The village chief looked very innocent and stammered, "I... I don't think... I did anything wrong, right?"
Ji Chenxue was also angry, "It's fine if you don't protect your own villagers, but you even took the lead in robbing. Do you know that Da Hua's fingers were cut off by these children just now?"
The village chief smiled bitterly, "These are the matters of the little brats!"
Ding Meng said, "Don't you know the rules of the border of the Da Sheng Kingdom?
As long as they are not refugees, robbing, stealing, and raping people are all hanged. Did you eat a leopard's guts? "
The village chief spread out his hands and said, "The laws have been changed long ago. There is no such thing now."
This time, it was Ding Meng's turn to be stunned. The village chief's face didn't look evil, and judging from his expression, he didn't seem to be lying. It felt like fighting, killing, plundering, and so on were as normal as eating a meal. This was completely different from the border in his memory.
When he was young, the border was chaotic. Unless it was a disaster victim who had nowhere to go, the poor people would not be so arbitrary and barbaric. On the contrary, the poor people had a common understanding that they would take care of each other if they could. Relatively speaking, the customs of the people at the border were very simple.
Unlike now, these adults and children all had a kind of invisible hostility. Usually, it was not visible, but once they were angry, they would use their knives. Once they used their knives, they would cut off people's hands and feet.
Ding Meng muttered, "Is there a holy tree nearby?"
The village chief quickly explained, "Yes, there is, at Caiyun Town. Our Apricot Village doesn't have it."
Ding Meng waved his hand and said, "Bring me there to take a look!"
The village chief immediately showed a difficult expression.
Ding Meng said, "What?
Looking at you, you are still not willing? "
The village chief smiled bitterly, "That's not it. If you want to treat the illness, the holy tree is not effective now. It is not as effective as before."
"Oh?" Ding Meng was a little surprised, "The holy tree has no protection?"
The village chief said, "That's not it. Anyway, I can't say. I rarely go there now. After all, the journey is quite far."
Da Hua quickly stepped forward. "Brother, sister, I'll take you there!"
Ji Chenxue could not help but smile. Although this child seemed stubborn and unwilling to be taken advantage of, he was actually quite smart. He knew that he and Ding Meng were not ordinary people. If they really wanted to go to Rosy Clouds Town, they could also deal with the dozens of bundles of Star Weave Grass while they were at it.
Ding Meng waved his hand. "Then lead the way!"
Naturally, they used their telekinesis to get out of the village. Da Hua ran in front, Ding Meng and Lu Li walked behind them, and dozens of bundles of hay drifted.
"Ding Meng, do you think there's something wrong with the Sacred Tree?" Ji Chenxue asked.
Ding Meng nodded. "Yes, the Sacred Tree is actually the remnant energy of the Holy Light. The Sacred Tree Spirit of the Da Sheng Kingdom is the healing energy. You also know that the energy of the Sacred Tree worships sacred and beautiful things. Therefore, those who receive the protection of the Sacred Tree can not only heal their injuries, but also often have their souls comforted. They are calm and kind. How can they become lunatics who fight over a disagreement?"
Ji Chenxue also nodded. "When I heard what the village chief said just now, I also felt that it was suspicious. Da Hua and the others are so young, but when they fight, they are even more ruthless than adults. They often break arms and legs. I feel that they are especially vicious. The most important thing is that they seem to think that this is normal."
Ding Meng said, "I know about the Sacred Tree in Caiyun Town. I went there in the past. If I remember correctly, that is a hundred-year-old tree."
Da Hua's speed was not comparable to Ding Meng and Lu Li's. Therefore, when they entered the area of Caiyun Town, the sky was already dark. Ji Chenxue saw a towering tree from afar. This tree was like a mountain with many layers of mountains. It was formed by many layers of vegetation. The top of the tree was indeed shining with a faint green light. However, as a warrior of the Divine Light, Ji Chenxue could not sense the familiar energy fluctuation.
Ding Meng stopped by the road and sighed. "Sure enough, there is something wrong with the Sacred Tree."
Da Hua also turned back from the front. "Brother, sister, can there be something wrong with the Sacred Tree?"
Ding Meng said, "I have to ask you about this. Don't you usually feel it?"
Da Hua frowned. "I came here twice with Grandma. The first time, Grandma's leg was injured and I carried her here. However, after resting here for a day and a night, Grandma's leg did not recover. I went to the town and changed two decoctions before she recovered. The second time, I was injured by a knife and came here, but there was no effect. In the end, I had to buy some medicine and apply it. Anyway, both times I came to the Sacred Tree, I didn't feel very good. I can't tell why."
Ding Meng said, "It's better to check it out personally …"
Ji Chenxue nodded. He focused his eyes on the top of the tree and began to scan the Sacred Spirit with his telekinesis.
Unfortunately, although the Sacred Spirit was glowing, there were no singularities or Divine Light energy sources inside. Instead, there were two strange crystals embedded in it. These crystals were also very strange. They were not technological energy crystals. They constantly emitted a halo in all directions. Once one came into contact with this halo, one's mind would ripple.
At this time, Da Hua's eyes suddenly turned blood red. Her breathing became heavier and her heart rate rose sharply.
Ji Chenxue said, "That's strange. I can't even analyze what material this is."
Ding Meng explained, "That's not important. I think I understand what's going on. The Sacred Spirit has been tampered with and replaced with this strange crystal. Didn't you notice that this crystal can easily trigger people's negative emotions?"
