Zhao Zhuang was stunned for a moment before saying, "Uncle Liu. Don't you know? Last night, when you sat in that coffin, everyone in the village was giving you a thumbs up, saying you were a real man. The Liu family has produced true heroes for generations. Uncle Liu, the lives of more than a hundred people in this village all depend on you!"

Old Liu Tou stared at Zhao Zhuang without blinking. "Then after I die? Who will guard this village?"

"This..." Zhao Zhuang didn't know how to answer for a moment.

The consensus in Yulou Village had always been that the inheritance of術士 (shushi, occultist) had been severed, and only the Liu family would risk their lives to guard the village.

If Zhao Zhuang were to say now that there was someone else who could guard it, the whole thing would be exposed.

However, Old Liu Tou didn't want to let him off the hook. "I'm just afraid that after I'm gone, there will be no one to guard the village anymore. It just so happens that Mr. Li has come, and if we old and young men work together, we can fight the water ghost. It's better than being trapped here. Don't you think so?"

"We don't trust him!" The man who had spoken to me at the village entrance said, "He's a ghost! When he spoke to me at the village entrance, his eyes glowed. He also told me to call you out, and as soon as you left, something would happen to the village."

Old Liu Tou turned his head and asked, "How did you remember that his eyes glowed? People who are bewitched by ghosts don't know anything after they wake up."

Seeing that he couldn't make it up, the man simply stated the matter clearly: "Brother Zhuang, let's not beat around the bush. Uncle Liu, to tell you the truth, when you're gone, someone will naturally take your place. You don't have to worry about what happens to the village."

"When you're gone, it can be exchanged for more than ten or twenty years of peace in the village. Everyone in the village will remember your kindness."

Old Liu Tou suddenly laughed. At first, it was a sneer, but the more he laughed, the louder he became, and finally, he laughed until tears came out of his eyes.

Old Liu Tou finally stopped laughing. "It seems that the Liu family is the only fool in the whole village! You're all capable, all good people."

Old Liu Tou stood up, biting his pipe. "You can guard the water if you can! I'm old, I can't guard it anymore. I won't interfere in the affairs of the village anymore. I'll just go with Mr. Li, and live one day at a time outside."

As soon as Old Liu Tou stood up, Zhao Zhuang became anxious. "I say, Uncle Liu, are you just leaving like that? Are you not going to care about the village affairs anymore?"

"I'm not going to care! I can't care anymore!" As Old Liu Tou waved his hand and walked back, Zhao Zhuang knelt down. "Uncle Liu, please stay! We can guard the water, but we have old people and young children to take care of! You're the only one who's free and unburdened. If you leave, every family will set up a longevity tablet for you."

Old Liu Tou swayed twice before barely standing firm. "I don't care for it!"

Zhao Zhuang was really anxious now. "Liu Bao! Don't be ungrateful. Since you're ruthless and unjust, don't blame us for being rude. Stop them!"

Old Liu Tou turned his head sharply. "I'd like to see who dares!"

Old Liu Tou's face was pale, and his snow-white beard trembled with anger. But the villagers were determined not to let him leave, and some had already blocked the gate with sticks.

Someone pointed at me and said, "It's all because of him. If he hadn't come, there wouldn't be so much trouble. Let's kill him first!"

I sneered, stepped forward, and kicked the person rushing in the front. Seeing that my foot was about to hit him, he held his hoe horizontally, trying to block my kick. The hoe handle, as thick as an arm, broke into two pieces under my foot. The other person was kicked in the chest by me and flew backward, knocking down the people behind him.

I casually picked up the hoe that had fallen on the ground, drew Bai Zhou, and cut the iron hoe into two sections with a single slash. I held half of the broken iron hoe in my hand and said coldly, "Who wants to die? Come and try!"

As I spoke, the killing intent on my body rose steadily. After three consecutive surges, my whole person looked like a hellish ghost, standing in front of the crowd, but not even looking at them.

Gui San of the Nine Ghosts had taught me a principle:高手 (gaoshou, master) duels emphasize momentum. If the momentum is weak, you will lose three points before the battle even begins. Conversely, if you grasp the momentum well, you can even subdue the enemy without fighting.

Moreover, momentum is not simply about being strong against the enemy. Sometimes, the competition of momentum is like a psychological warfare between高手 (gaoshou, master), which can change rapidly in an instant. Therefore, what Gui San taught me the most was how to use momentum to suppress opponents.

At that time, my killing intent was not fully released, but just a small test. However, I was sending them a message.

That is, you are just ants in my eyes. Whether to crush you to death or not just depends on whether I want to move my foot.

The villagers led by Zhao Zhuang were all so frightened that they didn't dare to say a word.

Old Liu Tou picked up his backpack from the doorway. "Mr. Li, let's go!"

"Okay!" As I followed Old Liu Tou forward, the crowd automatically parted to make way.

As we walked out of the courtyard, Zhao Zhuang shouted at the top of his voice, "Uncle Liu, are you really going to do things so absolutely? Don't you think about where your roots are?"

Zhao Zhuang didn't dare to shout at me, so he could only force Old Liu Tou.