Practice starts with skill points.

Chapter 6 Murder and Arson

"The fire is coming! The fire is coming! Come and put out the fire!"

With a loud shout, the whole Xiahe Village soon became lively. The villagers shouted loudly, holding wooden buckets and carrying water to put out the fire.

Zhong Lin looked at the scene in front of him coldly, with fire flickering in his eyes. Finally, he turned and left with an expressionless face.

"How...how could this fire happen? It's not even dinner time yet. There's no way Zhang Kun's wife would light a fire at this time."

Villager Zhang Sheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face full of confusion.

"Did you see Zhang Kun and his wife come out?"

Another villager looked around but didn't see Zhang Kun.

"Don't worry about that for now, put out the fire quickly before it spreads to us."

"Yes, yes, put out the fire first."

The fire was quickly put out, but it was autumn and the weather was dry, and the fire broke out suddenly. The house was mainly made of thatch and wooden frames, so even if the fire was put out, it would have been almost burned.

A few brave ones went in and searched for a while, but soon ran out screaming and vomiting.

"It's Zhang Kun and his wife."

"Also, there are two more. Judging from their build, they look like Skinny Monkey and Scar."

"They're all... dead. They're all dead."

There were four dead people in one yard. Anyone who saw it would be terrified, not to mention that they were four charred corpses. The smell of meat made people want to vomit.

"How could they all be dead? Why didn't they run away when there was a fire? And there was no one calling out? Yougen, your house is closest to Zhang Kun's, did you hear any shouting?"

Yougen was a middle-aged man with dark skin. After hearing the question, he seemed to think of something. His face changed and he subconsciously looked in the direction where Zhong Lin left. Finally, he shook his head vigorously.

"No...no, I didn't hear or see anything. I...I still have some work to do in the fields. I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he left in a hurry, as if there was a snake chasing him.

"Look how scared he is. Why is he running? Is there a tiger?"

"Maybe there really is a tiger. I saw Dalinzi coming here this morning."

The sound suddenly fell silent.

Everyone was not stupid. The fire broke out for no reason, and no one ran out. All four people died inside. No one would believe that there was no trick.

Among the crowd, those who went to the "banquet" yesterday all turned pale, and those who did not go to the banquet also looked shocked.

How could Zhong Lin, who has always been a symbol of honesty and simplicity in their eyes, become like this?

This is killing!

"You guys take care of Zhang Kun and the others' bodies first. After all, they are all from the village. When they die, their debts are settled. I'll go check on Dalinzi's family."

A villager in the crowd sighed, put down the bucket in his hand, and walked towards Zhong Lin's home.

……

"Dalinzi, I'm your Uncle Taro. Open the door."

"coming."

Zhong Shi ran over with his short legs, pulled out the bolt and opened the gate.

"Uncle Taro."

"Shitou! Where's your brother?"

Uncle Taro touched Little Stone's head and said with a smile.

Little Stone turned around and shouted towards the kitchen, "Second brother, Uncle Yutou is looking for you."

Uncle Yutou glanced around and his gaze finally stopped on the quiver in the corner. His expression froze slightly and he sighed heavily.

Zhong Lin also came out of the kitchen at this time, holding the smoked musk deer meat in his hands. "Uncle Yutou, why are you here?"

In the memory of my predecessor, Uncle Taro had a very good relationship with my father. After my father and eldest brother died in the mountains, he often helped the two brothers. It can be said that he was the best person to them in the entire Xiahe Village.

Uncle Yutou didn't try to probe. He pointed at the quiver and asked directly, "Zhang Kun's house caught fire and four people died. Did you do it?"

Zhong Lin was silent for a moment: "If they don't die, we two brothers will be in trouble."

Uncle Yutou also knew Zhang Kun's "three evils" character, and naturally knew that what Zhong Lin said was true. He could only sigh after saying a thousand words.

"Uncle Yutou, I know what you mean. I won't offend anyone unless they offend me. I will only attack Zhang Kun if he wants to harm me. I won't touch anyone else. If you still don't believe me, you can choose to report it to the police."

Uncle Yutou pretended not to hear about the "reporting to the police", mainly because it was simply impossible.

Xiahe Village is geographically remote. The imperial officials would only come once a year to collect taxes, and would never come to this desolate place at other times. Even if they did come, it would just be a formality. No one would offend Zhong Lin for the death of a few scumbags. They didn't dare.

Moreover, the population of Xiahe Village is complex. It is not a village composed of people with the same surname and clan. The residents living here are those who fled here a hundred years ago and gathered here. In other words, there are no clans or elders.

If the people don't promote it, the officials won't investigate it.

Report to the official?

it's useless.

"And Shitou and I are also planning to leave Xiahe Village," Zhong Lin continued.

"What? You want to leave? Where to?" Uncle Yutou asked in surprise.

"Xiahe Village is too small. I want to go out and take a look. I just took this opportunity to leave. If I don't leave, many people will not be able to sleep well." Zhong Lin said with a smile.

Uncle Yutou ignored Zhong Ling's jokes and said anxiously, "How could such a small stone follow you on such a long journey? And do you think it's so easy to get by out there? It's not like home. I can help you here. But when we get out there..."

"Uncle Taro," Zhong Lin said firmly, "I've made up my mind. I want to go out and see the world. I don't want to stay in this small mountain village forever. I'll come back to see you when I become rich."

Uncle Taro opened his mouth to say something, but in the end he could only sigh helplessly.

He knew that Zhong Lin was no longer the same Zhong Lin as before. The Zhong Lin of the past would not do such a thing as murder and arson, let alone four people.

"Take good care of Shitou. If you can't stay outside any longer, come back. I have enough to eat so you two won't starve."

"Well, thank you, Uncle Taro."

The conversation between the two ended here. Uncle Yutou touched Xiao Shitou's head, sighed, turned and left.

Little Stone looked up at Zhong Lin and asked, "Second brother, are we really leaving?"

"Don't want to leave?"

"No, I'll go wherever my second brother goes. When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow, go and take the offal and musk deer meat to Uncle Yutou's house. If he doesn't want them, just tell him we're leaving tomorrow. It would be a shame to throw these away if we can't finish them."

"Ok!"

Little Stone took his short legs and moved towards Uncle Yutou, carrying the wooden basin filled with offal and meat. The contents of the basin weighed only about six or seven pounds, but it was still a bit difficult for Little Stone. It was only because the distance was not far, otherwise Zhong Lin would not let him do it.

Zhong Lin had already planned to leave the village and go to the county town, but he had originally planned to stay for a while longer and eat more meat to nourish his body. However, he did not expect that murder and arson would happen. He was too lazy to stay here any longer, so it was better to make plans early.

The smoked meat is also ready. The weather is good enough to keep it from spoiling for a short time. I can continue hunting on the way. With my full-level archery skills, I don’t have to worry about going hungry.

Not long after, Little Stone returned with a package in his hand.

"Second brother, this was forced upon me by Uncle Taro. I didn't want it."

Little Stone's face was filled with sadness, as if he had done something wrong.

Zhong Lin took the package and opened it. Inside was some dried meat that could be eaten directly. It was obviously dry food for the two brothers on the road.

"If you give it to me, keep it!"

(End of this chapter)