"Your life is almost gone, yet you're still so stubborn."
Lin Yan put away the copper coins in her hand and sat up straight.
"If you continue to refuse to speak, I can't help you. I can't guarantee what will happen to you then."
Seeing their reticence, Lin Yan didn't want to waste any more time with them.
Lin Yan took out her talisman brush and drew a talisman with her spiritual energy. The talisman took shape in mid-air and then enveloped them.
Those people felt a sense of dread upon seeing the talisman and tried to dodge backward, but they were not faster than the talisman.
They watched with wide eyes as the talisman enveloped them, and then they began to speak involuntarily, chattering incoherently in a chaotic jumble.
"I'll ask, you answer," Lin Yan pointed at the more seasoned-looking man and then said to the others, "The rest will supplement."
"What exactly happened here?"
From their words, Lin Yan learned the complete story. Perhaps from their perspective, they had embellished it, but they deserved what they got.
Lin Yan looked at the curses that lingered around them and truly felt they had brought it upon themselves. She had already let go of the innocent; these people, as direct participants, deserved their retribution.
The story was quite simple, really. A beautiful young female university student went to a mountain village to teach. It was a noble endeavor.
But because this university student was too beautiful, she caught the eye of the village's "golden boy."
He was the village chief's son. After setting his sights on her, he began to pursue her ardently. However, she was only there to teach and intended to return to her city. Thus, she rejected him.
She initially thought it was just a normal rejection, like those she had given to classmates who confessed their feelings.
However, the "golden boy" felt deeply insulted. He gathered some people to deal with her.
But before they could act, his father, the village chief, found out and stopped him.
She was a university student teaching in the village, and there were records with the school and the government. If anything were to happen to her, it would be difficult for him to account for it.
Yet, the "golden boy" could not swallow his pride and constantly looked for an opportunity for revenge.
While visiting a family in the mountains, she saved a mountain god who was injured in a fight, and in return, she received special treatment from the mountain god. Every time she went into the mountains, she found plenty of game.
There were those stunned by hitting trees, those who fell into pits and couldn't climb out, and wild eggs she picked up casually, along with wild fruits that accidentally fell into her basket.
Some animals even brought her fruit directly. Every trip into the mountains, she never returned empty-handed.
Later, even when she stopped going into the mountains, animals would bring things to her doorstep. At first, she thought her students were leaving them, but later she realized they were gifts from the little creatures.
However, something happened in the village later. A strange illness swept through the entire village. Everyone in the village contracted the strange illness, except for her.
Then, the "golden boy" began to spread rumors, saying she was actually a witch and that their strange illness was her doing.
Many in the village didn't believe him, and she continued to urge them to seek treatment outside the village. Coincidentally, developers from outside wanted to lease these mountains to build a scenic area.
This gave him another reason to accuse her, claiming she was in league with the developers and wanted them to abandon their homes, to become homeless.
Her pleas became evidence. No one was willing to listen to her, and no one believed her anymore.
Because of the strange illness plaguing the entire village, the developers were scared to lease the land, fearing there was something unclean about the place.
Although the developers left, she remained, still unaffected by the illness.
Gradually, those who were sick began to believe his words, thinking their illness was her doing. Many also brought up other strange occurrences related to her.
If the strange illness hadn't occurred, her unusual experiences would have been considered auspicious omens. But when the entire village was struck by the illness, her mystique transformed into irrefutable proof of her being a witch.
At first, people were just afraid of her and avoided her. Later, some mischievous children started throwing stones at her.
Seeing the children she had cared for so much throwing stones at her, her heart sank completely. Yet, she still didn't want to give up on them, after all, there were so many lives at stake.
So, before leaving, she went to the village chief's house again, intending to persuade the chief to take the villagers to the city for treatment, even if it was just for the children. She had already contacted hospitals, and if they went, experts could arrange consultations for them.
But she never expected that her visit would cost her her life.
As soon as she reached the entrance of the village chief's house, she saw that the door was not closed and went in directly. She then overheard a conversation between the village chief and his wife.
"My dear, how much longer does this medicine need to be added? The developers have already left; can we stop now?"
"No, at least another week. Tomorrow I'll find someone to pose as a doctor. Then they can slowly recover after taking the doctor's medicine."
"But, my dear, why did you refuse the developers? The offer they made was quite good."
"What do you know? If we leave, can we still live such a good life? Working for others, subservient, how can that compare to living a life where we are respected like this?"
"You're right. Then I'll continue adding the medicine to the well."
Hearing this, she finally understood why everyone was sick and why she was the exception. She and the villagers were not drinking from the same well.
She was living at the school. The school used mountain spring water, which was why she hadn't gotten sick.
So, it wasn't a highly contagious strange illness, but a man-made one.
She desperately wanted to tell everyone, to tell those who had wronged her, but she was more afraid. If the village chief found out…
She cautiously walked out, but as she reached the doorway, she encountered the returning "golden boy."
"Teacher Feng, what are you doing at my house?" He scrutinized the woman who had rejected him.
"Nothing, nothing," she said, quickly walking away from the village chief's house.
After leaving, she realized that the village chief must have known she had been there. She had to leave immediately, or she would be in danger.
She hastily packed her belongings, preparing to leave with her luggage. She couldn't wait a moment longer.
The village chief arrived quickly. Before she could finish packing, he, along with a group of people, stormed into her room.
"Teacher Feng, where are you going?" The village chief's gaze was filled with malice.
"Could it be that you're fleeing from guilt? You made us all sick and now you want to escape. Even if I agree, the victims behind me will not."