Chapter 5: Mainline players, please continue…

Crazy?!

Mo Yan wanted to stop it, but the severed arm had already come off Lu Ming's body.

Qiqi Liuli's face grew even paler, and she hadn't yet recovered.

【Exchange: Healing Medicine】

【Use!】

The bleeding effect began to weaken, finally the HP bar fixed at 15, and the poison effect also disappeared.

【HP: 15-6】

【HP: 205】

【HP: 25-3】

【HP: 225】

……………………

Mo Yan knew what to say; although he couldn't accept it, it was indeed the only way to shake off the poison effect.

"Really crazy!" Qiqi Liuli shook her head, turned and left the room.

This game is already crazy enough, but Country C seems even crazier.

"Let's go." Lu Ming picked up the gun on the ground, looked at Mo Yan, "Let's head back to the cafeteria to rest and pass on the clues."

Mo Yan's face remained grim, but he nodded; on Three One Road, they said nothing, and quickly returned to the first-floor cafeteria.

Lu, Mo Yan noticed that besides the boy's pale face, everything else seemed normal.

Just now, when cutting off the hand, he was decisive, not dragging his feet; if it's useless, it should be discarded.

A severed arm is normally bearable; moreover, given the age difference, the other party should also be a student.

Mo Yan thought, such resolve, is terrifying...

Let go!

Made, who struck first? How dare you make me let go first?!

The cafeteria was in chaos; the two grabbed each other's collars, eyes locked.

"Rude!" Country A didn't continue fighting, but his mouth remained obedient.

The Country C white-collar also showed weakness: "Polite, formidable, and also daring!"

Another girl sat in her seat, with no intention to stop the fight; a sound came from the doorway, and the three almost simultaneously shifted their gaze.

The most advanced was Qiqi Liuli, then Mo Yan and Lu Ming.

", What's wrong?" Qiqi Liuli looked around blankly.

The two who had just been confronting each other released each other's collars one after another.

Some foreign, just know which superiority feeling.

No way to talk to apes...

Qiqi Liuli felt a headache.

Clearly lacking even the courage to be in the cafeteria, yet they still have the nerve to argue.

Look, they both have problems, but they also want to deal with some trivial matters, so they just found a seat and sat down.

"Lu Ming, have a seat." Mo Yan pulled out a chair for Lu Ming.

Lu Ming didn't refuse, gave a thanks, and sat down.

"Brother, … hand…" The Country C white-collar only then noticed, speaking with a stutter.

Lu Ming understood, began to organize the purpose clues.

He guessed that only the clues that actually work can serve as the main line to end the game; finding the Gray Wolf should be the game's ultimate goal.

Lu Ming spoke his guess.

"Obviously the dean whom Chen Ling called the devil, right?" Qiqi Liuli said.

Mo Yan leaned against the wall, spread his hands: "Obviously, don't you find it strange? The dean also died by gunshot; perhaps the so-called Gray Wolf..."

Looking at Lu Ming, Lu Ming nodded to show agreement.

"Wait…" the girl in the corner who had never spoken raised her hand: "From Country K, I'm also… also a student, I just saw the shared clue…… the nursery rhyme about six children…"

Tears welled in her eyes, yet she struggled to keep a smile: "Also exactly six…"

That sentence undoubtedly made the atmosphere even more eerie.

One lacks a heart, two lack a brain…

In a daze, that eerie nursery rhyme seemed to sound again by the ear, a truly childish voice, like many children gathered around a bonfire singing.

"Finished!" that person from Country A overturned the table and ran toward the door: "The game, the nursery rhyme, all dead!"

However, he couldn't reach the door handle; in the silence, the sound of a heavy object hitting the floor rang out.

Country A stood straight at the door, body motionless, darkness, something rolled— a head…

The shock often causes a sound.

Nobody spoke, just silently watching the head roll, the liquid tracing an eerie arc on the ground.

【Player count: 5】

"Truly obedient…" the girl Thus: Yuanyuan's laughter rang out again, slowly walking from the darkness, her blood-red pupils like endless abyss.

Behind him seemed to stand another figure; Lu Ming furrowed his brows.

The female corpse in the infirmary held that machete, just like the dean.

"Brother, have you figured out who the Gray Wolf is?" Thus: Yuanyuan narrowed her eyes, scanned the Five Emperors, her gaze landing on Lu Ming, "And also, tell Thus: Yuanyuan a story first?"

"Let's tell a story." Lu Ming answered succinctly.

Yuanyuan froze for a moment, clapped and laughed: "Okay, then let's start the story first, want to know what happened to the grey wolf afterwards?"

