As soon as I stepped outside, there was no cold wind; everything was eerily quiet.

Ah Chen headed toward the place Yan Hui pointed out during the day. After a few minutes, some sounds gradually came from there, along with the appearance of firelight.

She didn’t want to be discovered, so she wouldn’t be; there was no need to use any tools.

As she quickly approached, she saw a familiar face hidden among them. Who else could it be but Yan Hui? It seemed this person’s curiosity was quite strong.

It appeared that all the villagers were gathered here. She weaved through the crowd and managed to see clearly the three young people tied to the firewood.

Are they going to burn them tonight as well? Wouldn’t that mean we’ll soon hear those pitiful screams again?

But it’s not a certainty.

This NPC in the scenario had quite a bit of freedom; the storyline wasn’t fixed.

The screams from yesterday were solely to lure people out.

If those inside the house knew not to go out, there wouldn’t be any screams.

In truth, no one was paying attention; they didn’t have to put on such an act, unless... they knew someone had come out.

Ah Chen’s gaze swept over Yan Hui’s position. Perhaps he still didn’t know he had become the target?

"No, I don’t want to be burned to death, save me, can anyone save me?" one of the young people tied to the firewood shouted. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he broke free from the ropes and rushed fiercely toward Yan Hui’s position.

Before Yan Hui even realized it, he was clinging to his leg: "Brother, please help me. Seeing as we’re all from outside, take me with you. I know you’re skilled; you must be able to bring me out. Even if you don’t take me, just run yourself, call the police, and capture these murderous villagers. They absolutely must not be let off." The young man said fiercely, gripping Yan Hui’s leg tightly, causing him to hiss in pain.

He had a way to escape; that’s why he dared to come out and observe the situation. But suddenly being discovered was really a bummer.

"Grab him quickly."

"And this outsider too, we can’t let him leave." The village chief’s voice was sinister, "Didn’t we tell you not to go out at night, outsider? Why did you come out? Since you’ve discovered the secret here, for the safety of the whole village, I can’t let you go."

At this point, Yan Hui also realized he couldn’t gather more information and had no choice but to use a tool to escape.

On the surface, Yan Hui was captured and tied to the firewood.

In reality, he used a Substitute Card, and he was already far away, looking back with lingering fear, feeling it was a loss.

Tomorrow, he needs to take on more activities.

He doesn’t plan to go out at night again; it seems hard to reap any rewards at night, though it’s a shame he hasn’t figured out the story of the Food Village.

"Alright, disperse. Everyone has left." Once Yan Hui returned to the house, the villagers who were about to burn someone put away their fierce expressions.

The village chief glanced at the "Yan Hui" left there: "That substitute card still needs to be burned; if it’s not, he’ll sense it over on his end."

The villagers watched the substitute being burned and started chatting.

"Chief, the people who came this time are hard to deceive, huh."

"We almost tricked one into coming out the last time," said a young man next to the firewood, "but then someone inside stopped him."

"I’m sure that if the person had been alone in one place, he wouldn’t know how many times he died. Really easy to trick."

"Is it Wei Yao you’re talking about?"

"That’s right, it’s him."

"At first, I thought Bai Qiaoqian would be easy to deceive, but after encountering her twice, I found out this woman is as sharp as a needle."

"Seems likely that everyone will clear this stage."

"That’s not surprising. In this level, as long as you remain stable, you can pass. It’s not an elimination level; the next one for them should be."

"Yeah, I wonder how many will be left by that time."

"That Li Chen with the skill of ring tossing is incredible. Every throw is accurate. You better watch out for her tomorrow."

"Appears obedient on the surface, yet so powerful in action. I have high hopes for her. She probably can clear it. And she’s still alive, not someone who’s returned after dying. I wonder on whose behalf she’s here."

"In their team, there’s only that half-dead Huo Jingchen. Probably for him, but it seems their relationship isn’t good. Huo Jingchen’s attention is all on Qin Lin, those two like each other."

"Li Chen wouldn’t fancy Huo Jingchen, would she?"

"How could that be? It’s obvious she doesn’t. Huo Jingchen is calculating to death. A man like that doesn’t spare others when scheming. Liking him would be unfortunate, she’d have to be blind to like him."

"So why did she come here?"

"Curious to know."

"Rou’er, doesn’t Li Chen live at your house? Haven’t you tried finding out anything?"

Qu Rou’er looked troubled: "Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?"

"What’s difficult? Just find out something about her, maybe reveal some village news to her appropriately? Doesn’t she want rich rewards? Satisfy our curiosity, and we’ll offer more rewards."

Qu Rou’er looked numb; would that work? Isn’t special reward tied to completing hidden tasks?

Ah Chen: ...

These NPCs not only gossip but have such intense curiosity.

Can the Main God leave them unchecked like this?

"Brother, what tool did she use not to be spotted by the villagers? Now the villagers’ other side has been exposed to her." Xiao Pan asked.

At this moment, they both were disguised as stones.

Bai Chao didn’t know either and wasn’t interested in alerting the villagers.

"Honestly, sometimes I really want to burn those three bastards." A villager suddenly came out with this sentence, glancing at the position of the three young men.

The three young men quickly said, "We’re not really them, be rational."

"We know; since the day we awakened, we understood. You guys need not fear. Now we’re all working for the Main God; as long as the Main God doesn’t want us dead, none of us can die."

Ah Chen pondered. It seemed she speculated correctly, that the Food Village was central. Those three young men must have done something terribly outrageous, inciting the villagers’ hate, leading to such a scene.

Would there be a hidden task appearing tomorrow?

After all, only one day remained.

Afterward, the villagers became relatively silent, discussing no more. Ah Chen quietly returned without alarming anyone.

At dawn, everyone began the food activities again.

Both sides met and briefly exchanged information about last night’s situation.

Yan Hui even didn’t hide his experience of going out last night. When everyone learned that even invisibility tools could be detected, their vigilance intensified. By this point, they generally gave up the idea of going out at night.

It was better to focus on the food festival activities.

Perhaps due to some result of the villagers’ discussions, similar circle-tossing activities like yesterday were basically absent today. Although yesterday’s circle-tossing activity was still present, Ah Chen was restricted from participating.

There were some gains though not much for her, the money earned yesterday was enough; she didn’t feel regret.

Toward evening, today’s food exhibition concluded, and everyone returned.

Just upon reaching the house, everyone noticed Granny Li standing at the door, with an anxious expression.

"Have you seen Rou’er today?" Granny Li first asked.