“I just went to investigate, and the situation is far more complicated than we imagined,” his words struck the air like a heavy hammer. “There are at least a hundred of those people, and the number of sentries lurking around is incalculable, perhaps even a thousand. The three of us are like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.”
Upon hearing this, a hint of worry flashed in Xu Yuehuai's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by sharpness. "I have already tried to seek help from outside, but so far there has been no news. I'm afraid the message has been intercepted."
Bai Yu calmly replied, "This is not difficult. I have my own secret method to ensure the message is delivered."
After saying that, he closed his eyes and focused his mind, his hands quickly forming hand seals, as if communicating with an invisible force.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and said confidently, "The message has been sent. I only hope that Heaven will not fail me."
However, Bei Ye's prolonged absence weighed heavily on Xu Yuehuai's heart.
"The appointed time has arrived, why hasn't Bei Ye shown up yet?" Xu Yuehuai asked anxiously.
Bai Yu shook his head, his brows furrowed with doubt: "I didn't meet him on my way back, could it be..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
“I believe he won’t betray us.” Xu Yuehuai interrupted Bai Yu’s speculation, but a hint of wavering could not be hidden in her eyes.
"You can't judge a book by its cover, so it's always better to be cautious." Bai Yu sighed, but he also knew that this was not the time to argue.
As night deepened, the two decided to go out and search for Bei Ye. Under the moonlight, their figures moved through the village, but at each house they went to, they received the same answer: no one was there.
"He didn't really run away, did he?" Bai Yu was still very suspicious of Bei Ye.
Xu Yuehuai stopped and said without turning her head, "I know him. No matter what, he would never leave me alone."
She seemed to be defending herself, and also Bei Ye.
A night breeze swept by, carrying away some of their anxiety and unease. The two returned empty-handed to the village chief's house, sitting in silence, each with a complex mix of emotions.
The next morning, sunlight shone on the quiet village, but it failed to dispel the gloom that hung over their hearts. There was still no news of Bei Ye, and the shadow of the enemy drew ever closer.
"We must move as soon as possible; staying here is just waiting to die," Bai Yu said, breaking the silence.
Although Xu Yuehuai still felt reluctant and doubtful, she knew that this compromise was for the sake of a better counterattack.
"Let's go find a safer place first."
The two left again, but this time, their goal was no longer to find Bei Ye, but to find hope for survival.
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu walked through the narrow village lanes. The soil under their feet was cracked and dry due to the drought, making it difficult to walk, but it did not slow down their pace.
A short while later, they found another small hut as a temporary gathering place.
Just as they were preparing a simple meal to satisfy their hunger, a hurried cry came from outside the door: "A wicked thief has broken into the village!"
"The adults have captured the villain!"
"The execution will be carried out immediately!"
Xu Yuehuai looked at Bai Yu and said worriedly, "Could the villain they mentioned be Bei Ye?"
"Do you really think Bei Ye will be easily captured by those villagers?" Bai Yu was somewhat skeptical.
Xu Yuehuai thought for a moment and then said, "Although his memory is hazy, his martial arts skills are unfathomable, unless..."
She changed the subject and didn't continue, but both of them understood that unless there were unforeseen circumstances, it would be impossible.
"Go and see for yourself, and you'll know the truth, won't you?" Bai Yu interrupted Xu Yuehuai's thoughts.
The two then nimbly leaped onto the wall and, using the sparse bushes as cover, quietly approached the gathering point in the center of the village.
As they drew closer, the cacophony of voices and the tense atmosphere grew ever stronger. The villagers' faces, some terrified, some angry, flickered in the firelight. In the center stood Bei Ye, ragged and bound by ropes, yet he still stood tall, his eyes defiant.
"Fellow villagers, please hear me out!" Bei Ye's voice was hoarse from being bound by ropes, but it was still loud and powerful. "Those who claim to protect you are the real villains! They secretly poisoned you, trying to control the entire village. The death of the village chief is the best proof of that!"
These words immediately caused an uproar among the crowd.
A middle-aged woman screamed in rebuttal: "You're talking nonsense! My son saw it with his own eyes; you and your accomplices murdered the village chief!"
The child beside her echoed, his innocent face filled with anger and fear, "That's right, you're the one who killed the village chief! Don't slander the adults!"
The bearded man stood up from the platform, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's. He slowly walked to Bei Ye, a cold smile playing on his lips: "The evidence is conclusive. What else do you have to say? Today is the day you submit to the law!"
"Let's get started!"
Xu Yuehuai saw the person beside Bei Ye raise a curved knife, and she planned to step forward to stop him.
Bai Yu grabbed Xu Yuehuai's arm and transmitted his voice, "If you go forward now, you'll be sending yourself to your death."
Xu Yuehua replied telepathically: "But if I remain indifferent, Bei Ye will really lose his head."
Seeing her anxious expression, Bai Yu slowly released her hand. "I'll go."
Xu Yuehuai was stunned, not knowing what he meant, but she saw that he had already walked forward.
"Wait!" Bai Yu's voice, imbued with internal energy, clearly pierced through the clamor of the crowd. He slowly stepped out of the shadows and stood opposite the long-bearded man. "Fellow villagers, please allow me to say a few words."
The villagers turned their heads, their eyes filled with curiosity and wariness. The bearded man narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the uninvited guest.
“I’m not trying to exonerate this person, but the truth often lies beneath the surface,” Bai Yu said, looking at the villagers behind him. “The village chief’s death is indeed full of suspicious points. Why, at this particular time, is someone so eager to pin the blame on an outsider? And what grudge could this outsider possibly have against the village chief?”
"Almost no one in the village has left, so how could they have any entanglement with an outsider?"
“That’s right! Outsiders shouldn’t come here, and they wouldn’t want our stuff!” Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, and some villagers’ expressions started to waver.
Upon seeing this, the bearded man's face darkened, and he was about to lash out when Bai Yu spoke first.
“I propose that before we rush into a decision, we should first find out the truth. Let the real culprit have nowhere to hide, and let the innocent be exonerated.” Bai Yu’s eyes were full of sincerity and determination. He looked at Bei Ye, and there seemed to be a tacit understanding between the two of them that did not need to be spoken.
The bearded man sneered, about to retort, but was interrupted by an elderly man: "Young man, you're right. We can't let anger cloud our judgment. When the village chief was alive, he always taught us to be fair and rational. Today, let's follow his teachings and find out the truth."
As the old man finished speaking, the atmosphere in the crowd gradually eased. The villagers began to reassess the situation, and the bearded man's expression became uncertain.
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