Hearing Ye Fan's words, Elder Lei and the others nodded heavily.
They understood the current situation better than anyone. Moreover, since Ye Fan had said this, it meant that the reality was likely far more serious than they had imagined.
"I can only buy you all one night. By tomorrow morning, everything will be up to fate."
Sighing, Ye Fan looked out the window.
This time, they had come to search for treasure, but who would have thought it would be so fraught with twists and turns.
Even with his two lifetimes of experience, Ye Fan felt it was not worth it.
However, he was not afraid.
Having already died once, he had long since detached himself from life and death.
He turned to look at Shen Tianyin and found her looking at him as well.
"No matter what happens tomorrow morning, don't act impulsively. Stay by my side."
Ye Fan's expression was serious, his gaze filled with determination.
Perhaps this was the last time he would protect her.
Even Ye Fan himself did not know what his feelings were for Shen Tianyin. Was it love? He had never experienced it and did not know what it felt like.
But deep down, he instinctively wanted to protect Shen Tianyin, to keep her from harm.
Biting her red lips tightly, Shen Tianyin nodded heavily.
Her beautiful eyes were gradually moistening, her eyes red. Ye Fan's concern, so much like a farewell, pained her.
But she knew that in this situation, she could do nothing but follow Ye Fan's instructions.
If she continued to be stubborn, she would only put Ye Fan in danger.
This night was destined to be a sleepless one.
...
On the other side, Xu Sanhu also gathered his confidantes. Hu Liu and the others were all in the living room.
"Are the things ready?"
Looking at Hu Liu, Xu Sanhu asked in a deep voice.
"Don't worry, Village Chief. I've already had people prepare dozens of barrels of gasoline. If Ye Fan doesn't listen, we'll burn them all to death."
This series of plans made him admire Xu Sanhu even more.
He had hidden his identity, ambushed Ye Fan and his companions, observed their every move, and then waited for the opportune moment to strike. It was flawless.
Seeing Hu Liu's assurance, Xu Sanhu nodded.
"I hope Ye Fan doesn't disappoint me, otherwise..."
A sinister glint flashed in his eyes!
As the east showed a pale white, the first ray of morning sunlight finally shone from the horizon.
Xu Sanhu, accompanied by dozens of men, arrived at the entrance of the ancestral hall.
"Brother Ye, give me an accurate answer."
Seeing Ye Fan sitting on the steps, leaning against the door, Xu Sanhu was surprised but did not suspect anything further.
There were only eight of them. Even if they wanted to resist, they would have no chance.
Moreover, this was Dong Village, his territory. Even if Ye Fan and his companions managed to escape, they would never be able to escape his grasp.
Ye Fan slowly raised his head, looked at Xu Sanhu, and couldn't help but let out a faint laugh.
"Village Chief Xu is indeed impatient. It seems I hold quite some importance in your heart."
Smiling, Ye Fan stood up and stretched.
"However, the answer I give you is probably not what Village Chief Xu wants."
The smile on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by a grim expression.
"Xu Sanhu, our group came to Qianfo Mountain with no enmity towards you. Why do you seek to kill us? Do you not fear the solemnity of the law when you disregard human lives and act so outrageously?"
Pointing at Xu Sanhu, Ye Fan reprimanded him angrily.
Xu Sanhu was stunned. He had never expected Ye Fan to act this way, but he quickly burst into laughter.
"The law? How laughable. To tell you the truth, here in Dong Village, my word is the law."
Xu Sanhu spoke with arrogance, his expression tinged with smugness.
"There are spirits three feet above one's head. Even if the law cannot punish you, you will eventually face retribution."
With two lives tragically lost, karma would surely bring Xu Sanhu to a bad end.
"Ye Fan!"
A furious roar erupted, Xu Sanhu's face darkening as if water could drip from it.
"I admire your talent and intended to recruit you, but you are ungrateful. Since that is the case, today, all of you will die."
Saying this, Xu Sanhu took a few steps back and gave Hu Liu a meaningful look.
Hu Liu immediately let out a strange shout, and the dozens of villagers surged forward, surrounding Ye Fan. At the same time, they shielded Xu Sanhu.
At that very moment, over a dozen villagers carrying gasoline barrels rushed over from the surroundings.
"Ye Fan, I'll give you one last chance. If you surrender to me, I can overlook what has happened. Otherwise, next year on this day will be your death anniversary."
"Our paths differ, and we cannot conspire together. Xu Sanhu, you will pay the price for your actions today."
With that said, Ye Fan suddenly turned and darted into the room.
Simultaneously, the over a dozen villagers carrying gasoline barrels began to splash the gasoline onto the walls of the ancestral hall.
As Hu Liu tossed his torch, the ancestral hall was engulfed in a raging inferno.
Xu Sanhu's face was grim as he watched the towering flames, a hint of regret in his eyes.
In the end, he still failed to recruit Ye Fan.
In his heart, Ye Fan was indeed the perfect candidate to help him, but alas, his intentions were unrequited.
"When the fire dies down, carry out the bodies and bury them,"
Xu Sanhu instructed in a deep voice with a sigh, then turned and left.
The great fire burned for a full two hours before gradually subsiding.
Hu Liu stood guard outside, his face constantly filled with astonishment.
From the moment the fire started until now, there had been no sound from within, not even a single cry of pain. Were these people made of iron? Immune to the scorching flames?
Or perhaps, their will was truly so resolute that they refused to utter a sound even in death?
As the flames extinguished, Hu Liu quickly ordered his men to clear the ancestral hall and dig out Ye Fan's body.
Without seeing the bodies, his heart would never be at ease.
Dozens of people worked together, and their speed was not slow. By noon, the ruined walls were finally cleared.
But what Hu Liu did not expect was that after searching the entire ancestral hall, not a single body was found.
"Sixth Master, we haven't found a single body. Did those few people just evaporate?"
A villager ran over quickly, looking at Hu Liu with astonishment and asking.
"Nonsense!"
Hu Liu raised his hand and slapped the villager hard across the face.
"They are not ghosts, they are people with flesh and blood. How could they suddenly evaporate? You, blast it, try evaporating one for me!"
His heart instantly ignited with rage.
Finding no sign of them alive or dead, he already didn't know how to explain it to Xu Sanhu. Annoyed, this villager had come to provoke him. How could he not be angry?
Having been slapped, the villager dared not speak out in anger and could only endure the insult in silence.
"Continue searching for me. Bring them out alive or dead. If you cannot find Ye Fan and the others, all of you will die. The Village Chief will not let you off."
Helplessly, he could only resort to invoking Xu Sanhu's authority, hoping to make these people search diligently.
Shaking his head bitterly, Hu Liu turned, forcing himself to report to Xu Sanhu first.