Ji Chenxue glanced at Da Hua. Da Hua's current state was a physiological characteristic that would only occur when a person was angry.
Ding Meng's eyes flashed coldly. "This is not the Sacred Tree, but the Demonic Tree. It has been radiating in the Rosy Clouds Town area for a long time. It's not hard to explain why people like to fight."
Ji Chenxue understood. "These negative emotions of humans happen to be the cultivation energy that Demons like the most. It seems that your hometown has also been invaded by Demons. This situation is the most beneficial thing for Demons …"
While the two were still talking, they suddenly saw Da Hua running madly towards the back. Ding Meng turned around and saw that the dozens of bundles of hay on the road had been set ablaze. A group of guards in military uniform and armed with podaos appeared in the fire.
"F * ck!
F * ck me! "
Da Hua pounced madly. This place was too far from the river and there was no water to put out the fire. She could only take off her animal skin coat and beat the hay with all her might.
However, Star Weave Grass was the most flammable thing. Once it was lit, it was very difficult to put it out.
Ji Chenxue was stopped as soon as he raised his finger. Ding Meng shook his head and sighed. "It's useless. Even if you release your ice energy, you can put out the fire, but the grass is already destroyed. The town's peddlers won't accept this kind of burned Star Weave Grass."
Seeing that the fire was getting bigger and bigger, the guards didn't help. Instead, they laughed.
"Little bastard, where did you get so much Star Weave Grass? Did you steal it?"
"It's all stolen goods. Burn it. No one is allowed to stay in the Sacred Tree area."
"This night patrol is really unlucky. There's nothing to be gained. It's all these poor country bumpkins …"
… …
"You bastards!" Da Hua was furious. She pulled out her sword and pounced on the guards. She had already lost her mind.
"Bang!" The leader of the guards kicked Da Hua away. "Where did this refugee come from? Get out of my way."
This guard was actually a War Venerable. Da Hua was definitely in trouble.
The haystack was burned, and she couldn't win. Da Hua lay on the ground and wailed. She hadn't cried when she was robbed and had her fingers cut off, but now she was crying very sadly.
Ding Meng sighed. He understood the mentality of these poor children the best. I can endure humiliation and injustice, but I definitely can't go hungry. Without Star Weave Grass, there would be no flour. Without food, she and her grandmother would have to go hungry.
"Hey, you two strangers. Where did you come from? Why are you sneaking around like this? Get over here when you see me," the leader of the guards said.
Ding Meng couldn't help but laugh. "I haven't even done anything to you yet, and you've already come knocking on my door."
To be honest, Ding Meng and Ji Chenxue didn't look too good right now. The two of them had fought in the space-time tunnel, and almost none of their clothes were intact. With their tattered clothes, they really did look like refugees.
Ding Meng walked forward and reached out to pull Da Hua up. "It's okay. Not only will there be flour later, there will also be white rice. Who knows, you might even be able to get some meat back to try tonight."
Upon hearing the word meat, Da Hua immediately stopped crying. She raised her head and said, "Really?"
Ji Chenxue also came over and smiled. "Do you think Big Brother and Big Sister are lying to you?
Your Big Brother even wants to teach you how to cut grass. "
"Where did these bastards come from?
Aren't you annoying? Hurry up and get over here! "the leader of the guards shouted impatiently.
Ding Meng turned his head and sneered. "Looking at your attire, you should be the Citizen Protector of Rosy Clouds Town. As a local patrol officer, not only do you not take care of the people, you even bully the poor. Did you set the fire just now?"
The leader of the guards said proudly, "This is the sacred tree area. Miscellaneous people are not allowed to stay here. Not to mention burning a few bundles of grass, even if I burned you, no one in Rosy Clouds Town would dare to do anything to me."
Ding Meng frowned and said, "The Governor and the Garrison Lord don't care?"
This time, before the leader of the guards spoke, several of his subordinates began to shout. "Bumpkin, Lord Yuan is the son-in-law of the Garrison Lord. In Rosy Clouds Town, Lord Yuan is equivalent to the Garrison Lord. Do you understand?"
Ding Meng said in a deep voice, "Very good. Da Hua, you and Grandma will have meat to eat tonight."
The leader of the guards said sternly, "Take these three refugees down, especially that woman."
Ding Meng laughed. "Since you want to set the grass on fire, then I'll set the people on fire."
Facing the three guards who rushed over, Ding Meng was too lazy to make a move. "Chen Xue, you deal with this scrap metal."
Ji Chenxue nodded. Although she had grown up in the Empire, she had rarely experienced the hardships of these people. If this was the Empire's border, this kind of Citizen Protector would definitely be dealt with severely by the police. The light punishment would be crippling their Origin Energy, while the heavy punishment would be capital punishment.
As the three guards rushed over, Ji Chenxue swept her leg horizontally, and the three guards were immediately sent flying. She hadn't used any strength and had only swept them with normal leg strength. However, the three guards flew over ten meters and heavily fell onto the stone pavement. The three of them landed on their knees first. Their knees were completely crippled, and they would never be able to stand up again in this lifetime.
The leader of the guards' expression changed. "She's actually a tough one?
Brothers, let's attack together! "
This time, the remaining five people raised their gleaming blades at the same time. They surrounded Ji Chenxue from five different directions.