Village Chief Liu Zhu

It wasn't until the fox-eared beauty walked right up to them that everyone realized what was happening.

For a moment, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, unsure whether to kneel and worship the deity or curse the fox demon.

Of course, as soon as this idea came to mind, everyone unanimously chose to suppress it. This must be a divine intervention!

"Who among you is in charge here?"

Seeing the group of people looking so clueless and oblivious, Yin Yunze resisted the urge to roll his eyes and took the initiative to ask a question.

"This humble woman Liu Zhu, the Upper Creek Village, pays respects to the Lady Fox Immortal!"

Fortunately, after Yin Yunze spoke, someone finally reacted.

A woman stepped out from the crowd and took over Yin Yunze's words.

Unlike Clear Creek Village and Lower Creek Village, the village chief of Upper Creek Village is a woman in her thirties with a graceful demeanor.

As she answered, Liu Zhu gracefully knelt down on the ground.

She looked delicate and frail, like a pretty woman from some family, and showed no signs of being the village chief.

However, Yin Yunze did not underestimate Liu Zhu because of her appearance. In fact, the fact that a woman could become the head of a village with five or six hundred people spoke volumes about her abilities.

Moreover, as Liu Zhu took the lead, the villagers behind her also reacted and knelt down on the ground, shouting "Lady Fox Immortal!"

Judging from the sheer number of followers gathered here, Liu Zhu doesn't seem like someone who rose to power simply by flaunting his female charms.

Yin Yunze's gaze lingered meaningfully on Liu Zhu for a moment, and he sensed that something was wrong with her.

However, this is not the time to cause trouble for someone, especially since they are quite polite and courteous.

Therefore, Yin Yunze temporarily set aside his suspicions and got down to business.

"The weasel of Upper Creek Village presumptuously claimed to be a god, which led to its vengeful nature and wreaking havoc on the area! I have now killed it, and considering that you were deceived by it—if you serve me as your master, I will not pursue the matter of your worship of the evil god—"

Smearing, condemning, and converting to faith for redemption are common tactics used in religious disputes.

In order to win back these believers as soon as possible, Yin Yunze naturally did not mind using some unethical means.

Upon hearing Yin Yunze's words, the people of Upper Creek Village immediately stirred up a commotion.

After all, Grandfather Huang Three is an old Land God who has been around for hundreds of years. It can be said that he watched everyone in the village grow up.

Although his sudden madness over the past few months has caused a lot of trouble for Upper Creek Village, most people, who are not victims, still feel a little sad about the passing of Grandfather Huang Three.

After all, as the saying goes, death is the greatest tragedy.

With Grandfather Huang Three's death, everyone remembered the good things he had done over the past decades. As for the bad things he had done in the last few months, they could still be excused by saying that he had gone mad and that he didn't want to, and that there was nothing he could do about it.

When it came to the final decision to switch allegiance to Yin Yunze, everyone was somewhat at a loss.

After all, it's like a stranger suddenly appears, kills the village's old Land God, and then forces you to worship her.

Even when changing jobs, things aren't this clean and efficient!

"If you don't believe me—"

Therefore, someone in the crowd soon asked hesitantly.

Those who do not believe will die!

Although Yin Yunze wouldn't actually kill someone just because they didn't believe him, he could still make a verbal threat.

Yin Yunze had just performed a feat of tearing apart Grandfather Huang Three in front of everyone, so few dared to take Yin Yunze threat lightly.

As it turns out, this threat was quite effective.

Immediately, dozens of people lit the flames of faith. Wisps of Incense of Faith drifted from these people.

"Don't worry, everyone! The Lady Fox Immortal is just joking with us!"

Just as Yin Yunze was about to reap the Power of Incense Offerings, a discordant voice rang out.

But then Liu Zhu, the village chief of Upper Creek Village, raised his head and waved to the crowd, reassuring them, "The Lady Fox Immortal is a benevolent deity. She killed Huang Three because he violated divine laws. We are just ordinary people; if we live peacefully and honestly, the Lady Fox Immortal won't do anything to us."

Although Liu Zhu was right, Yin Yunze couldn't help but feel a sense of unease after hearing this.

As soon as Liu Zhu spoke, the steadily increasing number of believer lights came to an abrupt halt. Some of the already lit believer lights even went out again.

Upon realizing this, Yin Yunze was so angry he was grinding his teeth.

Regardless of whether Liu Zhu did it intentionally or not, objectively speaking, she has already affected Yin Yunze's efforts to win over believers.

Originally, Yin Yunze was willing to let it go for the time being, but since she insisted on coming at him, Yin Yunze decided not to be polite.

Looking at Liu Zhu, Yin Yunze said with a grim expression, "You say that? Do you even know me?"

Upon hearing Yin Yunze's question, Liu Zhu paused slightly before replying, "You are the savior of Clear Creek Village, the Lady Fox Immortal spirit who rescues those in distress. Although I have never met you in person, I have long admired your beauty. However, as the Upper Creek Village, I cannot enter Clear Creek Village and have never had the chance to pay my respects to the Lady Fox Immortal! Now that we have met, I understand the meaning of 'seeing is believing.'"

"I sent someone here before, didn't you just throw them out?"

