Overbearing Immortal Doctor Chapter 1 - 1 Revised 1 Breaking the Good Moment

As dawn's first light began to break, the moon in the eastern sky had only just started to reveal its shape, not yet having the chance to cast its full radiance.

Nevertheless, the cacophony of insects and frogs from the mountain village was becoming increasingly prominent.

Stepping out of his home with his medicine basket slung over his shoulder, Wu Xiaoyu walked with his head bowed.

His spirits were noticeably low.

When some villagers offered greetings, he merely offered a few grunts in response, continuing on his way.

His destination was the back mountain, where he intended to gather herbs to alleviate his father's persistent cough.

For countless generations, Wu Xiaoyu's family had been butchers.

His father, the tenth in line, was a recognized master of the art of slaughtering livestock.

Wu Youliang, his father, had initially utilized his exceptional skills at a slaughterhouse in town, enjoying a life many admired.

However, after crossing the factory manager, he not only lost his position but also suffered a beating that left him with lasting health issues.

Despite being only in his forties, he appeared to be in his sixties or seventies and was plagued by a ceaseless cough.

Had the family possessed the means, his ailment might have been cured long ago, sparing him the need to trek into the mountains at night.

Yet, the family was mired in extreme poverty and burdened by substantial debt.

Their survival depended on the toad herb found in the mountains.

While there's a saying that those who live by the mountain thrive from it, and those by the water from it, Wu Xiaoyu's Daxin Village, despite being encircled by mountains on three sides and water on one, was notoriously impoverished.

The mountains were barren, the water polluted, and the treacherous terrain was frequented by dangerous beasts and venomous insects.

Even the local villagers generally shied away from venturing into the mountains.

A small river meandered through the village, but an upstream paper mill had rendered its waters unbearably foul.

Fish and shrimp were long gone, replaced by a scattering of decrepit, stench-emitting frogs that seemed to thrive.

Even if these frogs were brought to town for sale, no one dared to purchase them upon learning they originated from Daxin Village, fearing illness.

In the face of such destitution, the younger generation in the village largely opted for work in the southern regions.

After discontinuing his education, Wu Xiaoyu joined several other young villagers in finding employment at an electronics factory down south.

Although the daily labor was arduous, he managed to earn five to six thousand yuan monthly.

This income was already considered quite substantial for someone from Daxin Village, and Wu Xiaoyu felt that a more prosperous future was within his grasp.

But then, his grandmother passed away unexpectedly, and his father's cough grew alarmingly worse, compelling him to return home to care for his parents and manage their few acres of unproductive land.

Fortunately, Wu Xiaoyu had always possessed a courageous spirit, having grown up foraging for sustenance from the surrounding fields.

While others feared entering the wilderness, he readily ventured there.

Leveraging his bravery, he journeyed into the mountains daily to gather herbs and other wild edibles, supplementing his family's meager income.

However, venturing into the mountains after dark was a rare occurrence, as it was precisely when venomous creatures and wild animals were most active.

Despite his inherent courage, he was not one to act recklessly.

The toad herb required for his father's cough had been depleted, and his father's condition had worsened significantly that very day.

Thus, he had no other recourse but to shoulder his medicine basket, grasp a machete, and make his way into the mountain.

The toad herb typically grew beneath a large tree situated halfway up the mountain.

He frequented this spot and had already carved out a discernible path.

Since complete darkness had not yet settled, he hadn't brought a flashlight.

Just as he reached the large tree on the mountainside and was preparing to gather the herbs, he detected sounds of an intimate nature emanating from behind the tree.

"Dachun, hurry up… faster…"

"You slut, how long has it been since you’ve been with a man?"

"This…"

From these words, Wu Xiaoyu instantly recognized the voices of Madam Zhang and Niu Dachun, the village chief's son.

Madam Zhang had only been wedded into Daxin Village a few months prior before her husband's sudden demise.

Some whispered that he had been too exhausted by her, while others claimed she had poisoned him after discovering her infidelity.

Rumors were rife, but they all converged on the conclusion that Madam Zhang was deeply licentious.

She paraded through the village, her substantial endowments always capturing the admiring glances and suggestive remarks of the menfolk.

This naturally positioned her as the collective adversary of the village women, who vigilantly guarded their husbands.

Nevertheless, the number of men who surreptitiously visited her abode remained high.

It was rumored she even had an affair with the village chief himself, but to actually witness her entangled with the chief's son was truly unexpected.

Although Wu Xiaoyu was a sturdy young man with limited experience concerning women, the sounds of their illicit union stirred a primal curiosity within him, compelling him to investigate.

He deliberately slowed his pace, stealthily drawing nearer to the large tree.

Casting his gaze around, Wu Xiaoyu observed their disheveled state and industrious efforts, causing his pulse to quicken.

“Hurry, before we’re discovered!” Mrs. Zhang urged him.

“What in the blazes are you worried about?

Who would possibly dare show up in these mountains right now?” Niu Dachun growled, his actions unwavering.

“Damn it!

These two have some serious nerve, aren’t they afraid of getting bitten by a snake?” Wu Xiaoyu mused, yet he found himself unable to look away.

As he was deeply immersed in the unfolding scene, a sensation of movement stirred beneath him.

Long?

Thick?

While his own was certainly long and thick, it shouldn’t feel this cold, should it?

Wu Xiaoyu reached out to touch it, only to recoil in shock – it was a snake!

He scrambled to his feet, flinging the snake away, which surprisingly landed directly upon the two individuals.

Startled by the commotion, Niu Dachun instantly went limp, fumbling to pull up his pants while yelling, “Who the hell is there?

Who’s lurking about?”

By this point, Wu Xiaoyu was already in full flight, muttering, “Damn it!

Thank goodness I reacted swiftly.

If that snake had gone for little old me, it would have been the end of it!”

After a few more hurried steps, he heard Mrs. Zhang’s panicked scream, “A snake!

Dachun!

There’s a snake on you!”

“A snake, my foot!

It must have slithered away by now!

You’re still…” Before he could finish, Ma Dachun felt a chilling sensation coil around his neck.

Upon touching it, he discovered it was indeed a large snake.

Visibly terrified, he shivered uncontrollably, shaking the snake off onto the ground before cursing and giving chase to Wu Xiaoyu.

Mrs. Zhang, witnessing the serpent writhing on the ground, was overcome with horror.

She quickly donned her clothes and beat a hasty retreat, exclaiming, “Niu Dachun, you scoundrel, abandoning me here alone!”

Spotting Niu Dachun gaining on him, Wu Xiaoyu increased his speed.

However, descending the mountain presented different challenges than ascending – one could not simply rush forward blindly.

The sky was now almost completely bereft of light.

A fall into the ravine would be no laughing matter.

Wu Xiaoyu lamented his oversight in not realizing their toad herb supply was depleted earlier in the day.

Venturing into the mountains after dark was perilous enough, and the encounter with those two shameless individuals only fueled his anger.

Noticing Niu Dachun closing in, Wu Xiaoyu decided to conceal himself within the roadside foliage to avoid recognition.

But the moment he stepped into the grass, his footing gave way, and he tumbled down.

Niu Dachun, finding himself unable to apprehend anyone, turned back to search for Mrs. Zhang.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Wu Xiaoyu had plummeted over the cliff edge.

Indeed, his life hung precariously in the balance, his fate entirely uncertain.