# Chapter 56: Sacrifice
The pigsty was filled with just a bit of thick smoke. Yang Can went in and told everyone not to speak after coming out, then led them into the workshop.
The Skinner took out a skinning knife and made a cut on each person's back. Within a few seconds, the pig skin lost its moisture and naturally peeled off.
"We're saved!" A group of people cried tears of joy, especially several pregnant women who trembled as they kept thanking the others.
"Big brother!" A child ran toward Xu Huo. Sima Xiao'er's hands were full carrying things, so he quickly crouched down, and the child happened to throw himself into his arms. He said softly, "Go stand over by that sister, okay? Don't speak, understand?"
This child was the little pig that had jumped out of the pigsty earlier. He nodded, turned around, and squeezed over to where the pregnant women were.
Sima Xiao'er breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to the Skinner and said, "Release all these people, and I'll give the painting back to you."
The Skinner snorted and puffed as he breathed, "I can let the others go, but not those six little ones."
"No deal!" Sima Xiao'er brought the flame closer. The painting's border turned scorched black, and the woman inside reacted even more violently, desperately trying to jump out of the painting, her arms pressing against the tape underneath.
"Think it through. You want little pigs—you can catch them anytime. But where are you going to get another one of these props?" Sima Xiao'er threatened, while mentally calculating the time. Even if the Skinner couldn't bear to part with this prop, if his left leg recovered, everything would be much worse!
"Hurry up and release them!" Qin An pulled the whip tight. Time was running out!
Just then, the Skinner raised his right hand holding the knife. Several players were watching him nervously when suddenly they heard a cold laugh, and it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them!
"Another Skinner has come out!" Qin An shouted. Before he could exert force, several flashes of cold light streaked past, and his whip broke into several pieces, falling to the ground—the Skinner slowly stood up.
"Although I don't like this factory, business is business. Once a deal is made, you can't break your promise. That's a rule every industry must follow."
He looked at the terrified people trembling behind the players, his mouth stretching into a curve. "Dead pigs, live pigs—all the same."
The moment the words fell, he began darting through the workshop at an unbelievable speed. In the blink of an eye, several figures flew and crashed into the walls one after another. A few short gasps started and stopped abruptly, and several sprays of blood splattered out in quick succession...
Everything happened so fast that no one had time to react. Xu Huo, at the other end of the workshop, watched the gray figure flash before his eyes, his pupils uncontrollably widening!
"Boom!" He only had time to sidestep slightly before his entire body was crushed by a tremendous force through the wall behind him, tumbling and rolling into the fur room!
And those hanging furs suddenly seemed to come alive, madly surging toward him, each one trying to stick to his skin!
Xu Huo's reaction was not slow. After landing, he rolled to the window on the opposite side, quickly tore off the animal skins on his body, and took out his lighter. But before he could ignite it, the Skinner, who had followed closely, kicked him horizontally through the bedroom door wall!
"Cough!" Xu Huo spat blood, his vision going dark.
Less than ten seconds.
Peng Fengnian and the others were all severely injured. Seven or eight of the ordinary people had their throats slit, their bodies still standing where they were. The remaining ones were terrified out of their minds, not yet recovered from the shock... In less than ten seconds, the Skinner had turned the situation around!
"You're the one hiding in the pigsty." The Skinner looked at him.
Xu Huo wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up against the wall.
The Skinner and Red Nose Carl shared one body, but they couldn't share visual information. So the Skinner didn't know Red Nose Carl had a visitor, and Red Nose Carl didn't know the Skinner had discovered something unusual in the pigsty and skinned a player alive.
But they both knew of each other's existence. Red Nose Carl would keep the office tidy, and the Skinner had left space in the cabinet for magazines and photo books. So when Red Nose Carl couldn't handle the situation, the Skinner would appear.
Failing to make a quick decision and force Red Nose Carl to release the people meant their plan had failed. Facing the Skinner's personality, they absolutely couldn't save anyone!
His gaze flickered between the Skinner and the two furs sandwiched with human skin: Leave or stay?
Just then, Sima Xiao'er suddenly got up, grabbed two children, and ran toward the warehouse, shouting, "The place we came from must be an exit!"
Everyone seemed to wake from a dream. The frozen workshop began to move again.
Tang Pei's injuries had healed when the Skinner's left leg healed. She hesitated briefly, then followed Sima Xiao'er's example, grabbing a child in each arm. But unfortunately, she wasn't as lucky as Sima Xiao'er. Before she could enter the warehouse, a skinning knife flew through the air and pierced her throat!
"The little pigs have to stay alive." The Skinner walked out from among the furs.
"Tang Pei!" Xian Dazhi roared, grabbing a debairing machine and hurling it at the Skinner!
This bought time for Peng Fengnian and Qin An. They rushed toward the warehouse, at least wanting to save the children and pregnant women before leaving. But by then, the others had come to their senses and were all frantically running toward the warehouse. The doorway was completely blocked, and they couldn't get in!
"One at a time!" Sima Xiao'er shouted from inside. "You people hold them back! Let the children and pregnant women go first!"
The people outside exchanged glances. Peng Fengnian gritted his teeth, turned to face the Skinner, and a white light ball emitting intense brightness appeared in his hand. He shouted at Xian Dazhi, "Come here quickly!"
Xian Dazhi responded, but before his feet could move, a stream of blood sprayed from the side of his neck.
This honest player fell at the Skinner's feet. The Skinner hooked his hand in the air, and a long needle with thread emerged from the other side of Xian Dazhi's neck, returning to his hand.
Peng Fengnian and Qin An, bathed in the strong light, also saw this scene. A chill ran through their hearts. The former forced himself to stay calm and said, "Players seen by the 'Eye of the Strong' can't use props against us for three minutes. At least we're safe for these three minutes..."
But before he could finish, a piece of skin suddenly fell from above, covering Qin An beside him. The upright person suddenly had his limbs bent, his waist sagging, and within two seconds, he had turned into a Shar Pei dog, then was dragged out of the safe zone by the thread attached to its tail!
"How is this possible!" Peng Fengnian's pupils trembled. The Eye of the Strong should work on any player. The Skinner shouldn't even be able to see them clearly right now, let alone use props!
The Shar Pei dog that was Qin An stiffened as it was dragged before the Skinner. The Skinner stepped on its head and was about to cut its throat when he suddenly sensed something and turned around:
Xu Huo was holding the firewood stolen from the secret room, the burning end aimed at a suspended wolf skin, staring right at him!