CH 71

"How much is this lamb?" Gu Yi asked.

"Huh?" The vendor looked up, puzzled, and glanced at Gu Yi. "What does a kid like you know? Go back home. If you want to buy, ask your parents to come, okay?"

Do I need to have my parents' consent to buy a lamb?

Gu Yi paused, looking around.

All the customers inquiring about the price were older than him. After a moment of silence, Gu Yi bowed his head and ran out of the market.

"It seems I need to try a different approach."

Gu Yi bought a peaked cap and a mask at the market entrance, then squatted by the roadside, silently waiting.

There might be familiar faces from his neighborhood in the market.

Since the adults in town were so cautious about the trade of lamb meat, appearing at the market might alert his parents. Although he didn't know what consequences it would bring, it would undoubtedly increase the difficulty of clearing customs.

Gu Yi took a sip of almond water out of boredom and happened to see a family leaving with a lamb.

If he wasn't mistaken, that lamb was the one that had tried to escape earlier.

Gu Yi closed his eyes.

(Deduction begins!)

(You put on a mask, lower your cap, and follow closely.)

(The buyer and his wife stuff the lamb into the trunk and drive away. You quickly ride your bicycle to follow them.)

(The buyers' house is near your school. After parking, the buyer and his wife lift the lamb out.)

(The lamb touches the ground with its four hooves, bleating and struggling to free itself from the rope around its hooves.)

(The wife curses loudly but gets knocked to the ground by the lamb.)

(The husband takes a shovel from the yard and smashes it on the lamb's head. The lamb forcefully butts its head, breaking off one of its horns and sending the shovel flying.)

(The lamb lifts its front hoof and kicks the husband in the chest before leaping away and running out of the yard.)

(The buyer and his wife scream loudly.)

(The lamb, in a panic, runs towards you, and you quickly move your bicycle to the side. The lamb is fast, and if you weren't on a bicycle, you won't be able to catch up.)

(The buyer and his wife see you and blame you for not stopping the lamb.)

(You remain silent, ride around the couple, and continue following the lamb.)

(The couple's car blocks the lamb's escape route ahead, but the nimble lamb jumps over the front of the car and runs towards the town entrance.)

(The husband rolls down the car window and loudly asks for help. Neighbors hear the noise and ride their electric scooters to help catch the lamb.)

(In no time, residents from half of the street have rushed out.)

(You feel surprised by the commotion. Why would a single lamb attract such a crowd?)

(The lamb runs into a small grove, and the residents follow suit.)

(Without hesitation, you ride your bicycle into the grove as well.)

(The bicycle is difficult to maneuver on the muddy ground, so you leave it aside.)

(The residents shout.)

(A: You go over there and search!)

(B: This grove isn't big; it can't escape.)

(C: The west side leads out of town. A few of you block the exit there, while the rest of us will search in the grove.)

(You follow the lamb's hoofprints to track it down.)

(As you reach the center of the grove, you find it increasingly difficult to trace the hoofprints. The voices of the residents also fade, indicating they are no longer searching. As long as the exits are blocked, the lamb has nowhere to run.)

(You don't give up and continue searching.)

(After about ten minutes, you discover the lamb behind a pile of bushes.)

(It is covered in wounds, with one horn broken.)

(You try to approach the lamb.)

(The lamb immediately stands up and points its broken horn toward you.)

(You take two steps back.)

(You: I'm here to help you escape.)

(The lamb tilts its head and looks at you.)

(You: I'll take you away.)

(The lamb seems to understand your words and rubs its head against your leg.)

(You lead the lamb to the edge of the grove and find adults standing near the town entrance, including the buyer and his wife.)

(You: Wait here for a moment. I'll lead those people away.)

(The lamb doesn't make any sound.)

(You run out of the grove and claim to have seen the lamb heading north, away from the grove.)

(The crowd believes you without hesitation.)

(You turn back and lead the lamb to the town entrance.)

(You also try to step out of the town, but you're immediately pushed back by an invisible force.)

(The lamb leaves the town.)

(A violent void storm outside the town immediately engulfs the lamb, tearing it into pieces.)

(Surprised, you take two steps back.)

(The residents are now standing behind you, and the buyer couple stares at you angrily.)

(Husband: You let the lamb escape?)

(Wife: Kill him!)

(Someone strikes you on the head with a shovel.)

(Your vision turns blood red.)

(You're dead.)

(Deduction ends!)

Gu Yi opened his eyes and happened to see the buyer and his wife leading the lamb past him.

The lamb bleated, and the couple struggled to stuff it into the trunk of their car.

"Another rule... Just lost a lamb, and they resort to killing a person?"

Gu Yi scratched his head and took out a pen and paper to jot down the new rule.

[When a lamb attempts to escape, it must be stopped, and it cannot be allowed to leave the town.]

The residents of the town are simple and honest, comparable to those in Gotham City. [1]

Of course, Gu Yi didn't really consider the lamb as a lamb.

There must be a hidden metaphor behind all this.

Before Gu Yi could ponder further, his phone rang.

It was another call from his mother.

"Mom."

"Are you coming home for dinner tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll be back."

"We're having braised lamb tonight. Come back early."

"Um... alright."

Gu Yi nodded and looked at the sky.

There were no other places to explore at the moment, so he had no choice but to go home.

The town didn't offer any additional clues. After today, a new diary entry would unlock, providing him with new leads.

Gu Yi picked up his sister and strolled around for a while before returning home.

His mother placed a plate of braised lamb on the table. Her cooking skills were excellent, and Gu Yi couldn't detect even a hint of a fishy smell.

Gu Yi held his chopsticks but hesitated to pick up a piece of lamb. He remembered the diary entry saying, "The lamb meat might have gone bad."

Gu Yi closed his eyes.

(Deduction begins!)

(You pick up a piece of lamb and put it in your mouth.)

(The taste is somewhat strange, but it actually tastes quite good.)

(You continue to pick up another piece.)

(Suddenly, you feel a severe pain in your stomach.)

(Your whole body goes numb, and you start to breathe rapidly.)

(Your parents look at you with confusion.)

(Your vision goes completely black.)

(You're dead.)

(Deduction ends!)

"Son, why aren't you eating the lamb?" Your mother looks at you with a smile. "It's been a while since you had lamb, right?"

"No, I've been having some digestive issues lately, so I'll pass."

Gu Yi forced a smile and avoided looking at the plate of lamb.