The villagers, having completely succumbed to their belief that Ye Shengtao was a divine being, insisted on carrying him to the heart of the village in a makeshift procession. It started with two burly farmers, their arms outstretched to create a kind of improvised throne using long wooden poles and a piece of cloth, onto which they gently coaxed Ye Shengtao.
He resisted at first, digging his hooves into the ground, but the persistence of the crowd, coupled with his growing sense of exhaustion, left him with little choice.
"Please, noble one!" one of the men begged, his voice trembling with reverence. "Let us honor you for your protection. We must take you to our village square where we can properly express our gratitude."
"Gratitude?" Ye Shengtao mumbled, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "More like insanity."
Despite his reluctance, he soon found himself lifted off the ground, hoisted onto the makeshift palanquin. Fergio, ever the dramatist, strutted ahead, his sword resting proudly on his shoulder as he led the villagers through the narrow, dirt-packed streets. A few torches flickered to life as the procession made its way deeper into the village, illuminating the soot-covered walls of the humble cottages they passed.
As they moved, Ye Shengtao couldn't help but notice how small and fragile the village truly was. It wasn't the bustling town that Fergio had envisioned earlier, but rather a collection of homes barely standing against the tide of misfortune.
The fires from the attack had done more damage than initially seen, with several houses now lying in smoldering ruins. Some villagers were weeping quietly near their ruined homes, while others worked to salvage what they could. The smell of ash and burnt wood hung heavily in the air.
"This is a disaster," Ye Shengtao muttered to himself, eyeing the wreckage.
The system's voice popped up beside him, lazily floating in his periphery. "You know, for someone worshiped as a divine protector, you don't sound too thrilled."
"That's because I'm not," Ye Shengtao shot back. "I didn't ask for any of this. These people are delusional."
"Delusional or not," the system chuckled, "they seem to think you're their savior. You should embrace it. Besides, you're about to meet someone important."
"Meet someone—?" Ye Shengtao's question was cut short as the procession rounded a corner and entered the village square.
The village square was modest at best—just a wide patch of dirt surrounded by a handful of larger buildings, likely the local tavern, a general store, and the blacksmith's shop. In the center stood a weathered stone statue of some long-forgotten hero, half-covered in ivy. The square itself was lined with more villagers, some kneeling as they watched Ye Shengtao being carried in, their faces filled with awe and anticipation. Children pointed excitedly, whispering about the 'holy cow' who had saved them all.
"I really hate this," Ye Shengtao grumbled under his breath.
The farmers carrying him set him down gently in front of the statue, their heads bowed as they backed away. Fergio stood to the side, his chest puffed out as he prepared to make another grand announcement. Before he could speak, however, a voice called out from the crowd.
"Let the elder speak!"
The crowd parted as a figure emerged from one of the larger buildings, hobbling forward with the aid of a wooden staff. The elder was a woman, hunched with age but still radiating an air of quiet authority. Her silver hair was tied back in a simple bun, and her weathered face bore the marks of a life lived through countless hardships.
She approached Ye Shengtao with deliberate steps, her eyes studying him intently.
"By the gods," she whispered, her voice raspy but steady, "you are even more magnificent than they described."
Ye Shengtao sighed. "Not you too…"
The elder didn't seem to hear his protest. She reached out a wrinkled hand, not quite touching him, but close enough that he could feel the warmth of her presence.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day," she murmured. "A sacred creature, sent to protect us in our darkest hour. Truly, we are blessed."
"I'm not—" Ye Shengtao began, but he cut himself off. What was the point? These people wouldn't listen, and correcting them was becoming more trouble than it was worth.
The elder straightened, turning to address the gathered villagers. "Our ancestors foretold of a time when a great protector would come to us in our hour of need, when evil forces would once again threaten our homes. The prophecy has come true this night, and this noble one has saved us from certain doom."
Fergio nodded enthusiastically, as if he had played a major role in the prophecy. "Indeed! And I, Fergio of House Solaria, have been chosen by the gods to serve as the protector knight of this sacred being!" He struck a dramatic pose, holding his sword aloft as the villagers cheered.
Ye Shengtao felt another surge of irritation but kept it in check. He was just about to try one last time to downplay this absurd worship when the elder spoke again, her voice quieter now, more somber.
"But there is more to this tale," she said, her eyes darkening. "More than the villagers know. Beyond the mountains to the north lies an evil that has been growing for many years. A dark sect, practicing forbidden magics, has returned from the shadows. They seek to plunge the world into chaos, to undo all that our kingdom has built."
Ye Shengtao's ears perked up at the mention of the dark sect. He had been aware of the dangers in the kingdom, but this was the first time he'd heard anyone speak of such a threat in detail.
Fergio, ever eager to take on a new challenge, stepped forward. "A dark sect, you say? Then it is my duty—our duty—to defeat them and rid the land of their evil!"
The elder turned her gaze to Fergio, her expression unreadable. "It is not a task to be taken lightly, young knight. The sect is powerful, and their reach grows stronger with each passing day. Many heroes have tried to stop them, and many have failed."
Fergio puffed out his chest. "But with the holy one at my side, how can we fail?"
Ye Shengtao almost snorted in disbelief. How could this idiot be so confident, especially after nearly getting himself killed just hours earlier?
The elder sighed, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her words. "I do not know if even the noble one can stop them," she said quietly. "The dark sect has allies in places we cannot see. Their leader is a sorcerer of great power, one who was thought to have been vanquished long ago. But he has returned, and his ambition is greater than ever. If he succeeds in his plans, the world as we know it will fall into darkness."
The villagers murmured nervously, their earlier excitement giving way to fear. The elder's words carried the weight of truth, and even Fergio seemed momentarily sobered by the gravity of the situation.
Ye Shengtao, for his part, felt a pit forming in his stomach. He hadn't signed up for any of this. Sure, he had helped stop a few bandits, but facing an entire sect of dark sorcerers? That was a different story entirely. He glanced at Fergio, who was now flexing his muscles and making grand proclamations about heroism and destiny.
"Great," Ye Shengtao muttered under his breath. "Just what I needed."
The elder's gaze returned to him, and for the first time, there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "We do not ask for your help lightly, noble one," she said softly. "But if the prophecy is true, then you are the only hope we have."
Ye Shengtao wanted to scream. He wasn't a hero. He wasn't even remotely divine. He was just a cow who had somehow gotten tangled up in all of this madness. But looking at the desperate faces of the villagers, he knew there was no easy way out.
With a heavy sigh, Ye Shengtao lowered his head in reluctant acceptance.
"Fine," he grumbled. "I'll look into this dark sect. But don't expect any miracles."
The villagers erupted into cheers once more, their fears momentarily forgotten as they celebrated their newfound hope. Fergio, of course, took the opportunity to revel in the glory, raising his sword high and declaring, "We shall march to victory! Together, we will defeat the dark sect and restore peace to the land!"
Ye Shengtao rolled his eyes. This was going to be a long journey.