The survivor's wife was frightened yesterday. Seeing so many people coming to cause trouble today, she erupted with powerful combativeness and rushed out.
"What do you all mean? Talking nonsense here, falling into the lake means death. My husband almost died yesterday. What do you think you are, made of iron? Running here saying you can survive even at the bottom of the lake. I think you're just here to pick a fight. Seeing our husband alive, do you feel it's unfair?"
The woman's voice was particularly harsh. Another one ran over, looking similar in build to the survivor's wife, clearly another person not to be trifled with.
"How interesting, you women who talk without consequence. Do you really think we're here to pick a fight? We just want to save our own people. There's a legend that there's another world at the bottom of the lake, and those who fell in might still be alive. Now your husband is the only labor force, and you have two new male guests. Who else can we rely on if not them?"
Ye Tiancheng also heard these words and instantly understood. The reason these people came running to seek their help was simply because this family had three men. In the current situation, this was extremely rare. Everyone else had died, and having three men now was a very precious phenomenon. Of course, this wasn't the main reason; there were other factors.
"You're saying there's another world at the bottom of the lake."
"My husband told me before. He deliberately kept it from me, but I overheard him. My husband never lies, so I think the possibility of this matter is over eighty percent."
The villagers were all making solemn vows, which made Ye Tiancheng have to start doubting if there was really something at the bottom of the lake. He also wanted to explore it. It wasn't for any other reason; Liu Lanying's whereabouts were still unknown. Traveling elsewhere seemed unlikely. Now, the most probable location really was the bottom of the lake.
"How about this, I'll go down the lake tomorrow morning. But before that, I need to rest. My body isn't in good condition and needs rest before I can set off again."
It would take at least a day for Ye Tiancheng to accumulate some true qi before he could set off again. Otherwise, in his current state, Ye Tiancheng was too weak and wouldn't be able to last long at the bottom of the lake, possibly even losing his life.
"Are you really going to the bottom of the lake, or are you deliberately playing mind games with us, thinking we're all easily fooled villagers and want to trick us?"
He had faced too much doubt over the years. If he were to get angry, he wouldn't be able to stop. Ye Tiancheng remained calm.
"Stop it. I'm fine. Why would I lie to you? You're the ones asking me for a favor now, so you should listen to me. If you don't listen, I have no reason to risk myself for your family. I'm not a philanthropist."
Ye Tiancheng was indeed a philanthropist, but he only helped those in disaster areas, or the disabled, or women, children, and the elderly. These fierce-looking villagers were not within his scope of consideration. He felt these people were not worth all his effort.
"No one can help us now except you. We can only place our hopes on you, a capable person. We'll all listen to you. Just give us any instructions you have. Please don't be polite; we are indeed asking for a favor and will listen to you carefully. We won't dare to displease you again."
Indeed, the kind are often bullied. Ye Tiancheng's reminder actually subdued that person, who immediately behaved very well. Ye Tiancheng also felt his mood improve. He could help them find people incidentally. However, so much time had passed. If another day passed, these people probably wouldn't survive, as most were dead. Only a few had fallen into the lake. Those who died in front of them were beyond help.
"How about this, bring me any nutritious food you have at home. I need to nourish my body, otherwise, I won't have the strength to go down the lake to find your relatives."
The people suddenly started a heated discussion because they felt Ye Tiancheng's condition was very much like a scam. Facing someone they didn't know at all like Ye Tiancheng, they felt that believing him was the beginning of being cheated. In such a situation, it was best not to believe his nonsense.
"Stop chattering here. Anyway, my benefactor saved my husband. I saw it with my own eyes. He was already beyond saving, and my benefactor saved him. You all know my temper is fiery, but I don't lie. I wouldn't make up something that didn't happen."
With the testimony of the survivor's wife, others considered it for a moment and decided it was better to try anything, even if it seemed unlikely.
Before long, everyone brought over precious food from their homes, such as mushrooms, which were expensive outside, like morels, and some honey, all produced by themselves. It was unrealistic for them to produce anything truly exceptional. This was already quite good for them.
"Thank you all. I'll set off tomorrow morning. You can come and supervise tomorrow, but don't disturb me today. I need to rest. If I don't rest well, I won't be able to do anything."
Ye Tiancheng had made his request, and this situation was considered normal. No one dared to disturb him. They all treated Ye Tiancheng as a deity to be worshipped. Now, as long as he could help them, he was the supreme existence, and no one could shake Ye Tiancheng's position.
After all the villagers left, Ye Tiancheng ate the honey. Then, the survivor's wife volunteered, saying she could help make mushroom soup for Ye Tiancheng to drink. The mushroom soup was incredibly delicious.
"This is so delicious! Fatty, Cui Cui, you guys try it too. The taste is exceptionally good, truly exquisite."
