The Consequences of Rebellion

"What's wrong with them?"

"Why are they running?"

Chen Chang'an and the others were completely baffled, while the big yellow dog beside them tilted its head in confusion, unable to figure out what was happening.

"Did our appearance scare them?"

"Was it our clothing?"

"Or something else?"

The attire in Beast God Land was indeed quite different from other regions, likely due to the local environment and customs, giving off a more rugged and wild impression. If anything, it was their own outfits that might seem intimidating, right?

"Huh?"

"They're coming back?"

"Damn, is that… the entire village running out?"

"Why are they carrying weapons?"

Earlier, the few villagers at the entrance had taken one look at Chen Chang'an's group and immediately turned to flee. In no time at all, men, women, and children from the entire village had rushed out, armed with weapons.

Seeing this aggressive display, Chen Chang'an frowned.

"It seems crossing the Beast God Mountain Range isn’t as simple as we thought."

"Most likely, we’ve been marked in some way."

"These people probably think we’ve offended the Beast God and want to punish us."

Hearing Chen Chang'an's words, Gu Xian'er and Gu Fengyao finally understood—it seemed the rumors weren’t entirely baseless after all.

The big yellow dog, however, was still puzzled. Why?

Its mind swirled with questions.

Neither it nor Chen Chang'an had noticed anything unusual, yet these seemingly ordinary villagers could tell they had crossed the Beast God Mountain Range?

How bizarre.

Did they possess some unique ability?

"What do we do? They’re just ordinary villagers—no cultivators, not even beast tamers."

"Do we fight?" the big yellow dog asked Chen Chang'an.

"Forget it. They’re just common folk—no need to stoop to their level."

"Still, we should clarify things first, or we might face bigger trouble later."

As Chen Chang'an and the dog conversed, the villagers had already closed in.

"How dare you disrespect the Beast God? You deserve death!"

"We won’t let you get away with this!"

"Everyone, attack! Kill these blasphemers!"

The village chief’s face twisted with fury as he rallied the villagers, clearly intent on beating Chen Chang'an and his companions to death.

"Wait!"

Seeing them about to strike, Chen Chang'an raised a hand to halt their advance.

"I never disrespected the Beast God."

"In fact… I’m a beast tamer myself."

"Aren’t beast tamers allowed to enter the Beast God Mountain Range?"

"Look—this is my beast companion."

Chen Chang'an gestured toward the big yellow dog beside him.

"Nonsense!"

"You’re no beast tamer!"

"What, can’t a dog trainer be a beast tamer? Are you discriminating against me?"

Chen Chang'an’s words left the village chief momentarily speechless. What even was a "dog trainer"? Someone who raised dogs?

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

"If you knew the rules, why did you enter the Beast God Mountain Range? Why insult the Beast God?" the chief demanded angrily.

"Hold on—how can you be so sure I actually entered the mountain range?"

"How did you even notice?" Chen Chang'an asked curiously.

"Fine, I’ll let you die with clarity."

"Listen well—anyone who isn’t a beast tamer and enters the Beast God Mountain Range, or flies over it, leaves behind a mark."

"A mark only we, the people of Beast God Land, can see."

"So don’t even try to deny it!" the chief declared solemnly.

A mark only visible to Beast God Land’s residents? That sounded utterly absurd.

Ordinary villagers could see it, but someone of Chen Chang'an’s strength—and even the big yellow dog—couldn’t?

More importantly, when Chen Chang'an had flown over the mountain range, he hadn’t been careless. He’d sensed no energy fluctuations whatsoever.

If there was no energy involved, how could a mark even exist?

"Oh really?"

"I don’t believe you."

"You’re just trying to rob and murder us, using this as an excuse."

"I thought Beast God Land was a place of noble people, filled with kindness and honesty."

"Ah, what a disappointment—turns out you’re just a bunch of bandits, thieves, and shameless scoundrels!"

"I shouldn’t have come. I thought I’d be welcomed warmly and smoothly become a beast tamer."

"How naive, how innocent, how ignorant I was."

Chen Chang'an’s speech left not only the villagers dumbfounded but also Gu Xian'er and Gu Fengyao struggling to follow his logic.

"Woof… woof…"

The big yellow dog, playing along, let out a mournful whimper.

"You—you’re lying! We’re not trying to rob or kill anyone!"

"That’s right, we’re not like that! We welcome all who come to Beast God Land—just not those who disrespect the Beast God!"

"We’re good people! Not bandits, not thieves!"

Some of the villagers, simple and honest, hurriedly defended themselves against Chen Chang'an’s accusations.

The old village chief, however, wasn’t so easily fooled. Chen Chang'an and his group bore the mark—they had undoubtedly trespassed into the Beast God Mountain Range.

"Do you really think you can take me in a fight?"

Seeing the chief remain unmoved, Chen Chang'an switched tactics.

The question gave the chief pause. He scrutinized Chen Chang'an and his companions, his confidence wavering.

"Even if we can’t win, we won’t tolerate any disrespect toward the Beast God!"

"I—"

"Hold on—what has this Beast God ever done for you? Why are you so devoted to it?"

Chen Chang'an cut the chief off, genuinely curious. Had the Beast God brainwashed these people?

"Without the Beast God, there would be no Beast God Land. That’s why we revere it!"

"Let me make this clear—no one may insult the Beast God. We will defend it with our lives!"

No Beast God, no Beast God Land?

Were these people… raised by the Beast God?

Something about that felt off.

Chen Chang'an casually sat cross-legged on the ground and beckoned to the chief.

"Old man, come here. Let’s talk."

"Look, if I wanted to harm you, a single flick of my finger would wipe you all out."

"I’m a good person."

"Don’t believe me? Watch."

With that, he flicked a finger, sending a sword qi slicing through dozens of distant trees.

The villagers gasped at the display of power. This young man’s strength was far beyond what they’d expected—likely surpassing even some ordinary beast tamers.

"What… what do you want to talk about?"

"Don’t think you can intimidate me! Even if you try, I won’t yield!"

"I would give everything for the Beast God!"

"That’s right! Everything for the Beast God!"

"Everything for—"

"Alright, alright, I get it—you’re loyal. Can we talk now?"

"Just answer me—can we talk or not?"

After a moment’s hesitation, the old chief sat down a short distance from Chen Chang'an, eyeing him warily.

"What do you want to discuss?"

"I’m curious about everything here."

"Especially, what's the deal with this mark?"

"Can only people from the Beast God Continent see it? But others can't?"

"Then how do you treat those with the mark? Kill them?"

"And you said the Beast God is the reason the Beast God Continent exists—what does that even mean...?"

Chen Chang'an bombarded the old village chief with endless questions, giving the elder a headache.

Can't you ask one at a time?

You threw so many questions at me all at once—which one am I supposed to answer first?

"Did you remember everything I just said?"

"Nope."

"Then should I repeat it?"

"No, no, no need."

"So you know nothing, huh?"

"Yeah, that's about right."

"Fine, I'll start from the beginning then."

"Sure, but can you keep it short?"

"Are you even listening? Just kill me already, why so difficult?"

"Look at you, so feisty for an old man. Go on, take your time."