6: Villagers encounter monsters while out and about

Xiao Huang Village.

In a certain courtyard, Erya sat alone on the bed, looking slightly dejected.

"Erya, are you still thinking about Ergou?"

A middle-aged woman walked in, sat beside her, and asked.

"No!" Erya shook her head, her voice hesitant: "Mother, do you think there's really no chance for Ergou to recover?"

"How could that be false?" Mother Sun replied. "Your Uncle Zhang couldn't possibly be wrong with his diagnosis!"

Hearing this, Erya fell silent.

Seeing this, Mother Sun took her hand and whispered, "Erya, I know how you feel, but since Ergou is like this now, you should let go."

"I..."

Erya's face flushed slightly, and she stopped herself from speaking.

Mother Sun earnestly advised, "I think Tiezhu likes you. You two played together well since you were young. How about I arrange this marriage for you?"

"I..."

Erya sighed, "Mother, let me think about it."

"Alright!"

Mother Sun knew when to stop, nodded, and walked out.

Erya looked at the darkening sky outside the window, and her heart seemed to sink along with it.

Dozens of meters away.

In another courtyard, a voice drifted slowly out of the house.

"Father, I'm already grown up. Please help me ask for Erya's hand in marriage!"

The voice was very low, failing to travel outside the courtyard before dissipating into the air with the wind.

"Wait a little longer!"

"Father..."

"Why are you in such a rush? She will certainly be yours; she can't escape!"

This voice was somewhat deep, yet it still failed to leave the courtyard before quietly vanishing... The next day.

Early in the morning, the sun quietly crept up from the horizon, and a beam of morning light illuminated the earth.

In the Medical Hall, Chu Yuan had just gotten up when he heard a knock on the door.

Immediately after, a gentle, weak voice sounded, "Brother Chu Yuan, are you awake?"

"I am, Sister Yaner. Please wait a moment!"

Saying this, Chu Yuan quickly took two steps and opened the door.

He saw Zhang Yan standing outside the door, handing Chu Yuan a *wotou*.

"Brother Chu Yuan, hurry and eat. Once you're done, I'll show you around the Medical Hall!"

Chu Yuan took the fist-sized *wotou*, but suddenly realized something.

"Sister Yaner, have you eaten yet?"

"I have!" Zhang Yan nodded, but her eyes were slightly evasive.

Chu Yuan instantly caught this detail, and his heart warmed.

He broke the *wotou* in half and handed one half to Zhang Yan. "Have some more."

Zhang Yan waved her hand. "Brother Chu Yuan, I'm not hungry. You should eat quickly!"

But as soon as she finished speaking, a subtle rumbling sound came from her stomach.

A blush quickly crept up Zhang Yan's adorable face, and she lowered her head, remaining silent.

Chu Yuan placed the half into her hand. "Hurry and eat. Don't we have things to do once you're full?"

Zhang Yan slightly raised her eyes, glancing at Chu Yuan's handsome face, and couldn't help but blush lightly.

But remembering something, her eyes dimmed slightly.

Gently tearing off a small piece of the *wotou* in her hand and putting it in her mouth, Zhang Yan felt complicated emotions.

"Brother Chu Yuan, there isn't much to do today, so I'll start by teaching you to identify medicinal herbs."

After they finished eating, Zhang Yan said.

"Alright!"

Chu Yuan nodded... At the village entrance.

Everyone capable of working in Xiao Huang Village had gathered here.

Even children eight years old and above had come.

It was autumn harvest time.

They not only needed to quickly bring in the crops but also had to be wary of the intrusion of wild beasts outside.

If they encountered a Yao Beast or a Essence Spirit, that would be truly terrible!

Because of this, more than twenty adult men were drawn out to form the Guard Team, specifically to keep watch while everyone harvested the rice.

It was also to provide protection!

Every time they left the village, the villagers were nervous and looked solemn.

"Alright, since everyone is here, let's set off!"

With Zhang Xiangwen's command, a group of over a hundred people filed out of the village.

Watching this scene, Zhang Xiangwen secretly nodded, but his gaze fell upon the elder beside him.

"Uncle Zhao, is something wrong?"

Seeing the elder frown slightly, Zhang Xiangwen couldn't help but ask.

The elder's name was Zhao Jun. Don't assume he was weak just because he had white hair and a hunched figure.

One must know that he was one of the two strongest people in Xiao Huang Village, not at all weaker than Zhang Xiangwen.

Zhao Jun shook his head. "It's nothing, I just feel a bit uneasy. Xiang Wen, tell everyone to be extra careful."

"Understood!"

Zhang Xiangwen's expression instantly became more solemn, and he quickly agreed.

Zhao Jun was sixty-three this year, yet he was currently the longest-living person in Xiao Huang Village.

His feelings were never wrong. Today might really spell trouble.

But if they didn't rush the harvest in the next two days, judging by the weather, it would likely rain soon after.

If that happened, the yield would be reduced, and they wouldn't know how they would survive the next year.

The two quickly followed the main group, reminding the Guard Team to be even more cautious... Time quickly came to noon.

In the Medical Hall, Chu Yuan was learning to identify medicinal ingredients with Zhang Yan.

Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the distance.

Chu Yuan and Zhang Yan exchanged a look, put down the medicinal ingredients in their hands, and quickly walked to the door to look.

They saw the villagers running back in panic, some injured villagers being carried, their faces filled with terror.

Zhang Yan cried out in surprise, "What happened?"

Someone in the crowd shouted: "We ran into a Yao Beast! Little Yaner, hurry and come help."

Zhang Xiangwen and Zhao Jun brought up the rear, looking exhausted but still vigilantly watching the back.

Only when they saw everyone enter the village did they finally let out a sigh of relief.

Chu Yuan watched the many people with injuries and pale faces, and couldn't help but clench his fists.

Although he had been accustomed to this sight since childhood, seeing it again still filled him with unavoidable anger.

Just as he was about to go help, he saw Zhang Xiangwen walk over. "Chu Yuan, your body is still very weak. Go stay at my house first."

"Uncle Zhang, I..."

Before Chu Yuan could finish speaking, Uncle Zhang waved his hand and interrupted him: "Listen to me. The injured people carry Demonic Evil Qi. Your body is too frail; even if you catch a trace of it, you will surely die!"

"I..."

"Enough. You barely managed to survive, boy. Don't throw your life away. Listen to your Uncle Zhang and go quickly!"

A deep, serious voice came from a distance; it was Zhao Jun speaking.

"Grandpa Zhao, are you injured too?"

Chu Yuan looked surprised. How could he not recognize Zhao Jun? Even he was injured.

"We ran into a Fire Fox Demon and got some minor injuries. Listen to me and go quickly!"

"I..."

Before Chu Yuan could finish speaking, Zhang Xiangwen impatiently grabbed him and carried him to the entrance of his home.

Afterward, Zhang Xiangwen quickly returned to the Medical Hall to prepare the medicine for treatment.

Seeing this, Chu Yuan felt a little down, secretly wondering how he could find an excuse to recover.

He really couldn't just stay put!

But if he didn't have Spirit Medicine, how could he explain that his body had recovered?

Chu Yuan pondered silently, and a vague idea formed in his mind.