9: Evacuation: Be on high alert

“You mean you saw Lord Chuping!”

“Lord Chuping, he even personally appointed you as a Temple Official!”

“Chunsheng, this old man could tell at a glance that you were destined for great things! I truly didn't misjudge you!”

“Oh, right, right, and the matter of building the temple...”

The Village Chief, ignoring Liu Chunsheng's hesitant expression, rambled on and on, growing increasingly agitated. Finally, he slapped his thigh, squatted on the ground, and began to cry, whimpering.

“This old man is truly old and useless.”

Such a big matter as building a temple for a deity, how could he not have thought of it before?

Lord Chuping must be angry with him now, right?

Liu Chunsheng had never seen the Village Chief like this. Before, the Village Chief had always seemed calm, wise, and unmoving in his eyes. Today was truly an eye-opener.

“Village Chief, Lord Chuping isn't angry.”

“Really?”

Liu Chunsheng nodded affirmingly. Lord Chuping was a deity; his thoughts were not something mere Mortals like them could fathom.

How could an ant know the ambition of a Kunpeng?!

“Chunsheng, did Lord Chuping say where the temple should be built?”

“Lord Chuping didn't mention that. How about we choose the back mountain where the great deity was discovered?”

Since the great deity was discovered there, it must be a place of excellent feng shui. Choosing that location would surely be correct.

The Village Chief listened, pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

“What you said is not without reason. Let's tentatively decide on the back mountain. Chunsheng, hurry and ask Lord Chuping for instructions. This matter is of great importance and absolutely cannot have any mishaps!”

Chunsheng quickly agreed. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he saw the Village Chief had composed himself, his old face looking a bit awkward, rubbing his hands a little shyly: “Lord Chuping, does Lord Chuping have any instructions for this old man?”

“Ah, this...”

Of course, there were no instructions. To maintain his gravitas, Lin Chuping always tried to be concise when he would Enter Dream, finishing his business and going offline directly.

A deity must have the gravitas of a deity!

Liu Chunsheng scratched his head, a little embarrassed: “Village Chief, Lord Chuping sees all your hard work.”

Upon hearing this, Village Chief Li Fu almost burst into tears again.

“It was worth it! It was worth it!”

“This old man's life was worth it!”

“Please rest assured, Lord Chuping, this old man guarantees that not a single person from Nan Shu Village will run away. I promise to bring everyone back before dark!”

Liu Chunsheng...

Nan Shu Village, east end of the village.

Fang Youjin stood stern-faced in the open space in the center of the village. In front of him was a worn wooden box.

This wooden box contained the life-and-death lots that determined the fate of each family.

At this moment, the surrounding area was crowded with nervous villagers.

They all knew that the “Mountain God” only required able-bodied young adults as sacrifices, so a rule had long been established in the village: any household with an able-bodied young adult had to send someone to participate in the lot-drawing ceremony.

Only this time, it was different.

The person offered as a sacrifice to the “Mountain God” from Chang Sheng Village during the sacrifice at the beginning of the month had actually survived!

This was an unprecedented event, completely shattering people's past fearful perception of the “Mountain God” as inviolable, and adding an unusual atmosphere to this lot-drawing.

Despite this, most people were still anxious.

“Huaizhi, it's your turn!”

Wang Huaizhi, who was in the line, had zoned out at some point. It wasn't until Zhou Zhou behind him gently nudged him with his elbow that he snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream.

Wang Huaizhi came to his senses, slowly walked forward, and with trembling hands, reached into the bamboo tube.

A profound silence fell over the surroundings, broken only by his nervous breathing.

Wang Huaizhi drew a bamboo lot, and upon seeing a circle drawn on it, a look of relief appeared on his face.

A bamboo lot with a circle meant life!

The crowd let out a sigh of relief, some envious, some jealous.

Those further back in line were more worried; one less chance for “life”!

Everyone stepped forward to draw lots in turn.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, an abrupt shout suddenly rang out.

Gouwa, his face flushed and panting, ran over, shouting at the top of his lungs as he ran: “Village Chief, Village Chief! People from Chang Sheng Village are here!”

Fang Youjin's heart sank. At this time, for people from Chang Sheng Village to come over, they wouldn't be going back on their word, would they?

That wouldn't do!

“Who all came?”

Fang Youjin gestured, pausing the lot-drawing ceremony, and hurried in Gouwa's direction.

“So many people! Village Chief, I don't know any of them, but my cousin is among them!”

After the Village Chief left, the lot-drawing ceremony paused.

Li Zhu, standing among the crowd after just drawing his lot, looked down at the death lot in his hand, forcing a smile that was uglier than a cry.

*

On the other side, Fang Youjin took a deep breath and walked up to the group from Chang Sheng Village. Seeing that Qian Dazhuang was leading them, he breathed a slight sigh of relief; at least he was somewhat familiar.

“Brother Qian, what brings you here today?”

Qian Dazhuang: “By the divine decree of Lord Chuping, to bring the people of Nan Shu Village back to Chang Sheng Village for refuge.”

Such good news?!

Fang Youjin's eyes widened. “Lord Chuping's divine decree? Has Lord Chuping responded to us?”

“Heaven truly does not wish for my demise! Thank you, Lord Chuping! Thank you, Lord Chuping!”

Some of the Nan Shu Village villagers following behind couldn't control themselves and started crying.

Li Zhu cried the loudest, “I'm saved! I don't have to die?”

Qian Dazhuang... “There's no time to lose, hurry and pack your things!”

Before setting off, the esteemed Village Chief had repeatedly cautioned him: not a single person could be left behind!

He had specifically brought a few strong young men along; if anyone was unwilling, they even had ropes with them.

*

Night fell, Chang Sheng Village.

The entire village was quiet, so still that you could hear a pin drop.

The people of Nan Shu Village were all settled in the vacant rooms in the village.

Wang Houshi, under the gaze of everyone, walked into the ancestral hall with his head held high. Today, he would witness Lord Chuping's heroic battle, which was truly a great honor for his ancestors!

As for the others, anyone in the village who had any say was gathered at Qian Dazhuang's house.

No other reason than that Qian Dazhuang's house not only had Lord Chuping's divine body presiding over it but was also the closest to the ancestral hall, stacking up maximum safety buffs.

Everything was ready. Tonight, no one in Chang Sheng Village slept; everyone was on high alert.