The villagers were indeed terrified by the Daoist priest's words, and the scene devolved into chaos, with all previous matters forgotten.
"Evil spirits? Our village has evil spirits? What do we do? Where is it?"
"Daoist priest, are you sure? Does that thing harm people?"
"Could it be a monster? My great-grandmother said there were monsters in Qingyun Mountain who turned into beautiful women to harm people."
...
Liu Demao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although the situation was different from what he expected, the Daoist priest's arrival had indeed saved him from his predicament.
Suddenly, he felt a chill run through his body. Looking up, he saw Xiao Shan looking at him with an inscrutable expression.
Upon hearing the Daoist priest's words, Xu Daniu secretly glanced at Xue Niang.
She saw Xue Niang being held by the waist by Xiao Shan, shielded by his side, peering at the Daoist priest. Her eyes, as clear as spring water, showed no fear, but rather a hint of curiosity.
Xiao Shan turned and beckoned Yutou, whispering a few words into his ear. Yutou quickly slipped through the crowd and ran off.
The Daoist priest did not answer the villagers' questions, his eyes narrowed in a profound manner as he paced back and forth, counting on his fingers and muttering incantations.
The villagers gradually quieted down, not daring to make a sound to disturb him.
After a long while, the Daoist priest suddenly widened his eyes, flicked his horsetail whisk, and pointed at Xiao Shan, shouting, "Demon! Reveal your true form!"
The entire scene fell silent.
Then, a clear and melodious female voice exclaimed in surprise, "Xiao Shan, he says you're a demon."
Fool! He's referring to you! So stupid!
Xiao Shan glared sharply at the Daoist priest.
The Daoist priest felt a sense of pressure, flicked his horsetail whisk, and shifted slightly. "Esteemed warrior, leave quickly. This female demon is a black snake that transformed. Because its transformation was interrupted, its face still bears incomplete markings. This demon snake specifically absorbs men's vital energy, especially strong men like you. Within three months, you will be drained into a dried corpse!"
A collective gasp arose. Everyone looked at Xue Niang in horror. Xu Daniu swallowed hard. Was Xue Niang truly a monster from Qingyun Mountain?
Xue Niang opened her mouth and looked at Xiao Shan, "I'm a black snake?"
Xiao Shan grunted, rubbing her waist a few times. "A black snake spirit who was scared into crying by a snake, how can you absorb vital energy? I haven't seen you absorb mine."
"Nonsense! Brother Xiao and his wife are good people! Who knows where this Daoist priest came from. You call them demons just like that? I think you're the demon, a turtle spirit spewing nonsense!"
Unexpectedly, the first to speak up for Xiao Shan was Wang Xiulan, followed by her husband, Meng Youliang.
Then came Liu Zhuzi, Liu Chengshan, and the elderly Granny Hua.
"Right! What demons? Do you think this is a story? If they were demons, they would have eaten you all by now, waiting to be bullied!"
"Look at how they're squeezing his neck. Who has ever seen such a weak monster!"
When did the villagers start siding with Xiao Shan? Liu Demao stared at them with a dark gaze.
The Daoist priest pointed at Liu Zhuzi and the others, his voice stern and severe, "Ignorant children! What do you know! That is precisely the cunning of demons! If they don't act like this, how can they deceive people? By the time she reveals her true face, it will be too late!"
The village chief hesitated, "Daoist priest, is there any other evidence?"
"You? You ignorant peasants!" The Daoist priest was furious, as if deeply insulted. Looking at the silent villagers, he subtly glanced at Liu Demao.
Xiao Shan was initially very angry. He disliked interacting with villagers because their ignorance sometimes led to trouble. Especially after the incident at the Tian family, and today, with Xue Niang being injured twice, he harbored resentment. He had intended to teach these forgetful villagers a harsh lesson.
But now, it seemed that most of the villagers of Bozi Village were not entirely bad.
"Xue Niang, are you hungry?"
"So hungry."
The sun was strong, making her dizzy and weak, with no strength left.
"Alright, we'll resolve this quickly and go home."
Xiao Shan had truly had enough. Why waste words on something that could be resolved with violence? After all, his Xue Niang, though frail in body, was not weak in spirit and was not afraid of his violent side.
He gave Liu Demao a mocking smile and walked towards the Daoist priest.
"Esteemed Daoist priest, you have two choices: confess yourself, or I'll beat it out of you."
What did he mean?
Seeing the tall and strong Xiao Shan approach, the Daoist priest felt considerable pressure and couldn't help but take a step back, saying earnestly, "Warrior, what this humble priest says is true. You must quickly— Ah—"
Xiao Shan stopped wasting words and threw a punch. The Daoist priest cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
The village chief was shocked, "Xiao Shan, no!"
But in the next second, everyone watched in horror as Xiao Shan's foot landed on the Daoist priest's chest.
The Tian family incident repeated itself. The villagers covered their eyes, trembling.
Liu Demao saw Xiao Shan's ferocity for the first time, feeling as if that kick had landed on him, suffocating his heart and making it impossible to breathe.
His lips trembled as he stammered, "Killing a Daoist priest will incur divine retribution."
The Daoist priest felt all the air squeezed from his chest, followed by sharp pain that spread throughout his body.
"Ah— It hurts—"
He didn't want to die, he didn't want to die!
"Spare me, spare me, I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"
He just wanted to earn some small money, not to lose his life here! This Bozi Village was too terrifying, he never wanted to come back in his life!
It hurts, save me!
Xiao Shan lifted his foot. His previous force had only cracked one of the scoundrel's ribs, and he couldn't take it anymore?
Indeed, he was just a charlatan Daoist priest, not a seasoned warrior.
The Daoist priest was in too much pain to get up, unable to move his body. Fortunately, he could still breathe, so he should only be seriously injured, not dead. He wouldn't die.
"My patience is limited."
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" the Daoist priest cried out, enduring the pain.
It was too terrifying, too terrifying. This was simply a living Yama. He had truly run into terrible bad luck today.
"It was Liu Demao from your village! He gave me ten taels of silver and told me to drive your woman away. I didn't want to do it, it was a wicked deed. He said your woman was very bad, that she was seducing people all over the village..."
The Daoist priest dared not say more. He saw a murderous aura flashing in Xiao Shan's eyes, a terrifying pressure emanating from him, making him more fearful now than when he was facing death.
What kind of person had he provoked?
Liu Demao's face turned ashen, and he slumped as if he had aged ten years. "Nonsense, utter nonsense."
His voice lacked any force. This matter could not withstand scrutiny. He hadn't expected Xiao Shan to be so difficult to deal with at the time, so he hadn't taken special care to conceal his tracks. Several people in the Daoist temple had seen him.
The villagers finally realized that this Daoist priest was a fake, someone who had come to Bozi Village to cause harm!
"Village chief! This scoundrel came to our village to cause trouble, we absolutely cannot let him go. Do they think Bozi Village is easy to bully!"
"Liu Demao, I never thought you were such a person. I even stood up for you today and followed you to corner Xiao Shan. Bah! I don't have a brother like you!"
"No wonder people say merchants are cunning. After doing business for a few years, they've lost all their conscience!"
...