Chapter 850: We're on Our Side

“Summon someone…? The eyes beneath Bái Yáng's mask shifted slightly. “How intriguing.””

At that moment, Mián Yáng was at a loss. He stepped forward, reached out, and instead grabbed hold of Rén Gǒu.

“Rén Gǒu, do you want to wait a bit…?” Mián Yáng said. “At least hear what he has to say first?”

“No…” Rén Gǒu replied with panic in his eyes. “While he hasn't spoken yet… there's still time to back out. Once he tells us his 'rebellion plan,' we'll be in too deep, and no matter what, we'll be silenced!”

“But Bái Yáng 'violated the rules' and survived,” Mián Yáng said calmly. “Rén Gǒu, Bái Yáng broke the contract, but no one punished him. He's still standing here.”

“What does that prove…?” Rén Gǒu said, shaking his masked face in frustration. “Mián Yáng… you're being foolish! He has connections!”

“Connections…?”

Rén Gǒu nodded. “He has backing, but we don't! Just because he can survive doesn't mean we can. How can you be so naive…?”

Mián Yáng didn't respond to Rén Gǒu's words, just nodded slightly as if deep in thought.

Seeing Mián Yáng's silence, Rén Gǒu continued, “Think about it—Bái Yáng entered the interview room the day after becoming a 'Shēng Xiào.' Doesn't that seem suspicious? The 'contract' requires a teacher to apply through 'Tiān Lóng,' but is 'Tiān Lóng' really that available…? Would he be on standby all the time to issue 'contracts'?”

“Oh, is that so…?” Mián Yáng said.

“If someone wants to become an interviewer the day after joining the 'Shēng Xiào'… it only means his teacher was preparing for it all along!” Rén Gǒu grabbed Mián Yáng's collar. “What are we? How can we follow him in rebellion?! Are you crazy?!”

“I…” Mián Yáng lowered his head, looking troubled. “You're right… people like us, with no skills and no background… it's the same wherever we go…”

“Glad you understand.” Rén Gǒu said. “Let's just do what we're supposed to and avoid any risks.”

Mián Yáng said nothing, sighing softly after a long pause.

The next second, the situation in the room took a dramatic turn, leaving me and Zhāng Qiáng stunned with our mouths agape.

“What's wrong?” Rén Gǒu asked Mián Yáng irritably. “Why are you sighing?”

“It's precisely because we have no skills and no backing that we need to find one quickly… Rén Gǒu, turn around and look.” Mián Yáng said gravely.

Rén Gǒu froze for a moment, then incredulously turned his head, only to find a black gun barrel pointed straight at his forehead.

“What…?”

Bái Yáng pressed the gun against Rén Gǒu's forehead and said coldly, “I'm short on time and can't waste any more. If I can convince you, I will. If not, I'll have to get rid of you. After all, you're the only one left in this room who opposes me.”

Rén Gǒu swallowed hard, thinking over the situation, and said, “You… you're in cahoots with Mián Yáng?”

Bái Yáng didn't answer, just gave him an ambiguous look.

“That's impossible…” Rén Gǒu's eyes trembled slightly under his mask. “You always die first… and Mián Yáng last… how could you communicate without me knowing?”

“Oh…?” Bái Yáng said with a hint of doubt. “The head I'm about to blow away is really not very sharp, is it?”

“You…!” Rén Gǒu flared up in anger instantly.

“Rén Gǒu.” Mián Yáng said from behind him. “You overlooked one thing. You and Bái Yáng will both die in this game, but I won't. Our game room doesn't have an 'assistant,' so I'll descend to the next level and handle the door, bringing the 'participants' out.”

“What…” Rén Gǒu was slightly stunned, realizing he'd been outmaneuvered.

Mián Yáng continued, “Some rooms end with all 'Shēng Xiào' dying, so they need a special role like 'assistant' to open the door for the 'participants.' But ours doesn't.”

Rén Gǒu turned back to look at Mián Yáng, gave a bitter smile, and nodded. “So you can return to the 'train' every time… and quietly wait for the 'participants' to come back.”

“That's right.” Mián Yáng nodded. “I won't die here. I have plenty of time to communicate with anyone.”

Rén Gǒu frowned again and turned to Bái Yáng.

“That doesn't add up…” Rén Gǒu said with trembling lips. “Even if Mián Yáng can go back to the 'train'… what about you? You die here every time… how do you contact anyone?”

“Have I… died?” Bái Yáng said in a cold tone. “'Bái Yáng' died, but have 'I' died?”

“What… what do you mean…?”

Bái Yáng paused and said, “You've been here too long, so you might not know what's happening outside. I hear there's a 'participant' out there with a lot of influence. Do you know who that is?”

After speaking, he glanced at the clock on the table again.

Rén Gǒu's expression grew even more grim. I couldn't read his thoughts; I just knew he fell into a long silence.

“Rén Gǒu, if you have no more questions, I'll send you on your way now.” Bái Yáng said. “At least you'll die knowing the truth.”

“You…” Rén Gǒu took a deep breath and said, “It doesn't matter… since 'violating the rules and dying' can still let you live… killing me won't help. Next time, I'll make you pay.”

“There's a misconception.” Bái Yáng said. “'Violating the rules and surviving' was a lie I told you.”

“What…”

Rén Gǒu's eyes widened in an instant. I and Zhāng Qiáng kept our heads down, listening carefully to their conversation.

If my feeling was right, something big was about to happen.

“Sorry, you can only believe half of what I say. What's written in the 'contract' is true—if you're killed, you're dead for good.”

Without waiting for a response, Bái Yáng pulled the trigger decisively, using the gun's single bullet to pierce Rén Gǒu's head.

Mián Yáng watched Rén Gǒu fall without any change in expression, then glanced at the time on the table.

“If you're in a hurry, Bái Yáng, you should go first.” Mián Yáng said.

“Unfortunately, I can't.” Bái Yáng replied. “The gun only had one bullet, and I wasted it on Rén Gǒu. Now I'll have to take a risk this time.”

“Then do you want to wait for the 'Yú Chā' to arrive?” Mián Yáng said. “Or should I kill you now?”

“I'm afraid my bones are too tough; you might not be able to.” Bái Yáng tossed the gun casually on the ground and turned to me and Zhāng Qiáng.

“Since I can't leave yet, I'll tell you two about the plan ahead.”