82: Jinlin Township! The God of Jinlin River!

“It’s good that he left!”

County Magistrate Zeng Fan let out a sigh of relief, feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He never wanted to see those Blackbird Guard bastards again in his life.

“Also, all of you listen to me carefully.”

“No one is allowed to provoke the Shen family, otherwise, I will make sure he dies without a burial place!”

When Zhao Sheng and the others left, they specifically reminded County Magistrate Zeng Fan.

And the warning from Zhao Sheng and the others made County Magistrate Zeng Fan feel a chill penetrate his bones, a shiver running down his spine, and cold sweat involuntarily slid down his back, soaking his official robes.

That was, the Shen Mansion had a presence at the Perfection of the Blood Refinement Realm or above; even Zhao Sheng and the others dared not provoke such a Senior.

In Jinlin Township, Yunze County, a turbulent, hundreds-of-feet-wide river snaked like a giant Dragon, stretching across the vast plains.

The river water was clear and green, magnificent, reflecting the scorching sun in the sky, shimmering with golden light.

Less than ten li from this great river, there was a small town.

The small town was hidden among the lush green fields, with only one wide, flat bluestone road leading to the outside world.

Smoke curled up from the town, and from a distance, one could see a continuous flow of people coming and going.

At this moment, four lightning-fast figures slowly appeared on the horizon.

They rode fast horses, their hooves thundering from far to near, advancing rapidly amidst the rising dust.

And these four people were Lu Xuan and Zhao Sheng and the others.

“Senior Xuan, the small town ahead is Taiping Town. Do you want to rest for a bit? We still have to pass the Jinlin River later.”

After days of traveling, Zhao Sheng and the others had also learned Lu Xuan's name.

Lu Xuan nodded slightly upon hearing this, his gaze profound as he looked towards the small town.

“Alright!”

Lu Xuan and Zhao Sheng and the others did not stop, entering the small town unimpeded.

Then they arrived in front of a small inn.

However, the unique features of this inn made Lu Xuan's eyes light up.

The inn had no wooden panels blocking its sides, and the roof only had a solid wooden board laid on top.

The inn's signboard was made from a mottled wooden board, with several large characters written crookedly on it.

Ping An Inn.

Then Lu Xuan and Zhao Sheng and the others casually found a seat at the edge of the inn and sat down. Zhao Sheng immediately said, “Innkeeper, quickly bring some tea.”

“Alright, honored guest, please wait a moment, it will be right there.”

Subsequently, Qian Hao, sitting beside him, took down the bundle on his back and placed it on the simple wooden table.

Then, after Qian Hao opened the bundle, it was filled with excellent dried meat.

Lu Xuan, meanwhile, sat silently, his expression calm, without saying a word.

“Senior Xuan, after crossing this Jinlin River, we will only have half a day's journey left to Baidao Prefecture City.”

“Town Chief, please, I beg you, spare our little Fatty. He is still young. Can I take his place to sacrifice to the River God?”

“Hmm?”

Zhao Sheng was about to say something else when he was interrupted by the sound of a woman crying.

Zhao Sheng and the others all turned their heads, their gaze fixed on the direction of the sound.

Lu Xuan, however, made no movement, still calmly sipping the tea in his hand.

On the distant street, a group of men dressed in uniform black official attire, their faces stern, seemed to be carrying out a merciless task.

Several men held the hands of innocent, ignorant children, about seven or eight years old.

A woman appeared, dressed in white clothes, her dark hair coiled into a woman's bun.

She blocked the path of this group of people. Behind the woman, there was also a sturdy man.

“Alas, Wu Sheng, you know the rules of our Taiping Town. Please accept your sorrow and move on.”

“You should quickly take your wife away and tell her not to disrupt our important matter.”

At the front of the group of black-clad men, there was a man dressed in a delicate and exquisite brocade robe, about fifty or sixty years old.

The man looked kind and dignified, with slightly frosted temples, a tall stature, and a slightly plump build.

The man was the Town Chief of Taiping Town. He ignored the woman's plea and looked at the man behind the woman.

“Wu Sheng, your family still has several children. This is already considered good.”

“Some families who drew lots only have one child, and they still have to obey the overall situation.”

“The rule of Taiping Town is to draw 20 boys and girls each year to sacrifice to the River God of Jinlin River.”

“Three days from now will be the time for the annual sacrifice to the River God of Jinlin River. No one can stop this important matter.”

“Three years ago, the lot fell on me, and I still handed over my child.”

“Wu Sheng, is your family trying to disrupt the peace of Taiping Town?!”

The Town Chief of Taiping Town's tone was very gentle, simply because the Wu Sheng in front of him was a Martial Artist at the Perfection of the Bone Refinement Realm.

His formidable strength was second only to him, a Martial Artist of the Refining Marrow Realm.

The sturdy man behind the woman struggled, his eyes filled with both unwillingness and helplessness under the reprimand of the Town Chief of Taiping Town.

The sturdy man's fists were tightly clenched, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force, and the muscles on his arms bulged like mountains.

The woman blocking the way seemed to have already sensed the struggle and pain in her husband's heart; she already knew the outcome.

“Alas.”

“I understand, Town Chief!”

Subsequently, Wu Sheng stepped forward and embraced the woman, clearing a path for the Town Chief of Taiping Town and the others.

“Alas, Wu Sheng, you know, I don't want to do this either.”

“None of us can bear the consequences of defying the great River God of Jinlin River.”

Finally, as the Town Chief of Taiping Town passed by Wu Sheng, he said with emotion, then slowly departed under the woman's desperate gaze.

And the pedestrians on the road were all oblivious to this scene, as if it were a normal occurrence.

Zhao Sheng and the other three were all Martial Artists of the Blood Refinement Realm, with senses far beyond ordinary people.

Although the group of people opposite was several hundred meters away, Zhao Sheng and the others still heard everything.

Zhao Sheng and the other three's expressions changed drastically, but the next moment, they quickly returned to normal, pretending not to know anything.

Damn it!

How could it be such a coincidence!

They actually ran into the appearance time of that thing from the Jinlin River. How unlucky!

Zhao Sheng's heart was like surging waves at this moment, difficult to calm.

Regarding this thing hidden in the Jinlin River, the Blackbird Guard of the Fu City was naturally very clear.

Because the County Magistrate of Jinlin County had once reported it to the Blackbird Guard of the Fu City, asking them to quickly slay that Yao Beast in the Jinlin River.

However, the Yao Beast hiding in the Jinlin River was a large monstrous fish with the strength of the Perfection of the Blood Refinement Realm, and it already possessed the intelligence of a child.

This large monstrous fish Yao Beast, at the Perfection of the Blood Refinement Realm, could completely contend with a Senior of the Inner Energy Realm, relying on the geographical advantage of the Jinlin River.

Therefore, facing such a powerful Yao Beast, even their Mystic Envoy could not fully guarantee that he could kill it.