Although it was nearly noon, the sky was as gloomy as dusk. The old ox in the field seemed unable to bear the sweltering heat either. While swinging its tail, it restlessly swayed the plough cover on its back. No matter how the owner urged it, it refused to take another step forward.
"Beast!" What evil spirit did you run into today? The man behind him cursed and raised his ox whip, but in the end, he couldn't bear to pull it down. He snorted heavily and muttered, "Forget it. I don't know why, but I'm also very flustered and have no heart to work." "Go home!"
He packed up the plough and led the big yellow ox towards the village. Three men in splendid robes came towards them, each with a 阴鸷 expression and a sharp gaze. The man didn't dare to look much. He hurriedly lowered his head and walked away, but a chill ran down his spine.
He had never met these three people before. There were over five hundred people in Yuanyang Village, and he knew almost all of them. These few people seemed to have emerged out of nowhere. Judging from his attire, he was clearly an official from outside the mountains and must not be provoked. But when did they enter the village? No one entered the village this morning.
Yuanyang Village is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Only a mountain hollow in front leads to the outside world, and the road is rough and difficult to travel. The villagers cultivate the land and feed on their own, rarely leaving the mountains, and even fewer outsiders set foot there. Behind the village lies the Yuanyang Mountain, which stretches for hundreds of miles and is the source of the Panlong River, the largest river in the Xuanyu Empire. When the river water was diverted into the village, it was already as thin as a brook, less than three zhang wide.
Even the river is hard to flow through, let alone people? These three people could never have come from Yuanyang Mountain. They must have entered the village from the mountain hollow ahead, but no one knew when they would sneak in.
The man, unwilling to get involved in any trouble, led the ox and lowered his head as he passed by the three of them. Just as I had taken a few steps, a sudden commotion came from behind me. The three stopped in their tracks, turned their heads in unison, fixed their eyes on the old yellow ox, and whispered a few words to each other.
One of them turned around, touched the prominent black mole on his chin and shouted at the man, "Hey, wait!" How much will you sell this cow to us for?
The man quickly turned around, bent down and smiled, "Your Excellency, I only live on three acres of meager land. I rely entirely on this ox for farming. It's really hard to sell."
The man with the mole snorted coldly, pushed forward and casually threw the two copper coins on the ground, scolding, "Stop being so nagging!" I'll buy it if I say so! After staying in the mountains for three days, birds have faded out of their mouths. This fat cow is just right to take back and treat the brothers!"
When the man heard that the other party was actually going to slaughter a cow for meat, he immediately became anxious. He grabbed the REINS and held the cow in his arms, pleading desperately, "Your Excellency, have mercy on the commoner!" This ox is the lifeblood of my big ox! My child and I just relied on it to plow the land and survive. It doesn't matter if a little person eats less, but the child is only twelve years old and is in the prime of his growth. "Without the cattle, we would starve to death, father and me!" "
The man with the mole was so agitated that he suddenly swung his palm and struck the big ox hard on the chest. There was a dull thud. The big ox spat blood from its mouth, flew backward and fell heavily to the ground. He burst into anger and shouted, "Ungrateful thing!" No matter what status I have, you still deserve to make conditions? It's your honor to eat your cow! Here's another copper coin for you. Let me take the ox away!"
"No matter how much money I have, I won't sell it!" The big ox, with red eyes, got up and didn't even bother to wipe the blood from the corner of its mouth. It held onto the ox's head tightly and said, "Please, Your Excellency, give us a way out!" "
"I'll kill you!" The man with the mole lifted his long robe and pulled out a dagger over a foot long from his waist. A cold light flashed and he was about to stab down!
Just at that moment, a hand suddenly pressed down on his wrist. A fair-faced companion shook his head gently and said in a low voice, "Don't cause too much trouble." But his gaze passed over the crowd and looked into the distance.
Looking around, he saw that several villagers who had just finished work had noticed the commotion here and were hurrying over.
The fair-faced man took out a silver note from his bosom and stuffed it into the big ox's arms, sneering inwardly, "This silver could buy five oxen. Be sensible."
The mole said in a low voice, unwilling to accept it, "You are wasting this..." He may have the fortune to take, but he may not have the fortune to spend. After tonight --
Before the words could be finished, the man in the brocade robe, who had been standing still all along, suddenly emerged and raised his hand, slamming it hard on the face with the mole with a "pop"! The crisp sound of a slap echoed along the village road. In an instant, five red marks appeared on the face of the mole, but he didn't even dare to cover himself. He knelt down in terror and said, "I know I'm guilty. Please punish me, leader!"
The man in brocade gave a cold snort and turned around, saying indifferently, "Keep your mouth shut." Give him a thousand taels. If he doesn't sell it, just take it away directly."
The white-faced man was about to take out the silver note again when the big ox suddenly hugged the ox's head tightly and shouted hoarply, "Sir, this ox is my life!" No matter how much money you offer, I won't sell it!"
Your life is worth nothing. The smile on the fair-faced face was tinged with coldness. "Since you are seeking your own death, I will make it your way."
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his right palm and suddenly pressed it against the chest of the big ox!
"Bang!"
The big ox was thrown upside down by the shock and landed hard on the ground. The white-faced man didn't even glance at the villagers who had surrounded him and threw the REINS to the mole, saying, "Take them away."
