Chapter 168

Dorothy crouched down and pinched my cheek hard, making me wince in pain.

"Think you can take me on? You're still too green," she said with a smirk.

With that, she effortlessly hoisted me onto her back and started walking along the winding path towards the village.

I was shocked at how easily she carried me, considering how small she was. Dorothy was definitely something else.

As we walked, Dorothy greeted a bunch of familiar faces from the village. They noticed me on her back and looked surprised, but Dorothy greeted them warmly, like this was totally normal. So, even if they wanted to ask, they held back.

Just as Dorothy was relieved that we were almost at the village, an elderly man with a cane and white hair approached us.

"What's going on here?" he asked, curious.

"Hey, Sixth Elder," Dorothy greeted enthusiastically, clearly dodging his question.

The Sixth Elder was none other than the father of the man Dorothy was being forced to marry. If it weren't for his influence, Dorothy wouldn't have come up with this plan.

Seeing that Dorothy wasn't going to answer, the Sixth Elder stroked his beard and leaned in for a closer look. Dorothy's heart raced, but she stayed calm. However, before he could get too close, the stench from my body hit him.

"Ugh, what a smell," the Sixth Elder said, covering his nose and stepping back several paces.

Dorothy chuckled softly, having anticipated this reaction.

"Sixth Elder, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," Dorothy said, trying to leave.

"Dorothy, hold up," the Sixth Elder called out, stopping her.

As an elder, Dorothy didn't dare to defy him.

"Dorothy, you know your status. Carrying a man on your back like this is inappropriate!" the Sixth Elder said disapprovingly.

The village had a shortage of people, and it was hard for young men to find wives. The Sixth Elder was very unhappy with Dorothy's behavior, especially since he wanted her for his son.

Dorothy had planned to sneak into the village, but hearing the Sixth Elder's words, she was instantly annoyed.

"Sixth Elder, this is my boyfriend," she replied directly.

The Sixth Elder's eyes widened in anger. He banged his cane on the ground and said, "He doesn't look like he's from our village. How could he be your boyfriend?"

"He is my boyfriend. We are in love!" Dorothy retorted.

The Sixth Elder was furious, feeling his authority was being challenged. But after a moment of thought, he softened his tone and asked, "Where is he from? He doesn't look like one of us."

"He's from the Johnson family," Dorothy said.

She had no intention of hiding this fabricated identity.

Hearing the name "Johnson family," the Sixth Elder's expression turned serious.

"How could you bring someone from the Johnson family here?" he demanded.

As the Sixth Elder's voice grew louder, more villagers gathered, whispering among themselves.

Dorothy hadn't expected to run into the Sixth Elder here, and now the situation was escalating. She was filled with anxiety. If I couldn't enter the village, her plan would be ruined.

She quickly explained, "Sixth Elder, I know we have a grudge with the Johnson family, but we are all human. It's only natural for us to be together."

"You, you, you!" the Sixth Elder stammered, his brow furrowed in anger.

"Dorothy, you're always so eloquent. I can't argue with you, but since I caught you today, I can't let you make a mistake. We can't let someone from the Johnson family in!"

The Sixth Elder's tone was firm, his authority unquestionable.

The villagers began to murmur, the scene becoming chaotic.

"We can't let someone from the Johnson family stay!"

"Absolutely not!"

The Sixth Elder was pleased with the support, stroking his beard.

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Dorothy felt immense pressure. She had to convince the Sixth Elder to let me into the village safely.

She took a deep breath and said, "Sixth Elder, I understand your concerns, but please hear me out."

"Kevin is injured and needs our help. We can't turn him away just because he's from the Johnson family. That would go against our village's principles of kindness and righteousness."

The Sixth Elder was silent for a moment, knowing Dorothy was appealing to his sense of morality. If he refused, it would make him seem heartless, risking the villagers' trust.

As an elder, he had to make a fair decision.

Finally, he spoke slowly, "Dorothy, you make a good point. But we must be cautious. We can't just let an outsider in without proper consideration."

"But we can't be so cruel as to ignore an injured person. I'll have someone investigate his background. If we confirm he means no harm, we can consider helping him."

Hearing this, Dorothy grew nervous. His identity was fake, and any investigation would reveal the truth.

"No way!" Dorothy shot back immediately.

