Counting the time, today is the sixth day of the poisonous snake massacre in the village.
For the villagers of the Great Wilderness Border Village, shrouded in the shadow of the serpent disaster, opening their eyes meant another day filled with a terrifying gloom.
Xu Binghu woke up early, preparing to go hunting in the Great Mountain. He eats a lot in one day, and so does the Peregrine Falcon. Most importantly, he needs to prepare materials for the third body refining.
Just as he reached the village gate, he stopped and looked ahead with a heavy face.
In front of him, dozens of dark red snakes lay dead at the entrance of the Great Wilderness Border Village, some severed in half, others belly-up.
Xu Binghu had frequently entered the Great Mountain to hunt over the past year and had seen many bizarre occurrences, but snakes dying at the village gate, and in such an eerie manner, was something he had never seen before.
He gripped the Seven-leafed One-flowered Plant in his hand tightly, walked up to inspect, and found claw marks on the severed snakes.
"Could this be little Baiās doing?" Xu Binghu speculated, "It seems something extraordinary happened last night!"
Regardless, he decided not to go hunting in the mountains today. Instead, he wrapped a few of the halved poisonous snakes in white cloth and took them home.
As soon as he got home, he saw Xu Ran steadfastly sitting cross-legged in the center of the courtyard, Lian Ji busy in the kitchen, and the matchmaker Cui Hua, who had stayed over the night, just waking up.
Upon waking, she saw Xu Ran sitting alone in the courtyard, very curious, and then looked up to see Xu Binghu standing at the door.
"Your child is really smart, so young and already knows that waking up early is good for health, and sitting cross-legged in the courtyard. He looks like he might be three years old?"
After eating a roasted whole sheep together last night, Cui Hua had become quite familiar with the Xu Family.
Last night, she had also heard Xu Ran speak and walk by himself.
At this moment, Lian Ji walked out of the kitchen, saw Xu Binghu standing at the door, and was a bit surprised, but still explained, "Our little Ran is a prodigy. He just celebrated his first birthday a few days ago."
"One year old!!!" Cui Hua was somewhat shocked, "He can speak and walk at one year old?"
Sheās been a matchmaker for decades, traveled through countless villages, met countless people, and seen many babies, but she had never seen a one-year-old child who could walk and talk!
"Haha, my little Ran didnāt just start doing these things at one year old."
Upon hearing, Cui Hua immediately realized.
Thatās right! It definitely didnāt start at one year old. He just had his first birthday, so itās impossible to be so fluent in walking and talking in just a few days; itās definitely been a while.
Cui Hua quickly walked over to Xu Ran and said, "A genius, absolutely a genius!"
Upon hearing an outsider praise her child, Lian Ji couldnāt have been happier, and with a smile, walked over to Xu Binghu and asked, "Husband, why are you back? Didnāt you go out hunting early?"
Xu Ran heard his motherās voice, opened his eyes, and saw his father standing at the gate with a solemn expression.
"Dad, what happened?" Xu Ran instantly knew something serious had occurred.
Xu Binghu opened the white cloth in his hand, revealing scattered snake corpses, which startled Lian Ji beside him.
Cui Hua, who had just witnessed the poisonous snake massacre scene, was even more startled by this sight, "Snakes!! Snakes!! Snakes!!"
Xu Ran frowned as well and asked, "Dad, where were these bodies found?"
"The village gate." Xu Binghu said, "These severed bodies all have little Baiās claw marks. The intact bodies donāt have any marks, but beside them is the Seven-leafed One-flowered Plant you planted!!"
Upon hearing this, the already startled Cui Hua was again taken aback, "The Seven-leafed One-flowered Plant, isnāt that Pharmacist Xieās doing? How could it be little Ranās?"
"Matchmaker, what youāre talking about is the old version of the Seven-leafed One-flowered Plant. Little Ran has already improved the previous variety, and now, all the Seven-leafed One-flowered Plants in the village are from little Ran!" Lian Ji added.
After listening to his fatherās description, Xu Ranās mind became active.
"It seems the poisonous snake massacre is about to reach the Great Wilderness Border Village. We need to prepare the villagers," Xu Ran thought.
Then he said, "Dad, go tell Old Qi to warn the villagers to be cautious, and unless necessary, donāt leave the village. If they must go out, make sure to bring the Seven-leafed One-flowered Plant."
Xu Binghu nodded, "Alright, Iāll go find Old Qi right now."
With that, Xu Binghu left home and headed directly to find Old Qi, arriving in no time.
"Old Qi."
"Sick Tiger, you seem to be in a hurry, whatās the matter?" Old Qi asked.
Xu Binghu organized his words and said, "Old Qi, do you remember the madman from Stone Village that appeared in the village before?"
"I remember," Old Qi said, "Didnāt you save them? And the people sent out to investigate returned, confirming Stone Village has indeed been destroyed."
Xu Binghu nodded, "Thatās right. Yesterday, the matchmaker staying at our house told us that Ji Yuan Village has also been wiped out, and it seems to be due to the poisonous snake massacre."
Upon hearing this, slight waves finally appeared on Old Qiās wrinkled face, showing some tension.
Xu Binghu continued, "This morning, when I intended to go hunting in the Great Mountain, I saw the snake corpses at the village gate."