"Mr. Zhao, are you feeling unwell?" Lin Jiaxuan looked at Zhao Guo'an, who was trembling uncontrollably while lying on a tree branch, and couldn't help but ask with concern.

The little girl was not so polite and immediately frowned, "Exactly! If you're lying down, just lie down quietly. Why are you moving all the time? Are you afraid people won't notice us?"

"I, I, I have a fear... fear of heights." Zhao Guo'an said, trembling in voice.

Xiao Feng glanced at him, noticing the cold sweat on Zhao Guo'an's forehead, and didn't seem to be lying, but felt something was amiss.

This tree isn't very high, just over two meters above the ground. Previously, at the junkyard, Zhao Guo'an stood on heaps of trash much higher than this, with two Ninjas beside him, but even then, he didn't admit defeat. So why now...

No way!

Xiao Feng suddenly thought of a possibility: Zhao Guo'an wasn't unwilling to bow his head, but didn't dare look down at all. Even when talking to him, his gaze was unfocused and his attention scattered.

At this moment, Zhao Guo'an took a deep breath, tremblingly unzipped his backpack, carefully pulled out something resembling oral liquid, gulped it down, wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead, and his complexion looked better. He no longer trembled either.

Xiao Feng watched Zhao Guo'an, who occasionally glanced down but quickly averted his gaze in fright, and couldn't help but say, "If you don't dare to look down, why not just close your eyes?"

"Closing my eyes is even scarier," Zhao Guo'an stated honestly.

Xiao Feng was speechless, but since this guy wasn't shaking anymore, he let it be.

Meanwhile, the villagers gathered not far away began a heated argument, with everyone speaking at once, creating chaos.

"It's not just our family affected, why should only our Xibao go?"

Speaking was Li Xibao's wife, with her hands on her hips and head tilted, looking quite fierce.

"If you don't want to go, then don't. If you can endure, then endure. Let's see who can't hold out first." The young man who initially urged Li Xibao to go pouted, looking quite cheeky.

Li Xibao looked hesitant, seeming quite troubled.

Before he could decide, his wife slapped him: "How did I marry such a coward? If you don't come home, fine, I'll return to my mother's house. I won't take this nonsense!"

Saying that, she picked up her child and left, moving decisively.

"I think Xibao's wife is right. We're all affected. Why should Xibao go alone?"

"Exactly, who started this?"

"I say, whoever first suggested Xibao go, should go themselves. What a jerk!"

The young man flushed red, clearly not expecting the tables to turn so quickly.

Then the village chief, with slicked-back hair and wearing a wool coat, stood on a rock and shouted, "Everyone shut up! Arguing won't solve anything. I'm the village chief, listen to me!"

The crowd gradually quieted, turning their attention to the village chief, waiting for him to continue speaking.

"Anyone with masks at home, hand them over. The village will buy replacements for you tomorrow. All villagers go home, and party members and village officials stay put. In a moment, mask up and charge in with me!" The village chief's tone was high and oddly convincing.

The crowd dispersed noisily, leaving the village chief and dozens of others behind, waiting for masks to be delivered.

Of course, a few people were clearly unwilling, but dared not make excuses to flee, lest they lose face and couldn't stay in the village later.

"Seems there are good people in this village," Fujiwara Keiaki observed, watching the scene unfold.

"That's how it should be," Zhao Guo'an replied, "Enjoying the perks of power, they should step up when needed. Otherwise, why should they be the leaders?"

The sentiment was undoubtedly sensible, and the villagers' previous reactions were normal; self-preservation is human instinct. In the face of disaster, not everyone is noble and willing to step forward.

Village leaders, enjoying the perks of power, should bear the responsibilities when things go wrong. This is, in a way, fair.

Soon, some of the villagers returned, but significantly fewer than before.

"Xiao Feng, they're about to head in," the little girl reminded.

Xiao Feng nodded, "Let's wait a bit more. If they enter the yard and Shao Wenxing still doesn't come out, we'll have to go down."

Xiao Feng's character was always to face the consequences. Running away after causing trouble wouldn't be right.

Not far off, the village chief, wearing several layers of masks, spoke in a muffled voice: "Now is the time to test us. Don't think it's unfair. As party members and village officials, that's what we should do. If we don't go, should the villagers go?"

"No!"

Dozens of people responded in unison, then followed the village chief towards the thatched hut.

Just after taking a few steps, someone suddenly stopped and looked back, their gaze directed at the tree.

Xiao Feng and the others were stunned. Discovered already?

That shouldn't be possible!

"Should we go back and pray to the tree god?" The person who stopped asked.

The village chief hesitated briefly but nodded.

So the group headed towards the tree where Xiao Feng and the others were hiding.

"Have we really been discovered?" Zhao Guo'an couldn't control his growing anxiety.

"Don't talk!" Xiao Feng whispered fiercely.

Zhao Guo'an glanced below, quickly closed his eyes again, "Xiao, amidst our usual antics, if we have to bolt later, don't leave me behind."

Xiao Feng remained silent as the dozens below the tree stood still.

The village chief and others bowed three times to the tree but didn't immediately leave, leaving Xiao Feng and the others confused. Wasn't the plan to check Shao Wenxing's house for the source of the smell?

What were they doing under the tree?

Soon, the answer became clear.

A young man, appearing around twenty, picked up a fist-sized stone from the ground and hurled it towards the tree.

On the tree, Xiao Feng and the others had no time to react but fortunately, no one was hit by the stone.

"Crack!"

A branch snapped.

Someone picked up the broken branch, divided the red and yellow cloth strips among others, and those who received them tied them around their wrists, as if doing so gave them some courage.

Dozens of people—obviously one branch wouldn't suffice—needed more branches, so soon someone picked up another big stone.

Zhao Guo'an was nearly in tears, wanting to shout, "Stop throwing, we'll surrender, alright?"

This is just too terrifying!

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