Gu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes, his expression carrying an inexplicable meaning as he looked at Village Chief Hu Liang: "Village Chief Hu, I hate being deceived more than anything."
Hu Liang turned pale with fright and said anxiously, "Lord Gu, what are you saying? Even with a hundred lives, this old man wouldn't dare deceive you. Besides, it's already dark, and our village recently suffered from demon troubles. What parent would let their children play outside at this hour?"
Gu Qingfeng silently stared at Hu Liang without saying a word.
Nearby, Wang Fatty and Xu Daizi felt chills run down their spines, as if they'd fallen into an ice pit.
If the village chief wasn't lying, wouldn't that mean the peddler and the children were all demons?
They dared not think any further.
They even began to suspect the village chief before them, or rather, the entire village seemed suspicious.
Suddenly, Gu Qingfeng burst into laughter: "Hahaha, interesting, your village is truly interesting! First, the peddler vanishes in the blink of an eye, then three little brats disappear when I turn my head. Now I'm curious, Village Chief Hu, what if I turn away from you now and look back again - would you disappear too?"
Hu Liang grew increasingly anxious: "Lord Gu, what are you talking about? This old man doesn't understand!"
Gu Qingfeng gave a sinister laugh: "No need to understand, let's do a little experiment."
Gu Qingfeng suddenly turned to Wang Fatty and Xu Daizi and said, "You two, stand behind me and turn around."
After speaking, he turned around first.
Wang Fatty and Xu Daizi hesitated, unsure of what Gu Qingfeng was planning.
"Hurry up, do as I say," Gu Qingfeng urged impatiently.
Soon, Wang Fatty and Xu Daizi walked in front of Gu Qingfeng and turned around, showing him the backs of their heads.
Behind Gu Qingfeng stood Village Chief Hu Liang.
"1...2...3! Turn around!"
Gu Qingfeng counted to three and had everyone turn back.
When they turned around, the space behind them was completely empty.
The village chief... had vanished.
"AHHHHH!!!"
Wang Fatty screamed shrilly, collapsing onto his bottom with such force that the ground shook from his weight.
"The... the village chief! The village chief is gone too!" His voice distorted from fear.
"Xu... Xu Daizi, did you see where the village chief went?" Wang Fatty tugged at Xu Fan's trouser leg, but Xu Fan didn't respond.
Wang Fatty looked at Xu Fan's face and found him pale as a sheet, biting his lips, trembling all over, sweating profusely, rolling his eyes, and nearly fainting.
He was clearly terrified.
Wang Fatty was in no mood to mock Xu Fan for being a coward. He quickly looked to Gu Qingfeng, seeking reassurance.
He saw Gu Qingfeng with his head lowered, his face covered in shadows, features indiscernible.
Wang Fatty's heart skipped a beat: "Lord... Lord Gu, are you alright?"
Whoosh!
Gu Qingfeng suddenly raised his head, his expression as fierce as a demon, his face dark with suppressed rage, like a volcano about to erupt.
This expression startled Wang Fatty, who thought Gu Qingfeng had been possessed by a demon: "Lord... Lord Gu?"
The next second, a thunderous roar erupted from Gu Qingfeng's mouth: "You son of a *****! You old bastard! I told you I hate being deceived more than anything! Fine! You all think you can make a fool out of me?
Just wait until I find you all - I'll tear you to pieces!"
This outburst shocked Wang Fatty and Xu Daizi back to their senses, momentarily forgetting their fear as they stared at Gu Qingfeng in disbelief.
Their heads were full of questions - was this really the time to worry about being deceived?
In such a terrifying, horrific atmosphere, he wasn't scared? Instead, he was angry about being deceived?
What an explosive temper!
After his outburst, Gu Qingfeng grew even more furious, burning with rage!
He'd just wanted to eat a simple candied haw, but not only did he not get to eat it, the peddler pulled a mysterious disappearing act.
When he asked three little brats about it, they claimed they hadn't seen anything? And even scammed two copper coins from him!?
Those three little brats were such good actors, saying things like "I, Dog Leftovers, never lie" - go to hell!
The village chief was an even better actor, with his "This old man wouldn't dare deceive you even with a hundred lives."
His expression, body language, and line delivery - damn, there must be corruption in the Oscars if he hasn't won one!
These bastards, deceiving me again and again, and using the same trick every time.
"Wang Fatty, Xu Daizi, follow me! We'll search every house! We'll find that old bastard, those three little bastards, and that middle bastard!" Gu Qingfeng roared.
He drew the demon-slaying sword from his waist and charged into the darkness.
Wang Shan and Xu Fan had no choice but to follow closely behind Gu Qingfeng.
At this time, Black Water Village was deadly silent, without even the sound of dogs barking.
It was pitch black, as if everyone in every house had died - not a single light was lit in any home.
The three of them held torches as they broke into house after house.
Bang!
Gu Qingfeng kicked open a door - empty inside.
On to the next house.
Bang!
Still no one!
From one end of the village to the other, the entire Black Water Village was completely deserted!
The current deathly silence formed a stark contrast to the peaceful harmony of the daytime.
"My... my lord, this village is too strange. Should we go back and ask for reinforcements?" Wang Fatty suggested tremblingly.
Gu Qingfeng ignored him and silently called out to the system in his mind.
He thought he might be under an illusion.
"System, why haven't I received any strengthening feedback if I'm under an illusion?"
The system's cold voice echoed in Gu Qingfeng's mind: "This system will repeat once more: this system is called the 'Strengthen When Attacked by Demons System.' Please comprehend this yourself."
Gu Qingfeng's expression grew even darker.
According to the system's explanation, there were two possibilities.
One, this wasn't a demon's illusion, but possibly man-made.
Two, this was a demon's illusion, but more like a sleight of hand - since it caused no actual harm to him, the system didn't react.
Back in the Demon Suppression Prison, when he was under the Eye Demon's illusion, the demon had tried to invade his brain and control his body, which counted as an attack, so it triggered the system's response.
But this time, he hadn't suffered any actual damage (psychological damage didn't count), so the system showed no reaction.
However, regardless of which possibility was true, Gu Qingfeng wouldn't let this go. Even if it was man-made, he would make them pay.
With the Word-Burning Sun Sword as his trump card, he dared to fight even if a Grandmaster of the Early Heaven realm appeared!
"Let's go! To the Dead Bone Forest."