Chapter 39: Where to Go and Where to Follow?

  This attitude, as long as it's not a person with extremely stupid intelligence, can feel the malicious intentions of these people. "Village head, what do you want to do?" Xiao Chen gently put down the small basket in his hand, and a bad feeling rose up in his heart.

  "Xiao Chen, we just want to know when you plan to leave Pingquan Village?" Blue Yun and Lingyun looked at each other unwillingly, and Blue Zhiyuan had no choice but to speak up.

  "Please rest assured, Village Chief, we'll leave right away!" Xiao Chen glanced at Liu Lan. He naturally understood that this group of people was so eager to hurry him along because they were afraid that the Huayang Sect would vent their anger on them due to the deaths of Huang Shan and Huang Liang brothers.

  "Right! Let's go now!" Liu Lan also nodded. To be honest, even if the people of Pingquan Village didn't drive them away, they themselves wouldn't want to stay here either. A group of ungrateful and heartless people.

  "Sorry, Xiao Chen!" Ling Yun and Lan Yun were even more embarrassed. As for this, Xiao Chen smiled and shook his head, holding Liu Ran's hand, walking outwards. But the villagers outside the door blocked the way, not letting the two leave. Seeing this scene, Xiao Chen's eyebrows furrowed, what was going on?

  "What are you doing? Get back!" Blue Zhiyuan's old face turned slightly red. Originally, these people holding sticks and ropes were prepared for the possibility that Xiao Chen might not be willing to leave at this time or propose some overly harsh conditions, and use force. But Blue Zhiyuan never thought that Xiao Chen's response would be so quick. It seems that he was still thinking with a small mind and measuring others by his own standards.

  "Village chief, can't you just let them go like this?!" A sturdy villager anxiously said, "Village chief, you also know that the person from Huayang Sect was killed by Xiao Chen, and Huayang Sect's arrogance and unreasonable behavior are notorious. If we let Xiao Chen go, it will inevitably provoke Huayang Sect, and I'm afraid our Pingquan Village will be in danger of being destroyed!"

  "Yes, yes, Village Chief, for the sake of the hundreds of old and young in the village, you absolutely cannot let Xiao Chen leave!"

  "Otherwise, shall we bind Xiao Chen and hand him over to Huayang Sect for punishment?"

  "Alright, alright, just do it like this!"

  ……

  "That's enough!" The beautiful face of Blue Rhythm was distorted, her muscles twitching wildly. "You, you bastards, do you know what you're talking about? Have you forgotten who it was that killed the fierce tiger on Mount Ji and saved everyone's lives? Do you remember who eliminated the Yellow Liang monster that was wreaking havoc in my village of Pingquan? Do you know that if it weren't for Xiao Chen, the people from Huayang Sect would have slaughtered our entire village?"

  "Xiao Chen brothers are the benefactors of our entire village, if it wasn't for him, you probably wouldn't even have had the chance to be here. You not only don't know how to show gratitude, but also do such ungrateful and unjust things, can you ask yourselves, does this align with your conscience?" Ling Yun also stood tightly by her lover's side.

  "A coward like you dares to criticize others?" The crowd suddenly fell silent, and Lingyun's face turned bright red.

  "He's not qualified, am I not qualified?" Lan Zhiyuan roared in anger. "You bastards, you ungrateful bunch, do you know how shameful it is to betray the person who saved your life just to save your own skin? Even if you manage to survive, you'll be cursed by thousands and spat on by tens of thousands. Are you willing to live a life of such humiliation?"

  "The village head..." The noise of the crowd suddenly subsided a lot.

  "If you do this, not only will you be looked down upon, but your descendants will also be looked down upon and won't be able to hold their heads up. Even on the day of your death, you'll have no face to meet your ancestors in the afterlife!"

  "The... " The people who were overwhelmed with shame silently lowered their heads.

  "I'm telling you, everyone is afraid of death, but one must live with dignity, and live upright. To sell out one's conscience, to sell out one's dignity, even if it means staying alive, that would be nothing more than a soulless corpse. I'm telling you, as long as I, Lán Zhì Yuǎn, am still the village chief of Píng Quán Village, you won't be allowed to run amok. I order you, get out of my way!" Blue Zhiyuan thundered.

  No answer, a dead silence. "Get out of the way, if someone from Huayang Sect comes to blame us in the future, I'll take it upon myself! I won't implicate any of you cowards!"

  "That's right, if the people from Huayang Sect come to seek revenge in the future, I and Lingyun will take it together, and we won't implicate you!" At this moment, Lan Yun'er's words were extremely clear. Xiao Chen's righteousness finally awakened her conscience, making her abandon her inner fear. That's right, being a human should be upright and brave to take on everything one should take on."

  "That's right, I've missed once and can't let myself miss again!" At this time, Lingyun also bid farewell to fear and confusion.

  No answer, all around was silent, only no one dared to lift their own head. Finally, someone couldn't bear the inner condemnation and moved a step forward. And with the first pioneer, the second and third also appeared in succession. At last, people silently made way for the road.

  Compared to Liu Lan, Xi Yu and the others looked indignant, but at this moment, Xiao Chen felt extremely calm. He lightly waved his hand to stop the two women from arguing with the villagers, then gazed at the villagers who lowered their heads in shame with an unusually calm gaze. After a long while, he finally spoke up.

