tkworld #559 - Crazy Chen Xiang
#559 - Crazy Chen Xiang
In an instant, Chen Xiang's face twisted into an unrecognizable form. Her originally gentle features seemed to be kneaded and deformed by an invisible hand. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot, and the corners of her mouth were unnaturally upturned, revealing a row of ghastly white teeth. Her expression was terrifying, like a demon crawling out of hell.
In her hand, a sharp dagger had appeared at some point, its blade glinting with a cold, metallic light in the dim lighting.
"—Let's all… let's all die together!!!"
This roar seemed to come from the depths of hell, making everyone's eardrums ache. Clearly, she had completely lost her mind.
Chen Xiang swung her right hand violently, the kitchen knife drawing a chilling arc in the air. Although her movements weren't exactly swift, even somewhat faltering, the poisoned blade sent shivers down everyone's spines.
The power of deterrence.
That's what it was. When the threat of death is presented directly before your eyes, even the simplest evasive maneuvers become sluggish. These weren't just corpses seen in the news, but real, tangible, and imminent murderous intent.
Naked, undisguised murderous intent.
The crowd seemed paralyzed by the viscous, green residue on the blade, standing rooted to the spot. Visual signals frantically assaulted everyone's brains—Chen Xiang staggered through the cafeteria counter, the sharp blade covered in monkshood fragments, drawing bizarre trajectories in the air with her manic laughter.
Her target was clear—Qian Jin.
The poisoned weapon was aimed directly at the nearest prey, and Qian Jin's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
At this critical moment, Tang Yin's body reacted first. This was completely out of character for him—he was known for his eloquence, and his instinctive reaction to danger should have been to turn and run. Moreover, neither Qian Jin, who had exposed the truth, nor the now-insane Madam Chen Xiang, were worth risking his life to save.
Yet, when he came to his senses, he had already leaped forward, crashing heavily into Chen Xiang's right shoulder.
The intense pain caused Tang Yin to fall heavily to the ground, his whole body trembling uncontrollably. Chen Xiang's twisted laughter echoed in his ears, a sound like some kind of curse, sending chills down his spine.
He had to change his position! He had to restrain her hand! Tang Yin's brain was racing, but his body's reaction speed couldn't keep up with his thoughts.
Suddenly, Chen Xiang pounced on him with a sneer, hugging him tightly. Before he could react—
A sharp pain came from his back.
She used the monkshood-laced dagger to stab Tang Yin squarely in the back. As simple as removing an obstacle in the way.
The wound was deep, and blood flowed down his spine. Even worse, the strangely green toxins had seeped into his body through the wound. The sensation was exceptionally clear, like a cold, venomous snake slithering through his veins.
Monkshood's toxicity was deadly.
Tang Yin felt his consciousness gradually fading, his thoughts scattering. However, the instinct for survival forced him to stay awake, and his body was still able to react.
His hand groped for an old wooden chair nearby. This seemingly ordinary dining chair was surprisingly heavy. Tang Yin gritted his teeth and used his last ounce of strength to lift the chair.
He aimed the four legs of the chair at Chen Xiang, who was still wielding the murder weapon, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. Since he had already been poisoned, he would buy a chance of survival for the others before he succumbed to the poison.
"Charge!"
Tang Yin roared, and with the determination to die, he slammed the old solid wood chair down on Chen Xiang. In an instant, the entire space was filled with a cacophony of sounds—the collision of the wooden chair with the ground, Chen Xiang's shrill moans, and the terrified screams of the surrounding people intertwined to form a horrifying symphony.
He used all his strength to pin the chair down on Chen Xiang. The poisoned kitchen knife was firmly pinned down by the chair leg, producing a piercing metallic screech as her wrist twisted. Chen Xiang's face was contorted with pain, the veins on her forehead bulging, and she let out a beast-like roar.
"Aaaah—"
Accompanied by a piercing scream, Chen Xiang finally released the deadly weapon. The kitchen knife collided with the ground, emitting a crisp sound.
At this critical moment, Wang Lina, who had been observing the battle from the sidelines, seized the opportunity and rushed forward like a bullet. Wearing sneakers, she accurately kicked the kitchen knife with her toes, sending it flying into a distant corner. The knife drew a dazzling arc across the ground, finally hitting the corner of the wall with a dull thud.
In just a few seconds, the outcome was clear.