"'He's dead.' Lu Ming said, 'After being discovered by the shepherd, he was skinned and hanged on a dead tree.'"

"'None left?' Yuanyuan tilted her head, puzzled."

"'Right.'"

"'Liar!' Yuanyuan snapped, 'How could a fairy tale be like that!'"

Lu Ming felt a tug from behind, that H Country female student.

"'I think, it's better to provoke further…'"

Lu Ming stared silently, his eyes deep, causing the girl opposite to freeze for a moment, that certainty, the eyes of assured victory.

He let go.

Lu Ming continued: "The grey wolf ate all the sheep, then left satisfied—is that what you call a fairy tale?"

Yuanyuan didn't reply, her eyes growing colder, but her face showed a manic smile: "Brother's right, the storytelling segment is over, then… let's draw lots?"

【Entering main segment: drawing lots】

【Main progress: 67%】

The table suddenly produced a jar containing five wooden sticks.

"'Drawing a red stick means accepting treatment and ending the game; each round after the draw, you may ask me one question, and I will answer or not.' Yuanyuan spread her hands, 'Please, brother, sister.'"

Qiuqi Liuli felt a chill down his spine, glanced around with his peripheral vision, and didn't take a stick.

Suddenly, a hand reached for the jar; Lu Ming took one stick from inside, then Mo Yan, and the K Country female student also plucked up courage and took one.

Only two sticks remained in the jar.

Seeing that, Qiuqi Liuli had no choice but to stand and take one as well.

Gradually, everyone's gaze fell on the white-collar youth who hadn't drawn a stick.

"'Want to draw?' Mo Yan asked."

"'Draw, draw…' the white-collar youth trembled as he reached out."

Lu Ming's stick faintly emitted a white glow: 'White.'

"'White…' Mo Yan said, looking at his stick."

Qiuqi Liuli didn't speak, but his stick also emitted a faint white light.

The H Country female student looked left and right, checking whether her color was the same as theirs.

None showed red…

The gaze again focused on the white-collar youth; such a situation, being the same as everyone, is not a good thing.

The white-collar youth trembled as he revealed his stick.

Red!

With a patter, the stick fell from his hand, his eyes vacant.

"'Look, the result is out.' Yuanyuan patted her belly, then laughed: 'Congratulations, player 74213, you've ended the game.'"

Everyone still wondered what ending the game meant, when suddenly a clear sound rang out, and something splattered onto the pristine tablecloth.

Blood…

The white-collar youth didn't even utter a scream; his eyes dimmed, a hole punched in his chest.

The H Country female student recoiled in fright, hands over her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Drawing a red stick means death…

Lu Ming thought of those children in the plot who could cure illness by drawing lots—looks like they're all dead now.

Chen Ling stood behind the white-collar youth, holding a bloody heart in her hand.

"'A friend lost his heart…' Yuanyuan hummed, then said: 'Let's give it to that heartless friend.'"

"'All right!' she clapped, smiling: 'Only one round left before the next draw, let's enjoy dinner first.'"

The sticks in everyone's hands vanished, and the table instantly presented three meal plates.

"'Why only three?' Mo Yan asked."

Besides the two dead players, there should still be four left.

"'Because it's the main-line players' private rooms.' Yuanyuan said: 'Only main-line players can move freely; the others cannot.'"

Lu Ming narrowed his eyes, seeing that even the main-line players weren't having an easy time.

"'Fine, Lu Ming is injured—if we could guarantee we'd meet that dean‑type monster?' Mo Yan frowned."

"'Thanks for the reminder—main‑line players are formidable; you can't kill that dean‑type monster…' Yuanyuan lowered her index finger to her lips, glanced at Chen Ling beside her, and said: 'Then… let's set it as defeat.'"

"'If the main‑line players return to the cafeteria, then the lot draw will start right away.'"

Qiuqi Liuli glared: 'How… then, if Lu Ming dies, we can't end the game, right?'

Her shoulders shivered, a fork gleamed in her hand, taken from the meal plate.

"'Don't mess around…' Lu Ming stared at Yuanyuan, his voice low."

"'Just kill the monster directly, and the game ends!' Qiuqi Liuli gritted his teeth."

"'Kill.' Lu Ming could only say: 'Trustworthy stuff.'"

"'All right, main‑line players…' Yuanyuan stepped back a few steps, faded into darkness: 'Please continue searching for clues about the grey wolf.'"

Defeat…

That is to say, if we encounter another monster, we can only evade.

Lu Ming thought he could outrun the monster, but he obviously had no choice.

Lu Ming thought of smashing the chandelier, and the prompt appeared: 【Dean loses sight】

Darkness was the only remaining option.

