Chapter 970: The Black Sheep's Choice

Hei Yang twisted in mid-air and suddenly kicked towards Di Niu's neck.

Di Niu was startled by the sudden attack and retreated several steps. After steadying herself, she stepped forward, knocking over several chairs along the way.

Di Ji, standing nearby, silently leaped up and expertly caught the falling chairs, then gently placed them back on the ground.

"Go ahead and fight... but don't break the furniture," Di Ji muttered softly. "I carefully selected these, and I really like them."

The two exchanged a few more blows, and after a fierce clash, both retreated several steps, neither gaining an advantage.

Watching them stand there, panting and facing off, Di Ji finally sat down.

"Have you two had enough?" she asked irritably. "Are you planning for one of you to die today, or both?"

Both their faces were covered in injuries, clearly the result of an evenly matched battle.

"You're no gentleman..." Di Niu gritted her teeth and controlled her breathing as she asked, "Hei Yang, when you fight, it's all eye gouging, throat choking, groin kicking... I've been polite to you, but you're going straight for the vital spots."

"Did I ever say I wanted you to be polite to me?" Hei Yang sneered. "I told you from the start that I came to kill you, because if you don't die, my brother will be in trouble."

Di Niu knew that the Hei Yang in front of her was not to be trifled with—he seemed genuinely determined to kill.

"If you think this plan is no good, you don't have to follow it," Di Niu said. "Let's both back down. I'll pretend you never came, and you pretend I never said anything. After all, if this escalates, it's bad for everyone."

"You..." Hei Yang frowned slightly upon hearing this. "Di Niu, are you joking with me? If it were that easy, how could I be so dead set on taking your head?"

"It's exactly that easy," Di Niu said. "You're the one who's making it too complicated."

"Bullshit!" Hei Yang swore angrily. "If you weren't using Bai Yang's name, I might let it go, but that idiot Pei Qian Hu treats every word from Bai Yang as gospel, even if it's just something you made up... You said it casually, but whose life is on the line because of that?"

"Then go back and tell him it's fake," Di Niu said. "Is that so difficult?"

"Damn it..." Hei Yang's bright yellow, sheep-like pupils filled with killing intent again. "You're really getting me worked up, admitting now that what you said was fake?"

"It was fake from the beginning," Di Niu said. "I figure many smart people here can see through that, so the fools will go off to die, and the smart ones will survive. But you... I can't quite figure you out. You're clearly smart, yet you're raging for a fool?"

"Who do you think you are...?" Hei Yang slowly stepped forward, clearly preparing to attack again. "Even Bai Yang wouldn't use a fake plan to send his own people to their deaths."

"I represent Bai Yang," Di Niu said. "Whether you believe it or not, I have the highest decision-making authority in Bai Yang's plan."

"What...?"

"To be honest, Bai Yang once gave me the right to 'temporarily adjust' things and command as I see fit, because we have too many people gathered this time," Di Niu continued. "The final plan doesn't need so many—just nine surviving 'Sheng Xiao'. So I need a few to volunteer to die and create chaos, while reducing numbers and keeping the overall plan on track."

Hei Yang was stunned for a long time before slowly spitting out three words: "Don't bullshit..."

"Where's the bullshit?"

"We already have nine people in our room," Hei Yang said gravely. "Didn't you say yourself that we nine 'Sheng Xiao' are just like the original interview room?"

"But these candidates aren't right," Di Niu replied. "There are three more teammates waiting to join outside, meaning there are twelve candidates in total. At least three need to volunteer to die."

Hei Yang paused after hearing this. There are three more waiting to join...?

Could it be Long, She, and Hou?

"Bai Yang doesn't want to be the bad guy, but I don't mind," Di Niu added. "Even if my hands are stained with blood, I have to protect Bai Yang's plan."

Hei Yang slowly approached Di Niu, their faces almost touching as they stared at each other.

"Di Niu, you're lying again," Hei Yang said. "If we're talking about being the bad guy, Bai Yang already has one person for that—me. I can handle all the dirty work. What exactly are you?"

"Is that so?" Di Niu laughed. "Then if Bai Yang told you to kill Di Hu, would you do it?"

"It's precisely because Bai Yang would never come up with a plan that puts people in such a bind that I call him 'Bai Yang'," Hei Yang said. "He's the only one I truly respect. Don't play the fool."

"So what...?" Di Niu replied. "I didn't come here to make friends with you. If you don't respect me, that's fine."

Hei Yang thought for a moment, then grabbed Di Niu's wrist and said, "Come with me now. I want you to tell Pei Qian Hu to his face that the plan is fake and make him give up."

"Don't dream on it," Di Niu said, shaking off Hei Yang's hand. "My goal was to get him killed from the start. If his heart dies, at least the person won't."

"You..." Hei Yang said with a stern face. "Bai Yang wouldn't allow you to harm Pei Qian Hu. He's not that kind of person."

"He's not that kind of person?!" Di Niu's voice suddenly grew agitated. "Then what kind is he?! For his plan, over the years, he's treated everyone's lives like pawns. Countless people have died and been reborn, reborn and died again. Now, at the final stage, with just one Di Hu in the way... do you really think he'd care?!"

"He..."

"Between saving Di Hu's life and getting everyone out safely... what do you think Bai Yang would choose?" Di Niu asked. "Bai Yang's plan doesn't need reckless people like that... You should think carefully about your own position."

...

When Hei Yang returned to Di Hu's room, Di Hu was squatting on the ground, picking up scattered food to eat.

As he stuffed the scattered food into his mouth, he mumbled unclearly, "Old Hei, did you hear that just now? Damn, it sounded like they were demolishing the place next door..."

Hei Yang said nothing, just held his forehead and slowly sat down.

"Hey... Old Hei, who were you fighting with? How did you get your sheep head all banged up?"

Di Hu quickly wiped his hands on his suit and stepped forward to touch Hei Yang, but Hei Yang pushed him away without hesitation.

"Damn it, dead old Hei, say something! Did they beat you stupid?!"

After thinking for a long time, Hei Yang finally spoke: "Pei Qian Hu, I'll join you in killing 'Tian Hu'."