Chapter 102: The Mountain Guardian

This performance was entrusted by Lian Sheng to Zhang Guang. Like Lian Sheng, Zhang Guang was also in his mid-thirties and still unmarried. At home, he had an elderly mother well into her fifties. Originally, they hadn’t planned to involve him in this matter.

It was Zhang Guang who stepped forward. Lian Sheng made it very clear: even if something went wrong and Zhang Guang ended up in prison, he would be taking the blame on behalf of Yutou Village. From then on, not only would Zhang Guang’s mother be cared for by the village, but Zhang Guang himself would continue to receive his salary even while incarcerated.

In plain terms, those who dared to fight, to stand firm and take responsibility, were guaranteed a sufficient “settlement fee.” After all, it was a service to the village, and it was only right.

Why put on this show? Don’t think the villagers are fools who don’t understand the law or reason. Everyone was born from the same womb; no one is inherently smarter than others—perhaps just luckier.

No one can just break someone’s leg for no reason. Assault is illegal—there’s no escaping that, and no one can act with such impunity!

But if you change your perspective—imagine you dug up someone’s ancestral grave and got caught red-handed, then kept provoking. If in anger they broke your leg, who would people blame?

Would such a person be wronged?

Not in the slightest.

The “Entry Agreement” clearly states in black and white that the “Ghost King Cave” is revered by the villagers of Yutou Village and must not be damaged. In other words, if you damage it, it’s like desecrating the village’s ancestral graves. Isn’t that the same concept?

Furthermore, before entering the cave, nearly everyone had heard at least ten warnings: no breaking or digging up stalactites inside. Serious violations would result in villagers breaking legs and severe monetary fines.

This was not unclear or ambiguous—it was made very explicit, very clear, and documented in writing. One could say it was thoroughly regulated.

Yet you still insist on defying it—doesn’t that amount to challenging Yutou Village’s authority?

Now, among the onlookers, some cheered, some frowned. Many tourists around took out their phones to record.

Yutou Village is a famous internet sensation. Most tourists heard of the village online, so nearly everyone visiting is internet-savvy.

Zhang Guang finished kowtowing and stood up from the ground.

“Don’t come any closer! I’m telling you, my mother is…”

Zhang Guang said expressionlessly, “No matter who your mother or father is, it doesn’t matter. If we don’t break your leg, our ancestors won’t rest, and their anger won’t subside. The consequences will fall on us.”

He raised the wooden stick in his hand, swung it in a wide arc, and struck the young man’s thigh with a heavy blow.

“Damn it! You just had to scratch that itch, let’s see if you can keep scratching now!”

Crack!

A sickening crunch.

“Ah, my god!”

The young man screamed instantly, the pain stabbing through him so fiercely he nearly lost his breath.

“Telling you your dad won’t help. Remember this: live right from now on, don’t even think about crooked schemes!”

Zhang Guang raised the large wooden stick again, shouting loudly, “God watches three feet above your head. What people do, Heaven sees!”

He swung the stick down hard again onto the young man’s broken leg. The nearby tourists, timid and unsettled, dared not watch.

The villagers of Yutou were truly ruthless. Breaking someone’s leg wasn’t enough—they seemed intent on shattering every bone.

“The first strike is for the Mountain God, a punishment for you.”

“The second strike is for your parents, to make a man out of you!”

“The third strike…”

Lian Sheng watched Zhang Guang as if he was getting addicted to hitting, delivering three blows in a row and still readying a fourth.

The young man’s leg was clearly broken; if they continued, he might not survive.

“Enough, that’s enough. We’re not bandits. The Mountain God should forgive him now,” Lian Sheng hurriedly intervened, stopping Zhang Guang from delivering a fourth blow.

Plop!

Two other young men immediately dropped to their knees nearby, terrified out of their wits.

“Please, please don’t hit us! We didn’t break any stalactites! The two broken ones were done by him alone; we have nothing to do with it!”

Zhang Guang glanced up at Lian Sheng. These two were mere accomplices—offenses that could be punished lightly or not at all.

Lian Sheng gave him a signal: one strike is one strike, three broken legs are three broken legs. This was meant as a warning, so it had to be as intimidating as possible. Even if they passed over the two, the necessary message would still spread.

Zhang Guang understood and walked over, breaking one thigh bone each for the two sobbing men.

No more than one blow each—brutal, simple, and efficient.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as you all just witnessed, we are enforcing the rules stipulated in the Entry Agreement. Please take this as a warning.”

Lian Sheng turned to the tourists, speaking solemnly: “How you enjoy the cave is your right. You may take photos and videos, but under no circumstances may you damage the Ghost King Cave. This is the bottom line for us caretakers and for all villagers of Yutou. Within the cave reside the deities we revere.

“If you truly cannot abide by these rules, it’s best not to enter the cave. If anyone dares disturb the gods we honor, we will break their legs—and even risk our lives to protect them!

“You may share my words online. We of Yutou Village have our bottom line. Since you’ve come here, we’ll take good care of you, but we ask you to respect our village’s rules.”

After finishing, Lian Sheng bowed slightly, then turned to several villagers nearby.

“Call the medical team over. Help these three with basic treatment, then take them to the hospital.”

After a brief pause, his face darkened.

“Find the best lawyers. Appeal to the court. In this lawsuit, we are not thugs nor bandits. We abide by rules and laws. Besides breaking their legs, we will pursue full accountability!”

Lian Sheng’s words were firm and justified.

“If anyone wants to enter the cave, please queue over there. If you choose not to visit and want a refund, come see me. Our Ghost King Cave Tourist Site offers ticket refunds.”

No one wanted such an incident. After all, tickets cost three hundred yuan. But now that it happened, some might lose heart and want to leave. It would be unreasonable for Yutou Village not to refund them.

Lian Sheng explained to the tourists, “Rest assured, Yutou Village has its own rules and is not unreasonable. As long as you don’t deliberately damage or break stalactites inside, if accidents occur, we may impose reasonable penalties.”

He paused again, then added sternly, “But if you’re like those three young men just now, don’t blame us, the caretakers, for being ruthless. Breaking legs is the lightest punishment.

“Faith and rules cannot be broken or changed by anyone. We ask for your understanding. Thank you.”