Ye Tiancheng didn't expect to find a hidden chef here. The cooking was incredibly impressive. A simple mushroom soup, with a few slices of meat and seasonings added, was transformed into an irreplaceable delicacy, which greatly surprised Ye Tiancheng. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Brother Ye, you drink it. Your body needs nutrition now, and you have to help those people find their missing relatives tomorrow. You must accumulate enough strength, or there will be danger."
Fatty finally understood. Otherwise, Fatty, who was usually so gluttonous, would have been the first to grab food if there was any, not be so hesitant and considerate of Ye Tiancheng like this.
"It's alright. Even if I need more energy, I can't finish a whole pot of soup. Did you see? I feel like ten pigs couldn't finish it. I can only drink half the pot."
"Alright, then your brother will accompany you for a bit. I'm afraid you'll be bored drinking alone."
The two of them were quite amusing, willing to face anything together.
"Mr. Ye, Brother Fatty, you two are really interesting. Anyone who didn't know would think you were drinking together, but it's just soup."
Cui Cui was on the side helping Ye Tiancheng and Fatty wash their clothes. Their clothes were incredibly dirty, as if they had rolled in mud. They had changed into the survivor's clothes, and Cui Cui was helping wash the ones they took off.
"Come and drink the soup quickly after you finish washing. You're too tired and also need to replenish your nutrition."
Cui Cui smiled, her dimples particularly sweet. After washing the clothes, she quickly joined Ye Tiancheng and Fatty to eat.
Ye Tiancheng went to bed early that night. Under the guise of resting, he actually wanted to cultivate and not be disturbed by anyone. The mushroom soup he drank had to be fully absorbed by his body, so he would have more confidence when he went to the bottom of the lake tomorrow.
Ye Tiancheng woke up early the next day. Perhaps it was the effect of the mushroom soup; he broke out in a fine sweat all over his body.
Ye Tiancheng couldn't bother with anything else and quickly got up. As soon as he stepped out, he saw those people coming to supervise him. However, today was better; they brought a small basket, and what was inside was unknown, covered mysteriously with a cloth.
"You don't need to supervise me anymore. I'm leaving now. You can go back home."
"I made you some steamed buns and egg cakes. Have a bite first. It's so early, and this family hasn't woken up yet. You should have a bite before you go, or I'll worry you'll go hungry."
Ye Tiancheng had been carefree before and hadn't really paid attention to these people. But today, he saw some expectation in their eyes. The faint light shining in their eyes, a shock from humanity, suddenly gave Ye Tiancheng a sense of responsibility.
"You've gone to a lot of trouble. I'll try my best to save them, but the chances aren't very high. I need to make that clear to you in advance."
"We believe in you."
Ye Tiancheng felt like a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. For a moment, he felt he couldn't even eat the steamed buns and egg cakes. Having eaten their food, he had to do the job. People say you're beholden to those you eat from, but Ye Tiancheng didn't have much confidence. His primary goal was to find Liu Lanying; saving others was just a secondary matter, and he couldn't possibly put in his utmost effort.
"Don't be too nervous. As long as you're willing to try your best, we won't blame you if you can't save them."
Finally hearing these people relent, Ye Tiancheng felt a sense of relief. "That's good to hear. I'll continue eating the steamed buns. Thank you for preparing all this for me."
Ye Tiancheng ate some steamed buns and drank some egg cakes. He felt warm in his stomach and finally set off in a good mood. Not long after he left, he heard a voice from behind.
"Brother Ye, you're too early! If I, Fatty, hadn't been woken up by the need to urinate, I wouldn't have known you left by yourself. You're too inconsiderate. You left your brother behind. Didn't we agree? I'll go with you. You can't handle many things alone; you need someone to help you."
"But it's too dangerous for you to follow me, Fatty. You should wait for me at home, or I'll have to look after you."
Going to the bottom of the lake, if one wasn't protected by true qi, ordinary people would have died long ago. Fatty could go down too, but Ye Tiancheng would have to use his true qi to help him breathe, which would be a burden to Ye Tiancheng.
"Alright, Brother Ye, I'll listen to you. I'll wait for you at home. I won't cause you any trouble."
Fatty was quite obedient and quickly went home. Ye Tiancheng protected his entire body with true qi and then went into the lake. There were water plants all around, looking like they would strangle a person. Ye Tiancheng was fortunate to have protected himself with true qi, otherwise, the situation would have been very dangerous.
At the bottom of the lake, he saw a vortex. The vortex was very strange, looking like it was trying to suck people in.
This must be the place. When things are abnormal, there must be a reason. Ye Tiancheng was almost certain that without the protection of true qi, he would have been sucked into this vortex. Ye Tiancheng then relaxed himself, allowing the surrounding true qi layer to break, and was instantly sucked into the vortex.