Tian Dahu held Xue Niang's neck loosely, not wanting to let her die easily. It would be too kind.
Xue Niang saw a cruel, sinister grin appear in his eyes.
Xiao Shan, why hasn't Xiao Shan come yet?
"Little brother! Beat her to death! Beat her to death!"
Tian Luhua, supported by her two younger brothers, screamed while clutching her stomach.
The wound on her stomach was not deep, and only a little blood had spilled out. She was simply terrified, her large face pale and ashen.
The village chief hastily placated her, "Killing people is against the law. Don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive!"
Yutou bit down hard on Tian Dahu's leg. Tian Dahu cried out in pain, and while still holding Xue Niang with one hand, he swung his cleaver at Yutou with the other.
At this critical moment.
"Woof woof—" A black shadow lunged forward, leaping up and sinking its sharp teeth into Tian Dahu's neck.
"Ah—"
Tian Dahu released Xue Niang and flailed his arms at the black dog. As the dog fell to the ground, a gaping hole had already been torn in his neck, blood gushing out. He clutched his neck, his eyes wide with terror.
"Little brother!"
"Big brother!"
Xue Niang broke free from Tian Dahu's grip, coughing a few times. She had seen clearly just now that it was the black dog named Xiao Hu who had come to save her.
"Xiao Hu."
The little black dog bared its teeth, still stained with blood and flesh. Hearing Xue Niang's call, it immediately dropped its fierce demeanor and wagged its tail, lying by Xue Niang's side.
"Big brother! Big brother! Don't die!"
"I'll kill you, woman! Give me back my big brother's life!"
Tian Dahu, clutching his neck, rolled on the ground a few times before lying still, his eyes wide open, still filled with terror.
Tian Erhu's liver and gallbladder were shattered, and he charged at Xue Niang.
At this moment, all the villagers gathered around, whether they had come to help or just to watch, were stunned into immobility by the turn of events.
This was no mere quarrel; someone was dead!
Who would dare to intervene now? Even the village chief's face was pale, and he dared not move.
Some women were even crying from fright.
Before Tian Erhu could reach Xue Niang, he was kicked flying, landing at the base of the fence and spitting up blood.
No one knew where Xiao Shan had appeared from; he simply materialized like a mountain.
As soon as he arrived, he kicked Tian Erhu until he spat blood. Tian Erhu was a man weighing two hundred jin, yet he was sent flying so effortlessly.
Then, he picked up the cleaver from the ground and, like a grim reaper from hell, walked step by step towards Tian Sanhu.
A chill ran through everyone's hearts. The intense fear and shock washed over them like a tide, and many closed their eyes.
The blade rose, the blade fell.
Tian Sanhu, like a puppet, watched his entire right arm fly off.
It wasn't until blood spurted from the severed limb, dyeing the ground red, that he seemed to awaken and let out a heart-wrenching howl, a shrill cry of despair that echoed throughout Bozi Village.
All the villagers who witnessed it would forever remember the blood that stained the courtyard that day, and Xiao Shan's cold, merciless eyes, like a god-slayer from hell.
Xiao Shan pointed his blade at Tian Luhua, his gaze dark and as if he were looking at a dead person. His words were chilling to the bone, "It seems you don't wish to live."
"No, no, don't, I was wrong, I know I was wrong, don't kill me, don't kill me... Help, help..."
Tian Luhua clutched her stomach and crawled backward, leaving a trail of moisture in her wake.
"Xiao Shan," Xue Niang's eyes lost their crimson hue. "Don't dirty your hands. Leave it to the law."
Yes, leave it to the law.
These ants were not worth his effort.
Xiao Shan looked up and slowly scanned the surrounding villagers, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"According to the laws of our dynasty, any person who trespasses on private property and poses a threat to the homeowner may defend themselves. The perpetrator bears the consequences of their own life and death! Village chief, send someone to the county yamen to summon the constables to take these robbers away."
