The crowd exchanged glances, and after a moment's hesitation, agreed to Yang Haibo's suggestion.
The crowing of roosters echoed in Niutou Village, but at this moment, a large fire had erupted in front of the village, burning fiercely and spreading towards the interior.
Yang Haibo and his companions had already fled. Gazing at the sky-high flames, they were filled with excitement. "If this brat burns to death, I won't have to worry. Otherwise, when we return to Chuzhou, I'll still have to figure out how to deal with him!"
"With such a massive fire, if no one notices, they'll all be finished," said Young Master Zhu with a laugh. "Young Master Yang truly has a brilliant plan, making us stay in this desolate wilderness. Now we're getting our just deserts!"
Meanwhile, inside Niutou Village, as the fire spread, Datou and the others, realizing the gravity of the situation, rushed to extinguish it. However, being in the mountains, there was no water source nearby, and they were powerless to help.
Lu Fan and his group, sensing something was amiss, also came outside. Staring at the raging flames, their expressions instantly turned grim. He never imagined that staying a night in Niutou Village would lead to such a disaster.
"Benefactor, Niutou Village has suddenly caught fire. Please don't get too close and leave the village quickly," Datou urged.
"With such a big fire, you should leave quickly too!" Shen Xiaoxiao said anxiously. "This is very dangerous."
"This is our home, and we will never leave."
After speaking, Datou led the villagers towards a pond several miles away, a waterfall pond where the village usually got its water.
Unfortunately, the distance was too great. The villagers, going back and forth, found their efforts futile. As the saying goes, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire.
With the despairing gazes of numerous villagers, Shen Xiaoxiao and the others were at a loss for what to do.
"It's about to rain!" Lu Fan said gravely. "It should be soon!"
"Rain?" Shen Xiaoxiao said awkwardly. "How could it rain in this weather? It couldn't possibly be to put out the fire, could it? Would heaven be so kind!"
Lu Fan said nothing more, standing silently by. He had intended to use special means to transport water from the pond, but seeing the change in the sky, with the likelihood of heavy rain, he decided against revealing his abilities. Su Dan Novel Network
"Could it really rain?" Gu Wen muttered.
He knew Lu Fan was no ordinary person and would not speak casually. There must be a basis for his words.
"If Mr. Lu says it will rain, then it will," Han Yunhai said with a smile. "Let's just wait and see!"
Gu Wen found it incredible. For any other matter, Han Yunhai would trust Lu Fan implicitly, and he had no grounds to argue. But whether it rained or not was up to the heavens, not what people said.
Just as he was pondering, a strong wind swept through Niutou Mountain, followed by thunderous roars in the sky. A torrential downpour suddenly arrived.
The villagers of Niutou Village cheered, their eyes filled with joy. They had thought their village was about to be destroyed, but now, with the arrival of the rain, Niutou Village was spared from disaster.
The heavy rain quickly extinguished the fire. Apart from a few houses that were burned down, Niutou Village suffered no other losses. However, they were filled with anger, as they discovered several bottles of gasoline nearby. This was no natural disaster, but an act of arson.
"Village Chief, it must have been them!" Datou said angrily. "I'll take people to catch them now and demand an explanation!"
"Forget it, forget it!" the old village chief waved his hand. "Those people have already left. It's better to avoid more trouble!"
"Village Chief, if it weren't for that rain, our village would have been ruined," Datou said again. "How can we just let this matter go!"
"There's no need to say more!" the old village chief stated directly. "As long as there are no casualties, that's the best outcome! As for those people, they will receive their retribution in due time!"
Datou was helpless but could only comply. The old village chief was an elder, and he could not defy him.
"This matter is somewhat related to us!" Lu Fan stepped forward. "It makes us feel a sense of guilt!"
"Sir, please don't say that!" Datou said repeatedly. "Sir is my benefactor, and this fire has nothing to do with you!"
The old village chief also quickly said, "This matter is ultimately my failure to handle it properly, and it has nothing to do with you, sir!"
"It's already morning. Sir, why don't you set off soon?" Datou suggested. "If you want to pick medicinal herbs, I'll lead the way for you!"
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?" Lu Fan chuckled. "Wouldn't that be overly troublesome!"
"Sir cured Little Long's illness, so you are my benefactor!" Datou said earnestly. "It is only right that I lead the way for you!"
Lu Fan found it difficult to refuse and could only agree. However, with Datou leading the way, it would be much more convenient in Niutou Mountain.
Not long after, Lu Fan and his group set off. Lu Fan did not mention the events of the morning, but he kept them in mind.
The villagers of Niutou Village were simple and honest folk, yet their homes were almost destroyed. Lu Fan would not let this matter go easily.
"Sir, there are many wild beasts on Niutou Mountain. It's very dangerous for you to go up the mountain like this!"
Datou held his bow and arrow. "If you encounter danger, you might not be able to escape!"
"Thank you for the reminder!" Lu Fan smiled. "But there are many of us, so it should be fine!"
Datou smiled and didn't say much more. Lu Fan's group was indeed numerous, but the terrain of Niutou Mountain was complex. If they truly encountered danger, they could only resign themselves to fate.
After walking for a long time, Lu Fan suddenly stopped and looked at a medicinal herb beside him. "Zi Luo Cao?"
"Mr. Lu, is this something good?" Shen Xiaoxiao stepped forward, constantly observing it.
"A rare medicinal herb!" Lu Fan nodded. "If you took it to the medicinal market, it would likely be available but with no buyers!"
Shen Xiaoxiao was surprised. He hadn't expected that a random herb on Niutou Mountain would be of such significance.
"Sir, this kind of foxtail grass is everywhere on Niutou Mountain!" Datou said, utterly bewildered. "Is this foxtail grass really that rare?"
"It's everywhere?"
Gu Wen stood by, his face showing embarrassment. He knew Zi Luo Cao quite well; it was an extremely rare item in the medical field.
He never imagined that on Niutou Mountain, it would be like this.
Lu Fan did not hesitate and directly picked the herb. Although this herb was not extremely precious, it had good medicinal effects.
"Cough, cough, Mr. Lu, since Zi Luo Cao is everywhere, why don't we pick some to take back?" Shen Xiaoxiao tentatively asked. "After all, it's a good thing!"
"If you have the ability, you can!" Lu Fan nodded slightly. "It's a pity that Zi Luo Cao grows in unusual environments, and you might not be able to pick it!"
"Didn't he say that Zi Luo Cao is everywhere?" Shen Xiaoxiao looked at Datou, even more confused.
"This..." Datou gave an embarrassed smile. "Foxtail grass is indeed all over the mountain, but it's all on steep cliffs. I don't know why this one is here!"