hidden in the room and never co out. However, for these players, not only did they stay cautious throughout, but they also largely followed the rules of the human society.
But Li Shuangshuang wasnt comforted at all. She knew her strength; if Zhao Ping didnt help her, she couldnt have survived till now.
She couldnt always rely on other peoples help.
Im going to the toilet. Li Shuangshuang found it hard to calm down and wanted to get so relief. Zhao Ping didnt need to follow, so he nodded and let her go.
An Ning drank the pickled cabbage soup and said: Looking at her composure and how shes not making any fuss, I think she understands the situation very well by herself. The more you help her, the weaker shell beco.
It wasnt like Zhao Ping didnt know that, but shouldnt everyone need ti to beco stronger?
Thinking so, Zhao Ping replied: I know, maybe this ti is an opportunity.
An Ning shrugged and stopped talking. Ten minutes later, Li Shuangshuang hadnt co back. Feeling the others eyes on him from ti to ti, Zhao Ping couldnt sit still.
Im going to the toilet too. An Ning stood up and walked out swiftly.
She went to the kitchen first and saw Xiao Yuan mumbling sothing under her breath while washing the dishes, so she stood around for a while before heading to the toilet. The linen room was right next to the toilet, with a small window on its door. She looked at Li Ying Jun through the window.
Li Ying Jun, still wrapped up inside the net, looked back at her with his eyes widened and struggled furiously.
Urgh, urgh!
An Ning shook her head and walked to the next door.
Amid the dripping sound of water, Li Shuangshuang was washing her face. She gasped for air as the cold water was splashed on her face, the weakness between her eyebrows fading a little.
Are you all right? Everyone is waiting for you to co back. An Ning said.
Im sorry. Li Shuangshuang smiled apologetically. Ill go imdiately.
Wait for to go to the toilet first. An Ning paid no mind to the ground and walked into the cubicle. As she took off her pants, she felt a cool breeze blowing above her head. Looking up, it turned out that there was a vent connected to the next room.
Even going to the toilet is troubleso. Its so cold!
An Ning was quickly done and returned to the hall with Li Shuangshuang. Entering the hall, they found that Zhang Zhiqiu and Qian Wei had also gone to the toilet, but they went to the one on the second floor.
After a while, the two still didnt co back. Li Shuangshuang suddenly touched her pocket and stood up nervously, saying: I probably dropped sothing in the toilet. Wait for , I will co back imdiately!
With that, Li Shuangshuang ran towards the toilet.
What An Ning murmured suspiciously and Peng Mingfan also frowned a little. Li Shuangshuang wasnt brave, but the only danger in this hostel, Li Ying Jun, had been locked up, so there shouldnt be anything to worry about.
Tang Cuo could tell sothing was wrong.
At this mont, Jin Cheng approached him with a cold smile and said: You deliberately drag it out for so long, just to watch this?
Of course not.
The purpose of deliberately dragging it out after lunch was to see what other tricks Zhang Zhiqiu might have. When he went to the toilet after An Ning left, his intentions were worth speculating.
This Li Shuangshuang
Ill take a look.
Tang Cuos intuition told him sothing didnt feel right. Just as he entered the aisle leading to the bathroom on the first floor, the sound of painful struggles and heavy objects clashing ca from the front.
It was the linen room!
His expression changed and he rushed in imdiately.
Bang! Tang Cuo kicked the door of the linen room, and the mont it flung open, blood splashed before his eyes. He only had ti to raise one hand to block his face, then he looked closely to find a shocking scene
Li Shuangshuang was holding Li Ying Jun and thrusting a tal broomstick into his chest with both her hands. She stabbed once, then twice, then again and again like she had gone mad. The blood spewed unceasingly, a crimson shade spreading all over her hands.
Li Ying Jun was no longer breathing, but his body was still twitching.
What are you doing?! Zhao Pings thunderous voice shook Li Shuangshuang so terribly that she let go of the broomstick. She slowly turned her stiff neck and looked back, her eyes glancing over the shocked and astounded faces. She quickly looked back at Li Ying Jun with hazy eyes, as if it was only now that she realised what she had done.
I, how can I do this? Just now, I suddenly I didnt do it on purpose, I didnt do it on purpose! Li Shuangshuang collapsed and covered her face, her tears mixing with all the blood and soaking her collar.
At this point, Qian Wei and Zhang Zhiqiu finally rushed down from upstairs. They stood frozen as they saw the scene.
Holy Qian Wei gasped.
Zhang Zhiqiu didnt feel any better, but Zhao Ping suddenly attacked him and grabbed him by the collar with both hands. Zhao Ping pushed him against the wall and asked angrily: Did you do anything to her?!
Youre crazy! Zhang Zhiqiu struggled to push him away. There were other people following into the toilet. What could I do?
Qian Wei quickly ca in between them. Fortunately, Zhao Ping didnt lose his mind; he just couldnt believe that soone like Li Shuangshuang would do such a thing. Even if she took the initiative to deal with Li Ying Jun, she would likely get it done in one blow. How could it turn out like this?!
