Watching the two Feather Soul Tribe experts turn into streaks of light and vanish beyond the horizon, the villagers, who had kept their nerves taut and scarcely dared breathe, finally relaxed.
Many of them collapsed limply to the ground, their backs already soaked in cold sweat. They gasped for breath, their faces filled with the relief of having survived a disaster.
Shi Zhuang's father, that tall, burly man, scrambled and crawled over to Jiang Ping An.
With another thud, he dropped to his knees, his voice choked with endless gratitude.
"Thank you, my lord! Thank you for saving us again! If not for you... our Great Lake Village today... today might truly have been finished..."
Yet there was not the slightest hint of relief on Jiang Ping An's face. Instead, his expression was even more solemn than before.
His gaze swept over the relieved villagers as he said gravely, "You are celebrating too soon. They will return."
Those words were like a bucket of icy water poured over their heads, instantly freezing the atmosphere that had only just eased.
The relief on the villagers' faces stiffened, and every heart skipped a beat.
Village Chief Shi Da Hu strode quickly to Jiang Ping An, his face filled with confusion and unease.
"Lord Jiang, what do you mean? Didn't they already accept the herbs and promise not to pursue the matter any further? Why would they come back?"
"It seems you still have not seen through it."
Jiang Ping An sighed softly and explained, "From the very beginning, their target was never this so-called 'deserter,' Shi Zhuang. Shi Zhuang was merely bait they deliberately released."
"Their purpose was to make you hide Shi Zhuang out of family affection or fellowship with a fellow villager. That way, they would have a 'legitimate' excuse