Better to Kill the Wrong Person Than Let the Wrong Person Go

"Welcome, welcome! I never imagined that our humble little place would be graced by the guidance of such a great expert as Mr. Zhou."

The Deputy Director shook the hand of the white-haired old man before him with great excitement.

Although there was little difference in their ages, the other man was already a renowned archaeology professor in the country, a legendary figure in the field.

"It is we who are intruding."

Zhou Huasheng patted the Deputy Director's hand. "Technically, this matter has nothing to do with us, but that Golden Dagger is extraordinary. It seems to have a significant connection to an ancient ruin we are currently searching for, which is why we have presumed to disturb you."

"Yes, yes, of course. Let's not stand here talking; let's head inside."

The Deputy Director was exceptionally enthusiastic. In truth, he saw it clearly: Zhou Huasheng and his group were here specifically for the Golden Dagger, but what did that have to do with him?

Regardless of whether the old director's case could be solved, the dagger—whether treated as a murder weapon or an antique—would never fall into his hands, nor would it remain at the Forest Farm.

He only needed to focus on his own duties.

Thinking of this, he glanced sideways at Chief Wang beside him, only to see the chief's expression looking particularly grim.

By rights, since the item was a murder weapon, no one should be allowed to view it, let alone take it for research. However, the reputation of this elder, Zhou, was so immense that even the higher-ups had to give him face.

As the group walked forward, chatting and laughing, a young man standing behind Zhou Huasheng suddenly interjected:

"We heard when we arrived that someone tried to steal the dagger last night and that someone else protected it at the cost of their life. I wonder how that person is doing now? Might we be able to visit them?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huasheng also expressed deep concern. "Indeed. Such an important cultural relic—if it were lost, we would be sinners against history. In any case, we must be allowed to show our respects."

"This..." The Deputy Director hesitated. After all, Uncle Li Si's injuries were severe, and having so many people rush over would not be conducive to his recovery.

"Don't worry, I have professional medical personnel with me, and we have brought hemostatic and anti-inflammatory drugs. It would be the perfect opportunity to give this hero a check-up."

Zhou Huasheng gestured to the three people following behind him.

The youngest of the three specifically tapped the medical kit at his waist.

The Deputy Director could no longer refuse. Just as he was about to nod in agreement, a sharp, urgent scream echoed from the distance.

Everyone turned to look and saw Xu Tong running toward them, looking utterly disheveled. He shouted as he ran: "No, this is bad! Uncle... Uncle Li Si... he's failing!"

"What??"

The Deputy Director and the others exchanged stunned looks. Even Yang Guanjin, standing to the side, couldn't help but exclaim, "Wasn't he doing fine just a moment ago?"

"Uncle Si's wound suddenly burst open, and the bleeding... it just won't stop!"

He held up his blood-stained hands, his face filled with panic. His eyes were brimming with unease and helplessness, much like a child watching a fire and having no idea how to put it out.

"Quick! Zhang Hu, hurry and save him!!"

With a life at stake, Zhou Huasheng hurriedly ordered his three companions to save the man, and the elderly Deputy Director rushed ahead to lead the way.

But by the time they arrived, they found that Uncle Li Si was already lying on the bed, breathless.

Zhang Hu walked up with his kit and began a careful examination. After checking his pulse and pupils, he looked back at his companions, nodded, and said regretfully, "We're too late. If we had arrived half an hour earlier, there might have been a chance."

"How could this happen!!"

The Deputy Director's remorseful expression gradually turned to anger. He looked back to see Xu Tong standing behind them, looking completely lost and bewildered, and his temper flared instantly.

"Didn't you say the wound had been treated? What is the meaning of this!! I knew it, I knew it! You students are all talk and no action, incapable of getting anything done!!"

Xu Tong looked at the gazes cast upon him by those around, his eyes bloodshot and filled with tears, but in the end, he silently lowered his head and clenched his fists without a word.

"You're still acting aggrieved! Who was it that claimed to have learned first aid in school?"

The Deputy Director kicked him, sending him sprawling to the ground. It was only because the others rushed to intervene that they managed to pull the furious Deputy Director away.

Chief Wang first examined Uncle Li Si's body. He pulled back the quilt to take a look; the gauze on the wound was already soaked through with blood.

He then walked over to Xu Tong, who was sitting on the floor in silence, and sighed. "This isn't your fault; we were the ones who were careless. Did Uncle Li Si say anything before he died? Did he show any abnormal behavior??"

He shook his head, but then seemed to suddenly recall something. He opened his mouth, but then closed it again.