"Lu Ming." Mo Yan wanted to pat Lu Ming's shoulder, but thinking of Lu Ming's injury, he gave up: "If it's dangerous, just go back to the cafeteria."

Lu Ming glanced, then pushed the door open and walked away.

【Main plot: Min Jiejie told to hide well, but now during dinner, the class all went to the cafeteria, the class's older brothers and sisters will go to the library to read books.】

Want to find Min Jiejie; if we leave the orphanage, we still want to meet again.

Let's check the library first?】

【Negative point array library?】

Head to the cafeteria, the main plot continues, Lu Ming chose.

Library second floor, a floor not yet walked.

Lu Ming gripped his gun tightly, walked up the stairs, his broken arm already felt pain, guessing the effect of the medicine.

While searching for clues, Lu Ming still needs to be wary of the second monster Chen Ling, like the dean, set to be unbeatable.

Then we can only dodge.

Lu Ming stepped into the second-floor corridor, according to the guidance found the library.

"Squeak…"

The door was pushed open, emitting an extremely faint sound; the library had only a few rows of shelves and a table.

Suddenly, Lu Ming startled, his heart felt as if clenched, he knew the feeling of being frightened.

Only see several children sitting around the table, standing to read books; from their exposed pale skin, they already.

"Yuanyuan?"

A male voice came from behind Lu Ming; he turned his head, a boy was standing behind him.

His half face was already a blur of flesh and blood.

"Should we be eating in the cafeteria now?" The boy's rotting eye twitched, he lifted his head and stared straight at Lu Ming.

Dialogue?

Lu Ming stunned, felt a chill down his back, in his peripheral vision he saw those children around the table also looking.

"Yuanyuan, why are you speaking?" The boy continued: "Why the cafeteria? It will get the older brothers and sisters punished!"

The boy's voice became somewhat agitated, the blood vessels beside his eyes throbbed, looking extremely frightening.

"During dinner, stop running around, hurry back to the cafeteria!"

At the moment the boy's words fell, those children behind him all stood up, holding craft knives, pencils, blood-stained compasses…

What triggered?!

Lu Ming felt deep hostility; those children seemed to allow entry into the library.

Without hesitation, he raised his gun and fired first at the boy in front.

A blood-colored flower bloomed, the boy fell straight to the ground.

However, at that moment, Lu Ming was startled.

The boy actually emitted a horrifying wail, curling up on the ground.

"Kill, want to die!"

Looking again at those children behind him, they all stopped their steps, looking at Lu Ming with fearful eyes.

In just a moment, Lu Ming thought of not wasting more time; after confirming the children had no aggressive tendency, he began to search the library.

【Clue: They seem to fear something, guns? Or… Yuanyuan?】

【Main plot progress: 69%】

【"I heard, once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of well ropes?"】

"These children, even though they've been dead for several years, still feel fear toward something."

The borrowing list on the desk caught Lu Ming's attention.

【April 3: The dean borrowed《Detailed Explanation of Body Organs》】

The handwriting is juvenile, likely written by a child.

Just as Lu Ming intended to continue reading, suddenly a stool scraping sound came from behind; he turned to see those children had already sat back in their original spots.

On the table a candle burned, emitting a faint light in the darkness; beside it lay a jar; those children, without a word, began drawing lots.

Soon, the first red slip appeared.

A girl, holding the red slip, stood up and walked straight to the library.

While Lu Ming was still doubtful, the second red slip appeared.

Just like the first red slip, that child silently stood up and left.

Then third, fourth…

Soon the library only had that boy whose forehead was still bleeding.

"Want to die… want to die… sorry Min, sorry family, sorry…"

Lu Ming ignored that boy, went to the library, found those children had all gone to the third floor.

On the third floor, the room the dean allowed entry to; those children who drew red slips, perhaps are those chunks of meat in the cabinet...

The idea suddenly came to mind; Lu Ming, using his psychology, quickly adjusted his own mindset.

Just as he intended to return to the library to continue looking for clues, as he turned around he was hit by a blast of cold air.

Chen Ling stood behind him, her eyes stained red with blood, staring fixedly at Lu Ming.

【Hint: SAN drops!】

At such a close distance, Lu Ming felt that if he made any more sound, that machete would likely fall on his neck.

【Hint: SAN gradually stabilizing...】

Gradually, Chen Ling took her machete, disappeared around the corridor corner, and only after confirming it was completely safe did Lu Ming head back to the library.

The boy remained curled up in the corner.

Lu Ming was very curious: why did everyone else draw red slips, yet the boy managed to survive from the first round until now?

"If you make a sound, you'll be caught by Aunt Chen Ling..."

