Chapter 16.

Chapter 16.

In the evening, the Qin residence's annex, illuminated by bright candlelight, lacked the typical eerie darkness of the night, and instead buzzed with activity.

However, at this moment, everyone inside the courtyard was silent as if they had been rendered mute, and none dared to speak.

The night wind rustled, blowing Xie Yinxue's sleeves and hem, accentuating his frail and delicate figure. Yet, such a figure, appearing on the brink of death, was more intimidating than the surrounding attendants, dressed as if preparing for a funeral.

Indeed...

Never mind that Xie Yinxue was the ferryman NPC, whom Wei Dao had told them at the start of the game could be enlisted for help at a cost. Even if he weren't—just a regular game participant—he had no obligation to assist others.

Just as he mentioned "charity."

The game granted them charity, and Xie Yinxue's act of saving others wasn't out of pity; it was his form of charity.

The term was so piercing yet apt, representing an undeniable truth.

The old butler, always indifferent to the events among participants, continued serving dishes after Ah Qi had his fill: "The second dish, 'Snow Beneath the Volcano,' as ordered by Mr. Xie and prepared by Chef Ah Jiu, is now ready for your indulgence."

As the words faded, the pale-eyed Chef Ah Jiu, along with the server, approached from the back courtyard.

Xie Yinxue, hands resting on the table, slowly raised his eyes to meet the newcomers.

Chef Ah Jiu kept his eyes down until he stood opposite Xie Yinxue. Only then did he lift his gaze, revealing eyes that seemed to harbor an age-old coldness, an endless indifference. Yet, when they met Xie Yinxue's gaze, they remained calm.

"So, the one preparing my meal tonight..." Xie Yinxue's eyes sparkled with mischief, "is you, Ah Jiu."

Xie Yinxue was genuinely breathtaking, possessing a beauty that eclipsed countless others. But his constant pallor and bloodless lips gave him a frail appearance, reminiscent of newly blossomed pear flowers in early spring.

This made one wonder: how captivating would he look with a rosy complexion?

Now, as Xie Yinxue smiled, his eyes shimmered with warmth, as if meeting a long-lost lover. Yet, Lv Shuo, ever perceptive, detected a faint chilling intent in his voice.

The chef simply nodded in response, saying, "It's me."

Chefs rarely spoke during meal presentations. When they did, it was often ignored. Yet, when Chef Ah Jiu spoke now, he responded directly to Xie Yinxue's question.

He then unveiled the dish, not placing it in the center of the table like others but directly in front of Xie Yinxue.

Xie Yinxue's gaze settled on the dish before him, "Snow Beneath the Volcano." This intriguingly named dish was simply sliced tomatoes sprinkled with sugar.

He adjusted his sleeves, tasted a sugar-coated tomato slice. The cooling sensation and softness paired with a hint of sourness balanced by the sugar was exquisite, reminiscent of the perfect pearl rice dish Ah Jiu had made the day before.

What a pity it was a vegetarian dish.

Xie Yinxue lamented internally: had it been meat, he could have ascertained the true meaning of "Both are fish on the chopping board." Although he could find flaws even in a vegetarian dish, during the day, Ah Jiu had prepared a pear soup for him.

After all, one's obligated when one takes a favor. The soup did wonders for his throat.

Seeing Xie Yinxue settled and eating, others presumed his prior agitation was past and began tasting the tomatoes.

The old butler inquired, "Is the dish to your liking? Is there anything amiss with it?"

Since it was merely a bowl of plain rice, none thought to comment on it, shaking their heads instead.

However, Xie Yin Xue remained silent for a while. Supporting his chin with the back of his right hand, he tilted his face slightly up in a tantalizing, almost vulnerable manner, looking up at Chef A-Jiu who was close by. Then, from between his lips, he spat out a piece of red tomato skin.

Chef A-Jiu's usually calm eyes widened in surprise the moment he saw the vivid red. After a few seconds, he extended his hand, and the young man spat the tomato skin onto his palm.

Perhaps because the tomato skin had been between the youth's lips for a while, it wasn't cold, but slightly warm.

“Impressive.”

Xie Yin Xue stared intently at Chef A-Jiu, finally giving his opinion.

It remained unclear whether his "impressive" remark was for the taste of the tomato or the impeccable service of A-Jiu.

Playfully, Xie Yin Xue, with a twinkle in his eye, called out to the departing Chef A-Jiu, “A-Jiu, my throat still feels uncomfortable. Could you perhaps prepare a pear sweet soup for me tomorrow?”

