The situation had completely spiraled out of control.
A frenzied townsman had grabbed the mayor by the collar, and groups had stormed into the mayor's house, loudly seeking to find Zhang Yun. Youngsters attempted to intervene, but when someone shouted, "Didn't you see?! It was because of you lot, the little rabbits who hadn't even grown your fur, meddling around, that we scrapped the ritual! Before we stopped the ritual, nothing like this ever happened in our town."
The young people couldn't retort; the events of the past few days had far exceeded their understanding, with the bizarre corpses after the bridge explosion, Zhang Shunping and Luo Chuxue's absurd methods, and the old man and Zhang Shunping's miraculous resurrection.
Could it be that the older generation was right? That only by proceeding with that inhumane ritual could the town truly find peace?
The mayor still vainly tried to stop them, but his lone voice was too feeble, instantly drowned out by the vast sea of denunciations from the townspeople.
"What do we do now?" Tang Ning typed in asking.
With so many people searching for Zhang Yun, even if Zhang Yun hid with utmost care, he would easily be found. Tang Ning didn't know whether the ritual could truly suppress the river god's malevolence. He was naive, always struggling to understand the twists and turns.
He only knew the Zhang Yun he knew was a kind, overly timid boy who would bravely dive into water to save a stranger, forget to change out of his drenched clothes while taking care of him, and show anger for the first time because "he was spied on."
Had Zhang Yun really done something wrong?
If Zhang Yun was an incarnation of the river god's evil, he at least would be a villain in the conventional sense, right? Yet, the only "fault" Zhang Yun had was a disease he was born with.
"Wait a moment," Lin Yun said softly. "The ritual can't be conducted so quickly."
They had only heard from the old man that, besides identifying the incarnation of the river god's malevolence, the ritual also took time to decide who should be punished.
More importantly, it wasn't just a few people in the town who were in a state of extreme anger, but hundreds. They, a mere handful of individuals, couldn't oppose the power of the crowd. In many cases, players in the game world are just passersby; the main line given to them by the system is merely to survive. Those players who can change the situation and have a significant impact can earn higher ratings.
Tang Ning also knew that being anxious wouldn't help at all. If he hadn't used his skill for the day, perhaps he could sing a song to make everyone freeze, then temporarily escape with Zhang Yun, other than that, he could only wait.
Tang Ning suddenly paused.
He touched his throat, looked at Lin Yun and Shao Mingwei beside him, who appeared exceptionally calm at the moment. However, Tang Ning still remembered their terrible expressions just moments before, an undeniable obsession, even the slow-witted Tang Ning could sense their change.
Tang Ning's heart suddenly started to beat faster, his mind a bit "chaotic," with many strange and uncertain thoughts flashing through. Tang Ning cautiously typed, "How do you feel about what I said?"
He showed this question to Lin Yun and Shao Mingwei.
Shao Mingwei gently said, "It's heartwarming."
Lin Yun lifted his gaze to look at this hypocritical NPC, opened his mouth, but didn't say the somewhat terrible truth, instead hypocritically said, "It sounds nice, I want to hear more."
Tang Ning continued to ask, "Does it make you feel better?"
Shao Mingwei and Lin Yun nodded without hesitation.
Tang Ning then asked, "Would you find yourselves agreeing with what I say? Like if I said cats are the cutest animals in the world."
Shao Mingwei shook his head, "I think you are cuter than cats."
Lin Yun nodded in agreement.
Tang Ning: ...
Someone shouted in triumph from the courtyard, dragging out Zhang Yun amidst curses and insults. Taking the opportunity, a few struck Zhang Yun, who accepted the abuse with submissive silence, as if accustomed to such treatment. He neither cried out in pain nor struggled until he locked eyes with Tang Ning at the door.
Suddenly, Zhang Yun fought back fiercely, like a wounded animal exposed to sunlight, unleashing tremendous strength that nearly overwhelmed the two strong men holding him, even managing to headbutt one in the stomach.
"Damn mutt! You dare resist?! You monster!" the man, pained from the headbutt, yelled, raising a wooden stick to strike Zhang Yun's chest—
"Stop!!!" Tang Ning yelled desperately.
His shout, driven by urgency, was so loud it nearly drowned out all other noise, drawing everyone's attention. Among the onlookers, some had lingering ferocity in their eyes, terrifying like hungry wolves, while others appeared sinister, angry, or fearful.