Four or five villagers were so furious that they rushed forward to help the big ox up and stopped the white-faced man, Shouting, "What right do you have to hit someone?" "Robbing a cow in broad daylight, are you robbers?" "
The white-faced man gave a disdainful smile and waved his hand at the mole, saying, "You go. I'll handle it."
Before he could finish speaking, his figure had already flickered. Only a few dull thuds and screams could be heard. The four villagers who had been standing just now all spat blood and fell to the ground, unable to get up!
"Overestimating oneself." " The white-faced man gently brushed the dust off the corner of his clothes and casually picked up the copper coin on the ground. He turned around and caught up with the mole, smiling and saying, "Don't blame me for not making a losing deal, you ungrateful one."
The three of them laughed and left.
The big ox wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth, his eyes flushed red. Struggling to his feet from the ground, he suddenly pushed away the villager who was trying to stop him and roared, "Robber!" Beast! "I'll fight you all --!"
"Look for death!" " The white-faced man sneered and turned to meet him.
The big black mole and the brocade robe did not return their heads. In their eyes, a village man with a white face was more than enough.
"Ah --!"
A scream rang out from behind. Both of them sneered at the same time but didn't turn back. The next moment, there was a dull "bang", and a figure flew out and rolled down by the roadside - it turned out to be a white-faced figure!
The two men's expressions changed abruptly and they turned around sharply. They saw the big ox clenching his fist, his expression horrified, as if he himself couldn't believe that the punch just now had come from him.
The man in the brocade robe's gaze sank. He looked over the shoulder of the big ox and saw an old man standing behind him. One of his hands was pressing against the back of the ox, and all the force of his palm was flowing into his body.
"Big shot, don't mention today's matter to anyone." The old man spoke slowly.
His face was full of wrinkles. He was the village master.
Having said that, he pulled the big ox behind him and stepped forward, hitting the wrist of the big mole with one foot. The sound of bone cracking was clear and audible. Before the big black mole could cry out in pain, he was kicked in the chest by the second foot. The whole person flew upside down in the air and landed heavily on the side of the white face!
The great ox was stunned, both surprised and delighted. He was almost about to clap his hands in approval when suddenly he saw the figure of the man in brocade move rapidly, and more than ten afterimages appeared before his eyes, surrounding the master tightly!
This strange body movement was something the great man had never seen in his life. He was so shocked that he opened his mouth to shout, but felt a sharp pain in his chest. He held his breath in his throat and couldn't make a sound.
Suddenly, the master's right foot hit the ground hard!
"Boom!"
Dust rose like waves, and the afterimage was instantly swallowed up by the wind and sand, with only one figure remaining. The master's right paw flashed out like lightning!
"Biss!" "
Blood splashed everywhere. The clothes on the waist of the man in brocade were torn apart, revealing his purple inner armor. A tiger-patterned belt around his waist was clearly visible!
The master's expression suddenly changed dramatically and he lost his voice, "Purple-robed Tiger Guard?" "!"
The man in brocade's face was ashen. Enduring the intense pain, he sneered inwardly, "I don't want the cow anymore. I'll give you all the silver notes. Let us go. How about that?"
A flash of evil intent flashed in the master's eyes. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt as if struck by lightning in his chest, his breath surging, and a mouthful of reverse blood almost spurted out. He turned around, took several deep breaths and forced himself to say, "Get out of here!" "Before I change my mind!" "
The man in the brocade robe was overjoyed in his heart, but his hatred grew even stronger: As long as he got out alive, why was he afraid of not being able to take revenge?
The white-faced man and the man with the big black mole didn't dare to stay either. They forced themselves to get up, threw down all the silver notes on their bodies, and left in a panic, supporting the man in brocade on both sides.
The big ox, in great pain, ran to lead the old ox back. He picked up the scattered silver notes and ran to the master, putting them in his hand: "Master, you saved me. Here they all are for you!" "
The people in the mountain village are self-sufficient for three meals a day. It is extremely difficult for them to go out of the mountains. Money is of little use here.
The master, however, did not take the silver note. Instead, he grabbed the big ox's wrist and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood!
"Master!" " The villagers, whose injuries had slightly eased, gathered around one after another.
The big shot shouted anxiously, "Quick!" "Quickly help Master get on the ox and return to the village!" "
Everyone worked together to lift the already unconscious master onto the ox's back. Although everyone was injured, they could still manage to hold on thanks to the farmer's strong body.
Crossing the stream bridge and entering the village, the water below the bridge surges, and groups of fish leap out of the water, churning ceaselessly, creating an extremely lively scene. But everyone had no time to pay attention; their hearts were all on the master.
Passing by the doorstep, the big ox shouted loudly into the fenced courtyard, "Xiaobao!"
A hurried response came from inside the room: "Dad!" I didn't go out!"
"Nonsense!" " The big shot cursed, "You can come out now!" Hurry up and call Uncle Yan. Master is injured!"
A thin but delicate figure rushed out of the earthen house, not even looking at the others, and dashed towards the west of the village.
A person beside him sighed, "Big shot, you've been raising your silly son for over a decade. What are you after?"
The big ox glared at him fiercely and shouted angrily, "My son is not stupid!" From the day I brought him back, I knew - my son isn't stupid! Just like me, he's an honest person!