"But, Xiao Shan, someone is dead!" The village chief's lips trembled. Did he not understand the gravity of a death?
Trespassing was illegal, but not to this extent.
And he had knocked one person unconscious and severed another's arm. This... this would likely lead to imprisonment!
Xiao Shan chuckled coldly, "Village chief, it's good to learn the law more."
"I'll go! I'll go call the constables! Brother Xiao Shan! I support you. They are robbers, and they deserve to die!"
"Yes! These Tian family members deserve to die! Tian Luhua deserves to die!"
Everyone saw that it was Wang Xiulan and her husband, Meng Youliang. Meng Youliang was a son-in-law who had married into the family. He and Wang Xiulan had a son. Just because he had an argument with Tian Luhua once, Tian Luhua's brothers had ambushed him on the road and beaten him. It was the middle of winter, and their son had collapsed by the roadside. If he hadn't been discovered by the villagers, he might have died then and there.
Even so, he was left with a chronic illness. One leg, due to frostbite and delayed treatment, had become crippled, and he still couldn't find a wife.
Wang Xiulan's parents were already deceased, and Meng Youliang was an outsider. They had no power to resist the tyrannical Tian family.
Wang Xiulan hated the Tian family and cursed them every night.
Today, heaven had opened its eyes and let the Tian family beasts encounter a formidable opponent. It was truly gratifying!
Good that they died!
It would be truly comforting if they all died. This family were all beasts and didn't deserve to live in this world!
"I will testify for Xiao Shan! It was the Tian family beasts who attempted to insult Xiao Shan's wife! Even the dog couldn't stand it and bit one to death! This is retribution! Retribution for their wicked deeds!"
Wang Xiulan cried out with grief and indignation, causing Tian Luhua to tremble all over, covering her head and not daring to look up.
Xiao Shan looked coldly at the villagers, "Until the constables arrive, no one leaves!"
The villagers were terrified. They had only come to watch the excitement; they hadn't done anything!
But they were all struck with fear by Xiao Shan's terrifying presence, cowering in place, none daring to speak.
"Xiao Shan, Yutou is injured, and Xiao Hu is also injured." Xue Niang's eyes held a hint of grievance.
Xiao Shan's jaw tightened, and he gently stroked the scratch marks on her neck. "You are injured too."
He thought of the perilous scene just moments ago and felt a lingering fear. What if he had been a moment too late? Would Xue Niang have been hacked to death by that beast?
"Xu, sister, five and four." Yutou's cheeks were swollen, and he spoke indistinctly.
Xiao Shan patted his shoulder heavily. "Good boy! You've got guts! You're better than those spineless cowards in Bozi Village!"
The spineless cowards of Bozi Village: "......"
Xue Niang looked weary. "Xiao Shan, let them go. They weren't involved in this."
It was just that they hadn't helped much either. After all, she and Xiao Shan weren't familiar with them, and they had no reason to get involved.
"Hmph!" Xiao Shan stood up.
Tian Luhua looked as if she had gone mad, staring blankly at the deceased Tian Dahu. Tian Erhu was unconscious, and Tian Sanhu, having lost too much blood, was motionless, his fate uncertain. The bloody severed arm lay beside him.
The villagers stood dumbfounded, their faces pale, like pillars.
"A den of cowards! When outsiders bully you, instead of uniting as one to face them, you only think of watching the fun, figuring they won't come to your house tomorrow, right? This is just three dogs coming, and you're already this scared. What if three wolves come? What if bandits come! Will you just stretch your necks to be chopped, your wives and daughters taken?"
Xiao Shan looked at the village chief. "As the village chief, you shouldn't be concerned with whose dog is lost or whose child is being spanked! Be tough! Don't be spineless! Your duty is to protect your villagers from being bullied!"
"Zhu Zi and the others stay to wait for the yamen officials. Everyone else, get out!"
An aura of authority emanated from him, and everyone involuntarily submitted.
Even the village chief, with graying temples, dared not speak. It was an invisible pressure, one that could not be resisted.