The Sixth Elder frowned, his voice stern. "Are you questioning my authority?"

Dorothy felt a bit intimidated but stood her ground. "It's just that he's hurt. We need to help him first."

The Sixth Elder stared at Dorothy, saying nothing.

Dorothy was so scared that sweat began to form on her forehead.

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, "The Chief Elder is here!"

Dorothy's heart sank. She hadn't expected the Chief Elder to be alerted. She sensed that things might not go smoothly today, but she hadn't anticipated such bad luck.

As the Chief Elder approached, the crowd parted. An elderly man, looking about seventy or eighty but still vigorous, walked in slowly.

He wore simple linen clothes, his hair neatly tied back, and his hands clasped behind him as he walked with a calm demeanor.

"Long time no see, Dorothy," the Chief Elder greeted warmly.

Dorothy quickly set me down and respectfully bowed, "Hello, Chief Elder."

The Chief Elder was often elusive, rarely seen, which was why Dorothy was so nervous.

The Chief Elder smiled slightly, indicating she didn't need to be so formal. "No need for such courtesy."

He then walked past Dorothy and approached me, lying on the ground.

Seeing this, Dorothy's heart raced. She knew that in front of the Chief Elder, nothing could be hidden.

The Chief Elder was the most formidable person in the village, not only skilled in combat but also highly intelligent. The villagers trusted him completely, and Dorothy was no exception. She didn't dare to interfere, knowing her tricks wouldn't fool him.

The Chief Elder crouched down, unbothered by my smell, and carefully examined my wounds. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

After finishing his examination, he stood up slowly.

"Chief Elder, what brings you here for such a small matter?" the Sixth Elder asked respectfully, a hint of unease in his voice.

The Chief Elder usually stayed in seclusion in the back mountains and wouldn't come out unless it was important.

"The back mountains were getting dull, so I came out to chat with everyone," the Chief Elder said with a smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

The Sixth Elder grumbled inwardly, thinking, "Why couldn't you stay in the back mountains? Now you're here to meddle."

If the Chief Elder weren't here, he would have the final say.

But he didn't dare voice his thoughts, only grumbling silently.

With the Chief Elder present, the matter of the outsider Dorothy brought back was no longer his to handle.

Still, the Sixth Elder wasn't ready to give up. He asked, "Chief Elder, what do you think we should do about Dorothy bringing in someone from the Johnson family?"

"Someone from the Johnson family?" the Chief Elder feigned surprise.

"Yes, what should we do?" the Sixth Elder probed.

The Chief Elder waved his hand dismissively, "You handle it. I'll just watch."

"I can't overstep my bounds! I'll follow your lead," the Sixth Elder replied, forcing a smile.

The atmosphere grew tense. Dorothy stood nervously, unsure of the Chief Elder's decision.

She knew that while the Chief Elder's words seemed casual, his decisions were crucial.

Even the Sixth Elder had to stay quiet with the Chief Elder around.

The Chief Elder surveyed the crowd, then placed a hand on the Sixth Elder's shoulder and said, "Since the Sixth Elder insists, I'll handle it. Do you all agree?"

The Chief Elder's approach was why the villagers trusted him. He didn't rule alone but considered their opinions.

"No problem, Chief Elder, you handle it."

"Yes, we trust you, Chief Elder."

"Absolutely, Chief Elder, you decide."

The crowd echoed their support.

"Alright," the Chief Elder nodded.

He turned to Dorothy and said, "Dorothy, the person you brought back is injured. We can't ignore that. But we must also consider the village's safety. Let's have him recover here while we investigate his background. If he means no harm, we can accept him; if there's an issue, we'll deal with it then."

Dorothy sighed in relief. The Chief Elder's decision was compassionate yet cautious, exactly what she hoped for.

The Sixth Elder was displeased but didn't dare argue with the Chief Elder.

"That's settled then," the Chief Elder concluded, his authority unquestioned.

The villagers murmured but didn't challenge the decision.

"Alright, Dorothy, bring him and follow me," the Chief Elder instructed.

He then headed towards the back mountains.

"Farewell, Chief Elder," the villagers and the Sixth Elder called out respectfully.

Dorothy carried me and followed the Chief Elder.

As the Chief Elder left, the crowd dispersed.

The Sixth Elder remained, watching them go.

Once alone, he hurried back to his house.