Chapter 974: Chapter 948 Protecting the Mountain Village
Guard Mountain Village, relying on farming and hunting for generations, each man in the village is a skilled hunter, strong and sturdy, knowing some secular Kung Fu.
In fact, ten years ago, a Cultivator even emerged from the village and ultimately had the fortune to go to Mountain Corner Town, but later he was killed, having offended someone. Despite this, that Cultivator was regarded as an idol by the young people in the village, someone to strive after.
They all longed to become a powerful Cultivator themselves, thinking that even if they never left Guard Mountain Village, they could at least apply it to hunting and live a better life.
The mountains weren’t safe either. If unlucky enough to encounter a fierce beast, it would be disastrous. Even with a slightly aggressive beast, villagers might have to make sacrifices.
Originally peaceful Guard Mountain Village has lately been filled with anxiety, and the men in the village haven’t hunted for half a month. The food stored in the village was already running low. If it continued like this, the whole village could starve to death.
All the villagers were huddled in their homes, doors tightly closed, some hidden sentries always on guard against the outside situation.
In one homeroom, several elders and young men were gathered.
“Village Chief, we can’t go on like this; let me lead a team to the mountains to hunt. With our food, we can last only three more days,” said a burly man.
The village chief he spoke of was an elderly man with white hair, very thin. His face was filled with heaviness and gloominess, his eyelids very heavy, apparently having stayed up several nights without rest.
Worried!
“It’s too dangerous to hunt now. Last time, Aniu and they went out and never returned, clearly falling into the hands of Ox Demon Mountain. Ox Demon Mountain does all sorts of evil, capturing people everywhere now. If we go out, it will certainly be more harm than good,” a man spoke angrily but helplessly.
“Then what should we do? We can’t just sit here and wait for death?”
“And what if we don’t wait for death? Ox Demon Mountain is terrifying, and we are no match for them, alas—”
In the corner, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy clenched his fists tightly, his eyes shimmering with an unusually firm and angry look. Though he was young, he was as tall as an adult. His name was Niu Hong, but everyone liked to call him Little Hong. Though less than thirteen, he was already one of the few skilled hunters in the village.
Everyone even believed he could become the second Cultivator from Guard Mountain Village. Because of this, the village chief devised many plans, intending to send Niu Hong to be a servant in one of the four major families in Mountain Corner Town to strive for an opportunity.
But due to the Bull Demon King’s rampant capturing of people, this plan was shelved.
The old village chief, who had been silent, finally spoke, his voice hoarse and ancient: “Life and death are fateful; we are old. These old bones of ours are not worth pitying. It’s just—these kids suffer. Especially Little Hong, he must not die with us. He’s a good child, kind-hearted and perceptive. A great candidate for martial arts. If any force can take him in and cultivate him, he could certainly become a Cultivator.”
“No matter what, we must find a way to send Little Hong away. I have a bad feeling, maybe Ox Demon Mountain will fiercely attack our Guard Mountain Village. Our Guard Mountain Village may not last.”
“Yes, we must send Little Hong away. Little Hong is a once-in-a-century genius of our Guard Mountain Village. Now he’s only twelve; as long as he’s cultivated, he’ll certainly become a powerful Cultivator. Then, our Guard Mountain Village would have produced a remarkable person, lighting up our name.”
“Sending him to Mountain Corner Town isn’t safe enough; better send him to Muyang City. Once in the city, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Sending him to Muyang City, that’s too difficult.”
In the corner, Niu Hong stubbornly shook his head, unwavering and firm: “No, I won’t go. I want to stay with you, I will defend Guard Mountain Village to the death, I’m not afraid of those bandits from Ox Demon Mountain.”
“Nonsense, Little Hong, you must go. We can die, but you must not, you’re the only hope for Guard Mountain Village. If you die with us, it’s a pointless death, without a shred of value. You staying alive is the greatest value, our greatest hope,” a middle-aged man sternly scolded.
“No, Uncle Sen, if I must die, I want to die with you, Little Hong isn’t afraid of death.” Niu Hong nearly cried.
How could he bear to escape alone?
The old village chief also sternly said, “Little Hong, don’t act rashly, now is not the time for impulses. Guard Mountain Village can’t be saved, but as long as you live, become a powerful Cultivator in the future, and come back for revenge. If you die with us now, who will avenge us? Wouldn’t our deaths be in vain?”
“I—” Niu Hong choked up at once, clenching his fists so tightly they cracked, his blood surging, seemingly about to burst.
His eyes also shone with a resolute look.
