Chapter 15

The rain from last night still hadn’t stopped. Whether equilibrium would occur today weighed heavily on the hearts of every member of the White side, making the damp chill all the more unbearable.

At the break of dawn, just as Xi Yu was deep in thought and about to enter Qingming Hall, he was stopped by Wu Zhi.

Knowing he had done something wrong, Wu Zhi carefully confessed what he had done at Tong Leshan’s place.

Xi Yu widened his eyes: “What? You—why didn’t you listen?”

Wu Zhi’s babyish face showed frustration: “I was afraid if someone died and I saw it, I’d faint. And if no one died, then I’d be useless… I acted on impulse!”

Xi Yu had it all planned out, but now he truly understood the destructive power of this brat. After being depressed for a while, he said, “Fortunately, Huasheng isn’t really Huasheng, and he won’t be testing players. Tong Leshan will definitely discuss with his teammates, then ask you to test someone. You won’t be able to fool him—just try not to get caught!”

Wu Zhi nodded, looking very guilty.

Xi Yu said, “Alright, I still have something important to do. Be careful. If things get too dangerous, wait for me at the shrine.”

Wu Zhi nodded again, then said, “Oh right, I overheard Tong Leshan slip up. It seems like using the big snake to kill someone requires certain conditions.”

Xi Yu replied, “It’s probably a usage limit—just like how I can only ask the White Cat once per day.”

Wu Zhi didn’t understand: “But except for the first day when he killed He Yingqi with the snake, he hasn’t succeeded again. That’s weird…”

Xi Yu smiled: “I already have an idea about that. I’ll tell you once it’s fully formed. Go on now.”

Wu Zhi obediently nodded and happily ran toward Qingming Hall.

Xi Yu looked up, saw that it was still early and no one was around, so he quickly slipped away to hide in a corner.

The smug White Cat was completely unaffected by the players’ moods. Early in the morning, it was happily savoring half a Pacific saury, let out a burp, and said, “Not much time left. What do you want to know this time?”

Xi Yu whispered, “I want the White General’s passive skill.”

The White Cat asked, “Why do you never ask for information on the Black General? He’s your biggest enemy.”

Xi Yu answered, “Madam despises the Black General and has already revealed his active skill. As for the passive one, I think I’ve guessed it.”

“Oh?” The White Cat grinned, showing sharp teeth. “Alright, the White General’s passive flower card is in Tong Leshan’s room.”

Xi Yu: “Not on him?”The White Cat replied, “What I say is what it is.”

Xi Yu frowned in thought: Based on his own observations and Wu Zhi’s reports, this Tong Leshan pretty much spent every day sleeping in his room. Ever since He Yingqi died, he hadn’t stepped outside again, which was probably why he dared neither to destroy the flower card nor carry it with him. But… how to steal it?

Other than the group meal time at Qingming Hall, when Tong Leshan was required to attend, there was really no other opportunity.

Xi Yu clenched his teeth in thought. He had originally planned to have Wu Zhi distract him, but couldn’t bear to drag that child into danger. In the end, he had no choice but to take the risk and act during this sensitive moment before breakfast.

Tong Leshan usually left his room very late and would head straight to Qingming Hall to sit, never speaking much—his behavior was always odd.

After waiting in the thick morning fog for over twenty minutes, Xi Yu finally spotted him briefly appear. Seeing no other players around, Xi Yu slipped into his room the moment Tong Leshan vanished.

Although the General’s Residence was large, all the player quarters were more or less the same. Xi Yu had searched this place once before, so he was familiar with the layout. He quickly rummaged through the tatami mat, the ceiling, hanging scrolls, bedding… and finally, from a gap in the cupboard, he retrieved a flower card.

[Plum Blossom Red Short Card / White General Passive Skill — Mercy: Cannot harm any player]

So the White General couldn’t harm other players?!

Xi Yu glanced at it in surprise, then immediately stuffed the card back where it was. In that instant, he also understood why Tong Leshan hadn’t destroyed the card—because it was strong evidence in itself, something he could use to rally the Black side to attack whoever he suspected.

Just as he was thinking, faint footsteps sounded outside the door.

Xi Yu froze immediately and hid beside the door, fully alert and ready to react.

—If it wasn’t Tong Leshan himself returning, then even if the person saw him, at most they'd both just subtly expose their vague positions. No need to panic too much.

