Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 376 - 368: Village Tyrant and Scum

The villagers murmured and whispered, doubting Cheng Xiaoxiao’s intentions.

Ignoring the suspicious glances ahead, Cheng Xiaoxiao took out a public loudspeaker. Her voice resonated boldly in the nearly enclosed space, amplified tenfold by the speaker, instantly capturing the attention of all the villagers.

"It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not, you only have one chance to survive. The prophet of Phoenix City has calculated the number of suffering people; countless. If you are unwilling to save yourselves, I, the envoy, will head to the next place and won’t be delayed for long."

The implication: the envoy has many people to save. They are just a drop in the ocean; not worth wasting words on. If they are willing, they should do it; if not, leave.

With these words, the people below immediately fell silent—who wouldn’t want the chance to survive?

Everyone quickly changed their stance.

"The envoy is right; we’ll do whatever you say."

"Yeah, the envoy is kindly helping us; how can we doubt?"

"Right, right, our lives are worthless, nothing to dwell on, sorry for making it difficult for the envoy. Don’t be offended."

So a profitable business isn’t necessarily a good one; this sounds pretty good.

"From now on, Zhao Laosan will be the overseer. Each village chief is responsible for gathering villagers for mining and assigning tasks. Every ten days, I will bring enough food based on the quality and quantity of your mining. The village chief has supervisory responsibilities and can receive five extra pounds of grain each time. Also, please notify the other mines."

"Envoy, are you asking all the village chiefs to gather?" A village chief cautiously asked. The envoy is truly knowledgeable, even knowing there are people in other mines.

Silently, he glanced at Zhao Laosan, guessing it might have been Zhao Laosan’s doing, then stopped thinking about it.

"Yes, everyone here is treated equally."

Village Chief Zhao summoned his sons, and quickly called for other village leaders. Many came, crowding the already packed mine.

Initially, everyone was delighted to hear that an outsider envoy was granting them a chance to save themselves, unaware it had also attracted unsavory characters.

"This...what city’s envoy is this?"

A burly man swaggered forward, flanked by a dozen henchmen.

Clearly, he carried the demeanor of a gang leader; the surrounding people moved aside, fearful and terrified upon seeing him.

"These people are those beasts."

System alert—Cheng Xiaoxiao was already clear on it.

The man wore a ferocious expression, sized up Cheng Xiaoxiao, licked his lips, "Little but tender and fragrant, hahaha! Sweetheart, why don’t you follow me, instead of running around for these useless wastes?"

Hearing the boss’s words, his subordinates laughed heartily, eyeing Cheng Xiaoxiao like appraising a valuable commodity.

System was furious, dared to use such a disgusting gaze on its host, "Host, take him down, that face is repulsive."

Cheng Xiaoxiao hadn’t moved yet, but someone stepped in front of her.

"Liu Biao, what are you doing? This is the envoy from Phoenix City; you must not offend." Zhao Laosan stood protectively before Cheng Xiaoxiao, warning the intruder sternly.

Sadly, what is his role? Against his small stature, they barely acknowledged him.

"Oh, honest Zhao Laosan grew an attitude; now he dares to shout at your master, he’s really tired of living."

"Right, Zhao Laosan, dare confront our boss, don’t want to live, huh? If you’re gone, your wife and kids are ours, hahaha."

Cheered Liu Biao’s henchmen, disregarding any authority.

The Liu Family Village chief stepped forward to mediate: "Liu Biao, tone it down, this is our esteemed guest."

"Right, our hope for survival lies with the envoy. We cannot just watch! If we scare the envoy away, what path do we have left?"

Zhao Laosan knew his fists were no match for Liu Biao, so he stirred the crowd’s emotions.

Knowing his words held little sway, he looked longingly at the village chief, hoping he would speak up.

Receiving Zhao Laosan’s call for help, then glancing at the calm envoy, he weighed the situation briefly and made a decision.

After all, food is quite important, and the typically domineering Liu Biao only has about ten men; he believed that with everyone’s willingness to risk themselves, they could win.

Generally, people cherished their lives, fearful of Liu Biao wielding a large machete. But now isn’t the time to shrink back; scaring off the envoy, losing food, they would all starve.

So, the village chief signaled the clan elders, prompting the youth to arm themselves for a fight.

He also went to persuade, ideally avoiding conflict.

"Liu Biao, enough; the envoy is crucial for the survival of several villages, you cannot mess around."

"Haha, the old guy from Zhao Family Village, showing spine today, usually too scared to fart in front of your boss." He wasn’t afraid; with snow sealing the mountains and extreme chill, he didn’t believe the government could come for him.

Thinking this way led him to act more brazenly.

"You, you, don’t bully too much." Angered by Liu Biao’s insults, Village Chief Zhao’s chest heaved.

"Don’t know who beat your favorite youngest last time? It’s me, today, will your sons come at me one by one, or your whole family?"

The old fool dared to reprimand him, truly tired of living.

"So many of us, we’re not necessarily afraid of you." The village chief’s eldest son swung a shovel fiercely.

He seemed to want to issue a threat, but to Cheng Xiaoxiao, it seemed laughable.

Sure enough, his provocation was just a joke in Liu Biao’s eyes.

"Big Fatty turned into something thin like a stick, tsk tsk! Didn’t your dad feed you? If not, join me, I’ll let you eat meat."

Liu Biao scoffed, not taking these people seriously.

His terrifying waist-holstered machete automatically intimidated them.

Yet, Cheng Xiaoxiao wasn’t included in this; she didn’t act, wanting to see the villagers’ reactions.

Now it seemed these people, though somewhat weak, their characters were decent enough, so she no longer hid behind Zhao Laosan and the villagers.

With a commanding presence, she parted the crowd, stood in a visible spot ahead, eyes shining with dangerous light, chin slightly raised, "Want me to follow you? Who says you have the skills?"

Her provocative demeanor delighted Liu Biao—little sweetheart had a bit of fierceness; interesting, more fun to toy with.

"Whether I have the skills, try me, little sweetheart, hahaha!"

Hahaha!

A crowd of henchmen laughed heartily.