Peng Mingfan also couldnt understand it. He couldnt help looking at Tang Cuo and Jin Cheng: What do you think?
Take her back first, and make sure at least two people look after her. Tang Cuo clearly referred to Li Shuangshuan. He also asked An Ning: Have you seen the staff?
An Ning nodded: Shes in the kitchen.
Tang Cuo: Call her here.
An Ning was taken aback and went to call her at once. Qian Wei stuttered a litte: Tang ge, is there a need to call her here to see this? Shell be horrified.
Tang Cuo didnt answer. Instead, he coldly glanced at Jin Cheng, who was leaning comfortably against the wall, and said: What are you doing?
Jin Cheng unfolded his arms as Tang Cuos gaze remained fixed on him. Jin Cheng had no choice but walked over, then he picked a pair of clean gloves from the rack in the linen room and squatted on the ground to examine the body.
The bones have turned black so the poison has worked, but it isnt very effective. The stab wound is apparently lethal, even his heart is completely smashed. He said.
Didnt you say that his defence is strong? Tang Cuo asked.
Its very strong, but there are exceptions that this defence cant act against, such as tal.
For example, your arrow?
Jin Cheng nodded. Correct.
Tang Cuo understood. To solve this, they had to also pay attention to the Five Elents.
The rest also soon saw through it: when Li Shuangshuang killed Li Ying Jun, she used a tal broomstick; and when they found Li Ying Jun dead for the first ti, the weapon was a bronze trophy.
What could tal weaken? Wood.
Wood, wood log? A woodcutter?
For so reasons, Qian Wei couldnt grasp the connection so suddenly. As he thought about it, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard approaching. He turned back to face Xiao Yuans panicked face, then she let out a hysterical scream.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! She fainted on the spot.
Tang Cuo took a step back to barely avoid being hit by the falling Xiao Yuan.
Jin Cheng laughed delightfully as he said: What do you still want to examine now?
Annoying.
Two minutes later, the group returned to the hall.
Peng Mingfan and Zhao Ping first brought Li Shuangshuang back, with Zhao Ping comforting Li Shuangshuan and Peng Mingfan trying to get so clues from her. But Li Shuangshuang just kept lanting that she couldnt rember anything, as though a ghost had possessed her to go into the linen room. When she ca back to her senses, the situation had turned out as what everyone saw.
Do you rember the thing that you wanted to pick up from the toilet? Peng Mingfan talked as slowly as possible.
I, I Li Shuangshuang clutched her head with an agonising expression. It took a long ti before she suddenly rembered: Its the bronze trophy, that bronze trophy!
As the words ca out, the whole hall suddenly fell into a deadly silence.
Tang Cuo walked in and asked: The bronze trophy is on the second floor. You went to the first floor to find the bronze trophy?
Li Shuangshuang shook her head again: I dont know why, I only know that I wanted to find that thing
Tang Cuo: Then why didnt you use that bronze trophy to kill him?
Li Shuangshuang: I dont know, I really dont know
Maybe this is the systems doing. Zhang Zhiqiu, who had been silent from the beginning, suddenly said. The bronze trophy is a key that triggers the plot. No matter what weapon is eventually used, the bronze trophy signals the death of Li Ying Jun. Who kills Li Ying Jun is also not under our control, everything is ruled by the system.
Peng Mingfan: I dont think so, this kind of setting is too simple and cruel.
Zhang Zhiqiu narrowed his eyes: Little friend, must it always be a reasoning ga for you to believe that its a difficult one?
Peng Mingfan continued his reasoning: This is normal logic.
The two were once again at heads with each other, both their expressions full of displeasure. Tang Cuo couldnt make a decision because there were too few clues and too many distracting factors. He needed to observe all of them one more ti to make a connection.
For example, he needed to see if Li Ying Jun would co back from the dead again.
Li Ying Jun has died once again, but we havent cleared the ga yet. Zhao Ping, who had managed to comfort Li Shuangshuang and been thinking carefully about this over and over, finally put forward his opinion. Theres no use arguing anymore. I think all of us should stay together and try our best to not wander off alone, all the way until tomorrow morning.
An Ning rarely agreed with him but also showed her approval: This thod is indeed the safest and most effective. We all can see at one glance if soone is behaving abnormally.
No one objected so the plan was settled.
It was half past one in the afternoon, sixteen and a half hours to go before they reached six of the following morning.
Jin Cheng picked up the jigsaw puzzle again.
Tang Cuo took the bronze trophy from the second floor and observed it carefully. It was still stained with blood, its style very much similar to the Oscars statue. He found nothing special even after staring at it for a long ti. Thereafter, he started to examine the books on the shelf again, but after almost every book was flipped through, no useful clues were found.
An Ning also asked the staff about the bronze trophy, but she only said that it was sothing bought from the store and had nothing else to contribute.
