The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 65 The Old Village Chief's Last Words

Shi Tou only had three days to visit his hometown.

Three days later, we will leave.

His son, Liao Licheng, had always been somewhat awkward with him, but after all, he was still a child, and when his father was really about to leave, he still couldn't bear to part with him.

Not to mention buckwheat flowers, which I haven't seen for ten years, I only saw for three days.

She expressed almost all the longing she wanted to say, and used all the strength she could muster.

The old bed at home couldn't withstand any more stress; it creaked and groaned, and before it even lasted until the second day, three of its legs broke.

Three days later, Stone changed back into his old clothes, took the reins of his brown warhorse, and headed out of the village.

Chu Xun walked alongside her, while Qiaohua led Liao Licheng behind them.

Further on, there were Qi Ermao and other villagers.

"This trip back home might mean I won't be able to come back for several years. I'll have to ask Xun-ge'er to help take care of things at home."

"Once I become a general, I'll bring my mother and daughter to live a life of luxury," Stone said.

Chu Xun nodded: "You saw it when we came; the mother and daughter haven't suffered any injustice, so there's no need to worry. On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes, so we still need to be cautious."

Whether or not you become a general in a New Year's painting is not important; living is the most important thing.

When they reached the village entrance, the two stopped.

Shi Tou turned around, and Chong Qiaohua and Liao Licheng waved to him.

Without hesitation, Qiaohua threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face.

Liao Licheng hesitated for a moment, then was pushed by Qi Ermao before reluctantly stepping forward.

Stone didn't mind, patted his head, and said, "Take good care of your mother at home."

Liao Licheng kept his head down, remaining silent and only fidgeting with his fingers.

Shi Tou took out a piece of paper from his pocket, handed it to Chu Xun, and said, "Please burn this for my mother."

Chu Xun was puzzled and was about to take it when the stone suddenly took it back.

"Never mind, I'll burn it for her myself later."

With that, Stone mounted his horse.

Qiaohua wept, Liao Licheng's eyes also reddened, and Qi Ermao and other childhood playmates hesitated to speak.

Stone knew what they wanted to say, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Military orders are absolute, I have no choice but to go. Once I'm painted on a New Year's picture, I'll never leave again. Brothers, uncles, aunts..."

He wanted to offer to help take care of his family, but then he thought that the villagers had already done a great job over the years, so there was no need to say anything more.

He then bowed again, shouting as he had done years before, "One day, you will be proud of me!"

Then Chong Chuxun and Qiaohua nodded slightly in acknowledgment and rode away.

Qiaohua chased after the horse for dozens of meters, crying, only to catch a few hooves kicking up dust.

It is certainly something to be happy about for a man to become an official, but when it comes to parting, the reluctance outweighs the anticipation.

A crow flew from the village and chased after the stone from afar.

Chu Xun looked up and saw that although there were dozens of crows in the house, they all looked the same to outsiders.

But in his eyes, they were all different.

This crow was the one Chu Xun sent to find Shi Tou when he joined the army.

It was not found ten years ago.

When the stone left again, it hurriedly chased after it.

Chu Xun wanted to call it back, but the words stuck in his throat.

Everyone has regrets.

People have it.

Crows are also present.

Most of the regrets people have are difficult to resolve.

The crow's regret is so easily expressed; let it be.

Just then, an urgent voice called out from behind: "Ah Xun! Ah Xun!"

Chu Xun turned around and saw Li Guangmao rushing over, his face full of anxiety and panic: "My father! My father is dying! Quick, please go see him!"

Chu Xun was not a doctor, so Li Guangmao's visit at this time was clearly not to ask him to save people.

There was no time for words. His physical abilities were already beyond those of ordinary people, and with his full speed, he left everyone behind in the blink of an eye.

Even Zhang Erzhu, who was known in the village as being faster than a wild dog, was dumbfounded.

"So Xun-ge can run this fast!?"

Chu Xun first ran home, took out his treasured old ginseng, cut a few slices, held them in his hand, and then ran towards the Li family.

When he arrived at the Li family's house, many people had already arrived.

"It's Ah Xun! Quick, make way!"

Chu Xun had no time for pleasantries and strode into the house.

On the old elm wood bed board, a coarse cloth mattress was laid out, and a few clumps of reed catkins peeked out from under the mattress.

The old village chief, Li Shoutian, lay in bed, his breathing intermittent.

"Ah Xun..." Li Guangmao called out.

"Don't panic." Chu Xun pried open Li Shoutian's mouth and stuffed the prepared ginseng slices under his tongue.

The medicine quickly took effect, bringing a touch of color to Li Shoutian's pale and thin face.

His chest heaving calmed down a little, and he struggled to open his eyes.

Li Guangmao squatted on the edge of the bed, worn smooth and shiny by time, his eyes red-rimmed, and called out, "Father, how are you feeling? I've sent someone to fetch the doctor from town; he'll be here soon!"

Li Shoutian's face was creased with wrinkles, and he managed a forced but not sad smile: "I've lived a long time, I won't suffer any losses."

"Not long enough, you'll live to be a hundred!" Li Guangmao said.

His two sons and daughter all squeezed in, sobbing.

Li Shoutian's complexion became increasingly rosy, and he chatted happily with his children and grandchildren, seemingly showing signs of improvement.

Many people secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Chu Xun was indeed capable, having such a miraculous elixir.

However, Chu Xun's expression remained solemn. Although he was only at the Qi Refining stage, he could already sense the subtle changes in the vitality of others.

Li Shoutian's chances of survival are hanging by a thread, and could be completely extinguished at any moment.

It was all thanks to the old ginseng that it was clinging to its last breath.

Li Shoutian seemed to understand this as well, and said to Li Guangmao, "You all go out first, I have something to say to A-Xun."

Although Li Guangmao felt uneasy, he still obediently pushed everyone out.

After he closed the door, Li Shoutian raised his hand.

However, his vital energy was already depleted, so Chu Xun quickly stepped forward and grabbed his hand.

Li Shoutian smiled and said, "Of all the young men in the village, I've always had the highest hopes for you, and I was right."

"Luckily, we pushed you back into the yard back then, otherwise you would have really died in front of that old well, which would have been a real waste."

Chu Xun nodded: "I remember."

Li Shoutian hummed in agreement, his voice slightly weaker than before.

"After I leave, you'll be in charge of everything in the village."

Before Chu Xun could speak, Li Shoutian's tone became even sterner: "You grew up on the charity of many families; you can't shirk this responsibility!"

Chu Xun fell silent. What could he say when Li Shoutian brought up the relief they had received years ago?

Li Shoutian's voice weakened further, and even though he was exhausted, he still gripped Chu Xun's hand tightly.

"I know that even if Anxiu is alone, and Sanchun's whole family is involved, they can't stop you from having your way."

"But now, with these hundred or so households in the village, if something happens to you, our village will have to go back to the situation where we have to rely on the dead to get water for the children."

The old village chief, who had spent most of his life running around for Songguo Village, held Chu Xun's hand tightly.

Chu Xun's heart sank slightly, thinking that the old village chief was trying to use the villagers' goodwill to make him give up seeking revenge.

Unexpectedly, Li Shoutian said, "So if you're going to kill him, you must kill him completely!"

"Don't bring trouble to yourself or the villagers."

"If you can't do it, don't go."