"AHHHH! Someone was killed! Someone was killed!" a frantic scream pierced through the air, followed by a chorus of gasps and cries.
The loud commotion jolted me from my deep sleep.
I looked to the bedside, only to find Yihong's place empty. He was already awake and gone. The realization hit me that the night had somehow slipped away, and it was already morning. A glance at the watch confirmed it—6:30 a.m.
The sun was just beginning to rise, its faint rays piercing through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue across the room.
I shot up in chair, my heart racing as the shouts outside grew louder, more chaotic. The voices overlapped, each one more desperate than the last.
I flung the door open and slammed it shut behind me, urgency driving my every step. The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly as I rushed towards the source of the commotion. I knew where I needed to go—a room on the first floor of the inn where the chaos had erupted.
As I rounded the corner, I was met with a crowd of participants huddled together, their faces etched with panic.
They were all gathered around a single door, their voices overlapping in frantic whispers. Some stood frozen, too shocked to move, while others glanced around nervously, as if expecting something worse to happen.
"Who was it? Where did it happen?" someone yelled, their voice trembling with terror.
"Please don't kill me! Please, it wasn't me who killed him, please!!!!!!!!!!" The voice was raw with desperation, its pleas echoing through the chaos.
"Stop pretending! I know it was you!" came the harsh reply, dripping with accusation. I recognized that voice immediately, a cold shiver running down my spine. Panic surged through me, pushing me to shove past the crowd of onlookers, their fearful faces blurring as I made my way to the room.
I burst through the door, stumbling into the room with a gasp. What I saw stopped me in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat.
The room was suffused with an overpowering stench of blood and decay.
There, hanging from the ceiling, was a sight that made my stomach churn and also prompted me nauseous.
participant had been gruesomely executed. His body was suspended by a thick rope, and the sight was nightmarish and unbearable. No wonders, people outside could not bear looking at it.
His limbs were torn away, leaving only bloody, ragged stumps where his arms and legs had once been. The rope was cruelly tight around his mutilated torso, lifting him horifficly into the air from the ceiling.
His lifeless eyes stared blankly at nothing.
The floor beneath him was stained dark with blood, and the walls bore splatters of crimson, marking the brutal.
[ He has been killed so gruesomely. Its impossible for a human to kill someone like that.]
My eyes widened in shock as I took in the horrific scene before me. Just as the gravity of the situation began to sink in, a sudden, tight grip around my leg jolted me. I looked down to see a small, terrified figure clutching at me.
"Please save me! Please save me! It wasn't me who killed him!" The voice was high and desperate, trembling with fear. A young girl, no older than ten years old, clung to my leg. Her face was streaked with blood, her messy bangs falling into her tear-streaked eyes. Her dress, once perhaps a soft pastel pink color, was now a horrific mess of bloodstains. She clutched her doll in her hands.
Her hands were slick with red, and her sobs came in ragged, choked bursts.Just as I reached down to help the girl, I noticed a sword pointed straight at the girl's neck.
My heart sank as I recognized the figure holding it—Yihong.
His gaze was cold and unfeeling, eyes devoid of any warmth or mercy.
I stepped in front of Yihong, pushing the sword down with a forceful shove. "Stop it, Yihong. She's just a child. She couldn't have committed such a gruesome act," I said, my voice firm and pleading.
"I told you to stop being sentimental. This habit of yours will get you killed one day," Yihong said coldly. In a swift motion, he made the sword disappear and turned on his heel, walking out of the room with an air of finality.
I turned my attention back to the girl, still trembling on the floor. With a gentle but firm motion, I lifted her into my arms and looked around for someone who could help. A young woman from the group approached, her face evident with concern.
"Please, take care of her," I whispered urgently, handing the girl over to the woman.
The young lady looked at me with wide eyes. "Did that young man just listen to you?" she asked, astonished.
"Uh—" I was momentarily thrown off, struggling to find the right words.
The woman continued, her voice tinged with disbelief, "Despite pleading with him several times, he didn't release the girl, but as soon as you asked, he let her go right away…"
I didn't have a clear answer. Instead, I nodded. "Please take her to clean herself. Then I'll talk to her," I said softly, patting the girl's head before turning my gaze to the woman. She nodded, her expression one of understanding and empathy.
"I'm called Mei Lin," the woman said, extending her hand for a handshake.
I took her hand, feeling the firmness of her grip, and replied, "Yu Zhiyuan."
Our eyes met briefly, a moment of mutual understanding passing between us before I released her hand. Mei Lin gave a small nod, then gently guided the girl away holding her tiny hand and comforting the trembling figure.
Suddenly a New window appeared before everyone, glowing faintly in the dim light.
The message was clear, its words burning into our minds: "Reminder: Only 35 hours remaining for the scenario to be completed."
----------
In about ten minutes, the clock would strike 9:00 a.m. The inn was still buzzing with the aftermath of the morning's events, but the innkeeper had insisted that everyone should gather for breakfast at 9.00. There was something about his words that made it clear this was not just a suggestion—it was an order that carried great importance.
No one dared to disobey him. It felt like there was more to his instructions, an unspoken understanding that there might be hidden rules at play. Rules that, if broken, could lead to something far worse than just skipping a meal. Maybe even death.
We filled the table in the inn, but as expected, there were quite a few empty seats. At least ten participants were missing. The absence was unsettling, but not surprising. As I glanced around, it was clear that everyone else was thinking the same thing—those who were not here were either dead or still out searching for the Jade Crystal.
The spot next to me was empty. Han Yihong was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he was angry at me. I told myself I didn't care, but the thought nagged at me. After all, we weren't that close… so why should it matter?
Just then, the little girl from earlier came running toward me, holding the hand of the woman—no, the girl—who had helped her. Now that the tension had eased a bit, I took a moment to really look at her. In the rush of everything before, I hadn't noticed the details.
