Chapter 283: The Moldy Peanuts
In the White Ram's room, the four people inside stared silently at the crumpled bag of peanuts on the table, the atmosphere oppressively tense.
The White Ram had been silent for a long while, feeling a slight headache. He reached up with his white-furred hand and rubbed his temples, then opened the peanuts on the table and shelled one. Many of the peanuts in the bag were moldy, and the one he'd shelled was shriveled and black.
He tossed the peanut into his mouth and bit down gently, his mouth filling with the bitter taste of rot and mold.
The room was deathly quiet, the only sound the White Ram's chewing.
The three "Beasts" watched silently as he expressionlessly swallowed the peanut, then picked up a second one.
"Brother Ram..." the Tiger Beast couldn't help but speak. "What are we even doing...? We can't even help a little child. If we ever get out of here, will we still have any 'humanity' left...?"
The Snake Beast nodded as well. "Brother Ram... we all know you. You're not really this kind of person, are you? I know you don't want that kid to suffer... but just kicking her out the door leaves her with only two options: either the Earth Dragon, or some other Beast. None of them will go easy on her..."
The White Ram didn't answer. He just rubbed his aching temples again, then turned to look at the Black Ram.
The Black Ram hesitated, then said, "Brother Ram... you came later than me, yet you reached 'Earth-rank' before I did... You're the person I admire most in this world. So I'll follow whatever decisions you make... even if... even if..."
"Even if what?"
"Even if... you ask me to do something against my conscience..."
"Fine. Go kill her for me," the White Ram said coldly.
"What...?" The Black Ram was stunned.
"Didn't you say you'd follow all my arrangements?" The White Ram threw another peanut into his mouth. "Go kill that child right now. Bring me her head and her mask."
"I..." The Black Ram hesitated for a long time, then slowly lowered his head.
The man before him was always this unhinged. The Black Ram knew he could never figure him out.
"How ridiculous," the White Ram said. "You guys are living like this now, and you still can't bear to see suffering? Which eye was I blind in when I took in three wastes like you? Other 'Earth-rank' Beasts have dozens of disciples, raking in hundreds or thousands of 'Tao' every day. And me? I'd be grateful if I got thirty a day."
"Brother Ram... calm down," the Snake Beast said, looking up. "I... we really have let you down..."
"Yes, Brother Ram!" the Tiger Beast chimed in aggressively. "I told you before—if the day ever comes when you feel I'm in the way, I'm ready to leave anytime!"
The White Ram reached for another peanut and said slowly, "I've lived my whole life in loneliness. Before I came to the 'Land of the End,' I was always alone. I feel like that child is a lot like me... but also not quite the same."
The three of them watched the White Ram, listening quietly.
"She seems to have grown up in the 'dark corners' of the world too, but she lives more like a human than I do," the White Ram said. "'Darkness' has long corroded me, but somehow it hasn't tainted her."
"Brother Ram... what do you mean..."
"I don't want her to become like me," the White Ram replied. "If we really could escape with her, she would surely become a black flower, stained by the world's darkness. Rather than that, it's better for her to find release now."
The three of them silently lowered their heads, none of them speaking.
They understood the White Ram's intentions now.
"But then I thought..." The White Ram tapped the table. "You three have been with me for years, and you seem to have stayed the same despite everything. So maybe..."
"That's right, Brother Ram!" the Snake Beast stood up abruptly. "I think you're absolutely right!"
"What did Brother Ram say?" the Tiger Beast asked, confused.
"Both of you, don't interrupt," the Black Ram said, glaring at them. "Let Brother Ram finish."
The White Ram pursed his lips, then changed his tone: "First, I have to warn you—once we take this child in, trouble will follow... It might even indirectly affect your promotions. If that's the case, are you still willing to accept her?"
"Willing!" the Tiger Beast and the Snake Beast said in unison.
"I..." The Black Ram narrowed his eyes at the two of them and said, "I do feel sorry for the kid, but I won't let anyone hinder my promotion."
"Then it's none of your business!" the Tiger Beast shouted. "Once we bring the kid back, the Snake and I will take care of her! You can go wherever the hell you want!"
"Serves you right if you stay at 'Person-rank' forever!" the Black Beast shot back.
"What did you say?!"
"Both of you, shut up," the White Ram said.
The two fell silent reluctantly.
"And there's another thing I really can't stand," the White Ram sighed, picking up another moldy peanut. "I've taken you three in for almost three years... fed you well every day, and you've never even brought me a bag of peanuts."
"What...?"
"At least my youngest disciple knows how to behave," the White Ram said. "On her very first day, she knew to bring her master a gift. She's way better than you idiots. I wonder if she's done with her walk yet?"
The Snake Beast was the first to catch on. He quickly stood up and said urgently, "Bro... Brother Ram, we'll go fetch your youngest disciple right now."
"Ah, yes, yes, yes, yes!" the Tiger Beast also stood up. "Brother Ram, just wait! We'll go bring her home!"
The two of them ran out of the room one after the other, leaving only the White Ram and the Black Ram.
"What?" the White Ram asked, staring at him.
"Brother Ram... you seem a little different," the Black Ram said. "I admire you because you've always been able to cast aside all emotions, like a true god... But today, I feel like you..."
"Ram, I'm about to leave."
"Wha—what?!" The Black Ram was stunned.
The Black Ram knew how pitifully little 'Tao' the three of them turned in each day... Yet this Earth Ram had managed to complete the kill quota with so little 'Tao'?!
Did he have extra 'Tao' to pay the participants?
If a 'Beast' could leave its territory, he really wanted to see what kind of game the White Ram was running.
The White Ram smiled. "I haven't told the other two yet."
"Brother Ram... if you leave... what will happen to us?!" the Black Ram asked, trembling slightly. "There's still so much you haven't taught me..."
"After I'm gone, the study is yours," the White Ram said. "All the laws and theorems are on the bookshelves. If you're interested, you can read through them slowly. They'll help with your game."
"I... I... understand..." The Black Ram nodded, a little disheartened.
As the two of them sat in silence, a faint knock came at the door.
"Enter," the White Ram said.
After a few seconds, the door cracked open, and a somewhat bulky figure poked his head in.
He wore a filthy pig mask.
"Brother Ram... can I bother you for a moment?" the man asked.
"Pig?" the White Ram hesitated slightly. "You're looking for me?"
"Yes... I, I have something I'd like to ask you..." the Pig Beast said in a low voice. "But it might be a bit presumptuous..."