If that’s how it was, then he swore to become a powerful Cultivator, avenging the villagers’ blood and hatred.
“Oh no, the bandits from Ox Demon Mountain are here,” suddenly a voice of shock came through.
Soon the rumbling sound was heard, the sound of hooves, the ground trembling slightly. Such a big movement, indicating at least dozens or even hundreds of bandits attacking.
Niu Hong immediately came to the window and looked out, indeed seeing a team of forty to fifty bandits charging aggressively. The steeds galloped over the mountainous terrain, raising clouds of dust. The scale was indeed grand.
Seeing the bandit troops from Ox Demon Mountain charging over, the people defending the village trembled like frightened birds, filled with fear and endless indignation.
“The bandits from Ox Demon Mountain are indeed coming, let’s fight them to the end.”
“Fight to the end.”
The villagers of the mountain village have farmed and hunted for generations. Although their customs are simple and honest, they possess strong and fierce temperaments, unafraid of life and death.
“Little Hong, you must leave quickly. It’s not good if you draw too much attention. You should go alone, take all the money and head to Muyang City.” The old village chief said, with a solemn expression, yet also with the loving reluctance of an old father.
This departure would mean farewell forever.
“Little Hong, hurry up and leave, this is a good opportunity. It’s okay if we die, you can avenge us later, then we can smile in the afterlife.”
“Village Chief, Grandpa Ge, Uncle Fu, I—” Niu Hong held back, but tears still fell.
His eyes had turned blood red.
“Go—” The village chief roared.
Niu Hong grabbed his luggage, reluctantly yet resolutely leaving.
Rumble—
The sound of horse hooves grew closer, shaking the entire mountain village as if the earth and mountains were trembling.
“Go, face the enemy!” The village chief ordered.
The villagers grabbed their spears, bows, and swords and rushed out, quickly gathering in the village square. The elderly and able-bodied men numbered only fifty or sixty. The elderly women and young children could only stay at home.
The bandit army had reached the front, surrounding the mountain village. The fierce-faced bandits on their swift horses looked at the villagers with mocking amusement.
The bald man leading them held a large blood-red knife, as if soaked in blood. He sneered coldly, his face chilling, like a demon.
Many of these bandits were cultivators of the Fundamental Realm, and the rest were bold and skilled fighters, which quickly made Ox Demon Mountain notorious.
Niu Hong, who had escaped from the rear of the village to the back mountain, saw from a distance the bandits from Ox Demon Mountain surrounding the village, feeling a painful stabbing in his heart. Being told to leave now felt worse to him than dying.
He stopped, unable to move his feet.
“No, I cannot watch the village chief and others die one by one while I survive alone. I was an orphan since childhood, picked up from the mountains by the village chief. All of the villagers treated me as their own son. In this life-and-death moment, how could I abandon them? If I have to die, let it be together. How could I live alone? No, I cannot leave, I must go back to save the village chief, even if I can’t save him, to die together with them.”
Niu Hong’s face was filled with determination. Having made up his mind, he immediately turned and ran back towards the mountain village.
On a small hill not far away, four figures stood there, watching everything unfold.
“Haha, not bad. This little guy is interesting, valuing loyalty so heavily. Knowing it’s death, yet still coming back without hesitation. His disposition is good. If properly cultivated, he might indeed amount to something.” Zhuang Qian said with a smile.
Tangyu also nodded in approval, “Indeed, valuing affection and loyalty, seeing emotion as more important than life. He clearly had a chance to escape and avenge the mountain village later, which is what the villagers hoped for. But he disregarded that, following his heart and returning resolutely. Such disposition is commendable.”
“Haha, Tangyu, hearing you say that, I sense you have some thoughts?” Zhuang Qian asked.
Tangyu shook his head, “What ideas could I have? Let’s go over there and get ready to rescue them.”
“Let’s go.” Zhuang Qian agreed.
The four figures swiftly darted towards that direction.
The leading bandit swung his blood-stained knife, pointing it at the villagers, sneering coldly, “Villagers of the mountain village, our Bull Demon King wants to make you slaves. This is the fortune of eight generations. Haha, surrender obediently and come with us to Ox Demon Mountain, then you’ll still live. If you resist, humph, my knife doesn’t recognize people. I wouldn’t mind wiping out your mountain village. Killing is a pleasure for us.”
“You lowly villagers, there’s only one chance. Miss it and there’s no turning back. Your choice determines whether you live or die, so choose wisely, it all comes down to your decision.”
The other bandits were equally fierce, their swords and knives gleaming with a chilling edge. As long as a single defiant word was uttered by the villagers, blood would be shed instantly.