The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 4 A real man should act like a real man

Even Zhang Shigen went home and picked up a pair of iron shovels, carrying them in his hand.

He specifically took Zhang Anxiu to find Chu Xun, and whispered to her on the way, "When we get to A-Xun's place, you absolutely mustn't let him come along."

"If he insists on going with you, threaten to kill yourself, understand?"

Zhang Anxiu was stunned, seemingly not understanding why she had to do this.

Zhang Shigen said, "A-Xun is a good boy. If you can be with him, you will definitely not suffer in the future."

Zhang Anxiu realized that her father was entrusting her to Chu Xun as a precaution.

"Father, can't you not go?"

Zhang Shigen shook his head without hesitation. He gestured to the men in front of him, young and old, who were all looking very aggressive. The old village chief was at the front, with his two sons and three grandsons all there.

Only farmers like them, who toil in the fields all day long, know how important water is.

Without water, they can't farm and will starve.

If Li Ermao dies today, and we don't go, who knows how many will starve or die of thirst in the future.

Even if it costs them their lives, they have to fight!

If they win, the children won't have to suffer.

Zhang Anxiu seemed to understand that she couldn't dissuade him, and kept her head down, sobbing softly the whole way.

Before long, the father and daughter arrived at the courtyard.

Just then, Chu Xun, carrying a stick, was chased back by the old village chief's second son.

"We've got the water-grabbing under control, we don't need you. Go away, stay home and behave yourself!"

Despite his strength, Chu Xun was still pushed into the courtyard.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Shigen came over and forcibly dragged him into the house.

After closing the door, Zhang Shigen said, "The village chief said you don't need to go, so why did you run out?"

This was naturally to protect Chu Xun and prevent any accidents from happening to him.

Chu Xun said, "I'm also from the village; I can't just stand by and watch."

"You little brat, what are you showing off for? Girl, come here," Zhang Shigen called out.

"Father..." Zhang Anxiu walked over with red eyes.

Zhang Shigen gripped the wooden handle of the iron shovel and said to Chu Xun, "I know you've saved up a lot of money over the years. If I don't come back from this trip, go find Li Ermao's wife. She has too much land; one woman can't cultivate it all. Don't let it go to someone else."

"But don't buy too many, three to five acres is enough, to avoid gossip."

Zhang Shigen glanced at his daughter again, gritted his teeth, and slapped Chu Xun hard on the shoulder: "Sanchun is an honest person. She didn't dare to say a word even when her wages were deducted while she was doing odd jobs for rich families. If I really don't come back, take care of those two siblings for me, and don't let anyone bully them!"

"If... if you really don't like it, then help find a good family for Anxiu in the future."

"Father, please don't do this, I'm scared..." Zhang Anxiu was already on the verge of tears.

Zhang Shigen patted her hair and said, "Listen to A-Xun; he's smarter than anyone else in our village."

Then she looked at Chu Xun and said, "This girl is a bit stubborn. If she really makes you angry, you can do whatever you want to her, just don't hit her."

Chu Xun felt heavy-hearted: "Uncle Shigen, things may not necessarily be that bad."

"Who knows? It's never a bad thing to be prepared. Also, if Sanchun comes back and decides to seek revenge, please stop him for me."

After saying that, Zhang Shigen picked up the iron shovel, turned around and left, making sure to close the door behind him.

"Uncle Shigen!" Chu Xun called out, and was about to chase after him when Zhang Anxiu grabbed his waist from behind and held him tightly.

"Let go!"

"No!" Zhang Anxiu refused to budge, saying, "Father said you can't go! I won't let you go either!"

Although she was not very knowledgeable, she had witnessed Li Ermao being hacked to death on the spot.

She couldn't stop her father, and if she couldn't even stop Chu Xun, she didn't know how devastated she would be if she saw the two of them being carried back together.

Although Chu Xun was strong, he was afraid of hurting the girl.

The footsteps outside gradually faded into the distance, until they finally disappeared completely.

Chu Xun had no choice but to give up, hoping that everyone in the village would return safely.

He gently patted Zhang Anxiu's hand and said softly, "I won't go. Let's wait together in the yard, okay?"

Zhang Anxiu buried her face in his back and asked in a muffled voice, "Really?"

"real."

After opening the door, Chu Xun pulled Zhang Anxiu and stood in the courtyard.

The bright moon hangs high, and the sky is filled with stars, forming a dense, long river of stars.

The young boy and girl stood in the courtyard, looking towards the village entrance.

Soon after, several village women arrived with their young children.

They couldn't stand staying at home any longer and just wanted to see their loved ones as soon as possible.

A moment later, several more elderly people, women, and children arrived.

More and more people appeared, and the moonlight shone down, casting their shadows on the ground.

One after another, they gradually connected into a whole, just like rice seedlings in a field.

A hot wind blows, causing the rice seedlings in the fields to sway and the wild grass by the roadside to move.

Only the numerous figures at the village entrance remained motionless.

Only worried and uneasy faces appeared even paler under the moonlight.

The long, scorching night slowly passed.

Zhang Anxiu's eyelids were trembling with sleepiness. She leaned on Chu Xun's shoulder, her head drooping down from time to time, then quickly lifting up again.

Many of the toddlers couldn't bear it any longer and fell into a deep sleep in the woman's arms.

The elderly were persuaded to go back, while the others sat or lay on the ground to wait.

As dawn broke, Chu Xun seemed to sense something and looked into the distance.

A moment later, a woman got up from the ground, holding her child, and shouted, "She's back! She's back!"

This sound startled everyone awake.

He quickly got up from the ground, not even bothering to brush off the dust, and stood on tiptoe to look ahead.

Zhang Anxiu also came to her senses and subconsciously tried to run out of the courtyard, but Chu Xun grabbed her arm.

Others may not see it clearly, but Chu Xun sees it clearly.

Those who returned were all injured, and very few could walk on their own without assistance.

They supported each other, dragging and carrying many people, slowly making their way back to the village.

Zhang Anxiu instinctively tried to break free while staring wide-eyed outside.

As the crowd arrived at the village entrance, the old village chief's second son carried his lifeless father on his back, his eyes red and swollen.

The older brother beside him had a bloody face and one of his ears had been torn off.

Two younger brothers stood behind, carrying their lifeless brother.

The two brothers looked at the elderly, weak, women and children in front of them, their blood-stained bodies trembling.

Then he took a deep breath and roared, "From now on, that old well belongs to our village!"

There wasn't much fervor or excitement involved.

They went there because of that sentence.

He also came back with those words.

After a fierce night of fighting, Songguo Village emerged victorious.

The martial arts master from Sanshi Village was very brave, but he was still beaten and forced to flee with injuries.

Both sides suffered casualties, but Songguo Village suffered more casualties.

But they still won.

Even when the government officials came with their constables to persuade him, he still refused to put down the iron weapon in his hand.

Once you come, you don't intend to leave alive.

We must either fight for this old well for the village, so that the children won't suffer from thirst in the future, or we must risk our lives here!

The old village chief kept his word; even with his old bones broken, he would never let anyone look down on Songguo Village.

A real man should act like a real man!