Mountain Granny, please take a look. There are still two dried corpses hanging on the big tree at the village entrance. He says it’s a punishment for being disloyal to you!

Not to mention leaving the village to make a living elsewhere, even accidentally stepping over the line is considered as fleeing privately. The lighter punishment is twenty strokes; the heavier is having your house raided, imprisoned, and beaten daily until death!"

With the precedent set by the couple, other villagers also came forward, seeking a way out.

"Mountain Granny, back then my parents and I were exiled to the forest, living in fear. You said Stone Beam Village had divine protection, fields to farm, and houses to live in, and brought us here. We were grateful. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

But... living here as slaves to the Liang Family, it’s worse than being wanderers.

My mother got sick, and without money to buy the High Priest’s medicine, we couldn’t leave the village to find herbs, and she was dragged to death. Please, show mercy and let us leave."

"Yes, there’s endless work every day, and in winter, panning for gold is both cold and hungry. All the gold is taken by the Liang Family, claiming it’s for sacrificial offerings. When it gets cold, some people simply freeze to death alive. We can’t escape, and we can’t fight against the High Priest; I don’t want to live here anymore."

"A few years ago, I heard you were going to appear. The High Priest made us prepare half a month in advance to pretend everything was great.

When you left, those who performed well were fine; those who didn’t were whipped. You even sent migrants now and then; isn’t that harming us..."

......

The old lady’s face turned blue with anger, and she tapped with her cane, saying in a low voice, "What other crimes has the Liang Family committed? Everyone, speak up today, and I, as the old woman, will give you a reason."

"Really? You won’t cover for them?" Upon hearing this, Fengling quickly poked her head out, angrily saying, "I’m a Little Demon Cultivator living nearby, and I swear by my Daoxin that I’m not lying—this High Priest borrowed your power to rob my good friend Squirrel Mouse.

Not only did he injure him, but he also took away the Spirit Stones and belongings that Squirrel Mouse had saved from eating sparingly, and burned down his house!

Normally, if there are bad Demon Beasts nearby, we would help clear them out so they wouldn’t harm the village.

I thought this was also a good deed, but when Squirrel Mouse and I teamed up to beat the Demon Beast, it caught his attention. Not only did he not thank us, but he also attacked us. Even if it wasn’t your instruction, since he used your power for evil, you also bear responsibility, right?"

After finishing bravely, she was afraid the other party would become angry and retaliate, so she quickly shrank back behind Hu Zhile.

"The little Daoist friend is right, everyone please calm down, I do bear the responsibility for oversight in this matter." The old lady bowed and looked at Liang Shizhen coldly.

Previously arrogant under the protection of Mountain Granny, Liang Shizhen suddenly lost trust, panicked, and trembled as he knelt, pleading, "Granny, listen to my explanation, Granny!

In prosperous times, heavy punishment is needed. This is what my grandfather taught me; we can’t let these lowly people live too well! Otherwise, they will be disrespectful to you and think that our protection is taken for granted!

Just like Wang Wu’s couple, who can’t watch their children properly and lose them. They even have the nerve to ask me to find their children in the Wilderness, which is so dangerous. I don’t owe them anything..."

"You, Liang!" Seeing him still arguing, the old lady rebuked, "I bestowed Divine Medicine on your Liang Family and allowed you to use my power, for what purpose?

Not to mention that the children fearlessly went to the Wilderness because you oppress the people, making them unable to eat enough.

Even if it’s due to momentary playfulness that they went to the Wilderness, you can use my power to summon me to help at any time, yet you dare say the Wilderness is dangerous?

The villagers who offer me incense and receive my protection need help, and you repeatedly shirk responsibility.

You regularly ask for Divine Medicine, and borrow my power not for protecting the villagers or village, but for robbery. Aren’t you too greedy? Being greedy for gold and silver is one thing, but as a mere mortal, what use do you have for robbing Demon Cultivators of Spirit Stones?"

Hearing this, Hu Zhile suddenly became alert—indeed, the Liang family’s living conditions were far better than ordinary villagers, but a Demon Core or a Spirit Stone traded for gold and silver would be enough to live extravagantly. Now, the Liang Family’s financial strength doesn’t match their income, could there be more to it?