Chapter 17

Bu Ye opened his eyes and stood up, looking in the direction of Hong Zhongwei. He didn't care that Hong Zhongwei used to call him "Aye" and now called him "Bu Ye" directly.

Hong Zhongwei's voice was loud when he called, attracting the attention of many people. Therefore, when Bu Ye looked at Hong Zhongwei, he saw many villagers staring at him. He walked straight toward Hong Zhongwei, completely ignoring the villagers' gazes.

However, many people realized that Hong Zhongwei must have something to say, and almost without hesitation, they moved closer to him.

"Bu Ye, although Yang Yuanda's character is despicable, you shouldn't have killed him. Do you know that?" Hong Zhongwei asked as soon as Bu Ye approached.

Bu Ye didn't speak, just calmly looking at Hong Zhongwei. He had already made up his mind that if Hong Zhongwei kept talking, he would turn and leave. As for the practical experience of the Heart Cloud Blood Star, he could ask someone else in the future.

Seeing that Bu Ye didn't respond, Hong Zhongwei sighed inwardly, thinking that once Bu Ye awakened the Heart Cloud, he seemed like a completely different person, truly assertive.

"However, you can see the current situation. The village is in dire need of people..."

"Wait a moment!" A loud and stern voice suddenly came from the crowd, interrupting Hong Zhongwei.

Everyone turned to see an elder of the village, surnamed Chai, named Ren. After the village chief and Yang Zhaocai died, he was the most respected elder in the village.

"Chai Elder?" Hong Zhongwei asked, puzzled.

"Commander Hong, are you planning to let Bu Ye off?" Chai Ren said sternly.

"This..." Hong Zhongwei frowned.

"Killing requires a life in return, it's a natural law. Bu Ye killed Yuanda, so he should pay with his life. This was decided by the old village chief. If Commander Hong wants to spare Bu Ye's life, what about the dead village chief? What about the village rules?!"

Bu Ye almost laughed out loud. Chai Ren kept talking about the village chief and the village rules, clearly trying to seize power. If he gained the upper hand in this matter, Chai Ren would surely surpass Hong Zhongwei and become the next village chief of Dongmang Village.

However, it seemed that he had unintentionally saved this old man just a moment ago? Indeed, he did!

Bu Ye sneered and said before Hong Zhongwei could speak, "Chai Village Chief, although I killed Yang Yuanda, how many people did I save just now? At least twenty or thirty, right? So many lives, are they not worth as much as Yang Yuanda's?"

Chai Ren was momentarily speechless. However, this old man had a sharp-tongued son. A young man behind him shouted, "If Deputy Commander Yang were still alive, he could have saved us too!"

This was not without reason. If Yang Yuanda were still alive, he could indeed have done what Bu Ye did.

But, could he really?

Bu Ye continued to sneer, looking at Chai Ren's son, Chai Wangming, with disdain, and said, "With Yang Yuanda's cowardice, could he really save you? I killed eleven Mang Mountain bandits. How many could he kill?!"

After Bu Ye spoke, the entire scene fell silent.

Although Yang Yuanda had awakened the Heart Cloud Blood Star and often bullied the villagers, his cowardice and tendency to run away in battle were well-known. The most famous incident was when he encountered a fierce beast while hunting on Dongmang Mountain and was directly scared away, leaving Liang Xiong to kill the beast alone.

Therefore, the assumption that Yang Yuanda could save twenty or thirty villagers in the previous battle was not valid! Not to mention killing eleven Mang Mountain bandits under the pursuit of the second-in-command!

Chai Ren and his son were completely speechless. However, at this moment, a villager suddenly shouted, "Although Bu Ye killed eleven Mang Mountain bandits, he also killed the old Yang, Yang Zhaocai, in the chaos!"

"Ah?!!"

"Really?!"

"How could that be?!"

The scene erupted in chaos, and even Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong changed their expressions.

Since the villagers of Dongmang Village had not rested for long, they had not had time to exchange much information, so most people did not know that Bu Ye had also killed Yang Zhaocai.

If before, many people were trying hard to save Bu Ye, now almost everyone had given up on the idea, including Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong, who had to reconsider.

"Bu Ye is simply a devil! After awakening the Heart Cloud, he acts without restraint! He killed Yang Yuanda and then Yang Zhaocai. In the future, he will kill anyone who displeases him! We cannot keep him, and we cannot let him go! Commander Hong, Commander Liang, what are you waiting for? Take him down!" Chai Ren took this opportunity to shout.

"Take him down!" the villager who revealed that Bu Ye had killed Yang Zhaocai also shouted.

This person was named Lu Kun, a thin and scrawny man. After his wife Lu Xiu's husband died, he had harassed her multiple times. Once, Bu Ye caught him and, despite his usually good temper, couldn't help but teach him a lesson. Since then, Lu Kun had harbored a grudge against Bu Ye and always thought that Bu Ye and Lu Xiu had a relationship. Now, seeing that Bu Ye had awakened the Heart Cloud, he was almost driven mad with jealousy.

At this moment, even the neutral villagers hesitated. Bu Ye's actions were like a sharp sword hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any moment.

