Chapter 161: The Welcome and Hostility of Songxi Village (BEGGING FOR CONTINUED UPDATES)

"Village chief, village chief, something terrible has happened."

The village chief's courtyard was the farthest place in Songxi Village from the national highway. When Lamu came in with his phone, the village chief Nixiadunzhu was boiling butter.

"Don't rush, take your time, Lamu." Nixiadunzhu was in his sixties, but looked like he was in his seventies or eighties — apart from his bright eyes, his face was covered in wrinkles. "What big thing could possibly happen around here?"

Lamu said anxiously, "I found Kangjiacuo."

"Clang—!"

The thing in Nixiadunzhu's hand dropped to the ground, his expression deeply shocked.

"You… what did you say?" His voice suddenly turned hoarse. "Say it again."

"I said, I found Kangjiacuo." Lamu handed over the phone in his hand. At that moment, the livestream's camera was pointed at two unconscious Tibetans on the ground. "Look, is the one on the left Kangjiacuo?"

Nixiadunzhu snatched the phone, leaned in for a closer look, and his expression suddenly became unreadable.

After a long while, he said, "It really is him."

"Then what do we do now?" Lamu said anxiously. "With the crimes Kangjiacuo has committed, once he falls into the police's hands, he'll definitely be sentenced to death."

"Death?"

Nixiadunzhu picked up the basin that had fallen on the ground. "Doesn't he deserve to die?"

"But… but… Kangjiacuo is your son."

"Lamu!" Nixiadunzhu looked at her and said solemnly, "I know Kangjiacuo has helped your family a great deal, but that cannot cover up the heinous crimes he has committed. As long as he doesn't repent, being caught is inevitable."

"You're a college student after all — you should understand this reasoning."

Lamu certainly understood. She had even looked up the criminal law: with Kangjiacuo's crimes, sentencing him to death ten times over would be more than enough.

But the law is the law, and human sentiment is human sentiment. Though Lamu understood, she could not separate them so cleanly.

Holding the phone, she stood in place for a long while.

"The public security police over at Quanshui Lake have already set out. If we're quick enough, maybe we can get there before them…"

Before she finished speaking, Nixiadunzhu raised his voice, his expression turning extremely stern: "Lamu!"

Lamu's whole body trembled, and tears streamed down her face.

"Kangjiacuo funded my education and spent so much on my father's illness. I can't just turn a blind eye to this. If you won't go, I will."

With that, she turned and walked away.

After running a lap around the village, two vehicles carrying over a dozen burly men from the village, with several hunting rifles in their hands, rumbled onto the national highway and sped off toward the direction of Songxi Pass.

Listening to the sound of the vehicles fading into the distance, Nixiadunzhu's expression was extremely complicated. In the end, he set down the butter in his hands as well.

Qin Yun checked the condition of the secondary machine and found it completely destroyed — the bullet had pierced straight through the middle of the device, the core components shattered into pieces, with no value for repair whatsoever.

Turning to look at the monitor, his expression was somewhat helpless.

"This drone has been with me for so long — never thought it'd come to an end like this today."

With one fewer drone, the camera work during future livestreams wouldn't be as flexible. He could only get another one to replace it after heading back.

Glancing at the two men on the ground, Qin Yun walked back to the pickup truck. When he saw clearly what was in the back of the pickup, his face involuntarily changed.

"Holy crap, so many hides and meat?"

"How many protected national animals did they have to kill for this?"

"Absolutely brazen — completely ignoring national law, hunting in broad daylight, totally depraved."

"At least a dozen or so hides. I can see Tibetan antelope, Tibetan gazelle, blue sheep, Tibetan wolf — all of them. Tsk tsk, that many must be worth quite a fortune."

Qin Yun moved the camera away, went up to count them, and said with a serious expression: "Thirteen hides in total — two are Tibetan gazelle, six are Tibetan antelope, two are blue sheep, and three are Tibetan wolf. This gang of poachers' main target is Tibetan antelope hides — that's what's called 'soft gold,' worth a fortune."

"Just the haul in this one vehicle alone is worth over three million — more than enough to land them life in prison."

Qin Yun shook his head. These two were clearly not novices — they even dared to kill people. He had no idea how many wild animals they had harmed.

He rummaged through the vehicle and found another gun and bullets, as well as several finely crafted machetes.

The gun and bullets he paid no mind to, but the machetes did stir some interest in him. However, these were all stolen goods, so he could only look on longingly.

From Quanshui Lake to here was over fifty kilometers — even if the police car drove at full speed, it would still take over an hour to arrive.

Before the police arrived, he could only wait on the spot.

He chatted casually with the viewers while occasionally checking on the condition of the two men on the ground.

As for injuries, the one with the scarred face was worse off — a fractured sternum, a shattered jaw, the smell of blood detectable with every breath. As for the big-bearded one, apart from his face being swollen like a pig's head, he wasn't seriously hurt — at most a mild concussion.

"Damn, what a mess — it's been so long and they're still unconscious."

"Hahaha, that was a gun — would Qin Ye dare not hit hard?"

"Qin Ye, you didn't kill them, did you? Even though it was self-defense, with your skills, the court would definitely rule it excessive self-defense."

"Dying of laughter."

Qin Yun stared, a dark line crossing his brow.

"I say, that's enough from you. This was righteous sanction — there's no 'self-defense' about it. A citizen of the People's Republic of China, facing an armed thug, is granted the right of unlimited self-defense."

