Chapter 113: Reverse Thinking

Xi Yan had already formed a rough hypothesis about the Swing Area.

First, there was this guide figure, much like a reading comprehension exercise where one selects the correct answer.

One person needed two survivors; two survivors would again become guides. Thus, four survivors were needed in total, and so on. In this way, the number of guides required in the Swing Area would increase exponentially.

It was clear, then, that the broadcast’s task was not meant to allow escape from this place, but rather to keep the guides here indefinitely.

Next was the protective mechanism. The Swing Area did not seem to be a death trap for the survivors; it even offered a way to leave. The protective mechanism was designed to improve the survivors’ chances of survival upon leaving.

The key to leaving must be the survivors.

Only survivors could become guides; everything here revolved around survivors and guides.

Therefore, Xi Yan boldly speculated: could it be that the task that allowed escape actually required both guides and survivors to leave together?

In other words, survivors didn’t need to play on the swing, nor did guides need to capture survivors.

Moreover, there was no mention in the broadcast of any punishment if they failed to capture enough survivors within three days.

Rather than punishment, it might be an opportunity.

Perhaps failing to catch enough people was actually the way to leave this place.

Few would think this way; after all, the broadcast gave a task, and most people wondered how to complete it and escape. Who would consider what happens if they failed the task?

People usually feared the terrible punishment that might follow failure, not that failure might be the key to freedom.

Life is death, and death is life.

To live by embracing death!

Xi Yan felt everything fell neatly into place. But all of this was merely his conjecture. If asked for proof, he had none. If there were any evidence, it might lie in his passive ability.

“Xi Yan, watch out!” Lin Shuang warned.

Xi Yan looked up and immediately stepped back.

He saw Bai Xingchen charging at him with a hammer.

After Xi Yan dodged Bai Xingchen’s attack, Lin Shuang kicked Bai Xingchen down and stepped on her.

“Trying to sneak attack again? Who gave you the guts?”

“I’m telling you, if you kill me, the Lord will unleash a furious vengeance. The Lord likes me very much. If you dare, just kill me!”

Lin Shuang sensed Bai Xingchen was losing her sanity.

When they had seen her earlier near the ninth survival area’s teleport point, she had been normal—at least knowing when to hide from those she couldn’t confront and bide her time for revenge.

But now, Bai Xingchen screamed constantly about killing Lin Shuang, though she clearly lacked the power.

What kind of power did this Lord have to make Bai Xingchen fearless of death?

“You keep shouting about your Lord. Doesn’t your Lord deserve a name?” Lin Shuang pressed her foot harder.

Bai Xingchen glared with eyes venomous as if she wished to stare Lin Shuang down to death.

“The Lord naturally has a name, a noble name. But trash like you don’t deserve to know it!”

“Don’t want to say, huh? Fine, then your Lord is trash.” Lin Shuang shrugged indifferently then twisted her foot again.

Bai Xingchen screamed in pain, but the punishment for those two men was not over; they were still being whipped by that rope, so no one could save Bai Xingchen.

“Kristin Kra! Kristin Kra! Lord Kra will kill you!” Bai Xingchen howled with heart-wrenching fury.

Upon hearing the name, Xi Yan and Lin Shuang exchanged glances, both seeing unease mirrored in the other’s eyes.

This Kra had first inexplicably taken Qing Yan, then was now backing Bai Xingchen. It seemed Bai Xingchen had become Kra’s loyal follower.

What did Kra gain by supporting such a foolish fool? Did he truly care for Bai Xingchen, unafraid she might cause trouble by running amok?

Seeing that Xi Yan and Lin Shuang fell silent upon hearing Kra’s name, Bai Xingchen thought they were scared, so she seized the moment to taunt, “Hmph, scared now? If you’re scared, just let me go. I’ll ask the Lord to leave you in one piece.”

Lin Shuang frowned displeased, then stomped her foot hard again.

“If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak at all. Otherwise, I can’t promise I won’t crush you to death right now, given my mood.”

“You…”

Xi Yan moved beside Lin Shuang and whispered, “I think we should go see Kra.”

“I just thought of a way to leave here, but I’m not sure if it’s right, so I need to experiment on them.”

Qing Yan nodded and knocked Bai Xingchen unconscious.

Because the two men’s fate was not yet decided, Xi Yan called out, “Black-clad! Come out!”

The black-clad figure appeared mysteriously behind Xi Yan, answering softly, “I’m here, Lord.”

Neither Xi Yan nor Lin Shuang had sensed the black-clad’s arrival; it was as if he had materialized from thin air.

The sudden appearance startled Xi Yan, who twitched the corner of his mouth and said, “I want to know, if we openly walked out of the Swing Area like this, what would happen?”

The black-clad’s smile froze, then faded. Bowing his body, lowering his head, he whispered, “Some things, Black-clad cannot say.”

“Then I’ll ask another question: have any guides ever tried what I just said—leaving like this?”

The black-clad was silent for a moment before nodding.

“Are they still alive?” Xi Yan pressed, a smile playing on his lips.

But the black-clad did not answer directly, repeating, “Lord, some things, Black-clad cannot say.”

“What can Black-clad say then? For instance… is there a person named Lin Ye here?”

Xi Yan’s question made the black-clad’s face blanch completely. He looked at Xi Yan with horror and trembled, asking, “The… Lord means Lin Ye…”

“The one beside the City Lord,” Xi Yan cut in.

The black-clad swallowed hard, his gaze flickering between Xi Yan and Lin Shuang. After hesitating, he sighed.

“In that case…”