Just then, a villager ran over in a panic, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! The river god has appeared! He says that a boy born on the sixteenth day of the seventh lunar month must be sacrificed to appease his anger!"

Everyone was stunned when they heard this, and then they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's great! Not all children have to go!"

"All we need is to find a boy born on July 16th!"

"Quickly check whose child was born on July 16th!"

A murmur immediately arose in the crowd as everyone asked each other about their children's birthdays.

Just then, Madam Pei suddenly spoke up, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible pride: "I remember... Nian'an was born on the sixteenth day of the seventh lunar month."

These words were like a bombshell, instantly silencing everyone.

All eyes turned to Pei Nian'an, their gazes filled with complex emotions—surprise, fear, and a hint of relief.

Pei Nian'an was stared at by so many people, her little face filled with shock and fear.

He instinctively hid behind Shen Qingtang, clutching her clothes tightly, and whispered, "Auntie... why are they all looking at me? Is what Grandma said true? Was I... was I born on July 16th?"

Shen Qingtang's heart sank, and she hugged Pei Nian'an tightly.

Looking at everyone with unwavering determination, she said, "Don't listen to her nonsense! Nian'an wasn't born on July 16th! Even if he was, I will never hand him over! No one can hurt my Nian'an!"

Seeing this, Lu Jin immediately seized the opportunity and continued to incite the crowd: "Did you all hear that? Pei Nian'an was born on July 16th! He is the person the River God is looking for! As long as we hand him over, we can all live!"

The Pei family members echoed this sentiment, especially Pei's second uncle, who pointed at Pei Nian'an and exclaimed, "That's right! Nian'an was born on the sixteenth of July! It's fate! For everyone's sake, we have to sacrifice him!"

Pei Wuwang's face instantly turned extremely gloomy, and he exuded a world-destroying aura.

His gaze was icy and piercing, sweeping over everyone present. Anyone whose eyes met his instinctively lowered their head, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Anyone who dares to even think of planting a single finger will be torn to pieces by me!"

Pei Wuwang's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "I mean what I say!"

Shen Qingtang also hugged Pei Nian'an tightly, standing in front of him, and looked at everyone with a firm gaze: "If you want to touch Nian'an, you'll have to get past me first!"

Just then, Shen Minglan, Shen Mingzhao, Qin Wanqing, Qin Xian, and Su Lingwei also stepped forward and stood in front of Pei Nian'an.

"We support Young Master Pei and Qing Tang!"

Shen Minglan said loudly, "Nian'an is a good child, we can't send him to be sacrificed!"

"Anyone who dares to harm Nian'an is going against us!" Qin Xian said righteously.

The Su family members were dissatisfied to see that everyone was protecting Pei Nian'an.

He muttered to himself, "What good kid? I think he's a jinx! If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be stuck here! What bad luck!"

Pei Nian'an hid behind Shen Qingtang, her little face full of shock and grievance when she heard what everyone was saying.

Tears welled up in his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall. He knew that his aunt and father would protect him.

Seeing the stalemate before her, Shen Qingtang knew she couldn't let things drag on like this any longer.

Her gaze swept around and she suddenly noticed some strange footprints and some black powder in the woods not far away.

A thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately had an idea.

She said to Pei Wuwang and the others, "You all stay here and keep them calm. I'll be right back."

After saying that, she turned and ran into the forest. She took out materials for making bombs from her spatial storage: saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal, some metal fragments, and wires.

She followed the recipe from memory.

Carefully mix these materials together, then put them into a ceramic jar, insert a wire, and a simple bomb is complete.

She made a dozen or so bombs, then carried them and walked in the direction where the footprints disappeared.

She wants to go and see.