  "Gentlemen, since it's like this, I'll take my leave!" Xiao Chen lightly grasped Liu Lan's hand. "Everyone can rest assured, after I leave here, I will go to the Huayang Sect and tell them that killing Huang Shan and Huang Liang brothers was done by me, Xiao Chen alone, and has nothing to do with you all!"

  After finishing speaking, Xiao Chen took the hands of the two girls and strode forward. In the sight of everyone, the silhouettes of the two people became more and more blurred. But in the hearts of Lan Zhiyuan and others, their figures rose higher and higher.

  "Village head, is what Xiao Chen said true or not?" a villager asked quietly after a long time.

  "Shut up!" Lan Zhiyuan roared uncontrollably.

  "Did they just leave like that?" As she watched Xiao Chen, Liu Lan's figure was about to disappear when Xiuyuan, who had been tightly grasping the Lingzhu, froze.

  "Sister, what are you still doing? Hurry up and catch up!" The voice of Yuexian's rebuke came from the Lingzhu.

  "Oh!" Xiang Yu suddenly realized, she hastily rushed out, "Xiao Chen you bastard, wait for me!"

  "Grandpa, are we being a bit too much?" Blue Yun turned her head and asked softly after the figures of several people had completely disappeared from view.

  "Village head grandfather, I also think so!" Lingyun said in a low voice, filled with shame.

  "This is also an unavoidable thing, I am the village chief, and there are some things that I have to do!" Lan Zhiyuan sighed lightly and didn't argue anymore. Xiao Chen little brother, I've lived for so long, but the people who can truly make me admire are very few. However, Xiao Chen little brother, you have indeed become one of those few people.

  The benevolent of the world, with a broad and vast heart, can accommodate all under heaven. Can make people of the world envy, respect and look up to! Xiao Chen little brother, you are the most worthy benevolent person in this world!

  Just then, another person rushed over. It was actually the little girl who had turned back. Looking at the panting little girl, the three of them were stunned.

  "Little sister Xiang Yu, is there anything else?" Lan Yun asked softly.

  "I came back just because I forgot to do one thing!"

  "What's wrong?"

  "It's just this. Pfft!" A mouthful of thick phlegm was spat out at the foot of Lan Yun, and the little servant girl chased after Xiao Chen again. In response, Lan Zhiyuan, Lan Yun, and Lingyun could only smile bitterly. And so, Xiao Chen and Liu Lu's journey added two more people.

  ……

  "Xiao Chen, were the things you said in Pingquan Village true? Are you really going to Huayang Sect?" After walking silently for a while, Liu Lan finally couldn't help but ask.

  "Yes!" Xiao Chen nodded heavily, "The death of Huang Shan and Huang Liang, this matter will eventually be known to the people of Huayang Sect. If I don't go to Huayang Sect to explain clearly, the people of Huayang Sect may vent their anger on the villagers of Pingquan Village. It would be unbearable for me to cause misfortune to a whole village because of myself!"

  "But Xiao Chen, you should know that the people of Huayang Sect are unpredictable and prone to sudden mood swings. If you go there like this, you might put yourself in a dangerous situation, and if things don't go well..." Liu Lan didn't continue, she didn't dare think about such an outcome.

  "If things go wrong, you might not even have your life?" Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Liu Lan, do you know? I strongly agree with Lanzhuang's words. Everyone is afraid of death, but if a person has to survive by selling their own dignity and conscience, then they are just a walking corpse. I don't want to betray my own conscience!"

  "Xiao Chen, I support you!" Although Liu Lan's voice was extremely low, it was also extremely firm. Being able to accompany Xiao Chen like this, even if it means death, I am willing.

  "Sister, look at what a stubborn person you've found as your master!" Xiang Yu's little maid said disdainfully.

  "Don't talk nonsense. The master is like this, it just shows that he is a broad-minded and courageous gentleman who dares to do what is difficult, and it's my honor to follow such an upright person!" A soft rebuke came from Lingzhu, Moon Swallow's voice.

  "Cut it out, is that little brat really as great as you say he is?" Xīu Yuè muttered.

  "But Xiao Chen, do you know where Huayang Sect is?" After a pause, Liu Lan raised her own question.

  "Is that so? I've thought it through very clearly." Xiao Chen nodded solemnly, "Not bad, perhaps Huayang Sect is a very mysterious place for ordinary people, but according to what you said, Liu Lan, Huayang Sect is after all the largest sect in Great Yan Kingdom, with power reaching the heavens, even the imperial court dares not offend it. I think such a sect that can make the imperial court yield would not be unknown to the authorities."

  "Xiao Chen, you mean to find someone in the government office and let them tell me where Huayang Sect is?" Liu Lan suddenly realized, "But Xiao Chen, don't forget that we are just ordinary people and have no deep connections with the government. Will they tell us where Huayang Sect is?"

  "Yuluan, have you forgotten what that person named Dingheng told me when we left Jiayuan County? I'm afraid we'll have to go back to Jiayuan County again." Xiao Chen let out a bitter laugh. Not long ago, he had sworn never to return to Jiayuan County again. But unexpectedly, just a few days later, he was forced to break his promise.