Tang Ning, always sensitive to negative energy, felt overwhelmed as if he was back at his first public speaking event, stumbling over his words despite having a speech prepared. Large gatherings always left him at a loss.
At that moment, his mind went blank, forgetting his prepared speech, and his body froze as if turned to wood. Perhaps his face even reddened in panic.
Could he truly make a difference? The thought seemed wildly optimistic, especially considering Lin Yun's failure to change the situation. How could he hope to succeed where someone far more capable had failed?
Panic set in, urging him to regain his composure and not retreat.
A slender hand enveloped Tang Ning's cold, trembling one. Standing beside him, Shao Mingwei's grip was steady and comforting, exuding a calming presence.
A faint, unique fragrance seemed to waft from Shao Mingwei, mingling with Tang Ning's scent—a pleasant, moist aroma reminiscent of flowers blooming in hidden, shadowy streams, a beauty seen by few and reached only by those willing to venture deep.
Surrounded by this subtle fragrance, Tang Ning found an odd sense of calm. Clutching Shao Mingwei's hand tightly, he tried to speak clearly and loudly, "Please, everyone, calm down! I have something to say!"
His voice was unexpectedly melodious, especially against the backdrop of cursing and resentment, sounding like celestial music. His clear face and beautiful voice seemed to have a cleansing effect on the heart.
Rarely could anyone collect four S-rank Charm cards.
Thus, almost no player knew the true utility of an S-rank Charm card.
At this moment, Tang Ning, only partially understanding the cards he possessed, focused on one thought—
So, please look at me, listen to what I've got to say!
Tang Ning did his utmost to spread his shoulders, stand tall, and use confident body language to encourage himself. It was the first time he actively presented himself, with skin so flawless it was beyond discussion, eyes so clear and bright, and a voice so moving it could bring tears to one's eyes.
At that moment, everyone's attention was drawn to him, as if a faint light suddenly appeared in the darkness. Even though it was very weak, the pitch-black darkness possessed an unmatched allure.
Zhang Yun stared blankly at Tang Ning, Lin Yun looked over in astonishment, and Shao Mingyue, who was closest to Tang Ning, was almost unable to hide his infatuation. This infatuation was different from that of ordinary people, adding a hint of smugness.
It was as if he was proud of the treasure he had discovered.
Tang Ning couldn't really understand the impact he had just made. He vaguely felt that everyone seemed to be listening to him very seriously, so seriously that no one else spoke to interrupt.
"I was just a tourist visiting the ancient town. I accidentally fell into the water, and it was Zhang Yun who dived in to save me."
Shao Mingyue's grip suddenly tightened a bit, but Tang Ning didn't notice this subtle change. He continued to articulate his point earnestly: "He was so busy making ginger soup for me that he forgot to change his wet clothes. When I encountered trouble, he was the first to think of seeking justice for me."
When Tang Ning spoke of these events, his voice was filled with gratitude. His unique vocal tone could magnify the slightest emotion, easily drawing listeners into the context of what he was saying. As a result, many townsfolk strangely came to the conclusion—
Zhang Yun seemed to be a decent person after all.
Even Zhang Yun himself slowly widened his eyes, unable to resist agreeing with that thought.
Tang Ning's chest was warm, trembling with warmth. He suspected his voice trembled as well. He was still not good at presenting his views in front of so many people. Despite racking his brains, he could only express the simplest of sentiments: "In my heart, Zhang Yun is a good person! It was just unfortunate that he fell ill!"
It seemed as if saying just a few sentences had drained Tang Ning of most of his energy, his limbs going weak. He once again pleaded loudly: "Please, let's all calm down! Being impulsive won't solve any problems!"
After Tang Ning finished speaking, he kept trembling slightly as he breathed softly, and everyone still stared blankly at him, even though he had nothing more to say.
Tang Ning felt a bit uneasy for no reason.
He seemed to see a bit of infatuation in those people's eyes?
Some of them were staring at him intently, holding sticks and ropes in their hands—men, women, old people, children, and even the eerie Zhang Shunping staring weirdly at him.
Tang Ning blinked cautiously, his body tensely wound up, with an animal instinct wildly warning him that if he didn't handle the next moment well, something very dangerous could happen.
Just then, a tall figure stood in front of Tang Ning, completely shielding him from head to toe. The brazen gazes were also blocked, and Tang Ning heard Shao Mingyue say politely: "I think Tang Ning is absolutely right."