Chen Xiang fell to the ground, white foam constantly bubbling from the corners of her mouth, writhing wildly like a stranded fish. Her eyes were bloodshot, her pupils dilated, revealing a crazed light. The others frantically used their handkerchiefs and towels to tie up her limbs, and stuffed a rag into her mouth.
Even so, she refused to give up, her throat emitting muffled threats: "Ugh, ugh, ugh!"
Through the saliva-soaked rag, one could vaguely hear her roaring to kill everyone. Her eyes were filled with deep-seated hatred, like a trapped beast, ready to devour anyone at any moment. Her body continued to twist, trying to break free, but all her struggles were in vain.
The handkerchiefs and towels binding her were not exactly sturdy, but they were enough to restrain a middle-aged woman who had gone mad. Her struggles gradually weakened, but the madness and murderous intent in her eyes remained undiminished, as if she wanted to nail everyone present to her list of hatred.
An atmosphere of oppression filled the cafeteria, the chaos of the previous moments still seeming to linger in the air. Tang Yin leaned against the wall, feeling the waves of pain coming from the wound on his back, and his gaze swept over everyone present. He opened his mouth with a wry smile: "...Although I'm not the best person to say this, but... what now?"
Outside the cafeteria's glass windows, the thick fog still enveloped the entire world like a tangible entity. At this moment, only the six of them were left, staring at each other. Madam Chen Xiang was locked in the cafeteria's storage room, her crazed shouts muffled by the door panels, sounding particularly faint.
Xiao Mian squatted in the corner, timidly letting out a "...Baa..."
Granny Rong hunched over, the wrinkles on her face deepened, and muttered to herself: "...Chen Xiang also... became a Yellow Spring person..."
"No, that's not it!" Qin Ming suddenly stood up excitedly, his voice trembling slightly, "Mom is just a little mentally disturbed...!"
Wang Lina lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting together: "...Aunt Chen Xiang was really forcing herself..."
"Of course!" Qin Ming's eyes were red, his voice choked with sobs, "Mom loves Qin Yi so much...! Even if he's not smart, even if he often causes trouble..." He took a deep breath, as if trying to convince himself, "...No, it's precisely because of that that Mom loves him so much."
Tears welled up in Qin Ming's eyes: "His impulsive personality is very much like Dad, Mom often says..."
Silence spread through the air.
Finally, Qin Ming raised his head, his eyes filled with pleading: "I will calm Mom down, can everyone forgive her?"
"This matter must be decided by the banquet." Qian Jin coldly interrupted his request. The lenses of his glasses reflected a cold light, making it impossible to see his expression.
Tang Yin frowned: "Wait, this matter has nothing to do with the banquet, it's just an individual's loss of control, it can't be generalized."
"Don't quibble..." Qian Jin's voice suddenly became somewhat manic, "Maybe she went crazy because she was contaminated..."
"Qian Jin?" Tang Yin looked at him warily.
Qian Jin's tone became more and more urgent: "Matters in the fog should be decided by the banquet... otherwise, maybe even we will be contaminated...!"
"...That's right..." Granny Rong echoed, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes.
Gao Mei stood aside, remaining silent throughout.
"...I understand, let's go!" Qin Ming suddenly turned to leave.
Tang Yin quickly called out to him: "No! Madam Chen Xiang will be killed, Qin Ming!"
"I won't let them do that!" Qin Ming turned back, his eyes flashing with a determined light. He gave Tang Yin a deep look, "...Tang Yin, I'm leaving Mom in your care!"
"Is it really okay to let me act freely?" Tang Yin's question echoed in the empty cafeteria.
The latest novels are first published on Liu Jiu Shu Ba!
No one answered him. Everyone was silent, as if the question was no longer important. A strange atmosphere permeated the air, and the thick fog rolled outside the window, shrouding the entire world in gloom.
"Wang Lina." Tang Yin called out softly. He noticed that Wang Lina's fingertips were trembling slightly, and an indescribable look appeared on her pale face.
Wang Lina didn't respond, just stood quietly in place. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a holy outline on her profile. Her black hair was dyed with a silver edge by the moonlight, like a veil. Her expression was dazed and ethereal, as if she had transcended reality, just like every time she talked about the gods. In those dark eyes, it seemed as if there was an endless abyss hidden.
"I knew it..." Wang Lina muttered to herself, her voice so soft that it was almost inaudible. Her slender fingers clenched the corner of her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Although her eyes were cloudy, they contained a peculiar sense of clarity. It was a complex emotion mixed with transcendence and fear, as if she had seen through everything, yet seemed to be afraid of some unspeakable truth. Nine parts transcendence hid one part deep fear, like a glimmer of light in the darkness, or like a candle about to be extinguished.
