Chapter 283: Rotten Peanuts

In Bai Yang's room, the four people inside quietly stared at the wrinkled bag of peanuts on the table, the atmosphere oppressively tense.

Bai Yang remained silent for a long time, feeling a slight headache.

He reached out with his hand covered in white fur and rubbed his temples, then opened the bag of peanuts on the table and shelled one.

Many of the peanuts in the bag were moldy, and the one he shelled was wrinkled and pitch-black.

He popped the peanut into his mouth and bit down lightly, filling it with a bitter, rotten taste.

The room was deathly quiet, with only the sound of Bai Yang chewing breaking the silence.

The three Sheng Xiao watched expressionlessly as he swallowed the peanut, then picked up a second one.

"Yang Ge..." Ren Hu couldn't help but speak up. "What are we even doing...? We can't even help a little child. If we ever get out, will we still have any 'humanity' left...?"

Ren She nodded in agreement. "Yang Ge... we all know you. You're not really like this, are you? I know you don't want that child to suffer... but if we just kick her out, she only has two options—to become a 'Di Long' or join another 'Sheng Xiao.' None of them will treat her well..."

Bai Yang didn't respond. He just rubbed his aching temples again and glanced at Hei Yang.

Hei Yang paused before saying, "Yang Ge... you joined later than I did, but you rose to 'Di Ji' faster. You're the person I admire most in this world. So I'll follow all your arrangements... even if... even if..."

"Even if what?"

"Even if... you ask me to do something against my conscience..."

"Good, then go kill her for me," Bai Yang said coldly.

"What...?" Hei Yang was stunned.

"Isn't it about following all my arrangements?" Bai Yang tossed another peanut into his mouth. "Go right now and kill that child, then bring back her head and mask."

"I..." Hei Yang hesitated for a long time, then slowly lowered his head.

The man before him was always so unpredictable, and Hei Yang knew he couldn't figure him out.

"How ridiculous," Bai Yang said. "You three are living like this now, and you can't even stand to see suffering? What was I thinking back then, blindly taking in you three useless ones? The other 'Di Ji' Sheng Xiao have dozens of disciples, earning hundreds of 'Dao' every day, while I count myself lucky if I get thirty a day."

"Yang Ge... calm down," Ren She said, looking up. "You're right—we haven't lived up to your expectations..."

"Yes, Yang Ge!" Ren Hu said fiercely. "I've said it before—if you ever think I'm in the way, I can leave anytime!"

Bai Yang reached for another peanut and said slowly, "I've been alone my whole life. Before entering the 'Zhong Yan Zhi Di,' I was always on my own. I feel that child is a lot like me, but not quite the same."

The three listened quietly as Bai Yang spoke.

"She seems to have grown up in the 'darkness' of the world, but she's more human than I ever was," Bai Yang said. "The 'darkness' has corrupted me completely, but it hasn't touched her."

"Yang Ge... what do you mean by that...?"

"I don't want her to turn into me," Bai Yang replied. "If we really take her with us and escape, she'll become a black flower, stained with the darkness of the world. Better to let her be free now."

The three lowered their heads in silence, saying nothing.

They understood Bai Yang's intention.

"But then I thought again..." Bai Yang tapped the table. "You three have followed me for years, and you still seem the same as ever, without much influence. So maybe..."

"You're absolutely right, Yang Ge!" Ren She jumped up suddenly. "I think what you said is spot on!"

"What did Yang Ge say?" Ren Hu asked, confused.

"You two, shut it," Hei Yang glared at them. "Let Yang Ge speak."

Bai Yang pursed his lips, but changed the subject: "I have to make this clear first—if we take in this child, there'll be endless trouble... it might even affect your promotions. So, are you still willing to accept her?"

"Yes!" Ren Hu and Ren She said in unison.

"I..." Hei Yang narrowed his eyes at the two of them. "I feel sorry for the child, but I won't let anyone get in the way of my promotion."

"Then stay out of it!" Ren Hu shouted. "Once we bring the child back, I'll handle her with Ren She! You can go wherever you want!"

"Serves you right to stay at 'Ren Ji' level forever!" Hei Yang shot back.

"What did you say?!"

"Both of you, shut up," Bai Yang said.

The two fell silent, looking displeased.

"There's one more thing I can't stand," Bai Yang sighed, picking up another moldy peanut. "I've had you three for almost three years... feeding you well every day, and not once have you brought me even a bag of peanuts."

"What...?"

"At least my youngest student is thoughtful," Bai Yang said. "On her first day, she knew to bring something to show respect—way better than you three fools. I wonder if she's finished her walk yet?"

Ren She was the first to react. He quickly stood up and said urgently, "Yang Ge, we'll go get your youngest student right now."

"Oh, yes, yes, yes!" Ren Hu also stood up. "Yang Ge, just wait—we'll bring her home!"

The two rushed out of the room one after the other, leaving only Bai Yang and Hei Yang inside.

"Well?" Bai Yang stared at him.

"Yang Ge... you seem different somehow," Hei Yang said. "What I admire about you is that you always set aside all emotions, like a true god... but today, I feel like you're..."

"Yang, I'm about to get out."

"Wh-what?!" Hei Yang was stunned.

Hei Yang knew that the three of them contributed so few "Dao" every day... yet the Bai Yang in front of him had somehow met his kill quota with that pitiful amount? Did he have extra "Dao" to pay the participants?

If Sheng Xiao could leave their territories, Hei Yang would have gone to see what kind of game Bai Yang was playing.

Bai Yang smiled. "I haven't told the other two yet."

"Yang Ge... if you leave... what about us?!" Hei Yang asked, his voice trembling. "You still have so much to teach me..."

"After I go, the study is yours," Bai Yang said. "All the rules and principles are on the shelves. If you're interested, read them—they'll help with your games."

"I... I understand..." Hei Yang nodded, looking dejected.

As the two sat in silence, a faint knocking sound came from the door.

"Come in," Bai Yang said.

After a few seconds, the door opened a crack, and a slightly pudgy figure peeked in.

He wore a dirty pig head mask.

"Yang Ge... can I bother you for a moment?" the person asked.

"Pig?" Bai Yang hesitated slightly. "What do you want?"

"Yes... I-I have something to ask of you..." Ren Zhu said quietly. "But it might be a bit presumptuous..."