The village elder had now made up her mind—she was determined to find a way to destroy the Tree of Life.
If the Tree of Life wasn’t destroyed, the village would never find peace. More and more outsiders would become fixated on the village, and more young people would end up as sacrificial pawns in the cycle of becoming the village chief.
“You don’t understand. Everything I’m doing isn’t just for you,” she said firmly.
“I simply want the Tree of Life to stop controlling our village. Do you even understand the heavy price one has to pay to become the village chief?”
The chief nodded slightly at her words, fully aware of the consequences she referred to. He had been the village chief for seven or eight years, and he understood all too well the costs and sacrifices involved. But for generations, the role of the chief had been preserved. If it were to end with him, he would never be able to face the previous chiefs.
“Granny, I understand what you mean, and I know what I must face. But I don’t regret anything. Becoming the village chief has been my honor, and I am willing to protect everyone in the village.”
“All I ask is for the Tree of Life to thrive once again.”
The elder let out a loud, bitter laugh at his words, tears streaming down her face. She had poured her heart into this mission to save him, only to discover he was willing to sacrifice everything for the village.
But she was determined not to let him have his way. She had vowed long ago to destroy this village and ensure that no one else would ever be bound by the Tree of Life.
“No one should live under the Tree of Life’s control anymore. Everyone should have the ability to think and decide for themselves.”
“I won’t stop now. I’ve planned this for years—how can I give up so easily? No matter what you say, my mind is made up,” she declared resolutely.
The chief realized he could not change the old woman’s mind. If that was the case, he would have to act himself. The only way for the Tree of Life to thrive again was through a significant sacrifice.
Unnoticed in the shadows, Lin Xiao stood silently, watching the scene unfold with a faint smile, as if relishing the chaos.
Meanwhile, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai were deeply worried about the situation. They knew the chief’s insistence on preserving the Tree of Life likely stemmed from its importance to the village’s survival. At the same time, they understood why the village elder wanted to destroy it.
“Please stop arguing!” Zhang Nu interjected. “The chief must have his reasons for wanting to keep the Tree of Life—it might truly be tied to the village’s life and death.”
“And I can understand why Granny wants to destroy it. But now is the time to lay everything out in the open. No more secrets.”
His words silenced the crowd.
The villagers had long relied on the chief’s guidance but had never been told the true cost of his predictions—the toll it took on his life.
“We never knew,” one villager finally admitted.
“If we’d known the chief was sacrificing his lifespan for us, we’d never have asked for his help so freely. From now on, we’ll learn to think for ourselves. We won’t burden the chief with everything.”
“Granny, please, let it go,” another chimed in.
As more villagers began pleading with her, the elder’s resolve wavered, but she ultimately remained steadfast.
“I’ve already made up my mind. This Tree of Life won’t harm another person in this village. I won’t allow anyone else to become the chief.”
Seeing this, the chief realized he couldn’t sway her. There was only one choice left: he would offer himself to the Tree of Life.
Each chief, after their death, would have their spirit absorbed by the Tree of Life, contributing the last remnants of their power to protect the village. His fate would be no different. He had long accepted that this would be his end.
Slowly, the chief approached the elder and gently wiped away her tears.
“Granny, there’s no need to worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
“Please, stop this. It’s not worth destroying the village over personal grievances.”
The elder, overwhelmed by his words, couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. They fell like pearls, one after another.
After comforting the elder, the chief walked toward the Tree of Life, gazing at it with a bittersweet expression full of nostalgia.