"How dare you!" Geshu Han roared angrily.
The sixty-three year old Geshu Han had seen something he had never seen before in his life. This was the first time someone had made up such an absurd story in front of him, and it was also the first time someone had used his head as a guarantee, and in the end, he still refused to admit defeat!
"Capture him!" Geshu Han roared, "Escort him to the execution ground!"
Li Jinglong and Hongjun had already rushed out of the front hall of the General's Residence and ran towards the backyard without knowing which direction they were going. The Carp Demon was hibernating on Hongjun's back, but it was suddenly awakened and shouted, "Hey! What are you doing?! Why are you suddenly fighting?! Where is this? "
"Soul Detaching Pollen!" Hong Jun was quick-witted.
"You're wrapping me up too tightly!" The Carp Demon was afraid of the cold, so Hongjun had wrapped it up like a swaddling cloth. The Carp Demon was like a baby for a moment, unable to pull its hands out.
Li Jinglong shouted, "I can't free my hands!"
Geshu Han was protected in the innermost circle, unable to get close. A large number of soldiers with crossbows rushed out of the General's Residence, and the scene was chaotic. Li Jinglong was dizzy and his nose was still running. He knew that their arrows were aimed at cavalry and could even penetrate horses. If he was hit by an arrow, it would not be a joke.
"Let's go!" Li Jinglong shouted.
Hongjun shook out the Rainbow Divine Light and blocked the arrows in front of the two. The soldiers were still merciful and only shot at the legs. Li Jinglong rushed to the wall, bowed, and shouted, "Jump!"
Hongjun stepped on Li Jinglong's back and jumped onto the high wall of the General's Residence. He turned around and twisted his hands. The Rainbow Divine Light twisted and the arrows flew in all directions. The soldiers shouted in surprise. Zhang Hao quickly rushed out and shouted, "Li Jinglong! Don't run! Let's talk! "
Taking advantage of this, Li Jinglong had already jumped onto the high wall and jumped out of the General's Residence with Hongjun.
Hongjun said, "Why don't we take the General as a hostage …"
Li Jinglong: "Can you?!"
Hongjun: "Otherwise, why did you say that you were going to guarantee it with your head …"
"How would I know!" Li Jinglong screamed, "Don't you usually just say it casually? Who knew he would take it seriously?! "
The two of them had just caught their breath when the pursuers rushed out. Li Jinglong shouted, "Run to where there are more people!"
It was the beginning of winter in Liangzhou City. The market was bustling with noise. The two of them rushed out of the alley. Hongjun was about to run into the market when Li Jinglong pulled him back and said, "Wait!" Looking back, Li Jinglong saw that the pursuers had slowed down and put away their crossbows. Afraid that they would hurt the civilians, he said, "Let's go!"
"Split up …"
"What are you talking about!" Li Jinglong pushed Hongjun and hid in the crowd. The soldiers dismounted one after another to investigate. Once there were more people, Li Jinglong and Hongjun shook off the pursuers. After a while, the two of them hid in an alley and panted. Li Jinglong was still sneezing.
"What should we do?" Hongjun stood guard at the entrance of the alley and looked outside.
The Carp Demon had one hand wrapped in a cloth and the other hand outside waved back and forth. He said, "If we can't get the Soul Leaving Pollen, Hongjun, loosen me up."
"Use it sparingly." Li Jinglong said, "If we use it up, we won't have anywhere to replenish it."
The sound of horse hooves passed by and Zhang Hao's voice came from outside. He said, "Check all the alleys."
Hongjun was shocked. The patrolling soldiers were coming towards them. The alley was a dead end and they had to jump over the wall to escape. However, a door suddenly opened in the alley.
"The two of you, please come with me." A girl's voice said.
Li Jinglong suddenly turned his head and saw that it was a mixed-blood Hu woman with a high nose and deep eyes. Hongjun was hesitating when Li Jinglong made a prompt decision and flashed through the door with him.
The Hu woman led them through the backyard of a house and then out of the front door. At that time, Hu and Han lived together in Liangzhou Prefecture. Many years ago, the Seimu people and Huihe people built their own residences. Even the Hu and Han people's houses were uneven and disorderly. It was very unique. The Han people's residences were mainly wooden and brick houses. The Hu people's residences were built with white stone, rammed earth, and poplar wood. The paths between the houses were very complicated. After a few turns, they completely shook off the pursuers.
