Chapter 0008: Crisis

In other words, heroes emerge in chaotic times. Whether it is due to innate intelligence or the skills honed by a harsh environment, there are few mediocrities who can survive in such turmoil. The ability to protect an entire village during such chaos further underscores Li Cheng's strength

Li Cheng's words were resounding; the two old gentlemen, who had originally intended to say something, both displayed a look of shame on their faces and slightly lowered their heads

Perhaps realizing that they still had a chance to survive, or perhaps the coldness of the scythe had completely calmed them down, the two bandits ceased their struggles and followed along.

They have probably said everything they could say," the elder of the Song family said with a worried expression, his voice low, "we have encountered a tough challenge this time.

Although Li Jincheng is unaware of the role that Li Cheng played in the construction of the village in both his past and present lives, the fact that he was able to single-handedly ascend to the position of clan leader and hold the highest authority in the village indicates that Li Cheng was certainly not an ordinary person in his youth

"First, take the person to the ancestral hall; do not make a scene here," Li Cheng instructed in a low voice. Seeing that Li Jinchen still wanted to say something, Li Cheng continued, "I can guess the identities of these two individuals, so let's not say too much for now. We will discuss it in detail at the ancestral hall."

Elder brother! Upon seeing Li Cheng approaching, the two elders from the Song and Zheng families also stepped forward.

The two elderly gentlemen from the Zheng and Song families fell silent at once. In this chaotic world, with over a hundred people seeking refuge, it is not so easy to escape. Where can one run to, and to whom should one seek refuge? If there is perhaps a glimmer of hope in fighting against these ruffians, then merging into the tide of this chaotic era could lead to one's utter destruction at any moment, and one might not even be aware of it.

"Chen Ge'er, are the bandits you captured really mountain thieves? Well done!" Someone shouted first, and the surrounding villagers erupted in cheers and applause.

The two bandits, under the watchful eyes of so many villagers, naturally felt humiliated and struggled desperately. However, they were firmly held back by several young men behind them, and with their strength, they could not break free. To prevent the two from moving again, Song Fei and the others simply placed their sickles against the necks of the two bandits

The ancestral hall is located in the center of the village, with the halls of three families back to back. In fact, they are interconnected in the middle, featuring a sizable conference hall that allows the three families to discuss matters together in times of difficulty

With a gentle sigh, Li Cheng's voice lowered: "Our ancestors forged ahead through thorns and brambles, creating this land that allows us to survive in chaotic times. Now that someone has set their sights on it, we must not let it go, no matter what. It is also time to test these young people; we are getting old, and the future of the village must be supported by the youth."

As Li Jincheng was deep in thought, several of them had already entered the ancestral hall. It was at this moment that Li Jincheng realized that not only he and his father Li Cheng were present, but also the clan leaders of the Song and Zheng families had arrived. Among the younger generation, the outstanding Song Fei and Zheng Qing were also there, but compared to the joy they had felt when they had just captured the two bandits, both young men now wore expressions of sorrow and concern.

"This is somewhat expected," Li Chengyi raised an eyebrow, "What is the origin of these bandits, and how many are there?"

Upon seeing Li Jincheng and his companions escorting two individuals back, the villagers, who had been busy with their tasks, immediately surged forward. It had been many years since outsiders had visited the village, and the villagers felt a sense of novelty. However, upon reflection, they realized that they had not seen any signs of people around recently, nor had they heard any news of the authorities sending anyone down—if there were still authorities in this chaotic world. Instead, there had been a group of bandits roaming around the outskirts of the village lately, making the identities of these two individuals painfully obvious.

Well, these two fellows opened a road on the mountain, and we caught them red-handed after following the clues.

These soldiers, based on the two scouts, should all be cowards, meaning that there are one or two among them with leadership abilities who have gathered them together. As long as we can diminish their morale, this disorganized crowd will naturally retreat. Li Cheng said in a deep voice, which unknowingly carried a sense of authority. This is not the first time our village has encountered such a situation; previously, we only faced some petty thieves, but now we are truly facing opponents. Are you all afraid of such a small number of enemies

They are all soldiers and ruffians who have run out of the barracks, numbering at least two to three hundred, and they are determined to take our village!" The old man of the Zheng family tapped the ground with his cane, "Currently, there are only about thirty to forty able-bodied men in our village, and if we add in some strong women and children, as well as elderly men like us who can still fight, we might be able to muster around eighty to ninety people. How can we possibly contend with these ruffians?"

Li Jincheng could not deny this, but he simply cupped his hands towards the villagers and took this opportunity to recall the familiar faces around him. At that moment, Li Cheng approached with several young men, each holding a sickle or hoe, and Li Jincheng quickly stepped forward

In this era, great emphasis is placed on social status and familial connections. The three families rely on each other within the village. The term "Elder Brother" not only signifies the respect that the Song and Zheng families have for the Li family, which has the largest number of descendants, but also illustrates the deep ties and friendship among the three families

Upon hearing the words "young people," Li Jincheng, Zheng Qing, and others instinctively straightened their chests

Li Cheng let out a bitter smile and said, "This statement is not without merit, but my two virtuous younger brothers, do we still have a way out?"

Father

Li Cheng nodded and asked, "Did these two bandits say anything?"

"Is this what you caught on the mountain road?" As he walked up the steps of the ancestral hall with Li Jincheng, Li Cheng asked in a low voice. His forehead was tightly furrowed, causing the already numerous wrinkles to completely cover half of his face this time, making the old man appear even more haggard. However, the sparkle in his eyes still reminded Li Jincheng that the person standing before him was not only his father but also the leader of the entire village.

Moreover, these two individuals were tied up tightly by Li Jincheng and his companions, and with the knives held by Li Jincheng and the others, it is evident without a doubt that these two are most likely the bandits who intend to plot against the village.

Li Jincheng understood that his father did not want to cause panic in the village, so he nodded and exchanged a glance with Song Fei and the other two. The three of them quickly pushed the two bandits away and headed towards the ancestral hall not far away

Are they the ancestors of the Li family

... ...

Indeed, what truly piqued Li Jincheng's interest was this village, akin to a paradise beyond the world. Li Jincheng was well aware of the era of the Three Kingdoms, the Two Jin Dynasties, and the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The population had sharply declined from twenty million during the peak of the Han Dynasty to merely five million during the Three Kingdoms period, and this decline occurred in less than a century. Following this, there were the chaos of the Five Barbarians, the migration of the gentry southward, and the rebellion of Hou Jing. This state of turmoil had persisted for over three hundred years; as long as there were no horrific incidents of cannibalism, it could be considered a time of peace. The founders of this village, which had evidently been established in a manner that perhaps even the authorities were unaware of, were undoubtedly worthy of admiration.