She glanced at Tang Yin one last time, her gaze seeming to contain a thousand words, but in the end, it turned into a sigh. Then, she silently followed the others towards the assembly hall. Her back looked particularly lonely, as if she was carrying some heavy fate, and the sound of her footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.
Inside the assembly hall, the light was dim, with only a few old chandeliers emitting a faint yellow glow. The air was filled with a musty smell, mixed with the scent of aged wood. Qian Jin sat in a chair in the corner, shaking his leg restlessly, with fine beads of sweat seeping out of his forehead: "...Where's the... where's the wine?" There was a hint of urgency in his voice, and the lenses of his glasses were covered in mist.
Gao Mei leaned against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest, and gave him a cold look: "That kind of thing doesn't matter anymore, does it..." There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Calming the mind is very important..." Granny Rong hunched over and took out a blue-and-white porcelain wine pot from her patched cotton-padded jacket, "Here, Mr. Qian Jin." Her hand trembled slightly due to her age.
Qian Jin almost snatched the wine pot, tilted his head back and took a few large gulps: "Good... gulp, ugh... good..." The wine dripped down his chin, leaving dark marks on his collar. His expression calmed down a little, but his eyes still darted around.
"Lina." Granny Rong called out again, her voice carrying some hidden meaning.
Wang Lina remained silent, staring blankly into the distance, as if she could see some faraway place through this dimly lit assembly hall. Granny Rong turned to Xiao Mian, who was huddled in the corner, her tone gentle: "You just need to lick it once."
Xiao Mian sat on the ground with her knees hugged, her skirt covered in dirt, and her hair stuck messily to her cheeks. She timidly asked: "Where's Sister Hualu?" Her voice carried the innocence unique to children.
"Miss Hualu is no longer okay." Granny Rong's voice carried a hint of pity, but a barely perceptible hint of vigilance flashed in her eyes.
"...Baa..." Xiao Mian lowered her head, letting out a soft sob, like a wounded little animal.
Gao Mei walked to Xiao Mian's side and patted her shoulder gently: "I'll take care of her." Her voice was rarely so gentle.
"It's useless anyway..." Wang Lina suddenly opened her mouth, her voice filled with deep despair, as if she had already seen the ending of all this.
"Sister Lina, don't give up...!" Qin Ming shouted anxiously, his voice echoing in the empty assembly hall.
Qian Jin put down the wine pot, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and his voice turned cold: "Then let's begin, I vote for Chen Xiang." The lenses of his glasses reflected the light, making it impossible to see his expression.
"...What's your basis?" Qin Ming questioned, his fists clenching unconsciously.
"She's dangerous." Qian Jin replied briefly, his tone carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.
Qin Ming sneered, his voice full of sarcasm: "Then I vote for Hualu, the basis is also that she's very dangerous."
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, as if the air had solidified. Qian Jin pushed his glasses up, and a cold light flashed across the lenses: "...I don't know what the others think, let's conduct a mock vote first."
"...I think they should all be hanged... the order doesn't matter." Granny Rong's words carried a hint of cruelty, her cloudy eyes staring straight ahead, as if she was staring at something terrifying.
Wang Lina leaned against the wall, her eyes empty like broken mirrors: "...I can't think anymore." Her voice seemed to come from a very far away place.
"Hualu is the one who should be hanged!" Gao Mei suddenly stood up excitedly, the chair being knocked to the ground by her, making a piercing sound, "Even if Aunt Chen Xiang is crazy, so what, Hualu has already turned into a monster!"
"...What do you think, child?" Qian Jin turned to Xiao Mian, his voice suddenly becoming gentle.
"...Did she eat Sister...?" Xiao Mian's words were innocent and cruel, causing everyone present to shudder involuntarily.
Qian Jin said excitedly: "Do you know what you're saying? If you want to protect your favorite Sister Hualu, vote to hang Chen Xiang!" His voice became shrill with excitement.
"……Baa……" Little Mei curled into a ball, tears welling up in her eyes, clearly unable to comprehend the complex situation.
"It's no use, she doesn't understand…" Qin Ming pushed back his chair and stood up abruptly. "Three people abstained, so it's two to one, it's settled then!" His voice carried a hint of resolution, as if he already foresaw the impending tragedy.
The entire assembly hall fell into a terrifying silence, broken only by the whistling wind outside the window, like some kind of ominous premonition.