The village chief, sitting quietly in the courtyard, observed how effortlessly Liu Hai had evaded their probing questions. Despite this, the chief remained unconvinced that the situation was as straightforward as it appeared. However, how could he share his suspicions with the others? If the villagers saw Liu Haiâs seemingly honest behavior, they would undoubtedly believe him, which might make the chief appear overly harsh. It was better to keep an eye on Liu Hai's actions from the shadows, watching closely to see what he would do next.
âIt seems that Liu Hai isnât involved in anything suspicious, and judging by his reaction, that outsider didnât go to his house last night either,â the chief remarked. âAs for why these strange occurrences have started in the village, Iâm not sure.â
Upon hearing the chiefâs words, the elderly woman grew more anxious. If Zhang Nu wasnât responsible, then who was? Could there be another outsider in the village?
âChief, what do you mean by that?â she asked. âAre you suggesting that thereâs another outsider in our village?â
The chief neither confirmed nor denied this possibility. His role was to predict the villageâs fate and ensure its safety, but he couldnât be certain of every detail.
âAs for whether thereâs anyone else in the village, thatâs something youâll need to observe carefully,â the chief responded. âNot every outsider necessarily brings destruction to our village.â
The elder woman was even more puzzled by the chiefâs cryptic words. What exactly was he trying to say? Was he implying that Zhang Nu wasnât a threat? If so, who or what would be the real danger to their village?
The elderly womanâs face paled after hearing the village chiefâs words, deeply shaken by the notion that the chiefâs powers were growing weaker. For generations, the village had relied on the chiefâs abilities to safeguard them and predict the villageâs fate. The thought of the chief losing his strength was nothing short of catastrophic for the village.
âChief, what do you mean? How could your powers be weakening? Has something happened?â she asked, her voice laced with fear.
The village chief shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips. He understood that this was a natural progression for every chief. There were always unforeseen challenges, and village leaders had to face them alone. They had already sacrificed much for the village, and it was time for the people to learn to stand on their own.
"Some things you need to discover for yourselves," he explained. "I cannot always reveal everything, and if you rely on me for every answer, it will do you more harm than good. The village wonât survive long if you canât develop the ability to think critically and respond to these challenges. Blind faith in me will only make it easier for those with ill intentions to manipulate you."
The elderly womanâs worry deepened. If the chiefâs power was indeed weakening, the village could be on the brink of disaster. Perhaps the chief wasnât warning them about people like Zhang Nu, but rather urging them to be wary of those with malicious intentions. Still, what could they do about the missing children now?
The elderly woman, deeply worried, asked, "Village chief, what should we do about the missing children? If even you have no solution, where will we go to find them?"
The village chief shook his head. These were matters they needed to learn to handle on their own. Reflecting on his declining powers, he realized that once his abilities faded entirely, he too would just be an ordinary person. When that day came, there would be no one left to predict their fortunes or keep their village in its pure and peaceful state.
The chief could feel his lifespan shortening, knowing that death was nearing. But what troubled him most was that he still hadnât found a suitable successor to take his place. Without a new leader, how could the village hope to survive and thrive? Despite the weight of this burden, he chose not to share his weakening condition with anyone. He knew that if word of his failing health spread, it would plunge the village into chaos, filling its people with fear and unrest.