Cipher Deciphered, Situation Clarified

Lin Yu didn't immediately deduce that the breathing sounds were problematic after eliminating various possibilities step by step.

Rather, it was because when he recalled it, Lin Yu could also notice that the breathing sounds themselves were problematic.

Just as the algae were pondering, the ferns and mosses suddenly changed their breathing patterns one after the other—normal people, when at rest, generally inhale and exhale through their noses.

People only use their mouths to assist breathing when exercising or excited in order to increase oxygen intake.

At the same time, if it is just rapid breathing, under normal circumstances, you will inhale and exhale through both your mouth and nose.

Only during prolonged outdoor aerobic exercise, such as long-distance running, can the exerciser consciously control their breathing towards the end, resulting in inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.

In other words, it is impossible for a normal person to actively breathe through their nose and exhale through their mouth while sitting.

And just now...

Both ferns and mosses briefly used this breathing pattern.

But even if it's an anomaly, it's the kind of anomaly that's extremely difficult to notice.

Because this breathing pattern does exist, and breathing is one of the most subtle and common human behaviors!

Even after noticing this, Lin Yu wouldn't have been able to confirm it was a cheating method unless he was absolutely certain they were cheating, and the timing of the fern and moss exhaling was even staggered.

After all, even if someone actually breathes like that, it can be explained as adjusting tension—deep breathing is indeed a good way to relieve tension.

"I'm not exactly a genius, after all. I still have to eliminate possibilities and verify information bit by bit before I can get an answer and a conclusion... In comparison, Fern is really amazing for coming up with this idea."

"Especially since this method is also very efficient."

Whether it was ferns or moss, Lin Yu probably only spent a few seconds and took a few breaths.

They are using Morse code—but the only thing Lin Yu can't be sure of right now is whether they are using plaintext or encrypted random code.

But...

Determining this is simple; we just need to work backward from the known information on the field.

Among the three players' hidden cards—Fern, Algae, and Moss—there must be one extremely weak card that allows Algae to take all five cards, and one extremely strong card that allows Fern to fold with a revealed 7 points.

The Morse code for a fern, which is the length of its exhalation, is short, short, long, a total of three times.

Zao didn't know; she must have exhaled earlier, when it was noisier—the environment wasn't quiet enough then, so Lin Yu didn't remember.

The moss, on the other hand, is long, short, short, also three times.

According to the common short code for numbers, this should mean 2 and 8.

This aligns well with the conclusion drawn from the situation on the ground...

At this moment, the moss opened its mouth, confirming Lin Yu's guess.

"I choose not to take the card."

Moss spoke calmly, and Twenty also spoke up.

"Okay, so... there are three people who didn't get a card?"

"Then I'll start taking the cards."

Twenty quickly picked up a card and placed it on the table; it was a "Plum Blossom 4".

Adding the 9 he revealed, the 20's revealed card is now "13".

He looked at the cards and tapped the table.

"Oh, not bad, I won't take any more cards... Now, you can choose whether to exchange your hole cards."

"While discussion is fine, you absolutely must not reveal or hint at your own hand in your words, okay?"

Lin Yu heard Nian's words and realized that the time had come.

Whether the specific code is truly plain text still needs to be verified when the cards are revealed later.

But he...

I took the gamble.

"This method, even with me added, is really just right... After all, I am the kind of person who exhales when I'm thinking or regulating my emotions."

As he spoke, Lin Yu let out a long breath, as if he were taking a natural deep breath.

"Call--"

He noticed that, in the instant of his long breath, the ferns, algae, and moss had clearly noticed his actions.

Next came an even shorter exhale.

"Call."

Lin Yu then resumed normal breathing.

Length.

In the common short Morse code in China, this represents the number 9.

He revealed his hand—openly.

If I'm not mistaken, after a moment, Fern indeed spoke first.

"I agree to the exchange."

I agree.

The algae immediately struck the snake, following the stick to open its mouth on the ground.

Lin Yu nodded.

"Agreed."

Moss chimed in, "I second that."

The four of them reached an agreement almost tacitly.

Twenty asked with great interest, "So how are you going to exchange them next?"

Zao spoke first, "I'll switch with her."

The algae naturally pointed to the fern beside it.

Hearing Zao's words, Lin Yu was almost certain of the truth.

Since the cards in Fern's hand, when interpreted openly, are 2, if given to Algae, he now has five cards that make up 20 points.

Even if we're playing a game without the "five-star Rule" (meaning a hand greater than 21 without any of the five cards busting), 20 is still a high score.

Moreover, these are the three hidden cards that Lin Yu currently knows about in the hands of the four players on the field, and the only one that is known not to be able to be used by Zao.

With Zao agreeing to the operation of the fern, Lin Yu understood something.

"I understand, he probably has T Card."

Lin Yu pondered for a moment, then said easily, "I understand. It seems the only option is for the two of us to switch."

He handed his hidden card to Moss.

Moss looked at Lin Yu, her eyes behind the plastic mask bright and clear, her gaze fixed on Lin Yu.

Just now, the fern and the algae were clearly surprised, but not unexpected, that Lin Yu had also participated in the "reporting."

However, now, Tai is clearly shaken by Lin Yu's ability to see through their cheating methods.

However, more than scrutiny or wariness, Lin Yu sensed that Tai's gaze was now...

A kind of appreciation.

Regardless, Lin Yu smiled silently at Tai, then picked up the cards Tai handed him.

"It really is an 8..."

Both he and Tai had high-ranking cards; not only were they both face-up T Card, but their hole cards were an 8 and a 9.

Now that the exchange is complete, Lin Yu has suffered a slight loss.

But Lin Yu didn't mind...

If Lin Yu had to choose between himself and Tai to answer Nian's question, he would prefer to answer it himself!

"Is everything exchanged? Let's reveal the cards."

With a smile, Nian said, and Lin Yu nodded, revealing his newly acquired trump card, number 8.

His total points are 18.

Then came Fern—her trump card was something Lin Yu hadn't expected.

That was an Ace Card.

Therefore, Fern's current hand is also 18 points.

"It's an A...?"

Lin Yu was somewhat surprised.

Zao's original hidden card was actually an Ace!