The people were stunned and put down their work. The scholar also became tense and whispered, "Government officials!"
The knights of the government halted their mounts next to them. The middle-aged man leading them glanced at the fallen mounts and then at the villagers, his face darkening. "Who did this?"
The villagers remained silent. Someone glanced at the scholar but was immediately tugged by others, preventing them from turning their head.
"These mounts belong to the government."
The middle-aged man's face hardened, and he sneered, "You killed the government's mounts; that's a capital offense. Won't speak, right? Men, kill the men, and take the women under thirty!"
Knights on the surrounding mounts nodded, the divine embryo of the shrine appearing behind their heads, their Nascent Souls ready to strike.
"I did it! I killed them!"
