Dawn was breaking. Lu Ran arrived at the current Village Chief’s home. He knocked lightly on the door, and the barking of a mastiff immediately erupted from inside. Hearing this irritating noise, Lu Ran released his dominance. Even through the door, the barking ceased abruptly.
“That’ll teach you.” Lu Ran’s expression was fierce.
Before long, the door opened. A muscular man, towering at 1.9 meters and exuding a beast-like aura, stood in the doorway.
“Village Chief Lu Yan?” Lu Ran asked upon seeing him.
The man looked puzzled until Lu Ran removed his mask and met his eyes. Lu Yan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The elderly and children of Lu Village might not recognize Lu Ran, but as the current Village Chief, how could Lu Yan not know him? It was similar to a small village producing a true dragon. Lu Ran was someone whose deeds would one day be recorded in the family genealogy and worshiped by future generations.
“It’s me,” Lu Ran said.
“Village Chief Lu Yan, may I come in to talk?”
Lu Yan exclaimed, astonished. He never imagined Lu Ran would suddenly visit Lu Village.
“Lu Ran, you should’ve told us you were coming back to the village! The village isn’t prepared for your visit. Let me organize a feast to welcome you properly!”
“That won’t be necessary. No need for such formality,” Lu Ran replied quickly.
“How could it not be necessary? If it weren’t for your support of Lu Bing and the others, and their subsequent helping of the village’s other beastmasters, the fourth-generation beastmasters of Lu Village would’ve faced much higher casualty rates.”
“It’s what I should do. We’re family, after all.” Lu Ran smiled as he spoke, following Lu Yan into the house.
As he entered, the mastiff in the courtyard cowered in a corner, trembling in fear, with a puddle spreading beneath it.
“Lu Yi, Lu Bing, and the rest have gone to the ascension realms. They didn’t tell me you were coming... Those brats.”
“I didn’t tell them either,” Lu Ran said. “This time, I came specifically to discuss something with you, Village Chief.”
“Hmm?” Lu Yan was taken aback. “You’re here for me?”
“Yes. Village Chief Lu Yan, you’re not a beastmaster, are you?” Lu Ran asked.
Lu Yan’s gaze darkened briefly before he laughed. “No, I’m not. I actually obtained a black card back then, but I decided to give up becoming a beastmaster. My son was one of the first-generation beastmasters, but... he died in the secret realms.
"Now, I’m the sole pillar of the family. If I were to do something so dangerous, what would happen to the elders and my wife at home?”
Lu Ran sighed. “My condolences.”
Lu Yan was indeed a responsible man. Despite the immense temptation of extraordinary power, he had chosen to give it up.
“Haih. It’s life. We’re all destined to endure hardship,” Lu Yan said.
He looked at Lu Ran as though seeing a stranger. However, they had met before — during the funeral of Lu Ran’s grandparents. Back then, a young Lu Ran had briefly returned to Lu Village.
As for Lu Ran’s parents, their sudden deaths meant no funeral had ever been held. After learning of their deaths, the village had initially planned to bring Lu Ran back for care. However, Fang Lan’s family had stepped in first when no news came from the village.
Having grown up in the city, Lu Ran naturally felt closer to Fang Lan’s family than to Lu Village, where he was less familiar. Lu Yan had later taken the villagers to visit Lu Ran, but back then, Lu Ran had been consumed by grief, shutting himself off from the world.
But now, Lu Ran had clearly emerged from the shadows. Who would’ve thought that the despondent child of those years would one day become the strongest fourth-generation beastmaster on the Blue Planet and a global sensation?
Fate truly worked in mysterious ways, Lu Yan thought.
“Lu Ran, would you be interested in returning to Lu Village?” Lu Yan asked.
“I realized I wasn’t suitable to be the Village Chief as soon as I gave up becoming a beastmaster. I’ve discussed this with the village committee. We plan to choose a capable and responsible fourth-generation beastmaster to lead the village into the new era.
“But the consensus in the village, including most of the fourth-generation beastmasters, is that they’d like you to take on this role. After all, you’re the grandson of Elder Lu Hai and have done so much for the village recently. No one is more suitable than you.
“I know Lu Village may seem insignificant to you and might even be a burden. But as someone living alone out there, you can’t handle everything on your own. The beastmasters of Lu Village can take care of the small, dirty, and exhausting tasks for you.”
“Uncle, we’re all one family. No need to be so formal,” Lu Ran said.
“In fact, I came to see you today for this very reason. This time, I’ve decided to run for the position of Village Chief to lead Lu Village toward a brighter future.”
“Really?” Lu Yan was overjoyed.
Years ago, he might’ve cared about being Village Chief, but after losing his son and giving up the black card, he was left with only one mission: to treat all the village’s young people as his own children, hoping they could thrive and avoid meeting the same fate as his son.
Lu Ran’s agreement to return and lead Lu Village was nothing short of monumental. With Lu Ran at the helm, Lu Village would surely prosper in the Beastmaster Era.
“Great!” Lu Yan exclaimed.
“No need for elections or hunting competitions! Let’s proceed directly with the handover. No one will oppose this.”
“Let’s keep it simple,” Lu Ran said with a wry smile.
“Besides, I can’t stay in Lu Village indefinitely. My intention in becoming Village Chief is to initiate some reforms.”
“Yes. Could you help gather all the villagers? I’d like to discuss this with everyone,” Lu Ran said seriously.
“This concerns the future development of Lu Village for the next hundred years!”
“No problem.” Although stunned, Lu Yan chose to trust Lu Ran and nodded firmly.
A few moments later, the village loudspeaker blared to life.
“Attention, all villagers! Attention, all villagers! Except for the elderly and children with mobility issues, everyone must gather in front of the Village Committee courtyard.
“This concerns the handover of leadership and the development of Lu Village for decades, and even centuries to come. Attendance is mandatory!”
Not long after, nearly all the villagers, except for the elderly with limited mobility, gathered in front of the Village Committee courtyard.
“New Village Chief? I thought it wasn’t time for an election yet.”
Hundreds of households assembled, clueless about why they had been summoned so early in the morning. Some people hadn’t even had time to change, showing up in their shorts and slippers.
The older generation of the Lu Clan glared at Lu Yan from the crowd, muttering about his apparent madness for calling such an urgent gathering.
Village Chief? What’s all this talk about a leadership handover?
As the crowd settled, Lu Yan stood on the elevated platform, holding a loudspeaker.
“Everyone, please calm down and quiet down! I have something important to declare. As of today, I will no longer serve as the Village Chief of Lu Village.
“Now, I’ll invite the new Village Chief to say a few words.”
“Lu Yan, what on earth are you doing?”
Some of the elders raised their walking sticks, ready to storm the platform. But the moment Lu Ran stepped forward, the entire gathering fell silent. The young people in particular froze, their eyes widening.
“Holy shit, it’s God Lu.”
“Is that Lu Ran? The real Lu Ran!?”
“It’s him! The prodigy from our Lu Village, now the strongest fourth-generation beastmaster on the Blue Planet!”
“I have a photo of him on my bedside table. I’ve looked at it a hundred times. It’s definitely him!”
“He’s back in the village? Wait, does this mean the new Village Chief that Chief Lu Yan was talking about is...”