Chapter Forty-Five: The Village Chief Appears

Tina’s home came into view as they emerged from the valley. Beyond the valley stretched a cluster of buildings suffused with an otherworldly aura—this was a village of people from another realm, with several hundred households. Men, women, and children all busied themselves with their tasks, the scene peaceful and harmonious.

That tranquility was shattered by the sudden appearance of outsiders: Jia Zhengjin, Wolf, and, following behind them, two massive adult triceratops. The villagers ceased their work, and the children, driven by curiosity, gathered along the road to gawk at the great beasts.

“Tina, the village chief will hear of this soon and send someone over!” Amber spoke quietly as more and more villagers gathered.

“I know, Amber.” Tina gripped Jia Zhengjin’s hand tightly, turning back to give him a blissful look. “Keen will protect me.”

“He does seem powerful, but he’s not from our country,” Amber said worriedly. “If he ends up in a conflict with the chief, our officials are notoriously unfriendly to foreigners!”

“Keen is incredibly strong. He wiped out an entire undead legion in the Beast Forest on the night of the Blood Moon! He possesses miraculous powers—almost like a deity!” Tina’s eyes shone with adoration and love. “He is the light granted to me by the God of Light!”

“You’re truly lucky!” Amber gazed at her with envy. “Does this great man need more followers? Do you think I’d be good enough? We’ve been friends since childhood—don’t forget to pull me up with you when you prosper!”

“Let’s talk about that later. We need to rescue my parents first!” Tina replied, then turned to Jia Zhengjin. “Right?”

Jia Zhengjin hadn’t understood a word, but sensing Tina was talking about him, he nodded.

“Amazing! Real triceratops mounts!”

“Did Tina meet a benefactor? Only nobles or royalty can afford to tame triceratops.”

“But wasn’t the chief going to marry Tina?”

“That’s right! Since Tina disappeared, the chief even imprisoned her parents!”

“Isn’t Tina walking right into a trap by coming back?”

“You fool, she has a powerful protector with her!”

“No, you’re the fool! If a foreigner dares to go against the chief, our officials will definitely intervene. The chief can petition the town mayor, the mayor the city lord, the city lord the territory lord, and the lord the king! Don’t you know how xenophobic our officials are? If a foreigner breaks the law here, no matter where they’re from, even if they’re nobility or royalty, the authorities will protect their own and punish the outsider severely!”

“Exactly! So if Tina wants to save her parents, doesn’t she have to marry that old lecher of a chief?”

“Well, at least she’d be the chief’s wife. For a country girl, that’s not bad!”

“But the chief is over sixty…”

“Mind your own business!”

The villagers’ chatter reached Tina’s ears, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. Yet she believed that Jia Zhengjin would be her strong support, and that he would never let her be married off to another. Even so, she clung tightly to his hand, her body trembling slightly.

Sensing her unease, Jia Zhengjin gently patted her head, offering a reassuring smile.

“Where is Tina? Where is my bride?” Before long, a plump old man burst through the crowd, grinning broadly to reveal a mouthful of yellowed teeth.

Several burly men cleared a path for him as he strode straight to Tina.

“Tina, my bride! You’ve finally come back!” The old man laughed and reached out to grab her hand.

“Chief!” Amber summoned his courage and blocked the old man, declaring, “Tina is not your bride. The gentleman by her side is her husband!”

“Chief, I’ve never agreed to become your bride,” Tina said firmly, holding onto Jia Zhengjin and facing the old man.

The chief glanced at Jia Zhengjin with a hint of scorn, but when his gaze fell on Wolf and the two enormous triceratops behind, his heart skipped a beat. His tone softened as he addressed Jia Zhengjin, “Sir, which noble house do you hail from? Tina is just a country girl and unworthy of your esteemed status. Her parents have already promised her to me as my second wife. Perhaps you would return my bride to me?”

Jia Zhengjin did not understand a word, but as soon as he heard Tina’s name, he pulled her protectively into his arms, making his stance clear.

“Keen isn’t from our country, but he’s very powerful!” Tina declared, emboldened in his embrace. “I have sworn to follow him, and that will never change.”

“So, he’s a foreigner!” At her words, the chief’s reverence vanished, replaced by disdain. “Perhaps you’re unaware of our laws? What can a foreigner hope to achieve? Even a foreign prince wouldn’t leave our country alive if he tried to take what’s mine! That is the law of our land! That is the dignity of the Empire of Valor!”

With the chief’s declaration, the burly men behind him let out thunderous roars, their presence intimidating.

“Tina, your parents have already agreed to your marriage with me. I’ve searched high and low for you these past days! Now that you’re back, hurry home, wash, and prepare for a grand wedding!” The chief smirked. “And as for you, foreigner! Behave yourself and perhaps you’ll be allowed to attend the wedding!”

“Don’t even think about it!” Tina shouted furiously. “I will never marry you!”

“That’s not for you to decide!” The chief waved his hand, and several strongmen advanced on Tina, intent on dragging her away by force.

“Stop!” Amber stood in their way. “Tina doesn’t want this. You can’t force her!”

“Out of the way!” One of the men shoved Amber aside, sending him tumbling to the ground.

As they closed in, Tina broke free from Jia Zhengjin’s embrace and raised her right hand high. “Fireball!”

A ball of searing flame instantly appeared in her palm, halting the strongmen in their tracks.

“Anyone who comes closer, I’ll burn alive!” Tina shouted at the chief, her voice trembling with emotion. “Release my parents at once, or Keen and I will not let you get away with this!”

“A—a mage! Tina’s become a mage!” Amber cried out in astonishment.

Every villager, the chief included, stared in utter disbelief, as if witnessing a miracle.