The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 31 The Treasure That Could Buy the Town

Several of the oldest crows tilted their heads to look at Chu Xun and cawed twice.

Chu Xun couldn't understand, but he knew they weren't denying it.

After a moment of silence, Chu Xun squatted down and patted the heads of the old crows.

"Don't do that again."

The old crow raised its head, rubbed it against his palm, and cawed twice more.

Chu Xun seemed to understand what they were saying and nodded, saying, "In the future, I will get revenge for you."

The crows are killed or injured because they fight against something unknown.

But for Chu Xun, crows were the familiar faces.

Regardless of right or wrong, once someone is dead, they are dead, and we must demand an explanation.

Just like the water dispute back then, so many people died in Songguo Village.

The former magistrate had already quelled the matter, but Chu Xun still remembered that the one who killed Zhang Shigen was the martial artist who had moved to Zhangnan County.

Putting aside the care Zhang Shigen had shown him in the past, he has now married An Xiu.

This debt will be settled one day.

The two large snakes hissed and flicked their tongues at the crow. Chu Xun glanced at them, laughed, and scolded, "You two shouldn't get involved. Even if you want revenge, it's not your turn."

Zhang Anxiu watched in astonishment from behind; the yard was full of poultry and livestock, and all sorts of gifts were being delivered.

Chu Xun chatted with him as if he were talking to an old friend, with such warmth.

Zhang Anxiu couldn't help but look at the man in front of her, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Having grown up together since childhood, Zhang Anxiu thought she knew Chu Xun well enough.

But the older she got, the less she realized she knew.

Chu Xun's intelligence exceeded her expectations.

Even his sister-in-law, Lin Qiaoxi, who had attended a private school, praised his knowledge highly.

It seems there's nothing Chu Xun doesn't know, whether it's about heaven or earth.

He can readily articulate the essence and reasoning behind things that others struggle to understand.

Whether it's working in the fields or dealing with interpersonal relationships, everyone in the village gives him a thumbs up.

The gratitude Chu Xun always cherished for the meals from the hundred families was, in Li Shoutian's words, utterly insignificant.

The village chief, who is over fifty years old, has said more than once: "Back then, Ah Xun was able to eat at hundreds of homes because of our kind hearts?"

"Perhaps some, but more so because he goes door to door every day asking if anyone has any work to do."

"A four- or five-year-old child can sweep the floor, wipe the table, wash the dishes, start the fire, serve tea, and pour water—he's just as good as an adult at everything."

"Even if you don't say anything, once he finishes his work and it's time to eat, he'll leave on his own. He'll never beg you."

"How can you live with your conscience if you don't give a child like this a bite to eat?"

"What 'hundred families' meals'? That was all earned by Ah Xun through his own hard work. If anyone brings that up to criticize him, I'll be the first to object!"

Li Shoutian's protection of Chu Xun was known and acknowledged by everyone in the village.

But now, Zhang Anxiu felt as if she were getting to know Chu Xun for the first time.

How could these birds and beasts, especially those two terrifying snakes, be so submissive in front of him?

At this moment, Chu Xun suddenly turned around, pulled her over, and said with a smile, "This is my wife, Zhang Anxiu."

Zhang Anxiu stood there helplessly, feeling her mouth go dry.

The poultry and livestock in the yard looked at her with lively eyes, making her feel as if she were the water buffalo that Li Shoutian had just led back to the village a few years ago.

The crows cawed, and they were not strangers to Zhang Anxiu.

Two large snakes poked their heads out, hissing and flicking their tongues as they approached.

Zhang Anxiu felt a chill run down her spine and was so frightened she wanted to scream.

"Don't be afraid, they won't hurt you," Chu Xun comforted her softly.

The white snake had already moved closer, its tongue gently licking Zhang Anxiu's palm.

Slightly cool, soft yet with a touch of resilience.

This was the first time Zhang Anxiu had ever touched a snake's tongue with her hand; the feeling was extremely strange, tense, and exciting.

Then the green snake also poked its head over, extended its tongue to lick it, and rubbed its head against her palm.

The snake scales were cooler and harder than the tongue, and felt like touching a piece of raw iron.

The small, bluish-white snake seized the opportunity to slip over and flicked its tail a few times around the hem of Zhang Anxiu's skirt.

Just as it was about to climb up, the green snake bit its tail and dragged it back.

Watching it struggle so hard, like a child throwing a tantrum, Zhang Anxiu suddenly found it a little funny and couldn't help but relax.

