Chapter 5: The Village Guardian

The village chief’s hand trembled slightly as he smoked his pipe, struggling to keep his composure and avoid being rude.

“Little Brother Chu, thank you for bringing back my unfortunate grandson.” After a long silence, the village chief spoke again.

At this moment, the village chief’s mind was a jumble; he had already said his thanks several times.

“It’s late now. Little Brother Chu, if you don’t mind, I have a side room at my place—stay the night.”

“After I finish arranging my grandson’s funeral, I’ll properly repay you, Little Brother Chu!” The village chief glanced outside; it was now completely dark.

Even if Chu Danqing hadn’t helped, he could never have truly turned him away.

Earlier, when Chu Danqing arrived, he had shown the village chief his travel permit—he was a respectable young man.

“I’ll humbly accept then, or I truly won’t have anywhere to sleep tonight.” Chu Danqing of course couldn’t refuse.

Ancient times, night, wilderness—these three words together had nothing to do with safety.

“By the way, I’ll hand these two beasts over to you, Village Chief.” Chu Danqing pointed to the two wolf carcasses hanging in the corner.

His action instantly raised the village chief’s family’s goodwill to reverence.

“I won’t be polite—I’d rather grind these beasts to dust!” The village chief’s fury was so intense, even mentally impaired Da Bao could sense it.

Da Bao, who was eating, shrank his head; his massive frame looked slightly comical.

“Jiang Tu, help me deal with these two beasts. Keep the hides and bones, and boil the meat into a pot to share among everyone.”

The village chief’s gaze turned to Jiang Tu, who was loitering for a meal.

“Don’t worry, Village Chief—my skills guarantee I’ll clean them spotless!” Jiang Tu immediately stood up, pounding his chest in assurance.

“I trust your work.” The village chief nodded; his thinking was simple—these beasts had eaten his grandson, so they must suffer the same fate.

As for the taboo nature of this, he truly didn’t care.

“Then, Little Brother Chu, have dinner first. At night—” The village chief paused, glancing at Da Bao: “Jiang Tu, can Da Bao sleep with you tonight? To avoid disturbing Little Brother Chu.”

Before Jiang Tu could answer, Chu Danqing spoke first: “Village Chief, that wouldn’t be right. I’m only staying temporarily—how could I take up Da Bao’s bed?”

“If he doesn’t mind, I can sleep with him.”

Chu Danqing truly felt awkward taking someone’s place, but he also had his own quiet motives.

Not to mention much else—Da Bao’s combat strength as village guardian was obvious; if anything happened at night, he could at least watch over Chu Danqing.

“I don’t mind! I want to sleep with Little Brother Chu!” Da Bao quickly swallowed his food and spoke first.

Jiang Tu’s house had only one room; sleeping with Jiang Tu was worse than squeezing in with Chu Danqing, who was at least easier on the eyes.

“You don’t mind? Little Brother Chu isn’t even disgusted by you!” Jiang Tu, caught between them, couldn’t say anything more.

Seeing this, the village chief was about to say something, but Chu Danqing preempted him, insisting no trouble was needed.

Due to Chu Danqing’s attitude, he didn’t press further.

“Then, Little Brother Chu, please bear with Da Bao tonight.” The village chief gave a heads-up.

After dinner, Jiang Tu wiped his mouth, picked up the two wolf carcasses on a pole, and headed home.

The village chief’s eldest son brought a set of bedding, and the three of them went to the side room.

After helping settle things, he left.

Tonight, the village chief’s family wouldn’t sleep—whether preparing the funeral or consumed by grief.

Inside the room, Da Bao looked wistfully at the bed, his massive frame making the expression oddly pitiful to Chu Danqing.

“Alright, Da Bao, you sleep on the bed—I’ll sleep on the floor.” Chu Danqing didn’t mind where he slept.

“But… Da Dezi said you should sleep.” Da Bao was tempted but didn’t dare move.

“It’s fine—I’ll say I told you to sleep. He’ll only scold me.” Chu Danqing coaxed Da Bao.

He could tell Da Bao’s mental age was no more than five—like a child.

With those words, Da Bao was overjoyed.

They quickly swapped bedding; after this act, Da Bao became much more open with Chu Danqing and talked more.

In their conversation, Chu Danqing learned much about Da Bao.

Da Bao’s mother became pregnant before marriage; his father was unknown. After giving birth, she went mad, wandered into the back mountains, and never returned.

Da Bao was born with intellectual disabilities and grew up on the village’s collective meals and hand-me-down clothes.

He was determined—he grew into this massive frame. Aside from his low intellect, his health and strength never betrayed the villagers’ care.

Chu Danqing also subtly asked about the White Dragon Fish and the Falling Flower Cave; Da Bao described them as “bad things” and “black holes.”

They chatted back and forth, and Chu Danqing didn’t realize when he fell asleep.

Only in the late night did he half-awake to the sound of a baby crying.

“Whose child is crying at this hour?” Chu Danqing pulled the blanket over his head, mid-complaint, then suddenly realized his situation.

In an instant, he was fully awake.

He couldn’t confirm the exact time, but from the angle of moonlight streaming through the window, he guessed it was still long before dawn.

His gaze immediately turned to Da Bao.

He suspected Da Bao for two reasons: first, Da Bao’s mental state; second, the trial task had mentioned it.

Fortunately, it wasn’t him—he slept soundly.

When he calmed down and listened more closely, he realized the sound came from outside.

“Waa~ Waa~”

Chu Danqing’s heart tightened—he was certain the baby’s cry was drawing nearer.

And the target was almost certainly him.

He scanned the room—there was nothing he could use as a weapon. He wondered whether to wake Da Bao.

As he thought, a strange rustling came from the roof tiles, like a four-legged creature crawling.

He glanced up and saw a dark shadow lowering a vaguely familiar head from the eaves.

“Huh? Giant salamander???” Chu Danqing, trained in paleobiology, recognized it instantly.

But a normal giant salamander doesn’t have a neck as long as a snake’s.

On the other side, Da Bao suddenly opened his eyes and sat bolt upright.

A ferocious aura radiated from him; his eyes, no longer clear, now glowed like a beast’s.

(End of Chapter)