LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Chapter 9: The Dagger Revealed
Aunt Shen's sharp voice pierced the air, summoning the entire village in no time. Villagers gathered, brandishing hoes, sticks, and carrying poles, their expressions fierce and determined as they surrounded Zhao Ling.
Faced with hundreds of angry villagers, Zhao Ling was left speechless.
One burly man, holding a pole, charged forward, yelling, "Who dares to trouble my mother?"
Zhao Ling chuckled, his patience already wearing thin. With a casual slap, he sent the man spinning like a top, twirling several times clockwise before slapping him again to reverse the direction. The man finally collapsed to the ground in a daze.
'Do these villagers even understand who they're dealing with?' Zhao Ling thought, bemused. He found it almost amusing how ignorant they were, wielding sticks and poles against a Titled Douluo.
'If I had a darker heart, this entire village would already be in ruins,' he mused coldly.
Ah Yin, watching from the side, quickly realized the danger. Fearful that the villagers' reckless actions might provoke Zhao Ling, she broke free from Aunt Shen's grasp and stepped between him and the crowd.
"Everyone, please don't be impulsive!" she said, her voice calm but firm. "He has no ill will toward us. He injured his leg a few days ago and had to rest here temporarily. There's no need to make things difficult for him."
Ah Yin wasn't worried about Zhao Ling's safety—after all, a Titled Douluo like him could handle the situation with ease. Her concern lay with the villagers. If they pushed Zhao Ling too far, the consequences could be disastrous.
However, the villagers misinterpreted her intentions. They frowned, glaring at Zhao Ling with suspicion.
"Sister Yin, why are you defending a stranger? You've lived here for so many years; you're practically one of us!"
"That's right! He doesn't seem trustworthy. I saw him the other day, standing under a tree and mumbling to himself. He even smiled creepily! He's clearly up to no good."
"We don't welcome him here! He needs to leave!"
Ah Yin was taken aback by their hostility. The same villagers who had always been kind to her were now acting irrationally, driven by their collective fear and jealousy.
Aunt Shen took the opportunity to pull Ah Yin aside, lowering her voice but maintaining a patronizing tone.
"Little girl, let me give you some advice. Men from outside the village are all sweet-talkers and troublemakers. If you want a husband, you should pick someone honest and hardworking—like my Da Niu. He'll take care of you for life, and that's what real happiness is."
Hearing her mother's praise, Da Niu shakily got back on his feet. Gripping his pole tightly, he joined the crowd, ready to drive Zhao Ling out.
The hostility in their eyes made Zhao Ling laugh. 'Ah, so that's why they've been so defensive.' It all made sense now.
These villagers, particularly Aunt Shen, clearly wanted Ah Yin to marry one of their own. Aunt Shen's frequent visits to Ah Yin's house weren't acts of kindness—they were strategic moves to secure her as a future daughter-in-law.
But Zhao Ling found it absurd.
'Do they even know who Ah Yin is?' he thought, suppressing a smirk.
Ah Yin wasn't an ordinary woman; she was the 100,000-year-old Blue Silver Emperor in human form. Her presence in the village was temporary, a necessity for her to grow in safety during her infancy. There was no way she would stay here forever, let alone marry an ordinary villager.
Even without Zhao Ling's interference, Ah Yin would eventually leave, and their hopes would crumble regardless.
"Get out of our village!" the villagers shouted repeatedly.
Zhao Ling finally spoke, his voice calm but cutting as he glanced at Ah Yin, who stood silently beside Aunt Shen.
"Miss Ah Yin," he said, his tone measured, "can't you see what's happening? These villagers don't just want you to stay—they want you to give up your future, to settle for an ordinary life here, married to one of them.
But ask yourself: is this truly where you belong? You're different from them. Staying here will only bury your potential. Come with me. Leave this village and embrace the life you're meant to live."
His words sent a ripple of unease through the crowd.
To the villagers, Ah Yin was their unattainable "white moonlight," the ideal woman. The thought of her leaving with Zhao Ling was unbearable. If she left, they might never see her again, and their dreams of winning her over would vanish forever.
Their anger toward Zhao Ling intensified, but for Ah Yin, his words struck a chord.
As she reflected on her time in the village, she began to see the truth. The villagers' kindness was not entirely selfless. Aunt Shen's frequent visits, disguised as concern, were part of a larger plan to manipulate her into staying.
Ah Yin's brows furrowed. 'So that's why Aunt Shen tried to convince me to avoid Zhao Ling. She wants me to marry her son.'
Realizing this, Ah Yin made up her mind. Breaking free from Aunt Shen's grip, she walked confidently to Zhao Ling's side. Bowing to the crowd, she spoke clearly, her tone resolute.
"Dear villagers, I am truly grateful for the care you've shown me over the years. However, Zhao Ling is right. This village is not where I belong. I have my own dreams and aspirations, and I cannot stay here forever.
Please understand, this decision is not made lightly, but it is necessary for me to leave."
Her firm words shocked the villagers. The polite facade they had maintained crumbled, replaced by desperation and resentment.
But Ah Yin had made her decision. The "dagger" had been revealed, and she could no longer stay. If she hesitated, who knew what desperate measures the villagers might take in the future?
She had heard of such things before—women manipulated or even forced into marriages against their will. Though she didn't believe the villagers would harm her, she knew better than to take risks.
This was the right moment to leave, and Zhao Ling was her best option.
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(End of Chapter)