The footsteps outside drew near, then nearer still.
Yang Qing exchanged a glance with Jiang Zhizhou. "Xiao Zhou, take Bu Er with you, and watch how hard you strike."
They were merely stubborn, ignorant villagers. If possible, they should spare their lives.
Sure enough, the arrivals were the village chief who had hosted a feast for them earlier, along with several of his trusted men.
"Our ancestral instructions cannot be defied. Since they came from the land of demons, we cannot let them live, no matter what they have done for us."
The village chief's voice reached everyone inside the room with perfect clarity.
As expected, that was what had brought them here.
They had thought these people would push open the door and enter. Instead, after reaching the house, they stayed outside, circling around its front and back.
From time to time, they heard objects being dragged along, and things knocking against the outer walls.
Yang Qing frowned. "Xiao Zhou, once their fire gets going, we'll leave."
These people actually intended to burn them alive inside the house.
Their hearts were so wicked that even heaven could not tolerate them.
Sure enough, the village chief led his men in piling dry firewood all around the house, then doused it with some lamp oil.
"These demons won't escape this time."
At the village chief's command, several villagers threw the fire starters in their hands.
The fire flared up at once.
Thick smoke instantly engulfed the house.
The villagers who had already gone to bed but were awakened by the commotion secretly got up and watched the blaze through cracks in their doors.
They knew there were several living people inside that house.
Yet not one of them thought to help put out the fire.
The village chief had already said