Hong Zhongwei was also in a dilemma, unable to think clearly amidst the chaotic accusations from Chai Ren and others.

"Ah!!!" A scream suddenly came from not far away.

"Look!!"

"What's happening?!"

"How did the Mang Mountain bandits catch up to the mountain?!!"

"Are they trying to exterminate us all?!!"

"Wah... Heaven..."

Shouts and cries rose simultaneously, and everyone looked down the mountain, their faces changing.

The Mang Mountain bandits, known for their swift movements and never staying in one place for long or pursuing fugitives, had actually caught up to the mountain!

From the fact that the Mang Mountain bandits had not set fire to Dongmang Village, Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong had already sensed something was wrong, but they never expected such a result.

Everyone thought that after the Mang Mountain bandits looted, they would retreat, and they could return to the village.

Now, this was a luxury!

The Mang Mountain bandits were rapidly advancing up the mountain under the leadership of three bandit leaders!

"Everyone, continue up the mountain! The village defense team and the young and strong men gather here quickly and follow me to hold the rear! Cough..." Hong Zhongwei's voice rang out, but he coughed at the end due to his injuries.

The villagers immediately moved in a chaotic manner. Chai Ren, Chai Wangming, and Lu Kun were already terrified and had no time to pursue Bu Ye's issue.

However, at this moment, Bu Ye did not let them off.

Bu Ye thanked the Mang Mountain bandits for their timely attack in his heart and looked at Chai Ren and the others like clowns, shouting, "I say, Chai Elder, and all the fellow villagers, are you going to punish me or not? If you don't do it now, you won't have the chance later. If you bring it up later, don't blame me for not recognizing you."

Bu Ye had decided to use this opportunity to get some practical experience about activating the Blood Star from Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong. Since he had to stay longer, he didn't mind mocking and ridiculing Chai Ren and his son, Lu Kun, and the indifferent villagers. No one knew that what he disliked the most was not Chai Ren and the others but the indifferent villagers who seemed to have never provoked him. He had saved them, but no one spoke up for him.

On Earth, there is a well-known quote about indifference:

"When they came for the Jews, I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Catholics, I did not speak out—because I was not a Catholic.

When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."

What Bu Ye despised was that these indifferent villagers did not even have the courage to take a clear stance, leaving everything to be led by others. Even if they shouted and cursed and captured Bu Ye, he would admire them!

At this moment, including Chai Ren, Chai Wangming, and Lu Kun, everyone chose silence.

In other words, they tacitly accepted Bu Ye's words.

At this time, the Mang Mountain bandits were already advancing up the mountain. They still hoped that Bu Ye would help them hold off the pursuers and save their lives. How could they go against their own lives?

Bu Ye sneered, thinking, "No matter where I end up, it's the same."

Then, Bu Ye looked at Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong and said directly, "I can help you, but I have a condition."

Liang Xiong hated such coercion in the midst of battle and was about to get angry, but Hong Zhongwei stopped him.

Hong Zhongwei frowned and asked, "What condition?"

"I just awakened the Heart Cloud, and there are many things I don't understand. I hope you can tell me everything you know."

Hong Zhongwei had already guessed and nodded in agreement, "Alright. But I also have two conditions."

"Go on."

"First, no more killing villagers. Second, follow orders and defend with all your heart."

Bu Ye smiled and said directly, "As long as they don't provoke me, I won't touch a single hair on their heads. As for fighting the Mang Mountain bandits, I will do my best, but don't expect me to die for it."

Liang Xiong saw a problem in Bu Ye's attitude and asked, "You don't plan to stay in Dongmang Village?"

Bu Ye just glanced at Liang Xiong and didn't answer.

The village defense team and the young and strong men had already gathered. As the villagers slowly moved deeper into the mountains, they followed.

The Mang Mountain bandits had already dismounted and were still some distance away. Taking this opportunity, Bu Ye immediately asked Hong Zhongwei about the Heart Cloud Blood Star.

After a few words, Hong Zhongwei showed surprise, "You mean you can already feel that you can activate another Blood Star?"

"The feeling is strong, but it seems to be lacking something," Bu Ye said honestly.

"Are you sure you just awakened the Heart Cloud this morning?" Hong Zhongwei asked again.

"Sure."

"I've heard that the fastest can activate another Blood Star within a week of awakening the Heart Cloud. Maybe you can really do it," Hong Zhongwei said with some emotion.

Liang Xiong couldn't help but look at Bu Ye, finding it hard to believe, as he had activated his next Blood Star two months after awakening the Heart Cloud. However, thinking about Bu Ye's recent erratic behavior, he suddenly felt it wasn't impossible...

Bu Ye glanced down the mountain and saw that the Mang Mountain bandits were only two miles away. He quickly got to the point, "Tell me how to specifically activate the Blood Star."

Hong Zhongwei coughed twice and said, "Alright. Liang, if I miss anything, you can add it."

"Alright," Liang Xiong immediately responded.

Now they were all in the same boat, hoping that Bu Ye could quickly improve his strength.

...

That evening, the Mang Mountain bandits finally caught up with the people of Dongmang Village who were holding the rear.