Unaware of what had transpired elsewhere, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai remained deeply concerned about Lin Xiao.
“He doesn’t look well at all,” Liu Hai said with a frown. “What could possibly be wrong with him?”
Zhang Nu nodded in agreement. Lin Xiao’s condition was clearly not right, but they had no idea how to help him. In the end, they could only leave Lin Xiao to recover on his own.
“We don’t have a solution right now,” Zhang Nu said. “All we can do is let him handle this himself. Once he recovers, we’ll ask him about it.”
Liu Hai sighed and nodded reluctantly. Before leaving, Zhang Nu placed a protective barrier around Lin Xiao’s house to prevent anyone from entering and disturbing him.
The two then made their way to the Tree of Life. Standing before it, they noticed something different about the tree. It radiated a sense of warmth and vitality, looking more alive than ever before, almost as if it had been infused with new life.
“Do you feel like there’s something... different about the Tree of Life?” Liu Hai asked, puzzled.
Zhang Nu nodded. “I thought it was just my imagination, but you’re right. It’s not the same as it was before.”
Liu Hai, though unfamiliar with how the Tree of Life had been before the village chief’s sacrifice, could tell that the current Tree of Life gave off an entirely different feeling.
“Let’s head back to the village for now,” Zhang Nu suggested.
When they returned to the village, the once-lively place was now shrouded in a heavy shadow of despair. The air felt thick with sorrow, and the villagers moved about lifelessly, as if trapped in a perpetual gloom.
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai couldn’t stand seeing them .
“What’s wrong with all of you?” Zhang Nu asked, his tone sharp. “Why are you so defeated? You’re alive, aren’t you?”
The villagers, hearing his words, understood Zhang Nu and Liu Hai’s frustration. But guilt weighed heavily on their hearts. Their selfishness had caused the deaths of one village chief after another. How could they not feel remorse?
“Yes, we’re alive,” one villager said quietly. “But the village chief died because of us. Our selfishness has cost too many lives.”
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai exchanged a glance, understanding the depth of the villagers’ guilt.
“These things aren’t your fault,” Zhang Nu said firmly. “The village chief chose to keep this burden hidden from you because he didn’t want you to carry it.”
“You’re good people. Don’t let guilt consume you.”
Hearing his words, the villagers could no longer hold back their tears. They broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, as if releasing years of pent-up grief and regret. Zhang Nu and Liu Hai stood silently, watching as the villagers let out their emotions. They couldn’t offer words of comfort—they had no right to. The villagers’ actions had indeed led to the deaths of many chiefs, and their pain was understandable.
When the crying subsided, the villagers began to compose themselves. Zhang Nu addressed them again, his voice steady.
“It’s time to choose a new village chief,” he said. “This position is too important to remain vacant. But this time, don’t place all the burdens on the chief. Learn to carry some of the responsibilities yourselves.”
The villagers nodded solemnly, their expressions determined. They now understood the cost of relying too heavily on the village chief. Moving forward, they resolved to support their leader and ease their burdens, ensuring that future chiefs wouldn’t suffer the same fate.
“Thank you, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai, for saving our village.”
Zhang Nu shook his head. “There’s no need to thank us. We only did what we had to do. The rest is up to you. Take care of your village and its people.”
With the situation in the village resolved, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai returned to Lin Xiao’s home. They decided to wait for him to recover so they could bid him farewell before embarking on their next journey. Now that the village was safe, there was no reason for them to stay any longer.
The next morning, Lin Xiao finally stirred, feeling slightly better. When he opened his door, he found Zhang Nu and Liu Hai waiting outside, keeping watch over his home.