I stepped forward and stopped where everyone could see me clearly, then I lifted my voice just enough for it to carry across the crowd without shouting.
"Enough."
The murmurs slowly died down as people turned to look at me, some confused, some annoyed, and others simply tired.
I looked at them one by one before I spoke again.
"Arguing will not give you food. Complaining will not give you shelter. If you keep talking like this, nothing will change."
A few people frowned, but no one interrupted.
I continued calmly, "What happened tonight cannot be undone, and whether you like it or not, Wu Village is gone. What matters now is what we do next."
The crowd became quieter.
I turned slightly and pointed toward the forest behind us.
"We are not going to another village."
That sentence immediately caught their attention.
Someone spoke up, "Then where are we going?"
I answered without hesitation.
"We stay here."
The crowd reacted at once.
"Stay here?"
"In the forest?"
"How can we live here?"
Their voices rose again, but this time I did not stop them immediately. I let them speak for a moment before I raised my hand slightly.
"We are already here, and this place gives us time," I said. "If we go to a town, we will be pushed away or treated badly. If we go to another village, we will become a burden."
Murmurs rose immediately, and this time they were not quiet.
"Isn't that Liu Yanyu?"
"That rude, fat girl?"
"Since when does she talk like this?"
Someone let out a short laugh.
"She's a bully. What does she know about surviving?"
Another voice followed, louder this time.
"If we're going to listen to anyone, it should be Wu Lian, not her."
"That's right. At least the chief's daughter knows better than her."
More people nodded, and the little attention I had gained disappeared almost instantly.
I stood there, listening.
Their distrust was clear.
To them, I was still the same Liu Yanyu.
Zhang Lei could not hold back anymore.
"What nonsense are you all saying?" he shouted, stepping forward. "If not for Master, you wouldn't even be here right now!"
Chen Guo followed, his expression dark. "She warned us before anything happened. Where were you people then?"
Wang Bao scoffed. "Now you want to act smart? You were the same ones panicking just now."
Li Shan took a step forward, his voice cold. "Watch your mouths."
The crowd reacted immediately.
"What do you mean watch our mouths?"
"Are you threatening us?"
"You think we're afraid of you?"
The tension rose quickly, and it did not take long before people began to push forward, ready to argue.
Zhang Lei clenched his fists.
"Say that again if you dare—"
"Enough!"
Wu Lian's voice cut through the noise.
Everyone stopped.
She stepped forward, her expression calm but firm, and looked at both sides.
"This is not the time to fight," she said. "We just escaped death. If we start fighting among ourselves now, we will not last long."
The crowd slowly calmed down.
Zhang Lei and the others stepped back, though their faces were still tense.
Wu Lian then turned to me.
Her eyes were steady, but there was something sharp hidden inside.
"This kind of matter does not concern you," she said.
The words were simple, but clear.
"You have always liked causing trouble," she continued. "But now things are different. We have lost our village, and there is no place left for you to play around anymore."
Her gaze did not leave mine.
"This is not a situation for someone like you."
Her words were not loud, but everyone heard them.
If it was anyone else standing in my place, they would have been angry or embarrassed after hearing those words.
But me?
I almost laughed.
Pfft… these people really think I care?
I looked at them quietly, my expression unchanged.
If you want to live, then listen. If you don't… then that's your problem.
It's your life, not mine.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, a familiar voice sounded in my head.
[ Host, please remember your mission. ]
I paused slightly.
My eyes narrowed a little.
Ah… this annoying thing again.
[ Mission reminder: Save Wu Village. ]
I let out a quiet breath.
Save them?
I glanced at the crowd again.
The same people who just mocked me.
The same people who refused to listen.
You've got to be kidding me.
I replied in my mind, my tone flat.
What if they don't listen to me? How is that my fault?
There was a brief silence.
Then—
A blue screen appeared in front of me.
[ First Mission Activated ]
The words slowly formed, one after another.
[ Lead the Wu villagers to the east side of San Forest. ]
[ Ensure survival of at least 80% of the population. ]
[ Reward: Survival Points + Basic Supply Pack ]
[ Failure: Unknown ]
I stared at the screen for a moment.
Then I scoffed lightly.
80%?
You really expect a lot.
My gaze shifted back to the crowd, and before I could speak again, Wu Lian stepped forward calmly, as if she had already decided to take control of the situation.
She looked at everyone and spoke in a steady voice, "For now, the safest thing we can do is remain here in the forest. It may not be comfortable, but it will give us time to think and plan our next move."
And almost the same as what I had just said.
She only changed the way she said it.
But the reaction she received was completely different.
The crowd immediately responded.
"That makes sense…"
"Yes, staying here for now is safer…"
"At least we are away from those men…"
Some people even nodded with relief, as if they had just been given a good solution.
Then someone muttered, not even trying to hide it, "See? That is how you talk properly, not like that fatso."
A few people chuckled softly.
Another person added, "Of course her words make sense. She is the chief's daughter."
"Not like someone who only knows how to cause trouble…"
The agreement spread quickly.
No one questioned her.
No one argued.
They accepted her words without hesitation.
I stood there quietly, watching everything.
It was the exact idea I had brought up but no one listened but after she said it suddenly, it made sense to them.
I let out a slow breath.
Unbelievable.
Not far from me, Zhang Lei clenched his fists again, clearly unhappy.
"They—"
I raised my hand slightly, stopping him.
"There's no need," I said calmly.
He froze for a moment, then slowly stepped back, though his expression was still tight.
Wu Lian did not look at me again.
She continued speaking to the crowd, giving simple instructions, and the villagers listened carefully this time.
Everything moved smoothly under her words.
I watched for a moment longer.
Then I shifted my gaze away.
Fine.
If they want to listen to her, then let them.