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Shangao Village, a commotion erupted at the village entrance.
A group of disheveled ruffians appeared at the village entrance.
A variety of weapons hung at their waists, the leader a brawny man in grey, his face full of menace, bursting with Qi-Blood, clearly a martial master cultivator, not someone to be trifled with.
The village women standing at the entrance, frightened at the sight, turned around and ran, eliciting laughter from them.
One of them couldn’t help but whistle like a rogue, behaving licentiously.
The brawny leader adjusted his belt and walked grandly into the village, shouting, "We are here by the order of Huang Daxian, to demand a young girl or boy as ’practitioners.’ Have you prepared one?"
Many in the village, hearing the name "Huang Daxian," were filled with fear.
They all knew, Huang Daxian was a Weasel with spiritual wisdom, overflowing with demonic power, lurking nearby, with an insatiable appetite for human flesh and blood.
Several villages had already been devoured by it.
Now, every two months, a young boy or girl is randomly selected from nearby villages for a tasting feast.
If they do not comply, the entire village is slaughtered.
No village dared to defy them. Enjoy new stories from freewebnovel
This group of ruffians were the lackeys of "Huang Daxian," roaming street by street, collecting children.
It is said that the leading ruffian was favored by "Huang Daxian," and, by a stroke of luck, obtained a Martial Arts cultivation technique, significantly advancing his cultivation.
He is now a martial master of the Bone Refining Realm, with astonishing strength.
No peasant could possibly rival him.
Facing this group of ruffians, the villagers, though resentful, bottled their feelings, fearing that any misstep might provoke them, leading to greater disaster.
Upon hearing the shout, they all instinctively hunched their shoulders.
The village chief of Shangao Village rushed over, smiling amiably, he said, "Ah, it’s the envoys, sorry for the lack of welcome, please forgive us. This way, please..."
"Did you prepare the ’practitioners’?" the brawny leader stared at the village chief.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.
The village chief promptly replied, "It’s ready, it’s ready. This time it’s from Chen Gouzi’s family."
"Again from his family? Alright, don’t try any tricks. Xia ao Village on the other side of the mountain didn’t provide the ’practitioners,’ angering ’Huang Daxian,’ and now... there’s no Xia ao Village anymore."
The village chief said, "I understand, I understand. We won’t break the rules, I’ll take the envoys right over."
"No rush."
The group of ruffians appeared relaxed, evidently not in a hurry to complete their ’mission.’
The leader of the ruffians stopped him, smirking, and said, "We’ve been traveling all the way here, and we’re starving, find us a place to rest."
The village chief wore a difficult expression.
Their village was far from the center of authority, free from oppressive taxes, but the land was barren and harvests were slim, leaving little grain throughout the year.
Each household had little surplus, unwilling to give it to these ruffians.
"What, reluctant?" The brawny leader raised his brow, dissatisfied, "Looks like you hold ’Huang Daxian’ in no regard, huh?"
The village chief tightened his expression, quickly smiling apologetically, "You jest, envoys, how could we not host you when you’ve come such a distance! Please, this way."
Reluctantly, the village chief led them to his home.
Along the way, when they saw chickens or ducks in someone’s yard, they’d rush in and grab them as if it were their own home.
The villagers, angered but silent, could only hide indoors, locking windows and doors, seething with resentment as they listened to the chaos outside.
The leading ruffian twisted the chickens and ducks’ necks, killing them on the spot, tossing them to the village chief, instructing, "Quickly make some duck soup, fry a chicken, and get some wine."
The village chief grimaced, "Our backwater place is poor, where would we get drinks for you?"
"When I tell you to prepare, just prepare, no more nonsense!"
"Yes, yes, yes..."
The village chief took the chickens and ducks to the kitchen, handing them to the old woman at home to handle.
The brawny leader, unrestrained, wandered around the living room for a while, found a long bench, sat down with the other ruffians, and said gleefully, "Speaking of which, two months ago, when I went to the village in the west, there was a family named Zhao, only a young woman at home, her husband died of illness years ago. She was left a widow."
"You wouldn’t believe it, that widow was juicy. Splashed all over me."
"Ah, really, never heard you mention that!" The other ruffians, curious, pressed for more.
"Just a minor deal. The women in this village are no good, wait a couple of months, and if you come with me again, I’ll take you to that village, there’s a couple of savory ones."
"Great, great. It’s settled then."
"Rest assured, I mean what I say."
After a while, hot duck soup and several plates of chicken and duck were brought out.
Along with it, a pot of wine and a dish of peanuts were served.
"Old man, you know your place," the brawny leader laughed.
The ruffians, without a word, started eating, gobbling down with vigor, the scene was spectacular.
They squinted, nudged, tussled, eating until they were drenched in sweat, locked in struggle with the chicken and duck bones.
In a moment, the plates and cups were empty, a complete mess.
After the chicken and duck feast, they all had a ruddy complexion.
The brawny leader, half-full, patted his stomach contentedly and said, "Thanks for the meal. Let’s get to business. Lead the way!"
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