My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

At the eastern end of Xiahe Village, on slightly higher ground, stands the village's only decent brick and tile house.

High walls and a large courtyard, black lacquered wooden doors, and two rough stone blocks placed at the entrance.

Although it wasn't particularly grand, in this village filled with mud-brick and thatched huts, it stood out like a crane among chickens, exuding an imposing presence.

This is the home of village chief Chen Maocai.

It was late at night, but the lights were still on in the main room of the Chen family's house.

It wasn't the small oil lamps found in villagers' homes, but a lamp shaded with burning lamp oil, making the light much brighter.

However, it also revealed the crudeness and disharmony of the room's furnishings—the eight-immortal table was new, but the chairs were of varying ages.

The wall was covered with faded New Year pictures, but next to it hung a poorly painted "Tiger Descending the Mountain" picture that I don't know where it came from.

Village chief Chen Maocai, wearing a worn-out silk jacket, was leaning back in his armchair, squinting and idly puffing on his water pipe.

The gurgling sound of water was especially clear in the quiet night.

His face was expressionless, but the occasional glint of light beneath his slightly drooping eyelids indicated that he was not simply resting.

His two sons were sitting to his left.

The eldest son, Chen Dahu, was in his thirties. He was a big, burly man with a domineering air about him. At that moment, he was impatiently picking at his teeth with his fingernails.

The youngest son, Chen Erbao, was in his early twenties. He was thinner, but his eyes were more lively, revealing a cleverness as well as a sinister edge.

Neither of them spoke; the only sounds in the room were the smoke from the hookah and the occasional crackling of the lamp wick.

Suddenly, a few rhythmic knocks came from outside the courtyard gate, like some kind of code.

Chen Erbao's ears twitched, and he immediately stood up, walked to the door, and asked in a low voice, "Who is it?"

"Second Young Master, it's me, Chen Laizi from the village entrance." A low voice came from outside the door.

Chen Erbao looked at his father, Chen Maocai, who didn't even lift his eyelids, but simply nodded slightly.

Chen Erbao then opened the door latch and let in a weasel-faced man dressed in shorts.

It was Chen Laizi, one of the young men who "guarded" outside the Li family compound during the day.

As Chen Laizi entered, he first bowed and scraped to Chen Maocai, saying, "Village Chief."

He grinned at Chen Dahu and Chen Erbao, "Young Master, Second Young Master."

"What's wrong? Is there any commotion at Li Laoshuan's place?" Chen Erbao asked directly as he closed the door.

"Yes! Not long ago, that old bastard Li Laoshuan came back!" Chen Laizi lowered his voice, with a hint of excited boasting.

"I sneaked back from the back of the village when it was completely dark, covered in dirt."

Looks like it was dug out of the mud! Sneaking around suspiciously, definitely up to no good!

Chen Maocai stopped smoking his water pipe, slowly exhaled a puff of bluish-white smoke, and then lifted his eyelids to glance at Chen Laizi.

"Just him alone? He didn't bring anyone back with him?"

"It was just him! My brother and I saw it clearly; there was definitely no one else with him."

Chen Laizi confirmed, "He went inside as soon as he got back and never came out again. There seemed to be crying inside, but then it went silent."

Chen Maocai hummed in response, his face remaining expressionless, as if he had expected this all along.

He waved his hand: "Got it, keep an eye on him. No one in his household is allowed to leave before dawn tomorrow. Tomorrow... keep a particularly close watch."

"Yes! Don't worry, Village Chief!" Chen Laizi assured him repeatedly, bowed again, and then tiptoed out, gently closing the door behind him.

The room fell silent again.

Chen Dahu spat the bamboo toothpick onto the ground and said in a muffled voice.

"Dad, that old coward Li Laoshuan actually dared to go out and find someone? Why did you deliberately let us let him slip out during the day? Wouldn't it have been easier to just block him at home?"

Chen Erbao also looked at his father, his eyes filled with the same question.

Chen Maocai slowly took another drag of his water pipe. His face was somewhat blurred in the billowing smoke, and his voice was hoarse from the smoke.

"Block them? You can block people, but can you block their hearts?"

He put down his hookah and tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth armrest, making a soft tapping sound.

"Big Tiger, Second Leopard, what makes you think the Chen family has the final say in this Xiahe Village? Just because our house is taller and we own more land?"

His gaze swept over his two sons.

Chen Dahu snorted, "Of course! Anyone who disagrees, just throw your fists at them!"

Chen Erbao thought more deeply: "Father, is it because of... the 'Dragon King'?"

Chen Maocai nodded, then shook his head: "It's partly due to the 'Dragon King,' but not entirely."

