Upon closer consideration, Chen Fan realized he might have been overly concerned. He had arrived here just as the villagers were exiting the village, and his hands were empty. Even if these people were truly from Li Family Village, there was no need for worry.
Secondly, there was a discrepancy in the number of people. This group consisted of almost thirty individuals, whereas Li Family Village had only about thirteen or fourteen residents.
Most importantly, Chen Fan had spotted the Wei brothers among the crowd. It was apparent that this hunting party likely hailed from Zhaojiabao.
"It's from Zhaojiabao," a voice within the group confirmed.
"Look, there they are!"
"Their harvest looks quite bountiful."
"After all, it's Zhaojiabao, a large village with over a thousand residents. It's in a different league compared to ordinary small camps."
These observations were shared amongst the onlookers.
"Let's wait for them to pass first," Chen Guodong suggested in a hushed tone, his eyes betraying a deep sadness.
The bald man patted Chen Guodong on the shoulder and let out a soft sigh.
Meanwhile, the people from Zhaojiabao had noticed Chen Guodong and his group a hundred meters away. They were engaged in hushed conversations, but the distance prevented their words from reaching the others' ears. The Wei brothers were also among those in the crowd.
Unexpectedly, Wei Tianyuan broke away from the group and jogged toward Chen Guodong's party. He had something in his possession, a wilderness rabbit weighing about twenty or thirty catties.
Chen Fan was left dumbfounded as he began to consider the possibility of what Wei Tianyuan might be doing.
In a matter of seconds, Wei Tianyuan reached the group and handed the wilderness rabbit to Chen Guodong, saying, "Brother Guodong, here you go."
Chen Guodong instinctively accepted the rabbit but immediately pushed it back as if he had received an electric shock. "Tian Yuan, what are you doing? Take it back quickly. I can't accept this rabbit."
"Yes, Tian Yuan, do you realize what you're doing? If others see it, what will they think?" Liu Yong, who was usually carefree and had a constant smile on his face, also looked serious now.
In the distance, the people from Zhaojiabao had halted, their eyes trained on the scene unfolding before them.
"Don't worry," Wei Tianyuan replied indifferently. "I've already spoken with Brother Zhao earlier, and he has no objections. Brother Guodong, please accept it quickly. I don't have much time."
As he spoke, Wei Tianyuan noticed Chen Fan, who held a longbow in one hand and a quiver in the other. His heart ached, and he felt on the verge of tears.
What a pitiful child, venturing into the wild with the village residents before reaching adulthood, and risking danger...
He dared not dwell on the thought any longer.
"Tianyuan..." Chen Guodong began, but Wei Tianyuan waved him off.
"Alright, that's enough. I'm going back as well. I shouldn't keep my big brother waiting too long. Brother Guodong, everyone, take care."
With that, Wei Tianyuan turned and left quickly.
"Brother Zhao, thank you," he deliberately went up to a big, stout man at the front of their group and expressed his gratitude.
"What are you thanking me for?" the burly man sneered. "Either way, the things you've given away will be deducted from your shares and that kid's when you return to the fort."
"Indeed, I understand," Wei Tianyuan replied with a warm smile, before returning to the back of the line.
"Pathetic," the burly man scoffed, showing disdain.
Others observed the situation with various attitudes: some gloated, some sneered, and some shook their heads with sighs.
This newcomer had the audacity to make such a request in front of so many people. Zhao San couldn't have refused, could he? Otherwise, wouldn't it appear that he was narrow-minded?
As for any notion of pitifulness, it seemed more comical than anything. There were countless people in the world facing hardships, homelessness, and many had fallen prey to fierce beasts. Were the residents of Chen Family Village the only ones deserving of sympathy? What about his own family, weren't they facing hardships as well?
When Wei Tianyuan returned to Wei Tiangong's side, he offered a smile.
The latter shook his head slightly and inwardly sighed.
His younger brother was still too impulsive. If he wanted to do something like this, he should have at least discussed it first.
Everything has already unfolded; it's too late for words now, especially considering he had also spotted Chen Fan in the crowd, which tugged at his heartstrings.
This young lad was about to leave the village for a hunt. If the two brothers hadn't already left, perhaps this situation could have been avoided. But years of shared experiences couldn't simply be cast aside, could they?
As for the repercussions of this event, they would have to address them gradually.
As Zhaojiabao's group departed in a grand manner, Chen Guodong and his companions remained in a daze until the last figure disappeared.
"So, Tian Yuan came here specifically to give us prey, but he couldn't just let us be," someone's voice quivered with emotion.
"Yeah, he must think we're going through tough times."
"This may not necessarily be a good thing..."
Chen Guodong sighed, and suddenly, everyone fell into silence.
Indeed, while they didn't particularly need another wild rabbit at this moment, who would attach much value to such an easy acquisition? However, if the people were indeed from the Zhao Family Fort, Wei Tianyuan's actions might seem somewhat out of character. No matter how generous you are, it's hard not to feel slighted.
Chen Fan furrowed his brow. This might make it more challenging for them to establish themselves firmly in Zhaojiabao. The stronger they appeared, the more suspicion they might raise. Uncle Tian Yuan really shouldn't have done this.
"Blame me," Chen Guodong lamented while gazing at the wilderness rabbit in his arms. "I should have pursued him."
"It wouldn't have made a difference," the bald man shook his head. "From the moment he sprinted toward us, the die was cast. Even if you returned the prey, the outcome would have remained the same. Let's just hope we're overthinking this."
"Oh!"
At this moment, someone seemed to awaken as if from a dream. They cast a glance at Chen Fan and said, "We should have informed them about Xiao Fan earlier. The current village is not the same as it used to be. Everyone has enough to eat. If they come back..."
However, their words trailed off, for the reality was undeniable.
Yes, what would happen if they had informed them?
Zhaojiabao was not an open field where you could enter and exit at will.
"Alright, the matter has concluded, and further deliberation won't change a thing. Let's hope today's events remain a minor issue. If they ever decide to return, I'll welcome them with open arms," Chen Guodong declared.
"Count me in."
"Me too."
Everyone concurred.
Despite the heavy atmosphere that had descended due to this incident, even more troubling circumstances lay ahead. It was uncertain whether it was because of Zhaojiabao's intrusion or simply bad luck, but after over an hour of searching, they had found nothing, and the trap was empty.
The group was now sweaty and parched.
"We can't go any further," the bald man abruptly halted, peering into the lush wilderness ahead where the undergrowth had thickened, and even previously rare trees had sprouted. Shadows loomed in the skies from time to time, casting an ominous presence.
"I've ventured nearly ten miles, and the perilous zone is ahead."