Doll Castle (9)

"I think you're so nervous you're hallucinating!"

Zheng Rong's expression grew uglier with every move Wang Xing made. Wang Xing's repeated fits made his tone turn harsh as well. "Keep going if you want to die!" He had already done everything he could for him.

Wang Xing jolted, finally remembering where he was. He shakily raised his head, and sure enough, the host's smile had vanished. He was staring intently at Wang Xing. "Is our guest dissatisfied with the food?"

His whole body shuddered. Without even stopping to set his chair upright and sit down, he hurriedly grabbed the meat with his hand and shoved it straight into his mouth without looking.

Only then did the host's expression soften. He leisurely swallowed his last piece of meat, elegantly wiped his mouth, then rose to take his leave of the players. "Please enjoy your meal."

"Oh, that reminds me..." The host suddenly turned back at the doorway. "If our guests need anything, you're welcome to come to me at any time."

"Please, don't hesitate..."

The players struggled to hold the meat in their mouths as they nodded in acknowledgment, and the host finally left the dining room. Only once his figure had completely disappeared through the doorway did they hastily drop their knives and forks, brace themselves against the table, and start vomiting.

Wet, sticky, irregular chunks of meat landed on plates, napkins, and the floor, mixed with torn fibers they had yet to chew through completely. Even though Bo Yi had told them it was beef, its blood-laden taste still made their stomachs seize and their throats constrict the instant it entered their mouths.

Amid the chorus of retching, only Bo Yi remained seated without a change in expression.

"How come he's not reacting at all..." Zhang Songhao finished vomiting, his face deathly pale. He had just weakly pushed himself upright against the table when he caught sight of the perfectly calm Bo Yi out of the corner of his eye. Resentment stirred in him. "Don't tell me he's eating a completely different kind of meat from us!"

Bo Yi set down his napkin, glanced up at Zhang Songhao, and pushed his own plate toward him. "Then... why don't you try it yourself?"

Zhang Songhao had never expected someone sitting diagonally across from him to hear his quiet muttering, much less deliver such a casual retort. He immediately ducked his head like a frightened quail. Yet the incessant, sickening crunch of chewing beside him made him unbearably irritated.

He looked over in displeasure, only to find Wang Xing still hunched over his plate. His cheeks were already bulging with meat, yet he kept grabbing more chunks and stuffing them into his mouth. Bloody liquid streamed down his chin and fingers, instantly nauseating Zhang Songhao.

"He was so adamant that he saw an eye in the meat earlier, but now he's happily wolfing it down..." He could not help muttering again. He could not afford to provoke that Veteran Player named Bo Yi, but surely he could complain about Wang Xing, a fellow newcomer...

Just as Zhang Songhao thought this, Wang Xing slowly released the meat in his hand and turned his head toward him. "What. Did. You. Just. Say..."

With meat still in his mouth, his words were badly slurred. Zhang Songhao understood him nonetheless. He did not know what possessed him—perhaps he felt emboldened by the Veteran Player Zheng Rong sitting between them—but he actually straightened his back and snapped, "Our meat was all normal. You're the only one who saw an eye in yours... and you're still in the mood to eat? Aren't you afraid it's the eye you crushed this morning coming back for revenge..."

"Shut up!"

The moment Zhang Songhao spoke, the other Veteran Players sensed trouble and hurriedly told him to stop. Unfortunately, they were a step too late. Wang Xing's hand had already reached the table knife beside his plate. "I'll kill you!" He snatched it up and lunged past Zheng Rong at Zhang Songhao.

Shhk- The silver tip sank into Zhang Songhao's shoulder.

Only when blood spattered his face did Zhang Songhao finally realize what had happened. "Aaaaaah-!" Clutching his wound, he let out an agonized scream.

"Pull them apart!"

The Veteran Players rushed forward, scrambling to separate the two as they grappled.

"Something's wrong..." Only after pinning the still-struggling Wang Xing back into his chair did the Veteran Players finally recognize the problem.

Even setting Wang Xing's change aside, the fact that Zhang Songhao had dared to talk back after Wang Xing challenged him was strange enough. Even the easygoing Zheng Rong, who had not gotten angry earlier when Wang Xing grabbed his collar and cursed at him, had grown impatient at the dining table.

It was as though... all their negative emotions had been amplified.

While the Veteran Players were thinking, Wang Xing suddenly broke free. Holding the bloodstained table knife, he pointed its tip at everyone to keep them away as he backed toward the door, his eyes filled with hatred. "Why did you stop me? Why wouldn't you let me kill him!"

"Oh... I get it! You're all in league with that damned four-eyes, aren't you!?"

"You think I've been targeted too, don't you! You think I'm going to die too, don't you!?"

"You're all waiting for me to die! I know it!"

"I'm telling you, even if I'm going to die, I won't let you get off easy!"

"I won't spare any of you!"

The players watched in silence as Wang Xing stumbled out of the dining room. A deathly silence settled over it.

"Wh-what do we do now?" Pan Lulu asked timidly, breaking the awkward silence.

"Let's split up and keep looking for clues for now..." Zhao Yi wiped his face. "As for sharing what we've found... let's wait until our emotions are back to normal..." After all, no one knew whether something might inexplicably affect them during the exchange and cause their emotions to erupt.

One Wang Xing was manageable, but if two Veteran Players came into conflict, especially... Zhao Yi quietly glanced over.

Nearby, Bo Yi sat in his chair, spearing the remaining half-piece of meat with his fork and carefully stuffing it into a clear plastic bag he had produced from who knew where.

Zhao Yi's eyes widened in shock. "!!!"

What the hell? Eating here wasn't enough-he wanted takeout too!?