The Hu woman led them through a small market alley. The alley was Liangzhou Prefecture's slum street. It was freezing cold, but there were still many people doing business here.
"Hey! Are you selling that fish! "A Huihe person patted Hongjun's shoulder and said in Chinese.
"Not selling!" The Carp Demon sternly refused.
When the Huihe person saw the fish suddenly open its mouth to speak, he was so scared that he screamed and fell to the ground. The Hu woman impatiently said to him, "Don't cause trouble!"
The Hu woman was very valiant. For a time, no one dared to provoke her in the alley. Halfway through, she squatted down to buy groceries. Li Jinglong and Hongjun's faces were full of doubts, but they didn't ask any questions. After passing through several streets, they arrived in front of a house.
The Hu woman said, "Come in and drink some tea." She said as she opened the door.
This was a quiet house. There was a stone mill in the front yard and a mule. When they entered the front hall, the furnishings were simple and unadorned. On both sides of the hall, there was a black ancient armor from the Han Dynasty. The Hu woman went in and shouted, "Father! Mother, I've brought them back! "
Hongjun looked around in the courtyard. Under the sun, two white official robes were drying. A Huihe woman was mending a long skirt. Hearing this, she hurriedly raised her head and invited Li Jinglong and Hongjun to enter. Another person came out of the hall. He had changed into an official's robe and was wrapped in an old cotton-padded jacket. It was Qin Liang!
"Elder Li, today." Qin Liang smiled and said, "You've caused a big trouble."
When Hongjun was surprised, Li Jinglong thought about it and hurriedly cupped his hands in salute, thanking Qin Liang for his help. Qin Liang waved his hand and hurriedly said, "It's okay." He invited the two people into the hall.
"It's a long story." Qin Liang said worriedly, "Old General has a strong first impression. If the brothers in Liangzhou City have offended you in any way, please be magnanimous and forgive them."
"You believe it?" Li Jinglong was very surprised when he heard this.
Qin Liang's expression was dignified. He slowly nodded and replied, "Twelve years ago, I saw the monsters you mentioned in Shazhou. They were called 'corpse ghosts'."
After the snow, the sky was clear. Mo Rigen spurred his horse and galloped on the Wilderness. The horse also carried Lu Xu. The Shiwei people were experts at traveling to and fro beyond the Great Wall. Along the way, Mo Rigen followed the leeward mountains and rivers. He walked and stopped. When the sky changed, he would either find a small town or a cave to protect himself from the cold. Occasionally, he would hunt a few prey and roast them over a fire to eat. At night, he would also find a hot spring and bathe with Lu Xu to wash away the fatigue of the day.
"Where should we go next?" Mo Rigen asked Lu Xu from a high place.
Lu Xu stood on the cliff and looked into the distance. There was a trace of confusion in his eyes. Mo Rigen said again, "Look over there?" Lu Xu looked into the distance at the snow-covered southeastern section of the Qilian Mountains. He narrowed his eyes, pondered, and hesitated.
Lu Xu rarely spoke. Mo Rigen could already determine the right direction from his eyes. Along the way, Lu Xu seemed to be hesitant. He was willing to take Mo Rigen there, but he was afraid of encountering the thing that scared him. However, as Mo Rigen and Lu Xu went deeper into the Hexi region, this fear kept fading away and turned into confidence in Mo Rigen. After all, Mo Rigen was very powerful. He was familiar with the way and could always find the right direction. No matter what kind of wild animals they encountered, they never dared to invade.
At first, Lu Xu was a little hesitant. However, after seeing Mo Rigen kill a bear with his own eyes and send a tiger flying with his bare hands, he began to worship him.
Mo Rigen judged from Lu Xu's expression that their destination might be close. He went around the mountain road and patted the saddle, indicating for Lu Xu to get on. Lu Xu didn't move and just stared at him.
"Let's go. Don't be afraid." Mo Rigen took off his mask and looked at Lu Xu seriously. "I'm here."
Lu Xu hesitated for a moment and then got on the horse. Mo Rigen raised his whip and shouted, "Jia — —!" He took Lu Xu and galloped to the foot of the Qilian Mountains. At dusk, the sky was clear and vast with white clouds. A dilapidated village appeared in the distance.
Mo Rigen was very surprised. In front of Zhuma Village, Lu Xu rolled and crawled off the horse. He let out a heart-wrenching cry and rushed into the village.
Mo Rigen was speechless.