Unfortunately, the person was clever. After pausing for a moment, they slowly walked away.

Xi Yu stayed seated where he was, gritting his teeth and waiting until the doll came to summon him before finally opening the door and stepping out into the empty hallway.

Because he arrived late, the other players were already seated.

As he walked with his head lowered to his seat, Xi Yu was aware of a pair of eyes secretly watching him, but he could only pretend to remain calm.

Over the past two days, the thoughts in his mind had risen and fallen like waves. He had thought through things quite thoroughly. If, in the end, his guesses were completely wrong, he would have no complaints about losing.

“You’re late. Sleeping in?” Luo Xi suddenly asked.

Xi Yu had already sat down. He looked up at him—and, as usual, ignored him.Luo Xi looked out at the increasingly heavy downpour and suddenly said with a smile, “The weather is just like when we first arrived. Tomorrow is the day of death. Looks like we’ll be trapped here for the final showdown.”

This statement naturally stirred an echo of unease.

Luo Xi tapped the table rhythmically with his chopsticks, smiling without speaking.

Xi Yu looked at Luo Xi’s terrifying face, but in those pitch-black eyes, he read a certain exhausted calmness. He then cast a reassuring glance toward the restless little Wu Zhi.

For some reason—by some stroke of luck amidst misfortune—the balance had not been disrupted.

Could it be related to Madam’s unexpected interference?

Xi Yu hadn’t fully worked that part out, but he was at least relieved no new chaos had been added to the mix, and he quickly left Qingming Hall.

Originally, as long as Wu Zhi didn’t blurt out his identity, things wouldn’t have gotten so complicated. Unfortunately, now the Black side would absolutely use that kid as their point of breakthrough.

Xi Yu wasn’t foolish enough to confront things head-on. His only option was to deliberately let Wu Zhi face things alone, while he himself hid in the shadows, ready to protect him when necessary.

As expected, after the meal, Tong Leshan stopped the troublemaker Wu Zhi and pulled him into a corner under the eaves, instructing, “That thing you said yesterday—still the same?”

Wu Zhi looked despairingly at everyone leaving, and answered quietly, “Yes. Who do you want to check? I’ll take you.”

“You just go yourself. I’ve got other matters. Contact me once you’re back,” Tong Leshan smiled. “Tell me Luo Xi’s identity.”

Wu Zhi was surprised. “That guy?”

Then he agreed, “O-okay.”

Tong Leshan patted his shoulder. “Be careful.”

Wu Zhi watched helplessly as he walked toward his own bedroom. He touched his short hair and could only pretend to turn and head toward the shrine.

This time, if Tong Leshan had come along, it would’ve been easier to deal with. Leaving Wu Zhi to act alone likely meant he’d arranged for someone to tail him in secret, which made things even more troublesome.

Poor and unlucky Wu Zhi arrived at the blood-tinged shrine, didn’t even dare ask about Ren Bo’s cause of death, and only bowed several times to the Onmyoji while murmuring to himself, then walked away in a heavy mood.

The rain fell harder and harder. The blood-red water soaked through his clothes, sending a chilling, bone-deep shiver through him.

Wu Zhi was lost in thought, when unexpectedly, he ran into Xi Yu on the road, who was using silk cloth to shield himself from the rain.Xi Yu, rarely showing warmth, flashed a smile as he approached him. “Where did you go?”

Wu Zhi replied, “I went... to the shrine…”

Xi Yu's eyes gleamed with a soft and patient light.

Wu Zhi whispered, “Luo Xi.”

Xi Yu casually glanced around and then said, “Just say it’s General Bai.”

Wu Zhi’s eyes widened in surprise, almost exclaiming at the answer.

Xi Yu waved his hand at him. “See you at lunch.”

Wu Zhi stared blankly at him as he walked away, silently pondering: General Bai... General Bai?! Is this suggesting that Tong Leshan wants to remove Luo Xi?!

It was almost impossible for anyone who had survived this long to just be waiting around for death.

At lunch, everyone had gathered in the hall by the last moment, drenched except for Tong Leshan, who stood calmly while everyone else shivered in front of the steaming dishes.

Wu Zhi had already informed Tong Leshan about the plan as per Xi Yu's arrangement and, as expected, received a shocked look and an eye-roll.

Fortunately, at this moment, whether the Black side believed it or not, there was no time to hesitate.

Luo Xi, who loved to drink, had somehow acquired some sake and was leisurely drinking alone as usual.

