The girl, whose thinking left something to be desired, hadn't realized Tian Dong really was on the verge of dying.
Remembering that the cameras were livestreaming, she hurried to smooth things over.
"Oh... Jiang Nuo isn't angry anymore! That's great, hahahaha! Si Yan really came through!"
Yang Xiaoxiao bumped Chu Xiu with her shoulder.
"Ow..."
Chu Xiu nearly fell over from the bump, yet miraculously got on the same wavelength.
"Right, right! That really did calm him down!"
Jiang Nuo smiled at them and patted Si Yan's hand, signaling for him to let go for now, before walking toward Tian Dong, who lay motionless on the floor.
No way! Again?!
Tian Dong's barely lucid mind wailed.
But Jiang Nuo merely hauled him up and patted him on the back. An inexplicable warmth coursed through him, and he actually recovered considerably.
He touched the back of his neck in astonishment, then hurriedly got up and jumped away once his strength returned. His fear of Jiang Nuo had sunk deep into his soul.
Even with his strength restored, he was still somewhat dazed.
Jiang Nuo smiled gently at the camera. "See? He's fine, isn't he?"
Off camera, Chen Xianyu wiped the cold sweat from his face and slumped into a chair, unable to recover for a long time.
Thank goodness... thank goodness Tian Dong hadn't been beaten to death.
This Jiang Nuo... was truly terrifying!
He suddenly felt fortunate that he hadn't made things too difficult for this man.
"Director Chen, there's another trending topic on Weibo."
A staff member handed Chen Xianyu a phone.
#Jiang Nuo then and now: idiot or madman
Tiantian Sweetie: Does Jiang Nuo seriously have mental issues? I found videos of his old variety show appearances, and he was a total dull-witted idiot! Now he's turned into a madman! Don't know what to say!
The five-minute video was a compilation specifically of Jiang Nuo's clips.
He certainly qualified as dull.
He couldn't pick up on the host's jokes, and even needed time to react when other guests spoke to him. He showed no concern for saving face and was practically a stationary post.
His appearance was clearly exactly the same as now, yet his entire being seemed shrouded in dust, without a trace of vitality.
Tian Hehe: Jiang Nuo changed after a two-month absence from the public eye. It's reasonable to suspect he went to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. Judging by things now, the treatment didn't work very well. He just went from one extreme to another stage.
Tian Baby's Fragrant Pie: @Seven Shadows Entertainment You there? Has your company gone crazy? Letting a mental patient loose to hurt people? What are you waiting for? Terminate his contract!
It was a very familiar routine.
Half a year ago, they had done the same thing because Jiang Nuo had said on a variety show that the implants in Tian Dong's face were obvious.
They had cyberbullied him for an entire week over it, with comments like these flooding every major platform.
But this time seemed somewhat different.
Save It: Can you sweet potato fans produce evidence before spreading rumors? You keep calling him a mental patient. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were his attending physicians.
Nikola Tear Into Meat: Who would've hit Tian Dong if he hadn't run his nasty mouth? Being nasty with your mouth doesn't count as being nasty?
Ultraman Take It Slow: Tian Dong dared to tell a vengeful ghost to kill other people outright, and that doesn't count as mental illness? If you ask me, Tian Dong is the seriously sick one!
Better a Fire Than an Exam: Tian Dong, you ungrateful bastard!! Jiang Nuo saved him! More than once! And he still told a vengeful ghost to kill people!
The shameless fans and the Sticky Rice fans were no slouches in battle either. They were already shameless, and Jiang Nuo's reputation was what it was. Those with nothing to lose had nothing to fear. Who was afraid of whom?
Amid the muddy waters, Si Yan's Ink Wash fans quietly cleaned up the topic feed too.
If asked, it was because their idol and Jiang Nuo were brothers. They also knew Jiang Nuo had saved Si Yan repeatedly.
Yang Xiaoxiao's fans helped fire back as well.
This time, Tian Dong's fans were absolutely furious.