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced a few steps in the not-so-spacious main room. The lamplight cast his long shadow on the wall.

"Over the years, thanks to the 'Dragon King's Wedding' custom, which family in the village dares to disobey us?"

Which family with a good daughter wouldn't fawn over us, afraid of being "drawn" in the lottery?

The best catch from the river, isn't it all "offered" to our family? This rule is the foundation of our Chen family's existence.

He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke with a cunning and sinister tone.

"But lately, haven't you noticed? Some people in the village are starting to get itchy."

Wang Dashan, that simpleton, hasn't gone to the river much lately, and he's been avoiding the sacrificial rites.

There were also a few families whose expressions weren't so pleasant when they handed over their "tribute".

Privately, I heard some rumors... Some people were whispering that the 'Dragon King' might be fake, something we made up to fool people.

Upon hearing this, Chen Dahu's eyes widened: "Which bastard dares to gossip like that? I'll break his legs!"

Chen Erbao frowned: "Father, do you mean... people's hearts are unsettled?"

"Not bad." Chen Maocai walked back to his chair and sat down, tapping his fingers on the armrest a little faster.

"Relying solely on intimidation or long-standing rules will eventually lead to suspicion among some people."

Especially in recent years, our family, and several other families living nearby, have never been selected...

"Once or twice might be luck, but if it happens every year, anyone with a brain would have some thoughts about it."

He looked at his two sons with sharp eyes: "Li Laoshuan's winning this time is both a routine and a warning."

But if he obediently accepts his fate, then the "rules" will remain unshakable, only with another pitiful wretch.

But if he resists, and even... hires people from outside to 'exorcise the demon'...

Chen Dahu didn't understand: "Isn't that even more troublesome? What if we really manage to hire someone capable..."

"You think you're so capable?" Chen Maocai sneered, his face revealing a clear expression of mockery and cruelty for the first time.

"Within a radius of a hundred miles, where are there any truly skilled Taoist priests or monks? If there were, this 'Dragon King' has been in Xiahe Village for decades, and no one has ever come to eliminate him!"

"They're all just con artists using tricks and deception!"

He picked up the now-cold tea on the table, took a sip, and spoke slowly, yet each word was clear:

"I let him out so he could bring back this 'expert.' Then, tomorrow, before the sacrifice, in front of the whole village—"

He put down his teacup with a soft "tap".

"Let this 'expert' eliminate our 'Dragon King' by the river, in full view of everyone."

Chen Dahu and Chen Erbao were both stunned, looking at their father in confusion.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Chen Maocai's lips.

"Think about it, what would happen if a conman went to the river and pretended to be a ghost?"

Will he get rid of "that one" in the river?

Chen Erbao's eyes lit up, and he instantly understood: "Of course not! Not only will it not happen, it might even provoke me!"

When the river churns and strange phenomena occur, that swindler might just be the one to suffer!

"That's right!" Chen Maocai slammed his hand on the armrest, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"At that time, the whole village will witness the consequences of resisting the 'Dragon King'!"

The "expert" they invited was utterly useless, and even brought greater disaster! The Li family will become a living example!

Let those with ulterior motives see what happens when they don't follow the rules! That's more effective than a hundred words from us!

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lower, yet carrying an undeniable air of control:

"I want to use Li Laoshuan's hand, and this ignorant 'expert,' to restore the rules for the 'Dragon King's Wedding.'"

Pour a ladle of molten iron over it, making it weld even tighter! Let everyone know clearly and plainly—"

"The 'Dragon King' in this river is real! The rules of this little river village are real! But who really calls the shots in this little river village?"

Chen Dahu was thrilled and grinned maliciously, "Father, your move is brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Then, let's see who dares to disobey!"

Chen Erbao nodded admiringly, but after thinking about it, he had some doubts.

"Dad, what if... I mean, what if Old Li really gets incredibly lucky and manages to hire someone with some connections..."

Chen Maocai glanced at him coldly: "So what if you have connections? Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake."

In this small river village, dragons have to coil up before me, and tigers have to lie down before me.

I know whether the "one" in the river is real or fake, and how capable he is, after cooperating with us for so many years.

What waves can an outsider stir up? At worst...

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. "Let him also 'fall into the water' and become an extra for the 'Dragon King'."

He spoke these words casually, yet they sent a chill down Chen Erbao's spine, and he quickly nodded in agreement.

"Alright," Chen Maocai leaned back in his chair, regaining his calm demeanor.

"Tomorrow, you two better keep a close eye on the riverbank and the village. Wait for the show to begin."

"Yes, Father!" the two replied in unison.

The lamp oil burned down a bit more, and the flame flickered.