In Baiyang’s room, the four people inside quietly stared at the wrinkled bag of peanuts on the table. The atmosphere was oppressively tense to the extreme.

Baiyang remained silent for a long while, feeling a slight headache.

He reached out with his hand covered in white fur and rubbed his temples, then opened the bag of peanuts on the table and peeled one.

Many of the peanuts in this bag were moldy. The peeled peanut was wrinkled and blackish.

He threw the peanut into his mouth and gently bit down. His mouth was filled with the bitter taste of mold and rot.

The room was deathly quiet. Only the sound of Baiyang chewing could be heard.

The three “Zodiacs” silently watched him swallow the peanut expressionlessly, then saw him pick up a second one.

“Yang Ge…” Man-Tiger couldn’t help but speak up. “What exactly are we doing…? We can’t even help a single child. If we do get out someday, will we really still have any ‘humanity’ left…?”

Man-Snake also nodded and said, “Yang Ge… we all understand you. You’re not really this kind of person, right? I know you don’t want that child to suffer… but by directly driving her out the door, she only has two outcomes—either ‘Earth-Dragon’ or other ‘Zodiacs.’ Not one of these people will let her have an easy time…”

After hearing this, Baiyang didn’t answer. He only rubbed his slightly aching temples, then turned to look at Black Goat.

Black Goat paused and said, “Yang Ge… you came here later than me, yet you rose to ‘Earth-Level’ earlier… You’re the person I admire most in this world. So I’ll comply with all your arrangements… even if… even if…”

“Even if what?”

“Even if… you make me do things against my conscience…”

“Good. Go kill her for me,” Baiyang said coldly.

“What…?” Black Goat was stunned.

“Didn’t you say you’d comply with all my arrangements?” Baiyang threw another peanut into his mouth. “Go kill that child right now. Bring me her head along with her mask.”

“I…” Black Goat pondered for a long while, then slowly lowered his head.

The man before him was always so unpredictable. Black Goat knew he could never see through him.

“How ridiculous,” Baiyang said. “You few have all ended up like this, yet you still can’t bear to see suffering? Which eye of mine was blind back then to have taken you three wastes as disciples? Other ‘Earth-Level’ Zodiacs have dozens of disciples and can collect hundreds or thousands of ‘Tao’ every day. And me? I thank the heavens if I can collect thirty a day.”

“Yang Ge… calm down,” Man-Snake looked up and said. “We… we truly haven’t brought you honor…”

“That’s right, Yang Ge!” Man-Tiger also said imposingly. “I’ve said before—if Yang Ge ever feels I’m in the way, I can leave anytime!”

After hearing this, Baiyang reached for another peanut and slowly said, “I’ve been lonely my whole life. Before entering the ‘Land of the End,’ I was always completely alone. I feel that child is very much like me, yet also different.”

The three people looked at Baiyang, quietly listening to him speak.

“She seems to have also grown up from the ‘darkness’ of the world, yet she lives more like a person than I do,” Baiyang said. “The ‘darkness’ has long since corroded me, but somehow it hasn’t infected her.”

“Yang Ge… you mean…”

“I don’t want her to become like me,” Baiyang answered. “If we really can take her and escape, she’ll definitely become a black flower, stained with the darkness of the mortal world. Rather than that, it’s better to let her find release now.”

The three people silently lowered their heads. No one spoke.

They understood Baiyang’s intentions.

“But then I thought again…” Baiyang tapped the table. “You three have followed me for several years, and you seem to be the same as always—you haven’t been much affected. So perhaps…”

“That’s right, Yang Ge!” Man-Snake stood up with a whoosh. “I think you’re absolutely right!”

“What did Yang Ge say?” Man-Tiger asked in confusion.

“You two stop interrupting,” Black Goat glared at them. “Listen to Yang Ge.”

Baiyang pressed his lips together, but then changed course. “I need to tell you first—once we take in this child, there will definitely be endless trouble… It might indirectly affect your advancement… If that’s the case, are you still willing to accept her?”

“Willing!” Man-Tiger and Man-Snake said in unison.

“I…” Black Goat narrowed his eyes and looked at the two of them. “Although I think that child is pitiful, I won’t allow anyone to affect my advancement.”

“Then you don’t have to worry about it!” Man-Tiger said loudly. “After we bring the child back, Man-Snake and I will take care of her! You can go wherever you want!”

“No wonder you’ll be a Man-Level your whole life!” Black Goat cursed back.

“What did you say?!”

“Both of you shut up,” Baiyang said.

Hearing this, the two of them resentfully closed their mouths.

“There’s another matter I really can’t tolerate,” Baiyang sighed and picked up another moldy peanut. “I’ve taken you in for nearly three years… providing you with good food and drink every day, yet you haven’t even brought me a single bag of peanuts.”

“What…?”

“My youngest student is still the most sensible,” Baiyang said. “She knew to bring me something to show her respect on her very first day of work. She’s far better than you few idiots. I wonder if she’s finished her walk yet?”

Man-Snake was the first to react. He quickly stood up and said anxiously, “Yang… Yang Ge, we’ll go bring back your youngest student right now.”

“Ah, yes yes yes yes yes!” Man-Tiger also stood up. “Yang Ge, please wait! We’ll go bring her home!”

The two of them ran out of the room one after the other. Now only Baiyang and Black Goat remained in the room.

“What?” Baiyang stared at him and asked.

“Yang Ge… you seem to have changed a bit,” Black Goat said. “The reason I admire you… is because you’ve always been able to cast aside all emotions, like a true god… But today I feel you…”

“Goat, I’m about to get out.”

“Wh-what?!” Black Goat was stunned.

Black Goat knew that the three of them turned in pitifully few “Tao” every day… Yet the Earth-Goat before him had actually completed the killing quota using such pitifully few “Tao”?!

Did he have extra “Tao” to pay to participants?

If “Zodiacs” could leave their territories, he really wanted to see what kind of game Baiyang was running.

Baiyang smiled. “I haven’t told those two yet.”

“Yang Ge… if you leave… what will we do?!” Black Goat asked somewhat tremblingly. “You still have so many things you haven’t taught me…”

“After I leave, the study will be yours,” Baiyang said. “All the rules and principles—I’ve collected them on the bookshelves. If you’re interested, you can slowly read them. They’ll help with your game.”

“I… I… understand…” Black Goat nodded somewhat despondently.

As the two sat in silence, suddenly there came a faint knock at the door.

“Enter,” Baiyang said.

After waiting a few seconds, the door opened a crack, and a somewhat bloated figure poked his head in.

He wore a dirty pig-head mask.

“Yang Ge… may I disturb you?” that person asked.

“Pig?” Baiyang hesitated slightly. “You’re looking for me?”

“Yes… I, I have something I’d like to trouble you with…” Man-Pig said in a low voice. “But it might be a bit presumptuous…”