Tong Leshan received a signal from the Black General and suddenly coughed twice, then for the first time stirred up trouble by saying, “There’s not much time left before the five-day deadline. The samurai’s medicine was almost all wasted last night. Now, let’s make a statement about our identities. Regardless, when the time comes, we will have to take action.”

Fang Hao felt it was unbelievable, adjusted his glasses, and a look of disdain appeared on his thin face. “Make a statement? You’ve given up your humanity. Do you really intend to kill?”

Because of his training in sports, Tong Leshan had a strong build. He stood up with a commanding presence, and in a few steps, he rushed to Fang Hao’s side. “Am I the first to want to kill? How did Ren Bo die last night? The person who poisoned him is very clear!”

Luo Xi, as usual, provoked trouble, laughing aloud, “...You know very well how He Yingqi died too, don’t you?”

Fang Hao’s face turned slightly pale, but he sat back properly, refusing to look at Tong Leshan.

Tong Leshan provocatively walked up to Luo Xi. “Which side are you on? Before Ren Bo died, he was relying on you!”

Luo Xi replied, “No matter which side I’m on, I would never rely on you.”Tong Leshan unexpectedly grabbed a dish from the table and immediately aimed to smash it into his face.

To everyone’s surprise, the slightly intoxicated Luo Xi stepped aside first, then pushed Tong Leshan back, frowning and saying, "What's going on? As the game reaches its deadline, are you tired of living?"

Tong Leshan, with a face full of mocking calmness, replied, "What are you going to do about it?"

To everyone’s shock, Luo Xi took a knife out of his leather jacket pocket.

This knife was from the kitchen, usually handled by those eerie little dolls, and no one knew how he managed to get his hands on it.

However, recalling that Luo Xi had once crushed a doll in front of everyone, stealing things didn’t seem out of the question.

At this moment, facing the weapon, Tong Leshan instinctively backed away, tightening his fists nervously.

Fortunately, Fang Hao once again lived up to expectations and rushed forward to stop him. "Don’t act impulsively. What are you doing? Killing someone isn’t necessarily the solution."

"Get out of the way!" Luo Xi shoved Fang Hao aside, and unexpectedly, the knife flew awkwardly to Fang Hao’s feet.

Fang Hao froze for a moment, then quickly picked up the knife.

Luo Xi sneered and stepped toward him. "What’s this? Acting like a nice guy just now, but now that you've found an opportunity, you’re trying to strike first?"

Fang Hao, trembling, gripped the knife with both hands. "Y-You... don’t come any closer!"

But Luo Xi, like a vengeful spirit, disregarded it all and lunged at him, throwing a punch!

West Feather, who had planned to step in and stop it, saw Fang Hao instinctively thrust the short knife out. Luo Xi immediately grabbed his wrist to stop him, but in that moment, the knife still pierced Luo Xi’s abdomen!

Moments later, blood began dripping steadily.

Fang Hao was utterly stunned, unable to believe that he had done this, and looked at Luo Xi with an expression of disbelief.

Sun Xiuya and Tang Yanyan screamed, while West Feather immediately jumped over the table, rushing to support the fallen Luo Xi. "Hey, are you okay?"

Luo Xi still wore an eerie smile on his face, suddenly pulled out the knife, then had West Feather help him press down on his bleeding abdomen. He glared at Sun Xiuya. "What are you standing there for? Where's the hemostatic medicine you stole from the medical hall?!"

Sun Xiuya, trembling like a sieve, stammered, "I... I’ll go get it..."

With that, she weakly ran off, her fear almost making it seem like she was trying to flee the scene of a crime.Tong Leshan, standing dumbfounded in place, looked completely confused, rubbing his chin unsure of what to say.

In fact, the ones he and the Black General were most suspicious of were Fang Hao, with his leadership qualities, followed by Luo Xi, who had been reported by Wu Zhi. But now that Fang Hao had injured Luo Xi, it proved that neither of them were the White General, so who else could it be...?

Realizing the situation, Tong Leshan angrily glanced at West Feather and then glared at Wu Zhi, who looked like a frightened rabbit.

A cold sweat appeared on West Feather’s forehead, and he silently mouthed a single word to Wu Zhi: Run.

Wu Zhi’s legs trembled, and in the blink of an eye, he rushed out of the Qingming Hall, running straight into the torrential blood rain.