She was a chubby girl with a kind face, her glasses slightly askew. Two long braids framed her face, and she was wearing an oversized hoodie that mostly hid her school uniform underneath. I realized then that I had completely misjudged her age. I'd thought she was a woman in her twenties, but she was clearly just a high school girl.
They approached my table and, without hesitation, the girl guided the little one to sit next to me. She settled into the empty spot where Han Yihong should have been, her oversized hoodie draping over the chair as she adjusted her glasses.
"Thank you for helping me out earlier, gege!" The little girl said with a bright smile as she handed me a doll. Her eyes were filled with gratitude and innocence.
The doll was small, no more than a foot in height, with a slightly worn but well-loved appearance. Its fabric dress, once bright red, had faded over time, and the edges were frayed from years of use. Perhaps it was the first gift that her mother ever gifted to her.The doll's face was hand-stitched, with large, round eyes and a small, cheerful smile that seemed to hold a sense of comfort for the little girl. Its hair was made of soft yarn, tangled and a bit uneven.
"Why would you give me something precious like this? Isn't it yours?" I asked, gently patting her head.
The girl shook her head. "My mom always told me that if I help others, she would give me plenty of gifts. You helped me, but I don't have anything else to offer except this doll."
Her words were simple but heartfelt. I smiled at her, "What's your name?" I asked.
"I'm Xiao Lianhua," she replied, her smile widening.
Mei Lin cleared her throat, drawing my attention. "Yu gege, your friend didn't come for breakfast?"
"Uh… how would I know?" I replied bluntly, not bothering to hide my irritation. The mention of Yihong seemed to make Xiao Lianhua tremble slightly.
Noticing this, I tried to lighten the mood.
"Lianhua, don't be scared. The brother who threatened you earlier is really just a big lump of stone. He's like a grumpy rock that never smiles. Honestly, he's like a boulder with a permanent scowl."
I continued with a smirk,"When he's angry, he looks like the 'King of Hell' about to unleash a thunderstorm. Seriously, his face turns into a storm cloud that's ready to rain on everyone's parade. I swear, he's got a personal vendetta against happiness. He is ruthless, cold,calculative. If it weren't for his handsome face, I'd have probably punched him a few times by now! He's indeed the King of Anger."
I stopped and finally took a breath after my lengthy tirade. The two of them stared at me with wide eyes, their expressions a mix of horror.
I looked back at them, completely puzzled. "What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mei Lin and Xiao Lianhua exchanged frantic glances, their eyes darting between me and the doorway behind me. They seemed to be trying to communicate telepathically. I felt a strong aura of murder somehow lingering in the room.Suddenly, Mei Lin blurted out, "Yu gege, you might want to turn around!"
" damn it," I muttered under my breath biting my bottom limps and cursing myself internally.
I turned around and found Yihong standing there, leaning casually against a pillar with his arms crossed and his sheathed sword resting in one hand. His gaze was locked on me, piercing through with a look that could only be described as sending daggers straight to my head.
"Ah! You're here," I said, forcing a cheerful tone. "Please, take a seat."
Xiao Lianhua, trembling slightly, muttered, "I think he's about to unleash the real wrath of the King of H-."
Mei Lin quickly moved to close Xiao Lianhua's mouth,Young children should not speak like this," she said, her voice carrying awkwardness as she chuckled nervously.
She gave a quick, uneasy laugh and glanced at Yihong, who remained stoically leaning against the pillar, his gaze still directed at me
I chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Oh, right. Maybe I should have toned it down a bit."
Yihong stepped forward, slamming his sword onto the table with a loud clatter before sitting down next to me. The two others, Mei Lin and Xiao Lianhua, took their seats across from us. The atmosphere was thick with awkwardness as Yihong's piercing gaze continually shifted towards Lianhua, who shrank under his glare.
Fortunately, the innkeeper arrived just in time, bringing with him several trays of food that provided a welcome distraction.
There were fragrant foods, their soft, fluffy exteriors promising a tender bite.There were fluffy steamed buns, soft and warm, alongside delicate dim sum—little dumplings filled with savory pork and shrimp. Crispy spring rolls, golden and crunchy, sat next to a bowl of creamy congee topped with scallions and pickled vegetables.
"Please make sure to finish your breakfast, and you may take a stroll in the town afterward," the innkeeper said courteously before leaving us to our meal.
Each of us picked up our chopsticks and began digging into the food. Xiao Lianhua, happily munching on a steamed bun, looked up at me with bright eyes. "Yu gege, I saw a beautiful place in the town when I came here yesterday. Would you like to come with me to that place?"
"Of course," I replied with a smile, glad to see her so enthusiastic.
Yihong muttered under his breath, "Fool."
"What?" I asked, puzzled looking at him.
"Can I stay in your room as well?" Lianhua asked, her eyes pleading.
"Yes, you may—" I started to respond, but Yihong abruptly interrupted. He broke the pair of chopsticks he was holding with a sharp snap and slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing through the room.
"You," Yihong said sharply, pointing his sheathed sword at Lianhua. Her eyes widened in fear, and she clung to Mei Lin, trembling.
"You better stay in your room if you don't want me to snap your neck," he said coldly before grabbing my chopsticks and resuming his meal with a scowl.
Lianhua's eyes filled with tears as she looked up at me, her lower lip trembling. "Yu gege…"
"It's alright, don't cry," I said, trying to comfort her.
I turned to Yihong, my frustration boiling over. "Hey, Han Yihong! How can you be so rude to a child? You're so emotionless, making a cute little girl like her cry. Stupid bastard. Stupid Cold Face."
Yihong didn't even look up from his plate, his expression unmoved. He continued to eat as if my words had bounced off him completely.