Zhao Xin'er

This little girl was named Zhao Xin'er, the daughter of Uncle Zhao Xiang from the village.

Her family's courtyard was separated from the small private-school courtyard where Xie Jinghan was temporarily staying by only a single wall.

Over the past three months, this innocent, lively little girl had become extremely familiar with Xie Jinghan.

Whenever she had nothing to do, she liked to come over, her little mouth chattering away without pause.

From time to time, she would also ask Xie Jinghan to tell her strange and novel stories.

The little girl was full of mischief and curiosity.

She was filled with endless curiosity and boundless longing for the world outside.

"Bad news! Bad news!"

"Something happened!"

"Uncle Liang has been hurt!"

Just as Zhao Xin'er was listening with rapt attention, the panicked shouts of a man suddenly came from the village entrance ahead.

Immediately afterward came the broken, intermittent cries of a woman.

Hearing the commotion, Xie Jinghan stopped speaking.

He promptly rose to his feet and headed swiftly toward the village entrance.

Zhao Xin'er blinked her large eyes, then tiptoed after him with great care.

Xie Jinghan moved quickly and reached the village entrance in moments.

At that moment, many villagers had already gathered there. Voices clamored everywhere, and the scene was a chaotic mess.

Xie Jinghan did not immediately step forward, instead watching quietly from the side.

"Husband, wake up! You absolutely cannot let anything happen to you!"

"If you leave, how are this widow and orphan supposed to live?"

A woman lay sprawled over a blood-soaked middle-aged man, weeping endlessly in utter grief.

"Sister, stop crying for now. Hua Liang's injuries are what matter most."

"Quick, quick, quick! Go fetch the village chief!"

"The village chief knows medicine! Hurry and have him come save him!"

The surrounding villagers all offered suggestions and hurried into action.

Before their voices had faded, hurried footsteps rang out. Village Chief Zhao Zongren quickly pushed through the crowd and shouted:

"Make way! Make way!"

"Don't crowd together—you'll block the air. Let me examine his injuries first!"

The villagers quickly moved aside.

"The village chief is here! Let the village chief take a look! He can be saved!"

Zhao Zongren crouched down, his gaze falling upon the middle-aged man's mangled, bloody right leg. His brows furrowed tightly as he swiftly took out medicinal herbs he carried with him, applied them to the wound, and skillfully pressed down to stop the bleeding.

After a moment, he slowly rose and sighed, then told everyone with a heavy sigh:

"Hua Liang's injuries are too severe, and he has lost too much blood. Whether he can pull through depends entirely on his own fate."

Having said that, he swept his gaze around and asked, "Who was the first to find Hua Liang?"

"What exactly happened?"

"How did he get hurt like this when he was perfectly fine?"

A tall man stepped out from the crowd, his voice still tinged with lingering fear.

"Village Chief, it was me!"

"I had just returned from outside and passed by Great Black Mountain, where I found Uncle Liang at its foot!"

"At the time, Uncle Liang was already unconscious, lying motionless in the grass!"

"If I had found him any later, he might have been eaten by wolves."

The surrounding villagers instantly erupted in an uproar.

"Great Black Mountain? Why did he go to Great Black Mountain when he was perfectly fine?"

"That place is crawling with fierce beasts. It's far too dangerous!"

"Exactly! We only dare hunt around the outskirts on ordinary days. We never dare venture deep into the mountains!"

Zhao Zongren immediately looked toward the weeping woman and said:

"Stop crying. Tell us—why did Hua Liang go to Great Black Mountain alone?"

Wiping away the tears covering her face, the woman choked out:

"The night before last, he told me he had discovered a hidden cave in Great Black Mountain. There was a strange fragrance inside, and there was most likely treasure hidden there!"

"Early this morning, he took Feng'er into the mountains to investigate the cave!"

"Who could have known... who could have known such a calamity would strike!"

"Feng'er?"

Zhao Zongren's expression tightened. He urgently pressed, "Where is your Feng'er? Didn't he return with him?"

The woman shook her head blankly.

The tall man hurriedly shook his head as well.

"No! When I found him, Uncle Liang was the only one at the entire foot of the mountain."

"I didn't see any sign of Feng'er at all!"

At those words, everyone's expressions turned exceedingly grave.

"What? Feng'er is missing? My child is only twelve!"

The woman once again began to wail uncontrollably.

"This is bad! He must be trapped in the mountains! We need to form a group and go into the mountains to find him!"

"Let's go! Everyone split up and search! Many hands make light work—we'll definitely find Feng'er!"

The villagers grew agitated and immediately prepared to charge into Great Black Mountain in a group.

"Stop right there!"

Zhao Zongren hurriedly shouted to halt them.

"Don't act rashly!"

"Great Black Mountain cannot be entered! It is fraught with danger, with venomous insects and fierce beasts everywhere."

"Besides, Great Black Mountain is so vast. Without anyone to lead the way, blindly entering the mountains would be like fishing for a needle in the sea."

"Not only would you fail to find Feng'er, you would throw away your own lives for nothing!"

Zhao Zongren said gravely:

"Everything must wait until Hua Liang wakes up."

"Only he knows what is going on inside Great Black Mountain!"