Mo Rigen finally understood. After delivering the letter, Lu Xu's destination was his home. The village was full of corpses, as if there had been a robbery. There were no living people left in the village. In the house that Lu Xu ran into, there was a Shiwei bull's head hanging at the door. Outside the door, there was a Tubo woman's peacock green dress, which was still fluttering in the wind.
In the snowy mountains, the bloodstains of the village had been covered by the white snow. The village was quiet. Outside the village, prayer flags fluttered. A faint moon hung in the sky, accompanied by Lu Xu's frantic cries.
Mo Rigen pushed the door open and entered. He saw Lu Xu hugging a dead woman and crying loudly. Buzzing sounds could be heard all around the house. Lu Xu's face was covered in tears and snot. Mo Rigen pulled him up and held him in front of him. Lu Xu was still trembling.
"You must have guessed it on the way here," Mo Rigen said. "My condolences."
He finally understood Lu Xu's expression of fear and helplessness. He was worried about his village and his parents. But all of this was within his expectations.
What exactly was going on?
Mo Rigen covered Lu Xu's eyes and took him outside the house. He picked up a shovel and put it in his hands. He told him to dig a hole and said, "Don't cry, don't cry."
Lu Xu stood and dug the hole while crying. Mo Rigen knew that as long as someone was in grief was asked to do something, their pain would gradually lessen. He went inside to check on Lu Xu's mother's body.
He saw that Lu Xu's mother was holding a dagger in her left hand, and her right hand was tightly clenched.
He gently pried open Lu Xu's mother's hand and saw that she was holding a piece of armor.
Mo Rigen held the piece of armor and sniffed it. His face was full of doubt. He quickly went outside to check on the other villagers who had died. Most of the deceased had their eyes wide open, and there was a fatal wound on their chest. The deceased were all old and young, but there was no adult male.
"Your father might still be alive!" Mo Rigen quickly walked out of the house and said to Lu Xu. "There are no adult male corpses here!"
Lu Xu's face was full of surprise. He put down the shovel. Mo Rigen thought for a moment, then quickly walked to the high ground. He raised his head and sniffed against the wind.
Then, under the setting sun, Mo Rigen's face quickly grew hair. His whole body emitted a strong light. He bent down and pressed one hand on the ground. His body expanded into a huge grey wolf, and he let out a roar!
Lu Xu was stunned and took half a step back. The Grey Wolf jumped down from the high ground and lowered its head to sniff something in the snow.
"I'll be back soon." The Grey Wolf's voice was Mo Rigen's, but it was low and hoarse. He looked back at Lu Xu and said, "Be careful here."
The Grey Wolf ran a few steps, but Lu Xu sighed and followed.
As soon as the Grey Wolf left the village, Lu Xu caught up with him. The Grey Wolf turned back and said, "Go back!"
Lu Xu stubbornly chased after him on the snowy ground. He ran very fast, like the wind, and managed to catch up with the Grey Wolf. After a while, the Grey Wolf had to stop and said helplessly, "I'll go after the murderer!"
Lu Xu held a dagger in his left hand and a shovel in his right. He gestured at the Grey Wolf and said, "Celebrity Li, Celebrity Li!"
The Grey Wolf showed his sharp canine teeth and said in a low voice, "Go back to the village. I'll be back."
Lu Xu stubbornly approached the Grey Wolf. In the end, the Grey Wolf had no choice but to say, "Forget it. Ride me." It bowed slightly and let Lu Xu sit on it.
"You're the second person to ride me." The Grey Wolf raised its head and tried to identify the smell in the air. It then began to run.
Lu Xu did not dare to scratch the Ash Wolf's ears, so he could only lie down and hug its neck tightly, sticking close to its back. For a moment, the wind whistled. The Ash Wolf ran for a while in the dusk and came to a barren plain. The snow was almost melted, and the golden sunset on the horizon shone on the earth.
It raised its head and sniffed left and right, as if it had lost its way. Then it took a deep breath and suddenly let out a wolf howl that shook the sky. The howl reverberated through the mountains, forming an echo. It was as if there were a pack of wolves echoing in the mountains, wave after wave.
Not long after, on the wasteland, a pack of wolves rushed towards the Grey Wolf from all directions. There were at least a thousand of them. When they arrived in front of the Grey Wolf, they all bowed their heads.
The Grey Wolf slightly straightened its body. Lu Xu hurriedly hugged its neck to prevent himself from slipping down. His eyes looked at the wolves gathered around him in bewilderment.