Staring at Liu Zhu, Yin Yunze questioned, "Why were you so arrogant before and so respectful now?"

"Actually, I've long wished for the Lady Fox Immortal to take over Upper Creek Village— " Upon hearing this, Liu Zhu's pretty face showed a hint of helplessness. "However, with that Grandfather Huang Three in Upper Creek Village —if I had agreed back then, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to see me now, Lady Fox Immortal!"

Liu Zhu's answer was appropriate, but Yin Yunze still felt a strange unease.

Recalling a detail from the message left by Grandfather Huang Three, Yin Yunze asked, "You are the Upper Creek Village. I need you to answer a question."

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhu nodded respectfully and said, "Please speak, Lady Fox Immortal, I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

"I learned from Qi Siyuan of Lower Creek Village that Upper Creek Village is planning to join forces with Xiaxi Lower Creek Village to attack Clear Creek Village in order to prepare food for that beast—" Looking at Liu Zhu, Yin Yunze asked unhurriedly, "Is this true or not?"

"----This is indeed true."

Hearing Yin Yunze's words, Liu Zhu remained silent for a moment, then quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy, saying, "But it was because Huang Three was too cruel that I had no choice but to resort to this tactic! I hope the Lady Fox Immortal can understand my predicament----"

Now that Huang Three has been eliminated by the Lady Fox Immortal, this matter should be dropped. Lady Fox Immortal, I swear Upper Creek Village, I will make everyone Upper Creek Village Lady Fox Immortal Village believe in you.

As he spoke, Liu Zhu turned to the villagers and shouted, "Did you hear what I said? From now on, the Lady Fox Immortal will be the only deity worshipped in our Upper Creek Village!"

Although the Lady Fox Immortal is from Clear Creek Village, she will definitely treat us all equally! So, for my sake, Liu Zhu, please trust the Lady Fox Immortal; she will surely treat us well!

"Since the village chief has said so, then I believe him! Lady Fox Immortal, please accept my bow!"

"Yes, yes! How could we not trust the village chief and the others after they've done things like this!"

"Since the village chief has said so, everyone should just believe this Lady Fox Immortal!"

As Liu Zhu spoke, people in the crowd quickly echoed his words.

With these few voices echoing the sentiment, the villagers, driven by a herd mentality, began to worship Yin Yunze once again.

However, looking at these newly emerging points of faith, Yin Yunze couldn't feel happy at all.

Indeed, how could Yin Yunze be happy!

To be honest, did these believers appear because of Yin Yunze, the fox spirit, or because of Liu Zhu, the village chief?

Having believers is certainly important, but for whom believers believe is an even more important question.

Wasn't Yin Yunze's initial assertive characterization of Grandfather Huang Three's matter precisely for this purpose?

Yin Yunze wasn't stupid; he could naturally tell that Liu Zhu seemed to be speaking up for Yin Yunze and vouching for Yin Yunze.

But in reality, it was a deliberate attempt to point out and emphasize that Yin Yunze was the fox spirit of Clear Creek Village.

The same thing done by people of different statuses will naturally give people different feelings.

It's no exaggeration to say that the grudges between Upper Creek Village and Clear Creek Village have been brewing for a long time.

Now it just sounds a little strange.

But after some time, any unpleasantness might arise at any moment.

This incident will become the story of the fox spirit of Clear Creek Village killing Grandfather Huang Three of Upper Creek Village.

But at that point, will these already unstable beliefs be able to hold on?

As the saying goes, the dead are more missed than the living. Because the living can make mistakes, while the dead are infallible.

Often, no matter how great a flaw is, once someone dies, others can only see their strengths.

Yin Yunze could guess Liu Zhu's motives for doing this.

Having always been overshadowed by Grandfather Huang Three, Liu Zhu naturally didn't want to have another Fox Seventh Auntie on his mind now that the latter was finally dead.

It's not wrong for Liu Zhu to have such thoughts, given that he was unaware that Yin Yunze had become the Land God of Upper Creek Village.

After all, under normal circumstances, if one wants to quickly gather the Land God Divinity, Liu Zhu, the beloved village chief, is someone who cannot be easily manipulated.

"Don't get sidetracked! What is your purpose in doing this?" Suppressing his anger, Yin Yunze asked again, seemingly calmly, "Do you truly intend to attack Clear Creek Village, or—"

"Absolutely not!"

Seeing that he couldn't get away with it, Liu Zhu said righteously, "How could I let the villagers do such a thing!"

Moreover, with your Divine Ability Lady Fox Immortal guarding Clear Creek Village, wouldn't the people of Clear Creek Village just be sending themselves to their deaths if they went there?

"I also advised Huang Three, with someone as truly divine as you presiding over Clear Creek Village, it's not something we can do alone—"

Liu Zhu was naturally unaware that Yin Yunze had obtained information about Grandfather Huang Three. She had seen the previous scene and assumed that Yin Yunze had not communicated with Grandfather Huang Three, so she blamed everything on Grandfather Huang Three.

Little did she know that her trick of using the dead more effectively than the living was full of flaws in Yin Yunze's eyes.

If you, Liu Zhu, were forced by Grandfather Huang Three, why didn't Grandfather Huang Three know about this? He didn't even know Yin Yunze existed?