Not only had their idol nearly been beaten to death, but they couldn't even win a war of words.
The person managing Seven Hidden Entertainment's account had a pounding headache from the repeated tags. Every time their shabby little company got tagged en masse, it was because of Jiang Nuo.
He really was a god of calamity!
They hurried to report it to their superiors and request a PR strategy.
On camera, the room had been thrown into complete disarray, and there was no need to keep searching for clues.
Besides, Jiang Nuo could now be certain of one thing.
"The truth behind the deaths here is completely different from what the production team deduced."
With an arm around the weakened Si Yan, Jiang Nuo leisurely looked at the others. "I wouldn't recommend continuing to follow the clues."
Yang Xiaoxiao said, "...Then should we just solve the puzzles? Stop looking at the clues?"
Lin Yu, however, didn't quite agree. "We're here to participate in the show. We should still follow the production team's requirements."
Si Yan glanced at him. "Even with danger everywhere?"
This was one of the few things Si Yan had voluntarily said to Lin Yu today, but Lin Yu smiled easily, seemingly joking. "We've got Jiang Nuo, don't we? He'll protect us, right?"
Jiang Nuo raised his eyes in surprise. "Do I look like a good person?"
Who on earth had given him that impression?
Lin Yu: "..."
Si Yan huffed, pressing close and nuzzling against Jiang Nuo. "He protects me. Not you."
"You're of no use to him."
Jiang Nuo was embarrassed.
He's sucking your blood and your spiritual energy. Why do you look so proud?
"Let's head farther back first and see."
Jiang Nuo walked out with an arm around him, perfectly leisurely, showing no sense of facing a crisis.
They were only ghostly creatures with hardly any cultivation, after all.
It wasn't actually dangerous. He had simply promised that vengeful ghost earlier that he would uncover the truth, and he had to keep his word.
Ugh, I've gone and made trouble for myself.
Jiang Nuo played with Si Yan's fingertips, his thoughts wandering.
My soul isn't here either. Might as well destroy this place.
He lowered his eyes, concealing the dangerous gleam that escaped them. Only Si Yan, closest to him, could sense it.
Si Yan's fingertips stirred, but in the end, he said nothing.
Some secrets weren't suited to being shared with each other just yet. That was true of Jiang Nuo, and of him as well.
There was no danger in the corridor this time, but the yin energy hadn't diminished at all. It was growing denser.
Even ordinary people could feel a distinct discomfort.
That could only prove one thing.
Jiang Nuo raised his head, slowly looking toward the building in the rear courtyard, its double doors tightly shut.
Whatever was inside frightened ordinary little ghosts, so they didn't dare approach.
Yet this actually wasn't the place with the densest yin energy and resentment in the estate.
Once everyone drew close, the tightly shut doors opened without a breeze. Inside lay deep darkness, and even their breathing echoed through the empty space.
Everyone walked in quietly and began looking for a light.
The chill made Si Yan extremely uncomfortable.
In the darkness, while the cameras couldn't capture much either, he took the opportunity.
He coughed softly a few times and leaned into Jiang Nuo's arms with a frown. "I feel awful."
Jiang Nuo placed two fingers against Si Yan's neck. Feeling his faint pulse, he paused briefly. "You..."
You were already this weak. Why didn't you stop me from drinking your blood earlier?
But Jiang Nuo swallowed the words before they left his mouth.
He unwrapped another candy and infused it with his own origin spiritual energy. Though the amount was small, it was the most Si Yan's body could withstand at present.
The man resting against his shoulder obediently ate it, his cool lips brushing Jiang Nuo's fingertips. Jiang Nuo cupped his face in one hand and rubbed it.
"Chew it up and swallow it."
Si Yan obeyed. Along with the burst of sweetness came a wondrous warmth like a long-awaited rain. He narrowed his phoenix eyes with a contented sigh, savoring it immensely.
It was as though the pain throughout his entire body had been soothed.
The lights came on at that moment.