Chapter 38: The Village Chief’s Authority

Ye Luo watched the villager with an impassive face, showing no sign of fear or surprise. The villager, instead, began to look suspicious. Wasn’t this time’s woman supposed to be an easily deceived college girl? She certainly didn’t look the part.

The villager’s eyes darted about, then he suddenly grinned, revealing a row of teeth. “Girl, the Zhang couple are the most hospitable folk around. Did you get a taste of the meat they cooked tonight?”

Ye Luo only continued to gaze at him in silence, her eyes clear and cold, unsettling the villager even further.

“I’m done talking to you people. I’m going to find the village chief!” The villager hurried away.

Zhang Yanhong gave Ye Luo a glance. “What are you waiting for? Hurry up. It’s best if we’re back in the room before the village chief arrives.”

At the mention of the village chief, a flicker of wariness crossed Zhang Yanhong’s eyes. Ye Luo noticed it. Zhang Yanhong was clearly unhinged—she could turn on her own kin without hesitation—but when it came to the village chief, she was full of fear.

Could it be because of the rules?

Ye Luo’s eyes glimmered subtly. In the Dark Forest scenario, she had already realized that the original inhabitants of these instances weren’t required to follow all the rules. In the Froggy Amusement Park, the park’s creatures weren’t bound by the rule against screaming, nor did they need to follow most of the park regulations. The constraints on these natives were far fewer than those on the players.

For this Sunset Village instance, one critical rule for the players was to obey the village chief. But what about the instance’s characters? Were they bound by this rule too?

These thoughts flashed through Ye Luo’s mind in an instant, and then she smiled. “I want to check on the other households.”

“Fine,” Zhang Yanhong nodded and led the way.

It was dinnertime in Sunset Village, and most homes had their doors tightly shut. Zhang Yanhong took Ye Luo to the nearest house and, without hesitation, kicked the door open.

“Who’s out there? Are you looking to get killed barging into my house?” A man soon burst out, brandishing an axe.

Zhang Yanhong quickly ducked behind Ye Luo.

Ye Luo raised her hand, seized the man’s wrist, and deftly wrested the axe from him, turning it over in her hand. The axe was decent—good enough to serve as her weapon for now.

The man was stunned by Ye Luo’s immense strength. Losing his axe didn’t seem to trouble him, though. Instead, he grinned at Ye Luo with a sinister smile. “Oh, the new girl, huh? Curfew’s coming soon, and you’re still wandering around?”

“That man is Zhang Tiegen. His wife died a few years back—he’s got five daughters at home,” Zhang Yanhong said from behind Ye Luo, offering a brief introduction.

“What’s wrong with having five daughters! What do you know? Five daughters is a blessing!” Zhang Tiegen suddenly grew irate and lunged to snatch back the axe.

Ye Luo, unconcerned, kicked him aside.

“Do you want to take a look inside?” Zhang Yanhong asked. “Of his five daughters, only two remain. They should be inside now.”

Ye Luo nodded and stepped in.

Inside, two frail girls were huddled in a corner. Scattered grains of rice littered the floor, and they were carefully picking them up, eating bit by bit.

“Who gave you permission to come in?”

Zhang Tiegen, having gotten back up at some point, now brandished a kitchen knife, charging at them with fury. Fear flashed instinctively in the girls’ eyes.

Ye Luo narrowed her eyes, seized Zhang Tiegen’s arm, and threw him to the floor with efficient force. She glanced at Zhang Yanhong.

Zhang Yanhong, already familiar with the routine, picked up a rope and tied Zhang Tiegen up.

“Let’s go,” Ye Luo said.

Zhang Yanhong responded crisply. Before they’d even made it out the door, the sounds of chopping and deranged laughter from the girls echoed from inside.

Clearly, Zhang Tiegen’s end was a grim one.

“Keep leading the way,” Ye Luo instructed.

Zhang Yanhong didn’t show it on her face, but she quickened her pace. She seemed to have a plan, skipping some houses even when they were nearby, yet leading Ye Luo to others even if it meant a detour.

Every family Zhang Yanhong chose had one thing in common: each had a daughter who had suffered cruel abuse.

Ye Luo’s actions were simple. She would quickly subdue the rest of the family, and the outcome was almost always the same: the daughter would go mad and hack her relatives to death.

In this tiny village of a hundred souls, within just half an hour, numerous deaths had already occurred.

Yet some villagers, even seeing Zhang Yanhong covered in blood, remained unbothered, making jokes and laughing from afar as if murder and death were nothing out of the ordinary here.

“Did you enjoy yourself today?” On the way to the next house, Ye Luo suddenly asked.

Zhang Yanhong immediately wiped the smile from her face, her expression turning indifferent. “There’s nothing to enjoy. It’ll all go back to the way it was soon enough.”

Ye Luo nodded noncommittally.

At that moment, her gaze fixed on the space behind Zhang Yanhong.

It was summer, and though it was growing late, a slant of sunlight still lingered. She noticed clearly that ever since they’d left the house, in just this brief half hour, Zhang Yanhong’s shadow had grown more and more faint, as though it might vanish at any moment. She paid closer attention to the other villagers’ shadows as well—they were all undergoing the same transformation.

All of their shadows were changing.

Ye Luo recalled the time: seven o’clock.

Could it be that at seven, all their shadows would vanish? Human by day, but not necessarily at night?

Suddenly, Ye Luo was curious. What would she see in the village after seven o’clock?

“Yanhong.” At that moment, a commanding voice sounded.

Zhang Yanhong stiffened and turned mechanically. “Village Chief.”

The chief leaned on a cane, his cloudy eyes unreadable. “You’re causing trouble again. I am not pleased.”

Zhang Yanhong pressed her lips together, not daring to utter a word. Before the chief, she seemed to be under an absolute authority, unable even to retort.

Ye Luo’s thoughts stirred. Normally, the original inhabitants of an instance were less restricted than the players. But here, when it came to the village chief, the restrictions seemed even harsher for the natives than for the outsiders. Whether Zhang Yanhong or Zhang Jingtao, they all appeared terrified and deeply respectful, never daring to show the slightest disrespect.

This village chief was intriguing.

The chief turned to Ye Luo, his words heavy with a foul breath. “Girl, it’s almost seven. Go back to your room and stay there. You must not go out again.”

He seemed unconcerned about the mounting deaths, caring only that Ye Luo obey the curfew.

Ye Luo did not resist, nodding obediently.

Zhang Yanhong led Ye Luo away.

The village chief watched their retreat, slowly licking his cracked lips.

Whoever you are, since you have come here, you will never leave.