The boy continued speaking, then stopped muttering to himself.

"Why use the medicine? My family's all dead… What about my classmates' younger siblings… Who will save us… We promised to watch the sea together… together…"

"The medicine must refer to growth hormone; Lu Ming guessed that perhaps the headmaster gave the growth hormone to the class's children to eat—what is the purpose of that?"

"Infectious disease…"

"Perhaps there is no infectious disease at all, and Chen Ling's role is that of an accomplice."

Lu Ming discovered a floor plan, and by the moonlight from the window, he examined it carefully.

The orphanage building has three floors plus a courtyard, and Lu Ming only then discovered that the headmaster's office is actually on the third floor.

All signs indicate that the headmaster is unrelated to the main plot—whether lending books or giving the children medicine—so the third-floor office must also be…

But the time was enough.

Lu Ming noticed that only ten minutes remained before the next round of the draw began, and the interval was clearly enough to continue exploring.

Finally glancing toward the corner, the boy had already disappeared.

…………

In the last five minutes, Lu Ming returned to the cafeteria.

Three people sat around the table, silent; even though the plates were filled with food, nobody had an appetite.

Seeing Lu Ming return, the tense atmosphere finally eased a little.

"How is it?" Mo Yan asked.

"I haven't found them all; there's still one place left." Lu Ming said honestly.

"Not found everything... what does that mean?" the girl from K Country said in a trembling voice: "Will there be another death in this round?"

Qiuqi Liuli lowered her head, silent; she clearly realized that with only 45 minutes left, gathering all the clues was basically impossible, and she had already braced herself.

The candlelight on the table flickered again as Yuanyuan slowly emerged from the darkness, holding something in her arms.

"Big brother, have you figured out who the gray wolf is?" Yuanyuan showed a genuine, innocent smile.

The atmosphere froze again; only the candle flame remained burning, emitting a faint light.

The girl from K Country had already begun to sob.

"... Chen Ling." Lu Ming had no choice but to say what he thought was most likely.

"Actually, there is no infectious disease at all; it's just a fabrication by the headmaster, and the so-called vaccine growth hormone is his explanation." Lu Ming said: "Growth hormone makes children mature early; that kind of method... sorry, I can only think of organ trafficking. Actually those children didn't die of infectious disease, but had their organs harvested and died on the operating table... Their families are each missing something, right?"

"【Conclusion: The so-called infectious disease does not exist.】"

"【Main plot progress: 75%】"

Yuanyuan had her hands behind her back, unexpectedly saying: "Big brother, you're amazing; keep going?"

"In that regard, the headmaster is the perpetrator, but Chen Ling is not." Lu Ming recalled the main plot he had seen.

"In the children's eyes, Chen Ling has always been a good teacher, even like a mother, yet she colluded with the headmaster to traffic organs, making the setup fit the gray wolf hidden among the flock."

"Organ trafficking?!" Qiuqi Liuli widened her eyes, never imagining that the headmaster would dare to traffic children's organs.

"Is this the answer?" Yuanyuan looked at Lu Ming with a resentful gaze.

Everyone broke into a sweat.

Lu Ming nodded: "Correct."

Yuanyuan slowly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling.

"Are you crying?" Qiuqi Liuli whispered doubtfully; she had long thought the girl was a monster, never expecting her to also be a victim.

"Did you get it right?" The girl from K Country looked as if she had seen hope, her eyes brimming with tears flashing.

Lu Ming saw the girl's mouth curl into a strange arc.

...... Finished.

The table and the jar reappeared, with four slips neatly arranged in front.

"Congratulations, congratulations!" Yuanyuan lifted her head, her sickly smile terrifying: "Congratulations, big brother, you got it wrong!"

"Then, let's start the second round of the draw?"

The girl seemed to enjoy the feeling of depriving others of hope, looking at Lu Ming with a smile in her eyes.

But she discovered that Lu Ming remained completely calm.

"You must be feeling desperate, right?" Yuanyuan said with a laugh.

"Hmm." Lu Ming nodded, turned, and took a slip from the jar.

Just as Mo Yan accepted reality and was about to draw a slip, Lu Ming grabbed him.

Lu Ming handed the slip he was holding to Mo Yan.

"What's going on?" Mo Yan was completely bewildered.

Lu Ming didn't respond, continued to draw slips from the jar, and then handed them one by one to the two girls.

White light!

The slips in the three hands all glowed white; only Lu Ming's hand had no slip.

In this situation, Lu Ming instead breathed a sigh of relief, then took the last slip from the jar.

It was still white.

All four were white; this round of the draw was inconclusive.