Seeing his hesitation, the crowd grew even more anxious. Yang Guanjin urged him impatiently, "If you have something to say, just say it!"

"Don't worry, be bold and speak up." Chief Wang pulled him up from the floor, offering encouragement.

"Child, just say whatever it is. Don't be afraid. You did your best; no one here blames you."

Even Zhou Huasheng stepped forward to offer comfort.

Under the gaze and urging of the crowd, Xu Tong took a deep breath, as if gathering his courage, and began: "Uncle Li Si... he... he was fine at first, but then he suddenly went mad. He was talking to himself, shouting things I couldn't understand. It sounded like... something about..."

He searched his memory carefully. "It sounded like... something about a white ghost... and some treasure... deep in the mountains..."

His account was fragmented, and the crowd couldn't make sense of it at all.

But the moment these words were spoken, the expressions of many people present turned strange.

It was as if everyone had gleaned some crucial information from these words. Although Xu Tong kept his head down, his eyes clearly captured the look on every person's face.

"What nonsense are you spouting! What kind of gibberish is that?"

Everyone's demeanor varied, but only the Deputy Director scolded Xu Tong. Since things had already reached this point, the others could only persuade him to go back.

"Uncle Li Si was a bachelor his whole life. Let us few brothers stay behind to change his clothes and tidy him up."

The old men sighed and spoke up.

At this moment, Xu Tong raised his head: "Let me stay. It was I who caused Uncle Li Si's death, so let me tidy up his remains. Consider it my way of atoning for my sins."

The old men exchanged glances, knowing full well that he couldn't be entirely blamed for this. Even without him, given such severe injuries and the fact that there wasn't a single doctor at the Forest Farm, death would have been inevitable regardless.

However, seeing him so insistent, the old men nodded in silent agreement.

The crowd dispersed, and Zhou Huasheng and the others left as well.

Watching the backs of Zhou Huasheng and his group as they departed, Xu Tong frowned slightly. The story he had just spun was, naturally, a fabrication.

His purpose, beyond throwing a smoke bomb at these people, was to test them.

Zhou Huasheng and his group had come specifically for this Golden Dagger, so he believed they would be exceptionally interested in its origins.

Upon hearing keywords like "treasures on the mountain," they would naturally make their own associations.

As for the "white ghost," that was, of course, the person who had attacked Mad Dog last night. What surprised him was that while Zhou Huasheng's face remained impassive upon hearing the term, he had caught his hand trembling slightly.

Regardless, his goal had finally been achieved.

Xu Tong walked into Mad Dog's room. Pushing the door open, he saw Mad Dog's corpse lying on the bed. After closing the door, he whispered: "Come out quickly. The time for the potion you gave me is almost up."

As his voice fell, a small Paper Doll crawled out from under the bed, dancing and gesturing at Xu Tong, though it was unclear what it was trying to express.

Xu Tong placed the Paper Doll on the table, took the Ghost-Charming Bell out of his Prop Catalog, gave it a light shake toward the doll, and muttered: "Soul Detention!"

"Third, are you sure that guy is really dead?"

At the entrance of the cafeteria, the three young men brought by Zhou Huasheng were sitting on stone benches, and their leader, Yang Zixuan, asked.

"He's dead. His body is still warm, but there's no life left in him." Zhang Hu, whom Yang Zixuan called Third, nodded with certainty.

Receiving this answer, Yang Zixuan couldn't help but feel a bit regretful: "What a pity. The last batch of 'pigs' all died off. I wanted to catch two more, but one died first. What a waste."

"Isn't there still one left?" Zhang Hu said, narrowing his eyes.

"But I don't think he's one of them."

Yang Zixuan tapped his fingers lightly against the stone table. On their way here, they had already gotten a clear picture of the situation at the Forest Farm.

In particular, after learning that someone had tried to steal the Golden Dagger last night, they had locked their targets onto Uncle Li Si and the young man named Chen Shaoguo.

After all, to protect this Golden Dagger so desperately—if he weren't a game player on a mission, it would be hard to explain.

But having just seen the expression on that kid's face when he was berated by the Deputy Director, as well as his panicked demeanor, Yang Zixuan couldn't help but feel uncertain again.

"He's probably a newbie. Third, go test him. If he's willing, offer him some benefits, coax him into our team, and squeeze the information out of him. We can treat him like a 'pig' in the next Script World."

Zhang Hu nodded and stood up to walk away, but after two steps, he suddenly remembered something and turned back: "What if he refuses? Or what if he really isn't a player?"

Yang Zixuan's fingers, which had been tapping the table, paused. He glanced sideways at Zhang Hu: "Better to kill the wrong person than to let a target slip away..."