The sage was determined to die.

After a one-sided war.

The village chief became ragged and disheveled, transforming from a villager with land to a homeless beggar with messy hair, looking like a half-mad old man.

Despite being beaten so badly, the two stubbornly and responsibly stuck to their posts.

The village chief spoke slowly, his words slurred, as he began, "Xiao Xu, what's your opinion?"

Ji Bai: "..."

He observed their reactions. Even after being beaten, they maintained a professional demeanor, without the extra resentment he had expected.

However, the two of them couldn't help but feel a little toothache amidst their mechanical, businesslike interactions.

Looks like I'll have to stick to the storyline. Ji Bai sighed.

"Village Chief." Ji Bai thought for a moment, ignoring the other party's toothache expression, and offered a respectful title, "I did say that I was going to change the offerings for the River God, but unfortunately... my wife and children ran away overnight."

Upon hearing this, the village chief's anger level began to soar at an imperceptible speed, instantly triggering Ji Bai's passive defense mechanism.

"How do you do things?" The old man gritted his teeth, and the knife in his hand gleamed again, but this time he hesitated to strike.

Ji Bai completely changed his uncivilized behavior from before, and his demeanor became very civilized, which could be described as a breath of fresh air.

He tapped his chest and said, "Village chief, you're wrong. Someone like me, who would do anything for profit, even sacrifice his own wife and children, why wouldn't they run away? Do you think they'd wait for me to come home and continue living their lives?"

Ji Bai spoke with great force, in a grand and dignified manner, and with sound reasoning and evidence, leaving the village chief speechless for a moment.

The village chief gritted his teeth and said, "Why didn't you keep it from them?"

Ji Bai sighed, swaying from side to side, his eyes hinting, "It's easier to dam a river than to silence the people."

Upon hearing this, the village chief looked somewhat taken aback, causing Ji Bai, who rarely used idioms, to fall silent. He could only say, "Perhaps someone informed on us."

The old man finally understood, his face darkened, and he scolded, "Since this is your responsibility, you must resolve it."

Seeing that things were going smoothly, Ji Bai stopped making excuses. He even nodded and said, "I know, I will take responsibility for this."

The cold gazes of those around him pierced him once again. Their disdainful and indifferent stares were like knives directed at Ji Bai, who, however, acted as if it were none of his business, pretending not to see it.

So Ji Bai said, "I'll go myself."

village head:"……"

Everyone: "..."

The disdainful looks in everyone's eyes suddenly twisted, the sharp edges softening into a look of realization as if they were looking at a fool.

"What did you say?" the village chief exclaimed. "You're going to be a sacrifice? Are you serious?"

Ji Bai nodded, showing genuine affection for his wife, whom he did not have a spouse with.

He said, "Of course, selflessness is one of my virtues."

Seeing his decisiveness, those around him hesitated.

No one wants to become a sacrifice for themselves or their family, but some people are eager to do so, which makes people inexplicably suspicious and untrustworthy.

Meanwhile, the two who were secretly watching the whole thing.

The old tortoise raised its paw and pointed at Ji Bai, saying, "Is there something wrong with his brain?"

Ji Ying raised her hand to cover her lips and coughed softly: "He has two hearts."

The old tortoise's voice choked, and he said inexplicably, "Then there might indeed be something wrong with his brain..."