“Chen Fan, you scoundrel, how dare you touch our ancestors' things!”
The village head, already over fifty, was now moving as fast as a young man.
The village's most senior elder, brandishing his walking stick, looked ferocious.
A crowd of village elders, carried on the backs of their descendants, were also rushing over.
Seeing the men, women, and children of Zhao Village all charging towards him,
Chen Fan realized that the whole village was united in this moment, something he had never seen before except when they fought with the village upstream last year over water.
“Village head, don’t get so excited, come pay your respects to the River God! Old Master, don’t get so agitated, the offerings table is right here!”
Chen Fan quickly winked at the village head, reminding him of their agreement.
Help me subdue these village ruffians!
The village head glared fiercely at Chen Fan, though he didn't understand what Chen Fan was trying to convey.
But he couldn't let Chen Fan get beaten to death by the villagers.
However, that seemed to be no longer a concern.
The village head's gaze swept over the fish-headed River God and the other monsters with a strange look in his eyes.
The other villagers, upon seeing the fish-headed River God’s towering form, were all hesitant to approach.
Only the old Master remained undaunted, holding his yellow sandalwood cane, his demeanor aggressive.
“Old Black, what do you mean by this? Seduce the children of our village and hold private rituals?”
“Zhao Da Gou, don’t slander me! I haven’t even settled the score with you yet! Look at my house, your descendants turned it into a wreck. My top general was even killed. You dog, you must pay me!”
The fish-headed River God, enraged by the old Master’s words, stomped his foot and started berating him, leaving Chen Fan stunned.
The old Master of Zhao Village was the most senior figure in the village.
It was said that he was nearly two hundred years old, having lived from the Sui Dynasty to the present day.
But Chen Fan had never known that the old Master was so brave.
All the young men of Zhao Village dared not approach, but only the old Master dared to confront the fish-headed River God.
Hearing the fish-headed River God’s words, the old Master’s eyes flickered, and he looked around.
He had been so hasty to come, but now, upon closer inspection, he instantly understood.
The old Master’s eyes, which had previously held a sharp glint, now softened. His straight back also slumped.
His cloudy eyes looked around as if in a daze, and he mumbled, “Oh, I’m getting old, I’m not as strong as I used to be. I can’t take this much commotion. Xiao Linzi, Xiao Shi Tou, quickly help me back to rest!”
Seeing the old Master, who was still vigorous just moments ago, now look frail and weak, the two village elders twitched their lips, but they dared not disobey the old Master’s orders.
They quickly stepped forward to support the old Master, hesitant to speak.
They were both seventy or eighty years old.
If not for the world’s abundant spiritual energy, extending human lifespans, ordinary people, while they didn’t live to be hundreds, could still reach a good age.
Only because the old Master was of the highest seniority could he call them by such terms.
“Third Great-Grandfather, this young pup Chen Fan is too reckless, you… ”
Zhao Shi Tou, the gray-haired village elder, supported the old Master and mumbled with dissatisfaction.
The old Master merely glared at the village elder, instantly silencing him.
The old Master was a ruthless man who, during the Sui Dynasty, had led the villagers to survive the chaotic times.
Though he was now old, who dared disrespect him?
“Alright, Chen Fan is a child I watched grow up. He’s a capable one. We old men shouldn’t stand in the way of a child’s path, understand?”
“Yes, yes, Third Great-Grandfather, whatever you say is what we do!”
The two village elders nodded reluctantly.
The two elders supporting the old Master were known in the village as staunch traditionalists.
If they remained, they would definitely hinder Chen Fan’s plans.
But now, with the old Master’s order, even if Chen Fan wanted to demolish the ancestral hall, nobody would dare utter a peep.
After all, those enshrined in the ancestral hall, aside from the top few, even if they returned from the underworld, would have to address the old Master as “Brother” or “Uncle” with the utmost respect.
“Zhao Da Gou, what do you mean, come back here!”
The fish-headed River God, having finally managed to get the old Master out, was unwilling to let him slip away.
He had lived in Clear Water River for over a hundred years, and he knew very well the old Master’s position in Zhao Village.
As long as the old Master spoke, even if Chen Fan argued till he was blue in the face, nobody would listen to him.
But to the fish-headed River God’s surprise, upon hearing his call, the old Master’s steps quickened even more.
The two village elders could barely keep up with him.
“Oh, I’m old now, my ears are going bad. I can’t hear, ah, I can’t hear anything!”
Seeing the old Master’s shameless behavior, the fish-headed River God felt a pang of bitterness.
He had been playing mind games with this old fellow for over a hundred years. He knew this old rascal’s nature all too well.
It was clear he was leaving because Chen Fan wasn’t at a disadvantage and had even gained an advantage.
“Pfft, your grandfather is no ordinary person, sir!”
Zhang Tian Shou burst into laughter, winking mischievously at Chen Fan.
She could actually sense divine power from the old Master!
“Naturally!”
Chen Fan didn't catch the implication in Zhang Tian Shou’s words. A man who lived to be nearly two hundred years old couldn’t possibly be ordinary.
The theoretical lifespan of people in this world was three hundred years.
But those who could truly live that long were incredibly rare.
In his previous life, people's theoretical lifespan was only one hundred and twenty years.
Even during the feudal dynasties, reaching fifty was considered a long life.
And that, too, was mostly reserved for the wealthy.
That was why Chen Fan worked so hard to make a difference. Wasn't he striving for wealth and longevity?
“River Lord, now we can have a good talk, right?”
Chen Fan’s eyes narrowed. Even the old Master had openly supported him.
Now Chen Fan could move freely.
If this catfish demon still didn’t see reason, then he would have to make a sacrifice of himself.