"Even if we don’t want to guard it, it’s not up to us. So many eyes covetously watch us, and for so many years, we have seen group after group sneak into the mountains. If we don’t guard it, the consequences would be the destruction of our home and the loss of lives."
Bai Ming, fearing Bai Xiang, this little brat, wouldn’t take it seriously, began to speak with a stern face.
In reality, who wasn’t a mischievous young lad back in the day, without grand ambitions, wanting to leave this place, to venture out and make something of themselves?
But as they grew older, they came to understand what promises were, what responsibility meant.
This mountain was their responsibility.
"Those people, aren’t they just here to dig for bamboo shoots?"
During the bamboo shoot season, a lot of people would come; they all knew that, right?
"Are you really my grandson? I doubt you’re real."
Bai Ming no longer wanted to speak with Bai Xiang; this was simply a fool.
"I’m sorry, Grandpa." Bai Xiang was definitely first-rate when it came to apologizing.
But Bai Ming didn’t want to argue about that now either.
"What we’re telling you guys is not for any other reason. For now, we’re holding the fort. You guys are still young, so it’s just to let you know to be aware. From Bai Da, you can see that people have noticed us for a long time. The more ordinary we appear, the safer this place will be.
Your current task is to improve yourselves because only when you are strong can others not defeat you. Once you reach our standard, you’ll be able to know the whole truth. I have faith in you."
Bai Ming looked at the two children and began to speak. He once thought they would not be involved, yet people had been watching them with greedy eyes for a long time.
However, it made sense; they held the Guardian’s secret. Perhaps not many knew, but it was absolutely impossible that no one did.
The word "treasure" could cloud many with greed.
Thus, only by making oneself stronger could one better guard oneself.
"You must understand that what you are guarding is not only this mountain, but also yourselves."
It wasn’t about guarding for the sake of guarding. It was about protecting oneself, the place where generations of their family had lived, the land that had raised them.
That secret, who knew what it truly was? Anyway, they hadn’t seen it themselves; it was merely a piece of paper.
"That so-called treasure is too far away from us; it’s just a piece of paper. Whether one can enter or not, who knows?
Only the land beneath our feet is real, our village is real, we ourselves are real. It’s foolish to give everything for a treasure whose outcome is unknown. Why not create with our own hands? As members of the Bai Family, you should learn to possess everything through your own efforts.
Of course, our Bai Family has connections from years of heritage. You two want to earn money, right? Show us your efforts, and we’ll provide you with resources.
Bai Xiang, Bai Zhi. Can you two do it?
Guard this place, guard yourselves?"
They wouldn’t force the two children; it was the responsibility they chose to bear, not the choice of the two children.
Whether to continue or not was their choice to make.
"If you’re unwilling, just pretend you heard nothing today; continue with your studies and never come back after you leave here."
Bai Xiang and Bai Zhi looked at each other and then spoke one after another.
"Grandpa, what you’re saying is odd. With people already knocking at our door, how can we back down? I’ll definitely stay, but I don’t agree with staying hidden. In the future, I want to be a rich man, and as I become more and more successful, more famous, who would dare to mess with me?"
He, Bai Xiang, was never one to run away. He hadn’t expected their Bai Family to have such a mysterious place.
It was just too bad he couldn’t tell anyone about it.
"Grandpa, Great Grandpa, I won’t back down either. Since people have already set their sights on us, we can’t be afraid."