14: The crowd was in a frenzy, and Zhao Jun spoke up.

Chu Yuan looked at Zhang Yan, who was sleeping on his shoulder, and quickly patted her shoulder.

"Sister Yaner, it seems the villagers have returned and are looking for us."

"Oh!"

Zhang Yan rubbed her eyes. "Should we go out?"

"No rush!"

Chu Yuan shook his head. "I heard some unusual movement earlier. You wait here first. I'll go out and check the situation."

"Okay!"

Zhang Yan didn't doubt him, showing a worried expression. "Chu Yuan, be careful!"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine!"

Chu Yuan nodded, pushed the bed aside, opened the door, and walked out of the inner room, carrying his machete.

Just then, Zhang Xiangwen's voice suddenly came from the courtyard: "Yaner, Chu Yuan, are you inside?"

Hearing the voice, Zhang Yan stepped forward in surprise. "It's my dad's voice!"

Chu Yuan's mouth twitched slightly. For the sake of caution, he would have likely confirmed the situation before making a sound.

But this girl really wasn't cautious!

Hearing Zhang Yan's voice, Zhang Xiangwen, who was standing in the courtyard, couldn't help but show surprise.

"Yaner, are you two alright?"

"Dad, we're fine!"

Zhang Yan joyfully opened the door, and Chu Yuan cautiously looked outside.

Only after seeing that the person outside the door was indeed Zhang Xiangwen did Chu Yuan finally relax.

"Dad!"

Zhang Yan saw Zhang Xiangwen and happily rushed into his arms.

"Yaner!"

Zhang Xiangwen tightly hugged his daughter, and the heavy stone in his heart finally dropped.

But at that moment, he suddenly felt that his daughter seemed to be crying, and his expression immediately panicked.

"Yaner, what's wrong?"

Zhang Yan's eyes were red, tears swirling furiously within them as she clung to Zhang Xiangwen's embrace.

"Dad, Yaner almost didn't get to see you again, woo woo..."

Zhang Xiangwen panicked internally. "Don't cry, Yaner, please don't cry. Tell me slowly!"

Chu Yuan stood at the doorway holding his blade, watching this scene. To be honest, he felt a little envious.

In both his past and present life, he seemed to have become an orphan?

Watching this, it would be a lie to say he wasn't envious, but he wasn't overly so either.

Zhang Yan tried hard to calm herself down, sobbing, "Dad, it was like this..."

As she spoke, she recounted everything that had happened that morning.

This included Chu Yuan bringing her into the inner room, as well as Chu Yuan feigning weakness, chopping Tieniu's neck with a single strike, and then injuring Zhao Shitou.

She recounted this series of events in meticulous detail.

Of course, she didn't know what had happened outside while she was locked in the room.

Furthermore, the incident where she gave Chu Yuan three fruits was described by her as her actively finding them for Chu Yuan to eat when Tieniu and the others were threatening them, intending for him to recover his strength to protect her.

As she said these words, she turned her head and glanced at Chu Yuan, her face flushing slightly.

It was unclear whether she was blushing because she was lying or because of affection.

Naturally, Zhang Xiangwen knew his daughter well and instinctively categorized it as the latter.

He looked at Chu Yuan and nodded, secretly feeling immense relief.

While Zhang Yan was narrating, the villagers had slowly gathered around.

After hearing the detailed account of the events, everyone present was filled with anger.

"How dare those two bastards?"

"Morals have declined! Morals have truly declined!"

"Good kill! Beasts like that should have their corpses thrown into the wilderness!"

"Lad Chu did a good job handling this. You shouldn't hold back against people like that."

"..."

The crowd was highly agitated, cursing in outrage.

The people from the Zhao and Tie families lowered their heads silently, their faces burning hot.

They didn't doubt Zhang Yan's words in the slightest. Not only had they watched this young girl grow up and knew her character,

but having lived for many years, they could tell if a young girl like Zhang Yan was lying or not.

As for Zhang Yan glancing back at Chu Yuan when she mentioned the fruits—was that unusual?

As experienced adults, who couldn't see what this girl was thinking?

In this situation, it went without saying who they believed.

At this time, Zhao Jun spoke in a deep voice: "I went to see the scene, and it is indeed as Yaner said."

Zhao Jun's words immediately settled the nature of the incident.

Zhang Xiangwen glanced at Xu Jing, who was holding Zhang Yan, and then looked toward the Zhao and Tie families. "What do you have to say about today's events?"

Zhang Xiangwen's voice was serious, tinged with a cold severity, as his gaze swept across the faces of the people from both families.

The people from the Zhao and Tie families looked miserable, lowering their heads and daring not to meet his eyes.

At this moment, Zhao Qiang, Zhao Shitou's father, forced himself to stand up.

"Village Chief, it is my fault for failing to properly discipline my child. I am willing to offer compensation to Yaner!"

Tieshan, Tieniu's father, also quickly nodded in agreement. "Tieniu's actions, that beast, are also my fault. My family is also willing to offer compensation."

Zhang Xiangwen snorted coldly. "Compensation is necessary, but this matter..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Jun directly interjected: "Within the Ancestral Hall, my Zhao family will not accept a beast like Zhao Shitou. He is removed from the clan register!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qiang and his wife's expressions slightly changed, but facing Zhao Jun's stern look, they chose to lower their heads.

Xiao Huang Village consists of six surnames: Zhao, Zhang, Tie, Chu, Sun, and Xu. Although they share the same Ancestral Hall, each surname has a separate ancestral chamber where their ancestral tablets are placed.

Originally, even a child who died young at the age of ten could enter the Ancestral Hall, but there were exceptions.

For example:

Those removed from the clan register are forbidden from entering the Ancestral Hall!

As the longest-living member of the Zhao surname and the current Clan Chief of the Zhao surname, Zhao Jun's words carried weight.

No one from the Zhao surname dared to refute his words.

On the other side, hearing Zhao Jun's decision, Tie Lin, the current Clan Chief of the Tie surname, also spoke:

"Since Uncle Zhao has spoken, my Tie family will do the same."

Hearing this, everyone present nodded in agreement, and even the other members of the Zhao and Tie surnames chimed in with support.

Some even suggested bringing up the idea again of throwing the corpses of Tieniu and the other man outside the village.

After pondering the matter, Zhang Xiangwen ultimately did not agree.

"These two were, after all, once part of the Guard Team and contributed to the village!"

Zhang Xiangwen said in a deep voice: "The punishment given by Uncle Zhao and the other has been sufficient. Let the members of the two families retrieve their corpses."

After speaking, he intended to leave.

But Chu Yuan quickly said: "Uncle Zhang, stay at my house for the next few days!"

Zhang Xiangwen's expression froze, and remembering the state of his own house, he nodded.

He looked at Chu Yuan. "Come over here first, let me check you!"

"Alright, Uncle Zhang!"

Chu Yuan dropped the machete and walked over.

Zhang Xiangwen reached out to take his pulse, and a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes.