In the global desert, I have a spring of spiritual water.

"How long can the village's water supply last?"

Everyone sat down again. Chen Chuan looked at Hu Changhai, the director of the Water Resources Department. No one knew the village's water reserves better than him.

"Yesterday, when the watermen were drawing water, there was already mud and sand in their buckets. Based on past experience, it is estimated that the only remaining well in the village will dry up completely in the coming days."

"Maybe one day, maybe seven days, but at most ten days."

Hu Changhai responded with a solemn expression.

His words caused an uproar in the council hall. Everyone knew that the village's water source was about to dry up, but they did not know that it would not last more than ten days.

"The situation was so dire, why weren't you informed beforehand?"

"Yes, so everyone can be prepared!"

"If the water supply is cut off today, even if the manor lord has extraordinary abilities, finding a new water source will take time, and it will be difficult to save the lives of everyone in the manor!"

The minor officials, disregarding the power of the Hu family, began to complain, for they had reached a critical moment of life and death.

Hu Changhai glared at the group and shouted, "If I spread this news, the people in the village will be in a panic, and there might even be a riot. You might not even be able to save your own lives!"

After hearing his explanation, the minor officials were speechless. Right now, each villager could still get half a bowl of water every day, so they wouldn't die of thirst. But once they learned that the village was completely cut off from water, the villagers, driven by their will to survive, might rush into the government offices and the homes of wealthy people to grab water. At that time, Taiping Village would descend into chaos, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Throughout history, ordinary people have not actually asked for much. As long as they have a bowl of rice to eat and a bowl of water to drink, they would not shout the slogan "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"

At this moment, Hu Changhe stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to Chen Chuan, and said, "Master, yesterday I sent three groups of men to seek help from Daxing Manor, Miyun Town, and Tongzhou County respectively. Perhaps there will be good news."

Chen Chuan nodded slightly. He could see that the Hu brothers were still wholeheartedly concerned about Taipingzhuang. Even if they had their own selfish motives, they were genuinely working hard to help the people survive.

Judging solely by their actions and not their intentions, the two brothers are capable individuals.

Deng Deng Deng!

Just as Chen Chuan was about to reply, a man dressed in the Demon Suppression Team uniform rushed into the council hall. He glanced at Chen Chuan in the main seat and was slightly taken aback, clearly not understanding why this unfamiliar young man was allowed to sit in the main seat.

"This is the new head of our Taiping Village. Report anything to him."

Seeing his subordinate's confusion, Hu Changhe quickly introduced Chen Chuan's identity.

Upon hearing this, the man immediately knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and reported: "Master, I was ordered to go to Daxing Manor to seek help, but the master of Daxing Manor not only refused to lend a hand, but also drove us out of the manor. Two of my brothers uttered some foul language and were severely beaten. On the way back, we encountered some sand demons. Normally, we would have been able to escape unscathed, but my two injured brothers were too weak and have already perished in the mouths of the sand demons..."

The man choked up as he spoke, clearly indicating that he had a close relationship with the two deceased men.

"Daxingzhuang is going too far!"

"Not only did they not offer assistance, they even resorted to violence!"

"A blood debt must be a blood debt; this matter cannot be left unresolved!"

"Outrageous! My Taiping Village is not dead yet!"

All the officials and clerks were filled with righteous indignation, and it was clear that they still felt a strong sense of belonging to Taipingzhuang.

Hu Changhe's face was grim as he gritted his teeth and said, "You bastard Ma Baoquan, once Taipingzhuang survives this ordeal, I'll settle this score with you properly!"

Deng Deng Deng!

While everyone was still condemning Daxing Manor's heartlessness, a water soldier, drenched in sweat, ran into the council hall. He didn't recognize Chen Chuan either, glanced at him suspiciously, then knelt down before Hu Changhai, his face contorted with grief, and cried, "Second Master, the only well in the manor... has dried up!"

Wow!!!

The moment the water soldier uttered these words, the council hall erupted in chaos.

They were just angry and annoyed to hear that Daxingzhuang refused to provide assistance and even assaulted people.

But now it's different; they are panicked and desperate!

Everyone present knew what it meant when the village's only water source dried up.

First, the riot that Hu Changhai was worried about was very likely to happen. If there was no water in the well, the people would definitely go to places with water in order to survive. The government offices and the wealthy families in the village all had stored water, so they would naturally become their targets.

At first, the people might have been able to restrain themselves and go door to door to ask for water, but once they couldn't get it, their thirst turned into a fight for water!

After that, since they'd already taken the water, they didn't care about taking more money or even people!

Once Zhuangzi enters a state of disorder, anything can happen.

Never test human nature, because human nature cannot withstand the test!

"Is there really no water left?"

Hu Changhai hurried a few steps to the water soldier, grabbed him by the collar and asked him a question.

"It's all gone, absolutely none left!"

The waterman shook his head repeatedly, his voice trembling with tears, and said, "The people queuing for water are blocking the water station and refusing to disperse, which has led to a conflict with the brothers who are maintaining order. Some people have already been injured."

"Ugh!"

Hu Changhai sighed and loosened the other man's collar. He had expected this day to come, but he hadn't expected it to come so quickly and so suddenly.

"Take me there to see!"

At this moment, Chen Chuan suddenly spoke.

Hu Changhai glanced at the new manor lord, and remembering his identity as a water-element cultivator, he felt as if he had grasped at the last straw and hurriedly said, "Manor Lord, please come with me."

He led the way, with Chen Chuan following closely behind, and Hu Changhe, Zhang Xu, and others also quickly followed.

Taipingzhuang originally had four wells, located in the east, south, west and north of the village. Over the years, the wells in the east, south and west have dried up one after another, leaving only the last well, located near the north gate of the village.

After leaving the government office, the group arrived at the scene in less than a quarter of an hour.

At this moment, thousands of people had gathered around the water room, forming layers upon layers, completely blocking the area.

Water sources are important locations and are always heavily guarded. Taipingzhuang is no exception. A water house was built above the well, surrounded by a sturdy three-meter-high wall, with only one gate for entry and exit.

Normally, people would line up to fetch water, but now dozens of watermen had completely blocked the gate. Several watermen had their heads broken by clods of dirt thrown by the people, but they did not retreat an inch.

Protecting the water source is their duty, even though the well behind them has dried up.

At this moment, a water soldier leader was shouting at the top of his lungs, trying to calm the restless people: "Everyone go back first. We will notify you as soon as there is water in the well. We have encountered this situation before, so don't panic."

"We need water now!"

"Yes, right now!"

"If there's no water soon, my child will die of thirst!"

"Let us in, there must be a water reserve!"

"That Mrs. Hu looks very hydrated, she's definitely not lacking in moisture, so why isn't she giving us any?"

The people shouted in unison, showing no sign of retreating.

Just then, a powerful voice boomed like thunder from behind the crowd: "The Lord of the Manor has arrived! Make way at once!"