Just as he finished speaking, his ears twitched. He suddenly stood up and looked toward the direction of the national highway.

He saw two pickup trucks appear on the national highway in the distance. His expression shifted slightly. He sent the drone into the air and quickly zoomed in.

The livestream viewers saw clearly what was on the pickups and were immediately startled. Then Qin Yun recalled the drone and looked at the comment section.

"Holy crap, what's going on?"

"I saw several guns — can people just carry guns around freely in our country now?"

"Those are Tibetans — they can apply for hunting rifles. I just looked it up."

"Holy crap, they can't be the accomplices of these two poachers on the ground, can they?"

"Very possible."

"Qin Ye, be careful."

Qin Yun's face changed. He quickly picked up the gun on the ground, but hesitated when loading it, and in the end chose to give up. The implications of live ammunition were different — he had to consider what came next. Of course, he tucked the bullets into his jacket; if there really was trouble, he wouldn't be that rigid about it.

He walked toward the national highway, carrying his rifle.

In just two minutes, two pickup trucks pulled up not far from him, and a dozen men got out.

What puzzled him was that the leader was a young Tibetan woman with a beautiful face.

"Mr. Qin, I'm your fan, Lham from Songxi Village," Lham said with a smile, palms pressed together before her chest. "Tashi Delek."

Tashi Delek means good fortune and well-being—it's a Tibetan blessing.

Qin Yun exhaled slightly, but though the girl before him seemed friendly, the Tibetan men behind her looked at him with clear hostility.

"Tashi Delek," Qin Yun returned the greeting, chuckling. "Didn't expect to have fans up here on the plateau."

Lham didn't beat around the bush; after the greeting, she got straight to the point.

"Mr. Qin, I just saw on your livestream you took down the poachers—the man with the scar is the shame of Songxi Village. According to our Tibetan customs, we have the right to punish him by our own rules. Please hand him over to us."

Qin Yun's heart jolted; his left hand gripping the rifle tightened involuntarily.

A look of surprise crossed his face: "These two poachers hunted many protected wild animals and even shot at me—that's serious crime. Handing them over to you doesn't seem right. Why not wait for the police from Quanshui Lake?"

Lham sighed inwardly; she knew it wouldn't be that easy.

But she had seen with her own eyes how Qin Yun crushed Kang Cuo and the other man.

Though they had over a dozen men, even with hunting rifles in hand,

the guns were only for intimidation—they were absolutely forbidden to fire.

So if it came to actual fighting, could these dozen men really defeat Mr. Qin? Lham doubted it.

"Mr. Qin, this is truly our Tibetan custom. For Tibetan poachers, the Living Buddha will not bless them. Songxi Village will punish poachers with the harshest methods."

Qin Yun would never hand them over. Though the Tibetan girl spoke nicely, once the men were out of his control, who knew what might happen?

He shook his head: "The police from Quanshui Lake are almost here. Miss Lham, you can wait until they arrive to discuss this."

Lham looked at Qin Yun, who refused to budge. She knew without violence, she couldn't take Kang Cuo away.

But before she could speak, Danzeng Zhandui stepped forward from behind her, holding a hunting rifle.

"Kid, get out of the way, or we won't be polite."

He raised the rifle directly at Qin Yun.

This scene played out before the livestream audience, sparking immediate uproar.

"Holy shit, is he really that bold? Pointing a gun at Mr. Qin?"

"Amitabha Buddha—no, Living Buddha, bless this Tibetan man."

"I thought they were really here to enforce some stupid custom, but now it looks like they just want to take the poacher. I seriously suspect Songxi Village is connected to the poachers."

"The poachers drew guns and killed people—we saw it all with our own eyes; the evidence is undeniable. What good would it do to take them away?"

"The poachers fired guns and tried to kill—everyone saw it. Evidence is clear. What good is taking him away?"

"True…"

The livestream comments were loud and chaotic.

But facing the threat of firearms, Qin Yun frowned. His gaze swept over the Tibetan man, then settled on Lham.

"Miss Lham, do you intend to forcibly take him away?"

Lham's expression changed slightly; she heard the serious warning in Qin Yun's voice.

She was indeed his fan. She had seen his combat ability.

Since Ram had chosen to bring people out, she never intended to return empty-handed.

Since she had come out to retrieve him, she never intended to return empty-handed.

She waved her hand; the dozen men behind her immediately surrounded Qin Yun. The drone overhead recorded every moment.

"Mr. Qin, I'm sorry, but I must take him. He must face Songxi Village's punishment."

She ordered the man with the rifle to keep it aimed at Qin Yun, while others rushed toward Scar and Old Ghost.

Qin Yun didn't move. These people dared do this under live drone broadcast—would they really fear anything? If they actually shot him, it would be too much of a loss.

In an instant, the Tibetans brought Scar back. They ignored the bearded man.

Lham waved her hand: "Sorry, Mr. Qin. When the police arrive, our village will explain to them."

Then everyone reboarded the trucks. The engines roared as they turned and sped away.

Only when the two trucks vanished from sight did Qin Yun turn to the drone's lens. He showed no frustration, only shrugged: "I hope Miss Lham is telling the truth. Otherwise, her village is in for trouble."

What Tibetan customs? Who are you fooling?

Qin Yun wasn't a three-year-old. What era is this now? What custom could override our nation's laws? Absurd.

【108】 He chatted with the livestream viewers for another twenty minutes when finally, the wail of police sirens echoed along the national highway.