Chapter 57 - 54: Indirect Killing (Part 2)

Chapter 57: Chapter 54: Indirect Killing (Part 2)

Stop!

Xia Yu tried to stop him, but it was too late!

THUNK.

As fate would have it, the rusty sword struck one of the fishermen.

And it was the very fisherman who resembled his son!

The next instant.

A bizarre scene unfolded: the fisherman in the painting rapidly changed, his features returning to their original appearance.

COUGH. COUGH.

The little boy woke up, but there was a bloody hole on his forehead where the sword had pierced him. Blood gurgled from the wound as his body convulsed.

He died once again.

???

Seeing this, a series of question marks popped into everyone’s minds.

’Why did that happen?’

The bald man was dumbfounded. He stared blankly at his son, looking as if he’d been dealt a heavy blow. His violent temper vanished, and only his increasingly trembling hands betrayed the turmoil within him.

"Check if they still have a heartbeat!"

Xia Yu said urgently.

"Quick! Listen to her!"

"Whoever’s closest, you have to listen to her, I’m begging you."

"Sob..."

...

For people in a state of extreme panic, her words were like a beacon of hope, and everyone responded eagerly.

"I... I’ll try."

One of them, a young woman with dyed white hair, piercings in her ears, nose, tongue, and dimples, and a trendy outfit, was relatively close to the ’dead little girl’.

"There is."

"She has a heartbeat."

She was very cooperative now. Desperately bending over, she managed to touch the dead little girl’s hand and shouted in pleasant surprise, "But... I can’t reach the others."

’A heartbeat?’

’She’s still alive?’

’Didn’t she already die?’

’So is she dead or alive?!’

Everyone felt like their brains had short-circuited. They stared at Xia Yu, utterly baffled and astonished.

"Just as I thought!"

Xia Yu’s eyes lit up. "In that case," she said, "the other person must be alive too."

At that moment, she was completely certain. The ’dead’ people hadn’t actually died; their souls had merely been stolen by the painting. They were ’bound’ to the fishermen in the picture!

’This...’

’How do we break this deadlock?’

’Do we have to kill all the fishermen?’

"Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

"You’re the one who got my son killed!"

The bald man’s eyes were bloodshot. He glared at Xia Yu as if he wanted to eat her alive.

"You motherf—"

Xie Shaokun exploded with anger. "Are you fucking looking for a fight? You killed your own son with your own hands, and now you’re trying to blame someone else?"

"I’m sick of hearing you run your mouth! If you hadn’t been so reckless, your son might still be alive!"

"If you have to blame someone, blame yourself!"

But the bald man wasn’t about to listen to reason.

"Get lost."

He roared at Xie Shaokun, cursing, "Stay the hell out of my business! You’re a wanted man, and I can be one too. Who’s afraid of who?"

"My whole family is dead! I’ve got nothing left to live for!"

Just as Xie Shaokun was about to speak again, Xia Yu suddenly spoke up.

"Your sister still has a chance."

SWISH!

Everyone’s heads whipped around to stare at Xia Yu, their eyes wide.

’There’s a way to save them?’

"I don’t care, you killed my son, and I’ll kill— Huh? What did you say?"

The bald man froze.

"In two more steps, she’ll be dead."

"Are you sure you want to waste time here with your useless rage?"

Xia Yu asked coldly.

"I... I beg you, save my sister."

The bald man’s expression changed in an instant. He began frantically slapping his own face. "I was wrong! I’m a fucking ungrateful animal! Please, don’t hold it against me, I..."

Xia Yu had no patience for his nonsense. She looked at Xie Shaokun. "Give me the pig-killing knife."

"Okay."

Xie Shaokun decisively tossed it to Xia Yu.

Seeing the bald man’s sister about to take her final step, Xia Yu’s eyes narrowed and she flicked her wrist.

The pig-killing knife flew from her hand.

It struck the fisherman in the painting a split second faster.

It was also the only fisherman whose appearance hadn’t changed.

"What a perfect shot!"

Everyone was startled.

’Who would have thought this cold goddess had such skill?’

This was especially true for Zhao Xianghe. He never would have imagined that his female neighbor was so incredible. Not only was she good with darts, but her abilities in observation and analysis were also outstanding. It completely overturned his understanding of her.

’When we get out of here, I have to pursue her. If worse comes to worst, I’ll just take Chinese medicine or Western medicine... I can even take both at the same time.’

Such was the thought that popped into his head.

「Meanwhile.」

The bald man’s sister froze mid-stride, her right foot hovering in the air. She never took that final step. Then, under everyone’s watchful eyes, her entire body fell backward.

The bald man’s face contorted, and rage quickly filled his features. "You tricked me again?"

"Shut up, you idiot."

Xie Shaokun looked like he wanted to stab the guy. "Open your damn eyes and look!" he cursed. "Your sister is still just in a state of shock!"

The bald man faltered, turning to look at his sister.

She was standing on her own two feet, her upper body arched backward in a strange pose, much like a yoga position. Her breathing was steady, her chest rising and falling gently.

’She’s alive?’

"Sob..."

The bald man burst into tears on the spot. "Thank you... thank you..."

The emotional rollercoaster had completely broken him, and he was reduced to a weeping mess.

Phew.

At that moment, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

’She survived.’

’That’s good.’

’That means we can survive too.’

’Wait!’

"Why can’t we still move?"

Zhao Xianghe looked at Xia Yu, still deeply worried.

Xia Yu stared at the painting again, her eyes narrowing. "If I’m not mistaken," she said, "we need to ’kill’ all four fishermen in the painting."

"Quick! Find a sharp Weapon and give it to Xia Yu."

Zhao Xianghe decisively chimed in.

Everyone began to search their surroundings. One person near the counter smashed it open and found two rusty Sharp Arrows. He held them up high. "Will these work?"

Xia Yu nodded and took the two Sharp Arrows.

Zhao Xianghe glanced at the gruesome wound on the bald man’s son’s forehead and couldn’t help but swallow. He asked weakly, "If we ’kill’ the other two fishermen, the other two people will die too, right?"

"That’s equivalent to..."

"...indirectly killing them."