Zhang Xiaoshan spent so ti treating Little White Tiger.
By the ti he arrived at the village hall, the small square was already crowded with over a hundred people.
In such incidents, the village united like never before.
Not a single man backed down; everyone was ard with knives and pitchforks.
The dozen mbers of the village protection team were even holding hunting rifles.
Wu Daming stood on the small platform used for raising the flag, his face grim.
"Village chief, let’s fight that beast," soone said.
"Right, we must slaughter it," another agreed.
Li Erniu, who was always eager to prove his toughness, was particularly enthusiastic.
Wu Biao, the captain of the protection team, was no less determined.
"Uncle, my sheep were eaten; I won’t let that beast off the hook," he proclaid.
"Just give the order already, are we going to fight it or what?" he demanded.
Yet so with fainter hearts spoke up.
"Perhaps the beast has returned to the mountains after feeding. Maybe it’s better to let it go," one suggested.
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
At that mont, Zhang Xiaoshan burst into the midst of the crowd.
"No, we can’t take that creature lightly. If it can co down from the mountain once, it can do so again. If we don’t stand our ground this ti, next ti it might sneak into the village not just to eat sheep but to claim human lives. Who knows how many will die then," he argued.
No sooner had he said this than an old hunter spoke up in support.
"Little Shan’s right. Once a beast has tasted human blood, it’ll definitely attack the villagers again," the hunter affird.
"This ti it was only Zhang Ercai who died, but next ti, who knows?"
"Won and children don’t stand a chance against such a creature. In one night, it could easily consu a dozen people," soone added.
"Exactly, without dealing with that creature, we’ll all be living in fear," another villager agreed.
Seeing the reaction, Wu Daming glanced sidelong at Zhang Xiaoshan, feeling a peak of annoyance inside.
Who was the village chief after all?
Why was Zhang Xiaoshan calling the shots, and even worse, why were so many people heeding his advice?
He felt his authority was being threatened.
He didn’t want Zhang Xiaoshan to get his way.
Clearing his throat, he spoke up.
"With the rain this heavy, that beast has long since run off. Everyone’s got wives and children at ho to worry about. I think everyone should disperse and take care of their families for now. Once the weather clears, we’ll discuss this again," he declared.
"Village chief, by doing this, you’re nurturing a snake that will bring calamity," Zhang Xiaoshan imdiately stood up to Wu Daming.
Wu Daming snapped back irritably,
"Or maybe I should just let you be the village chief, huh?"
"You..."
Zhang Xiaoshan knew Wu Daming was targeting him.
The villagers weren’t fools; they sensed the tension.
Looking at each other in uncertainty, they didn’t know what to do.
"Uncle, how about we leave so people to protect the village and the rest of us track down the beast?" Wu Biao tentatively suggested.
"I said we’re done here. What if the python was just acting on a whim? Your grand display might infuriate the creature even more, and who knows how many will die then?" Wu Daming’s tone was resolute.
"Also, Wu Biao, don’t forget who you are," he added.
Hearing this, Wu Biao lowered his head and said no more.
At this point, many of the n were about to disperse.
"Ahh, help, sobody help..."
Just then, piercing cries for help ca from the small school next to the village hall.
Following this, a group of students who had been in class began running out of the school, screaming and crying.
The village hall was only a few hundred ters from the elentary school.
The n imdiately ran toward the school.
"What’s going on?"
Zhang Xiaoshan, running at the front, caught a little girl in his arms.
"Wu-wu, Big Brother Shan, there’s a python, a big python in the school, wu-wu-wu," the little girl cried out in terror.
An older boy shouted,
"Big Brother Shan, Mr. Xu was taken by the python while trying to protect us, wu-wu-wu, Grandpa Chief, please save Mr. Xu."
"What?"
At the boy’s words, Zhang Xiaoshan felt as though struck by thunder. He set down the little girl and rushed into the school.
The back wall of the village school had collapsed.
Desks and chairs in the classroom were overturned, and the room was in complete disarray.
"Xu Jing, Xu Jing," Zhang Xiaoshan called out as he looked around, receiving no answer.
His face turned ashen.
Right, the Red Training Snake King had co for revenge, and it would surely seek out his scent. He had only thought of his sister-in-law but had forgotten about Xu Jing.
"Xu Jing, you must be all right," he said, clenching his fists tightly, his expression ferocious.
He took an arrow step and charged over the collapsed back wall.
Because of the rain, the ground was extrely muddy, and the python had left behind a clear trail.
"We should go take a look too," so of the n said, following him.
"Uncle, what do we do now?" Wu Biao asked, looking to Wu Daming.
Wu Daming pondered for a mont.
After all, Xu Jing was soone dispatched from above; if anything were to happen to her, he would have trouble explaining to his superiors.
"Let’s all go take a look," he decided.
A throng of people set off, tracing the serpent’s trail with determination.
The trail continued to spread toward the back mountain.
This made Zhang Xiaoshan, who was running at the front, increasingly anxious.
If the Red Training Snake King got into the mountains, with their height and dense forests, finding it would be as difficult as reaching the heavens. Not to ntion saving Xu Jing’s life, they might not even be able to find her remains.
"Hmm?"
As they were about to reach the back mountain, Zhang Xiaoshan’s pace slowed, and he ca to a halt.
There, they reached the edge of a cornfield.
It was the very field where Zhang Xiaoshan and Jia Lanhua had had their tryst a few days before.
Now, several cornstalks were flattened, forming a path.
Without a doubt, the Red Training Snake King had slithered through here.
"Damn it, I must kill you today," Zhang Xiaoshan’s eyes were blazing.
"Everybody, let’s help out," he called.
The n who had caught up were soaked through by the rain, but their fighting spirit was burning fiercely.
"Huff, huff, huff, huff..."
Wu Daming, being older, was out of breath and drenched in sweat.
"Village chief, what should we do?"
Everyone was waiting for Wu Daming’s command.
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