Chapter 69

Sunset.

On the scattered mountain road, a group full of fatigue moved forward slowly.

Not far away, a huge city, like a giant beast crouching in the mountains and rivers, was quietly waiting for something.

"Senior Brother!"

"I'm so hungry! I'm so sleepy! I'm so tired!"

"Can you carry me for a while!"

"..."

"Get lost!"

"Oh."

They had walked for a whole day.

Highly alert along the way, not a drop of water had entered their mouths, and they hadn't eaten a single bite of food.

Not to mention the little guy, everyone in the group felt a bit tired.

Fortunately, Chiyang County was about to be reached.

It is worth mentioning that along this journey, apart from that Seventh Grade demon, they hadn't encountered any other demon beasts.

Even wild beasts were relatively rare.

"Hmm."

"Looks like this thing's effect is not bad."

Li Xiang gently pinched a black feather in his hand, a faint light emerging on the feather.

"Just a single feather of the Mysterious Bird can suppress all demons."

"I just don't know what the legendary Mysterious Bird actually looks like."

In the previous battle, the Yinglong's 【Deterrence】 attribute worked very well.

This made Li Xiang think of the Mysterious Bird's divine feather, and he tried it; sure enough, the journey was safe.

"If there's a chance in the future, I must follow Master to You Mountain and see what the Mysterious Bird looks like."

"Hey, speaking of which, I originally wanted to condense the Mysterious Bird's Dharma Image."

While muttering, he looked toward Chiyang County at the end of his vision with some anticipation.

"Finally, finally moving to a bigger city?"

"Three years! Do you know how I spent these three years?"

"Candied haws, sesame seed cake stalls, spicy soup."

"Wenwu Building, drinking flower wine, Lantern Festival."

"None! Nothing at all!"

"Every day, besides eating cabbage at home, I eat sweet potatoes at home!!"

Looking at Chiyang County in the distance, Li Xiang shouted crazily in his heart.

After crossing into this world, for three whole years, he could only stay in this small village.

He couldn't even get enough to eat.

Finally seeing a county town, an opportunity representing contact with civilization.

How could he not be excited.

"Senior Brother, I really can't walk anymore, can you carry me for a while!"

"Get lost!"

"Woo! I'm going to tell Master later!!"

"Go tell him, see who cares about you!"

Bang~

A flick to the forehead.

Must say, bullying a kid is actually quite fun.

He looked back at the rugged road they had come from.

Then he looked up at the county town in the distance.

An indescribable feeling emerged in Li Xiang's heart.

From today on, they would have a new life.

They could come into contact with a real civilized society.

They could eat many things they couldn't eat before.

They could have more opportunities to earn some money.

Perhaps, they might even see a few exotic dancers and broaden their horizons.

It's just that I don't know why.

Suddenly there was a little bit of sadness.

Looking back at the green mountains.

If the Southern Wilderness continues to be chaotic.

Perhaps he won't return to Shihe Village for a very, very long time.

The simple thatched cottage.

The dilapidated loom.

And the sweet potatoes he had to eat every day.

It was clearly a life of hardship, but I don't know why, after leaving, there was an inexplicable discomfort lingering in his heart.

"Li Xiang."

"Hmm?"

It was his father.

A pair of large hands reached out, full of calluses and cracks.

"You still..., forget it, you are not allowed to bully Zhao Zheng."

As he spoke, the large hands reached out and picked up him and Zhao Zheng.

One on the left and one on the right, held on his shoulders.

"Behave, we'll be there in a while."

"Come, I'll carry you both for a while."

Walked for a day, tired for a day.

Lao San's footsteps were not very steady anymore.

But his hands were held very steadily and warmly.

"..."

A complex emotion suddenly surged into his heart.

"Dad."

"Hmm? Hungry?"

"No, no! Just suddenly wanted to call you."

"Hmm! Don't worry, once we reach the city, Dad will definitely make sure you can eat your fill too!"

