Xiao Shan's first thought was of Emperor Mingde.
He knew there were always hidden guards following him, but they only dared to follow from a distance and didn't dare to approach. He was too lazy to bother with them.
If it were truly those people, they wouldn't do anything to Xue Niang. He was afraid there was something he didn't know.
He had killed so many enemy generals; perhaps some family members would come seeking revenge.
In the darkness, Xiao Shan stood like a silent mountain. With his hands behind his back and his gaze fixed on the distance, his mind raced, analyzing and contemplating.
But in the eyes of the villagers, he was terrifying and mysterious, possessing an air of power that could shatter mountains and collapse the earth.
Especially after witnessing the sharp cry that had just pierced the air.
What was that for?
Were they going to massacre the village?
"Shan, Brother Shanzi, my Huzizi is also missing. I just asked him to go home to get a bowl, and I looked for him several times on the way back, but I couldn't find him."
Despite her fear, Shuang Hua had to step forward. Huzizi was missing; he was her lifeline!
"Could it be that the two children just went out to play somewhere?"
The quiet scene finally broke, and the villagers began to speculate in hushed tones.
The villagers who had gone to search their homes also returned one after another, shaking their heads to indicate they hadn't found anyone. No other children were missing.
Xiao Daming was extremely anxious. The village now had only a few dozen households, surrounded by open land. It was late at night, and there was nowhere for children to play.
Moreover, Huzizi was a well-behaved child; he wouldn't do such a thing.
Could it be that some villain had entered the village?
Just then, black figures like bats with spread wings leaped over, one after another.
Soon, a dense mass of them knelt before Xiao Shan. Torches were instantly lit, illuminating the entire area as bright as day.
The villagers saw clearly. They were all dressed in uniform black clothes with half-masks, exuding a cold,幽静 aura, and were clearly well-trained.
Their identical kneeling posture was like paying homage to their king.
"Greetings, Master. Your subordinates have already checked upon entering the village. There are no suspicious individuals within a twenty-mile radius."
Then they were still in the village!
"Investigate thoroughly! Leave no stone unturned!"
"Yes, Master!"
Over a hundred people dispersed as if they had cotton under their feet, vanishing without a sound.
What, who were these people?
They all carried a similar aura to Xiao Shan, like a formidable and mysterious army. They were certainly not bandits.
Was Shanzi truly not the Divine Martial General?
Xiao Daming and the villagers stood stunned, their hands hanging limply, until Xiao Shan spoke.
"Are all the villagers the former villagers? Are there any outsiders?"
"Yes, there is one, but she's an old widow who has no teeth left," Xiao Daming quickly replied.
He didn't believe it was the villagers, but the children had indeed gone missing in the village, which made him both scared and guilty.
Shuang Hua was even more distraught, only managing to wipe away her tears.
As they spoke, everyone returned.
"Master, there are no other anomalies. Only the third house from the east is empty. Upon inspection, the owner left about half an hour ago."
Xiao Shan's dark eyes turned to Xiao Daming: "Who lives there?"
"The third house, it's Uncle Dali, Chen Dali. He used to work with Uncle Ying Tian."
Chen Dali, he remembered. When he was a child, he often came to his house and did odd jobs with his father.
"Find him!" Xiao Shan's voice was fierce, and his impatience was evident.
"Brother Shanzi!"
At this moment, Shuang Hua raised her tear-streaked face and cried out, "I remember something! Once, I went to the cemetery to burn paper, and I heard Uncle Dali cursing in front of Uncle's grave, saying many strange things."
"He said Uncle was his enemy, and one day he would make sure your family had no descendants!"
The villagers were all stunned. Xiao Daming asked urgently, "Shuang Hua, is what you're saying true?"
What was going on? Wasn't Uncle Dali good friends with Uncle Ying Tian? How could there be enmity?
However, it was true that Uncle Dali had become more reclusive over the years.
"It's true! It's true, he must have done it. Huzizi, my Huzizi!" The more Shuang Hua thought about it, the more scared she became.
The Uncle Dali she saw back then looked like a madman!
So much so that she dared not walk past his house afterward.
"To the cemetery!"
Xiao Shan's fists were clenched, and his arms trembled. He couldn't believe that such a person was hidden in the village. If Xue Niang were to suffer any harm, he would hate himself!
However, a mere village ruffian, Xue Niang should be able to handle him, so how could she have been abducted?
He couldn't understand it, but amidst his panic and impatience, there was also a glimmer of hope.
Xue Niang wasn't a real child; she could protect herself.
She would be fine.
"Hahahahaha, dead, dead! Xiao Ying Tian, I'll let you taste the pain of losing a loved one too. You villain, villain!"
As Xiao Shan rushed into the forest, he heard such a crazed shout.
His strong body stiffened, and then he charged towards the swaying figure.
"Chen Dali! What have you done!?"
Xiao Shan lifted the frail Chen Dali with one hand.
"You're not dead yet, Xiao Ying Tian, Xiao Ying Tian, I'll kill you, I'll kill you!" Chen Dali flailed his arms, trying to grab Xiao Shan.
"Where did you take them?"
Xiao Shan fiercely threw him to the ground, stomped on him, and broke Chen Dali's ribs. He let out a chilling scream.
The villagers who followed behind were all scared pale.
"Feng Yi, take care of him!"
"Yes, Master!"
Xiao Shan dared not delay and rushed towards the cemetery again.
Xue Niang, hold on, definitely, hold on.
In front of Xiao Ying Tian's grave, there was a small mound of earth.
At this moment, the soil of the mound trembled, once, twice, and finally, it spilled, and a bloody hand emerged.
Whoosh—
Immediately after, a small head burst out, clutching its chest and gasping for breath.
Then, with great effort, she pulled another person out of the soil, dragging and pulling.
"My hand hurts so much. It's so unlucky to run into a madman," Ling Yao muttered, panting.
She hadn't expected her soul-capturing technique to be ineffective on a madman. Because he was immersed in his own world, her voice couldn't reach his mind at all.
Huzi was weak and whimpered, "Grandpa Chen, so scary. Mom, Mom..."
Tsk, as expected of a little brat, he cried for his mother when he was scared.
But it was also thanks to him following along that the madman tied them together. While he was digging the pit, they pulled at the rope and rubbed it against a tree trunk until it was almost broken.
Otherwise, being buried alive would have been an inescapable fate.
It was just that he was a child, and he was terrified when buried underground. It was she who painstakingly dug through the soil, holding her breath.
Her fingernails were broken, and her hands were bloody.
"Xue Niang—"
Xiao Shan shouted, holding a torch. In the faint light, he could only see a dirt-covered figure slumped on his father's tombstone.
"A Shan!" Ling Yao waved.
She knew Xiao Shan would find her soon; he was the best.
But why did she always encounter such things? Did she look easy to bully?
Xiao Shan threw down the torch and rushed over, hugging the dirt-covered figure and roaring:
"I told you Baiyang Village wasn't a good place, not a good place. You insisted on coming, insisted on coming!"