The Grey Wolf shook its head and spat out a piece of armor between its canine teeth. It landed on a rock and made a light sound. The local alpha wolf first sniffed it and then turned around and dashed away. Then the rest of the pack of wolves rushed over like a tide. Six in a group, they sniffed the armor piece and then turned around and left in different directions. The cycle repeated itself. In a short while, the pack of wolves had completely retreated and scattered towards the plains below Mount Qilian.
"Pick it up." The Grey Wolf said, "You keep it."
Lu Xu took the armor piece. The Grey Wolf carried him and rushed towards the western horizon where the fiery red sun was setting. For a moment, the pack of wolves gathered again. Nearly two hundred wolves followed the Grey Wolf and galloped in the wasteland.
In the distance, the howls of wolves rose and fell. The Grey Wolf crossed the river, rushed up the cliff, and slid down the snowy slope. The sun set and the moon rose. The moonlight became brighter and brighter, shining a silver light on the earth. The pack of wolves lined up on the ridge, howling. The Grey Wolf sniffed and smelled a strong smell in the air —
— the smell of corpses.
In Liangzhou City, the wind suddenly blew and the sky was dark. Mrs. Qin Liang entered and lit the lamp.
"… That year, I was a field officer in Shazhou. My boss was Old Jia's youngest son, Jia Songwen. He was a field officer and I was his assistant. Our troops and horses were trained and went north in the sandstorm …"
Twelve years ago, Qin Liang was only twenty-three years old. He and the field officer trained for more than three months. Nearly two hundred people wanted to pass through Yadan and go to Mingsha County. However, the sandstorm suddenly blew that night and swept through the six frontier cities. When they were only one day away from Mingsha County, they lost their way in Yadan and went further and further away.
In the Gobi Desert, smoke and dust billowed. Everyone was trapped in the desert and had no water. Their horses fell to the ground one after another. Even if they killed the warhorses, they couldn't bleed much. Jia Songwen and Qin Liang dragged their tired bodies. The soldiers carried a stretcher and walked in the Gobi Desert.
After three days and three nights, everyone finally lost all signs of life and collapsed under the Gobi Desert. Just as Qin Liang was about to lose consciousness, a tall man wearing armor from the Han Dynasty led over a hundred soldiers and appeared before him.
Li Jinglong: "…"
Hongjun was shocked and said, "Are they the people we met under the Great Wall?"
Qin Liang shook his head and replied, "I don't know, but some of his soldiers were wearing armor from the Han Dynasty, some from the Wei Dynasty, and some from the Northern Dynasties. There were even some who were wearing helmets. At first glance, they looked like a mixed army. "
At that time, Qin Liang was dying. The leader carried him and hurried for two hours in Yadan. Finally, he threw him into a stream.
"I thought they were Turks who entered the pass to pillage, but they didn't look like it." Qin Liang said, "At that time, my brothers had already fainted from the sun. I was afraid that they would take me as a prisoner and force Yumen Pass to surrender. However, the leader took off his helmet and mask."
Li Jinglong and Hongjun were silent. Qin Liang was lost in his memories. He said absentmindedly, "His appearance … I still remember it after twelve years. His eyes were white, and his skin … was mottled gray. He was a corpse — a corpse from the Han Dynasty. "
Hongjun let out an "ah". Li Jinglong said, "An ancient corpse from the Han Dynasty? How could he live for eight to nine hundred years until today? "
Qin Liang shook his head and said, "I don't know, but the leader told me that their name was' Ghouls of Battle '. His surname was Liu, and he was a member of the Han Dynasty's royal family. He was also the king of the ghouls. "
A cold wind blew into the room, and the lights flickered. Hongjun suddenly felt a chill on his back.
Qin Liang continued, "They wandered beyond the Great Wall. Sometimes they appeared on the Silk Road, sometimes they passed through Yadan and went deep into the Hexi Corridor."
"Why?" Li Jinglong asked.
Qin Liang said, "Every year, they would enter Yumen Pass at least once to find soldiers who were conscientious in their duty but sacrificed themselves heroically. They would turn them into ghouls to strengthen the ghost army under their command. Finally, they would go on a pilgrimage to Dunhuang and then leave on their own. "
Hongjun said in astonishment, "He was willing to save you, so he can't be a bad demon."
"That's what I said." Qin Liang answered, "I guess this Ghoul Ghost King must have some kind of legend. Although it was just a casual rescue, he was indeed my savior."
Li Jinglong and Hongjun looked at each other. They were even more puzzled.