——

Half an hour later.

The refugee group from Shihe Village finally arrived at the city gate of Chiyang County.

Looking up.

The city wall cast from bluestone was extremely majestic, and many soldiers holding weapons stood on the wall, with faint blood aura emerging from their bodies.

The city wall was very high, much higher than the ancient city walls Li Xiang had seen on TV.

It didn't look like a county town at all.

Majestic, primitive, and murderous.

The entire county town was like a giant beast crouching in the world, ready to leap up and fight at any time.

This was Li Xiang's most intuitive feeling after seeing this city.

An aura completely different from Shihe Village emerged from it.

As a city standing on the border, the aura of slaughter was more than the aura of life.

At this moment, the sky was already dark, and the city gate was closed.

Lu Jianxing walked to the very front of the group and took out a beast-head token.

"Open the gate!"

"The Southern Wilderness is changing, and a large number of demon beasts have rushed out."

"This is the refugee group from Shihe Village!"

Blood Qi surged, his voice like thunder.

Before long.

He heard the creaking sound, the mottled drawbridge was lowered, and the city gate slowly opened.

A team of soldiers wearing armor walked out from the city gate.

The leader, with vast Blood Qi, wore a set of black armor, his gaze sweeping over the people of Shihe Village like a tiger or wolf.

He looked at Lu Jianxing, who was covered in blood, and then looked at the members of the Demon Slaying Division who had already suffered heavy losses.

He raised his hand with a fake smile.

"Garrison Commander Lu, you've been well."

"When you have time, come to my mansion for a drink."

"Deputy General Wang, these are the villagers of Shihe Village. Shihe Village suffered a beast disaster, and a Seventh Grade demon rushed out from the mountains. Please report to the County Magistrate and arrange a place for them."

"As for drinking, we can go to the Wenwu Building for a small gathering another day; how would I dare to disturb you at your home."

Eighty percent polite, twenty percent small talk.

Immediately, the deputy general turned his gaze to the people of Shihe Village.

"Garrison Commander Lu, this is already the fourth batch of refugees to arrive today. The City Lord said, we provide for their survival but not their upbringing."

"You can throw them into the slums in the south of the city, but you must not open the granary privately to do any porridge distribution to relieve the people."

Listening to Wang Yan's words, Lu Jianxing's brows wrinkled.

Provide for survival but not upbringing?

This pile of villagers, having left their land and not being arranged with any work, how do you expect them to live?

As a border city, Chiyang County usually relies on the surrounding villages for land reclamation.

Every year, the government takes eighty percent of the harvest to fill the granaries.

Prepare for war when there is war, prepare for disaster when there is no war.

Now that the villagers have suffered a disaster, logically speaking, the granaries should be opened to relieve the people.

But now, they actually say something about providing for survival but not upbringing, and they aren't even willing to give them a bite to eat?

What kind of bullshit logic is this?

Lu Jianxing was just about to speak when he saw Wang Yan smile.

"In a few days, the Prefecture City is going to transfer a batch of Iron Guards to garrison Chiyang."

"The Southern Wilderness is in chaos; the military comes first, and the people come second. Garrison Commander, do not forget."

"Garrison Commander, do not forget."

"Besides, the Southern Wilderness is in chaos; what does it matter if a thousand people die?"

Speaking to this point, Wang Yan lowered his voice slightly.

"Being able to survive is their good fortune; if they can't survive, what does it have to do with you?"

"Magistrate has his own plans."

"Garrison Commander, take care of yourself."

After speaking, Wang Yan waved his hand, and the soldiers behind him cleared a path.

They could enter the city.

Passing by the city gate.

Li Xiang saw a huge treasure mirror hanging on the city wall.

This is the Demon Revealing Mirror; with this object guarding, all evil spirits will reveal their true forms.

But Li Xiang saw.

This Demon Revealing Mirror seemed to have dimmed a bit.

(End of chapter)