Sotis the ga will provide you with hints, but you need to find them yourself. Jin Cheng suddenly said.
Tang Cuo looked up: Hints?
Jin Cheng put two jigsaw pieces of similar colours together, then flicked his finger and paused a little. He picked up another piece from the box and fit it perfectly into the puzzle. You must be able to distinguish whether its a distraction or a real hint.
Are you lecturing ?
Exactly. How can you repay if you die early?
Good sir, you are quite a talented debt collector.
Tang Cuo turned back to studying the bronze trophy.
Soon, An Ning ca over to ask him about his progress and got Tang Cuos negative answer, so she headed back. Peng Mingfan was still persevering with his reasoning, this ti the subject was
If Li Ying Jun would co back alive tomorrow.
Qian Wei: If he cos back alive, then is our way of killing him incorrect?
An Ning: Then wed better be discussing the correct way to kill Li Ying Jun. In the end, what do we need to do so that he wont co back?
Zhao Ping also actively expressed his opinion and was determined to not be pushed away by Zhang Zhiqiu. If Li Ying Jun could really rise from the dead, it ant that there existed a cycle of death in this place. Then how about the cycle of going missing?
Would a second person disappear?
Peng Mingfan said: Maybe who we killed wasnt Ying Jun. The one we need is Li Ying Jun, but maybe there is also Wang Ying Jun or Zhao Ying Jun, and the real Ying Jun is the NPC hidden among us.
What he said made sense. But at this mont, they felt that whatever any of them said would make so sense, because no one could produce any hard evidence, so any reasoning was possible.
They couldnt just lay hands on anyone. If they killed the wrong person, they would kill a real player.
Regardless of whether you believe it or not, Im really just an ordinary player, not different from you all. Zhang Zhiqiu repeatedly emphasized his identity.
No one responded. The difference must be temporarily hidden under the surface because none of them showed any conspicuous signs.
The wait was long and tedious.
After three hours sluggishly passed by, it was ti to prepare dinner.
It was only then everyone rembered that Xiao Yuan had fainted in front of the linen room.
Cough. Zhao Ping stood up and said voluntarily: Shuangshuang wants to rest a bit more. I will cook, can anyone help?
He glanced through the entire group but no one made a move. Perhaps in order to make up for his damaged reputation, Zhang Zhiqiu proactively stood up and offered to help. Seeing Zhang Zhiqiu giving a hand, Qian Wei also volunteered himself.
At 6 oclock in the evening, dinner was finally served. Xiao Yuan, who had fainted in the linen room, magically ca back to her consciousness. She scread again and fled in panic from the murder scene, then rushed into the hall to see her guests gathering together for dinner.
Grr. Her belly innocently drumd.
Awkward.
Xiao Yuan cried again with a waa.
Qian Wei couldnt stand it anymore. He reacted most enthusiastically and asked her to co to eat with them. Peng Mingfan wanted to get so information from her, but besides repeatedly complaining about the weather and expressing her dismay over Li Ying Juns death, nothing useful was gained.
Where is the person who will take over you? Tang Cuo asked.
The newcor cant co yet, Im looking forward to going down the mountain soon. Xiao Yuan said before becoming all lancholic again, as if Xiang Linsao [Xiang Linsao] refers to a young widowed woman in the short story (Blessings) by Lu Xun. She is known to represent a typical working woman in rural China during the early 1900s, who was often oppressed and looked down on by the society at that ti.had taken over her. How did Ying Jun ge die? How could it be
After murmuring over the matter for a while, she felt unwell again and returned to her room.
It was now 7 oclock in the evening.
The players cleaned up their dishes and chatted a bit, then each found their own corner to rest and wait for tomorrow. Before having a shut-eye, Tang Cuo spent so ti staring at Li Shuangshuang, who was sitting in the corner near Zhao Ping with her head buried in her arms, looking totally numb and exhausted.
Have you found anything? Jin Cheng asked.
No. Tang Cuo closed his eyes.
Jin Cheng smiled and put on the last jigsaw piece.
Not long after, the whole hall fell into a deep sleep, and even the sound of breathing seed to be engulfed by the darkness, all the way until
Slam! Slam! The familiar sound of the wind hitting the door broke the silence, waking the players one by one from their dream. The first to wake up was Tang Cuo, who imdiately turned to look at the clock on the wall.
It was 6 oclock in the morning.
Xiao Yuan heard the sound and ran downstairs in a hurry. She was surprised to see everyone sleeping in the hall, then she ran over to open the door with a smile again: It must be the woodcutter.
As the door opened, the cold blizzard poured in again.
A tall man walked in together with the wind and the snow. He was around 30 years old, his hair short and his chin full of stubble. He wore a black fur collar leather jacket, carrying a bundle of firewood on his back and an axe in his hand.
It was Li Ying Jun again.
As they turned to look at the corner of the hall, Li Shuangshuang was gone.
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