Chef A-Jiu paused at the entrance, with the dimly lit outer courtyard behind him. His gaze fixed on the young man bathed in the soft glow of lanterns and moonlight in the inner courtyard. The ripples of surprise that had earlier spread across his eyes now turned into profound depths, making them even more inscrutable.

He responded to Xie Yin Xue, “Alright.”

No one knew what kind of silent game they were playing.

Only Lv Shuo was still contemplating Xie Yin Xue's every move. He felt like he missed something because he was certain he hadn't misread the fleeting murderous intent in Xie Yin Xue's eyes. Yet, in the end, nothing had happened on the scene. What exactly did Xie Yin Xue intend to do?

Lv Shuo couldn't figure it out.

He had initially wanted to discuss it with Xiao Si Yu, but once the butler began announcing the next dish, he pushed the thought aside—for the much-anticipated "Nude Beauty" was coming.

Everyone was curious if the dish was indeed risqué... oh no, they wondered if it was a meat dish.

To everyone's surprise, when the dish was served, it was actually a vegetarian dish!

And, damn, it was just deep-fried peanuts without their skins.

Liu Bu Hua was the first to try. After a bite, he said with disappointment, "That's it?"

Everyone else wondered the same: That's it?

"… Cheer up, at least it's vegetarian," Lv Shuo patted Liu Bu Hua on the shoulder.

Xiao Si Yu felt the same. After all, he could admire beauty some other time; for now, it was best to stay alive. He wished that all the dishes served henceforth would be vegetarian.

Perhaps the earlier brutal killing of Qiu Yu Xing was enough for the game, or maybe it was because Lv Shuo and Xiao Si Yu had shared their deductions with everyone. The remaining participants were exceedingly careful in their choices, and no meat dish appeared in the following ten servings. That night, there was only one meat dish, and only Qiu Yu Xing met his end.

From fourteen, now only twelve remained.

Honestly, this particular feast at the Qin Mansion had the lowest casualty rate among all the game scenarios Wei Dao had participated in.

Until now, no newcomers had tried to ascertain whether Xie Yin Xue was the Ferryman. Nor did anyone obtain crucial information from the Ferryman NPC. However, these newcomers were gifted. Smart ones like Lv Shuo and Xiao Si Yu, cautious ones like Chen Yun, and even the carefree and kind Gao Qiao had brought significant survival clues. Ironically, it was the veterans who suffered heavy losses.

Upon the end of the feast, Xia Duo couldn't bear the pain of her wounds any longer. Her face ashen, and drenched in cold sweat, she slumped onto the table. With the help of Gao Qiao and Lv Shuo, called by Dai Yue, she was carried to the west wing.

Xie Yinxue watched them leave and then slowly rose, making his way to the main hall.

Liu Buhua trailed behind him. He heard Xie Yinxue comment casually, "Tomatoes with skin are rather unpalatable."

Had Lv Shuo been there, hearing this, he'd have discerned the source of Xie Yinxue's previous intent at the feast. Chef Ah Jiu's "Snow Under the Volcano" wasn't to Xie Yinxue's taste, yet he had said nothing.

If he had, the dish might have been removed.

As for the outcome of removing a dish, Xie Yinxue speculated: death.

However, it would not be the players who would die, but the chef.

In the Qin Residence, chefs could turn the "honored guests" into ingredients. So, the "honored guests" Lord Qin invited could, in turn, act against the chefs if they were not satisfied with the meal. As long as the reasoning convinced the majority, regardless of the dish being meat or vegetarian, its removal would lead to an inevitable fate: death.

This, he believed, justified the phrase: [Both you and I are mere meat].

However, in Xie Yinxue's view, any speculation not confirmed could be overturned. So tonight, he intended to pick a chef and test the actual result of removing a dish.

Who would have known that only Qiu Yuxing would select a meat dish? No one else did.

Without facing danger, no one sought Xie Yinxue's help. Considering Chef Ah Jiu had prepared sweet soup for him and shared so much information, it seemed rather ungrateful to turn against him now.

Though Xie Yinxue was not a great benefactor, neither was he a ruthless betrayer.

So, he finally decided to wait until the next day and pick a less agreeable chef. Judging by Ah Qiu's "distinguished appearance", these chefs probably weren't too pleasant to look at anyway.

Author's note:

NPC: I made the dish. Unsatisfied?