All the poultry and livestock in the yard came over to meet Zhang Anxiu.

The weasel bows, the rabbit hops, and the toad croaks.

What surprised Zhang Anxiu the most was that the tortoise crawled over much faster than she had imagined; it was practically flying.

"How did it climb so fast?" Zhang Anxiu asked in surprise.

Chu Xun laughed and said, "Not all turtles crawl very slowly."

After all the poultry and livestock came over to greet them, the crow cawed twice, then flew up and landed on the eaves.

As if given a command, the other poultry and livestock, including the weasel family, ran off to carry the empty wine jars that were scattered all over the ground and headed outside.

Hundreds of field mice ate the scraps, bones, and anything else edible on the ground, and stuffed the rest into their mouths before slipping away with their mouths bulging.

The rabbit didn't have much to eat, but it still took some in its mouth and spat it out into the grass outside the door.

This applies to toads and turtles alike.

The two large snakes were the fastest, using their tails to pull the table and chairs aside and arrange them neatly.

Zhang Anxiu was stunned. These animals were actually helping with cleaning?

The crows cawed on the eaves, as if giving orders.

The livestock cooperated with each other, eating what they could and taking away what they couldn't.

Before long, the courtyard, which had been a mess, was completely clean.

"They...they're so smart!" Zhang Anxiu exclaimed, her mouth agape in astonishment.

Once the yard was cleaned, the poultry and livestock turned and left.

The three snakes did the same; as they left, they didn't forget to hook the gate with their tails.

Chu Xun went over and bolted the gate. When he returned, Zhang Anxiu was already squatting on the ground picking things up.

In any world, beautiful things like gemstones are always loved, and Zhang Anxiu is no exception.

She was particularly enamored with the two rubies and sapphires the size of pigeon eggs, as well as the white pearl of the same size, which made her eyes light up.

She liked the smaller gems as well.

On the contrary, a few herbs and seeds did not hold much appeal for her.

So much so that she didn't even notice when Chu Xun got close.

Chu Xun squatted down and picked up the herbs and seeds, saying, "I'll find some good wood later and make a nice box to store them. We'll have plenty of time to admire them later. But these things are very valuable, so don't tell anyone, or it might bring unnecessary trouble."

Chu Xun understood the principle that "a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

With his current wealth and status, he can't keep these things.

No matter how beautiful it is, it has to be kept hidden.

"These things must be worth a lot of silver, right?" Zhang Anxiu asked.

Although Chu Xun wasn't entirely sure of the exact price, he did a rough calculation and replied, "It should be enough to buy the entire Pingshui Town."

Zhang Anxiu was stunned. Could he really buy the entire Pingshui Town?

How many taels of silver would that cost?

Five thousand taels? Ten thousand taels?

Chu Xun smiled and said, "Don't think about it anymore. Pack your things, it's time for us to drink the nuptial wine."

Of all the things under heaven, the bridal chamber is the most important.

Zhang Anxiu was startled, only then realizing that it was their wedding night and the red candles in the room were still lit.

She swallowed unconsciously, feeling both nervous and expectant.

They put everything away, especially the fifty-year-old wild ginseng, which was wrapped in several layers of red cloth.

Even a single stalk of this rare old medicine is worth some silver.

Most importantly, it can keep a person alive until their last breath.

Many wealthy families keep these in reserve so that important elders in the family can say a few words before they pass away, so as not to leave any regrets.

Although Chu Xun can live a long life, the people around him are all ordinary people, who may come in handy in the future.

No matter how beautiful or valuable a gemstone is, it cannot retain life.

For Chu Xun, this old wild ginseng was the most important thing.

A few moments later, after tidying everything up, the two returned to their bedroom.

Two glasses of wine were poured, one for each person.

They staggered over each other, reached for each other's arms, and drank the nuptial wine.

Whether it was the strong liquor, the unexpected windfall, or the shyness of their impending wedding night, I don't know.

Zhang Anxiu's face was so red that even black couldn't cover it.

Chu Xun pulled her to the bedside and leaned over to blow out the red candle.

From the darkness came his gentle voice: "My wife, it's time to go to bed."

Zhang Anxiu, who used to stand with her hands on her hips and shout loudly in the village, was now barely audible.

"My lord..."

With a shy, soft cry, the crow on the eaves tilted its head and looked down, as if trying to discern something.

They obediently remained quiet, squatting on the eaves without making a sound.

Only the wind howled fiercely.