83: Yangjia Village

As his mind blurred for a moment, the next second, Yang Qianhun and the others arrived outside a village.

A village monument stood outside the village.

The three large characters “Yangjia Village” were carved on it, and below that was a brief history of Yangjia Village.

Yang Qianhun only glanced at it roughly, then looked towards the inside of the village.

Countless single-story stone houses were scattered throughout the village.

Every household's door was tightly shut, and there were no signs of human activity inside the village, making it seem very deserted.

Yet, the air was filled with a tense and oppressive atmosphere, as if a battle could break out at any moment.

"Lord, this village is a bit strange. Shall this subordinate go and investigate?"

Xu Chu, holding his hammer, inquired of Yang Qianhun.

"The air is filled with a bloody smell, and also a putrid smell. Could it be that everyone in this village has died?"

Zhang Fei sniffed the air, his brows slightly furrowed as he spoke.

"This humble monk will go and take a look as well."

Lu Zhishen looked at the situation in the village, his expression quite solemn as he spoke.

"There are still living people, but why are they hiding inside the stone houses and refusing to come out? It seems this dungeon is not just about killing enemies."

Yang Qianhun stroked his chin, muttering softly.

After a moment of contemplation, he decisively said, "Xu Chu and Lu Zhishen, follow me into the village to investigate. Zhang Fei, you lead everyone to wait outside. If anything seems amiss, provide us with timely support."

With that, Yang Qianhun led Xu Chu and Lu Zhishen directly into Yangjia Village.

At first, when Xu Chu and Lu Zhishen were about to open the doors of those stone houses to check.

Yang Qianhun directly shook his head and said there was no one inside.

As the three delved deeper, passing by one stone house after another.

Before long, the three saw a family ancestral hall not far away, also built of stone.

Compared to the stone houses outside, this ancestral hall was larger and built with a relatively grander style.

Creak, creak...

The wooden doors of the surrounding stone houses suddenly opened, and the villagers of Yangjia Village, holding weapons, surged out from within.

Each of them had bloodshot eyes and faces full of resentment.

Some held hoes, some held pot lids, some held wooden sticks, some held axes; their weapons were varied and diverse.

"You really chased us all the way to our ancestral hall! Why do you outsiders want to wipe out our Yangjia Village?"

"Our water source was forcibly occupied by you, and our fruit orchards and cultivated land were also forcibly occupied by you. Most of the young people in our village have died or been injured. Is this still not enough for you?"

"You devils! I can't believe Xuejia Village colluded with you devils. Even if our Yangjia Village dies out, we won't let you off even as ghosts."

"Since Xuejia Village leaves us no way out, we will kill you first, then go settle old and new scores with Xuejia Village. Even if we die, we'll drag a few of you down with us."

"That's right, only three people dare to intrude into our Yangjia Village. Clearly, you don't take our Yangjia Village seriously. Even if we die, we'll drag you down with us."

The villagers of Yangjia Village showed a mix of emotions: some were filled with indignation, some were miserably unhappy, some were heartbroken with grief, and some had ferocious expressions.

The more they spoke, the angrier they became, but each of them only dared to hold their weapons, surrounding Yang Qianhun and the two, yet not daring to make a move.

This was because most of these villagers were old, weak, women, and children, with relatively few able-bodied young adults.

"How dare you!"

Xu Chu and Lu Zhishen glared, their voices like thunder.

The villagers of Yangjia Village were so frightened by the two thunderous voices that they retreated repeatedly.

Some were even so startled by the aura emanating from the two that they couldn't hold their weapons steady, dropping them to the ground.

They all trembled, their faces showing fear, not daring to speak.

Yang Qianhun merely swept his gaze over everyone and said, "We are not here to kill you. Call out the person in charge of your village; I have something to ask him."

As soon as Yang Qianhun finished speaking, the group of villagers continued to point and gesticulate, almost writing 'we don't believe you' on their faces.

"This outsider clearly wants to trick the village chief out, then assassinate him. Once we are leaderless, they will naturally deal with us effortlessly."

"That's right, I can't believe someone so handsome could have so many wicked intentions. I told you, outsiders cannot be trusted. We've already suffered once, we can't suffer a second time."

"I remember my dad saying that the handsomer a man is, the less you can trust what he says, because handsomer men are better at deceiving people."

"But they look so strong, as strong as those other outsiders from before. Can we, the old, weak, sick, and disabled, even fight them?"

...

The villagers of Yangjia Village chattered endlessly, one after another, showing no desire to stop.

This reminded Yang Qianhun of his time in the village before he transmigrated.

When a group of old people point fingers at you, you either soar to success through their words or you end up disgraced.

Evidently, Yang Qianhun was the latter at this moment.

Suddenly, a cough was heard.

"Make way, don't crowd around, the village chief is here."

A young voice rang out.

The villagers in the direction of the ancestral hall all moved aside, and a white-haired old man, approximately seventy years old, walked slowly towards Yang Qianhun and the others, leaning on a walking stick, coughing occasionally.

[Dungeon Hint: Communicate with the Yangjia Village Chief and resolve the difficulties of Yangjia Village, helping them escape danger.]

The dungeon hint suddenly sounded in Yang Qianhun's mind.

From the villagers' conversation just now, Yang Qianhun obtained the following information.

Yangjia Village and Xuejia Village had fought over resources, and Xuejia Village received support from outsiders.

Yangjia Village was soundly defeated, and the heavily damaged Yangjia Village could only retreat back into their village.

However, there was an important question: why didn't those outsiders pursue them to Yangjia Village and simply eradicate them?

And with the dungeon hint sounding, it meant the dungeon quest had officially begun.

The trigger conditions were entering Yangjia Village and meeting the village chief.

If he had killed these villagers at the beginning, would the quest have failed?

"This is getting more and more interesting."

Thinking of this, Yang Qianhun was greatly intrigued.

"I never thought... indeed, the ancestors of the Yang family never abandoned their future descendants! Our Yangjia Village is saved, it's saved!"

The moment the Yangjia Village Chief saw Yang Qianhun, he instantly froze. Then, his face was overcome with wild joy, but the next second, he burst into tears, crying out loudly.

He looked at Yang Qianhun as if he were looking at a savior.

His originally dim eyes were instantly filled with hope; there was light in the village chief's eyes.

And the surrounding villagers, seeing the village chief's appearance, also showed shock, looking at Yang Qianhun with disbelief.

Because the words of the Yangjia Village Chief still carried considerable weight among these villagers, not to be disbelieved.

They never expected this handsome young man was not only not a deceiver but also their savior.

Thinking of this, most of the villagers showed expressions of guilt, their faces filled with shame, not daring to look at Yang Qianhun anymore.

They were all silently repenting for their earlier actions, hoping to lessen the guilt in their hearts.

However, the village chief's next words moved the expressions of all the villagers present.