Chapter 56: Chapter 12: Guirong Clan
Gaotun Village, Earth God Temple.
As the only place within a hundred miles where children can be educated, it has always been lively here.
Even on ordinary days when there is no market, many mountain people would co here to pray, hoping to get a good divination from the Temple Priest.
However, since a month ago, the usually friendly Granny has stopped holding the classes.
Except for the apprentice already designated as the next Temple Priest, Granny has barely seen any outsiders.
Until today, when Granny tremblingly pushed open the doors of the Earth God Temple.
The townspeople living nearby finally saw the kind Temple Priest again, and their anxious hearts were relieved.
Since Granny took on the role of Temple Priest, Gaotun Village has enjoyed decades of peace.
This is extrely rare among the mountain people, it’s no exaggeration to say it’s unique.
From a small village with only a few dozen households, to now being the most prosperous town within a hundred miles...
Gaotun Village, in so sense, has indeed transcended the category of "village" and beco a hub connecting all small villages within a hundred miles.
Unfortunately, in this world where supernatural power truly exists.
Gaotun Village doesn’t have the power of the Guifang Clan, and naturally cannot build cities or nations like the Guifang Clan.
"Xiao’e, what day is it now?"
Lifting her head slowly to look at the sky, which hasn’t seen sunlight for a long ti, Granny asked softly.
"It’s the twenty-seventh day already."
Looking worriedly at Granny, Xiao’e, who wore her hair in dreadlocks, answered cautiously.
"So it’s been that long already..."
"It seems I really am old, old enough to forget ti."
With an elder’s gentle smile on her weathered face, Granny gently patted Xiao’e’s head and said.
"Xiao’e, I need to go on a long journey later, so I’ll leave the Earth God Temple in your care for now."
"Should you encounter anything you can’t handle on your own..."
"You can go to a place in the south called ’Li Family Village’, and look for a boy with red hair all over, even his head, nad ’Red Boy’. He’ll help you."
Seeming to catch the underlying ssage in Granny’s words, Xiao’e asked, voice slightly trembling.
"Granny, are you not planning to co back?"
Looking at Xiao’e’s hopeful little eyes, Granny didn’t directly answer her question.
"Ah, Xiao’e! After I leave, you will be the Temple Priest of this Earth God Temple."
"You are different from , you can choose your own life."
"If you ever feel that the identity of ’Temple Priest’ is a burden, you can leave, and no one will stop you."
Blinking with partial understanding, Xiao’e tried earnestly to keep Granny’s words in mind.
Though she couldn’t comprehend its aning for now, Xiao’e knew Granny would never harm her.
"I understand, Granny, make sure you stay safe!"
A hint of reluctance and attachnt flashed in her eyes, but in the end, Granny just smiled and waved at Xiao’e.
"Look at you saying that, am I the type of person to worry about?"
...........................
anwhile, on a rural dirt road hundreds of kiloters away.
An army numbering nearly ten thousand was migrating, aiming in the direction of Gaotun Village.
Of course, calling it an "army" may not be entirely accurate.
Because in this migration force of nearly ten thousand, over ninety percent are slaves looking pale and emaciated.
These slaves were originally mountain people living in various forests.
Now, they are shackled and fettered by various wooden restraints, forced to join this massive migration.
For every ten ters they move forward, multiple slaves are abandoned for failing to keep up, left to lie despairingly on the ground, awaiting death.
The ceaseless day and night migration leaves these already frail slaves too exhausted even to scream.
A deathly silence pervades the whole team.
Everyone knows they could die at any mont, yet they’re powerless to resist this fate.
For the true leaders of this force are the Guirong Clan, a corps dedicated to serving the Gods from the Guifang Kingdom.
The Guirong Clan has only eight hundred mbers, yet they comprise a true army forged by the collective strength of the Guifang Kingdom.
All who join the Guirong Clan are collateral descendants of the Guifang Kingdom’s nobility.
They receive professional martial arts training from a young age, each possessing the strength to battle fierce tigers.
When they reach about ten years old, these noble offspring without inheritance rights join priesthood training, learning various sacrificial rites from the High Priest of that era.
After approximately five years of training, the outstanding ones beco candidates for priesthood.
Those who are eliminated then beco mbers of the Guirong Clan, tasked with suppressing rebels under the Gods’ command.
Especially after the grandiose "Human Sacrifice" began three years ago.
The Guirong Clan waged war on all surrounding mountain villages of the Guifang Kingdom.
After all, live human sacrifices require large numbers of human offerings, and it’s also a way to eliminate the disobedient mountain people.
Hence, each ti the Guirong Clan returns to the Guifang Kingdom, they escort a number of slaves tenfold their size.
Their intimidating force has long spread throughout the Hundred Lands Mountain Range.
"Mu Zheng, do we keep moving forward?"
Riding a black Exotic Beast, a handso youth ca to the forefront of the team.
To escort this massive crowd of slaves, Guirong Clan’s eight hundred mbers are spread across the entire force, with orders transmitted solely by specialized scouts.
The handso youth is the leader of the scout troops and also Mu Zheng’s confidant and lieutenant.
"You Chong, when there are no outsiders around, you may call
by my na directly."
Mu Zheng cast a sidelong glance at You Chong, his voice slightly low and said.
Mu Zheng is the leader of the Guirong Clan and erged as the strongest among the children.
Despite not being much older in age than You Chong.
Mu Zheng is absolutely in the top echelon of the Guifang Kingdom in terms of personal strength and military capability.
"Alright, Yan."
There was no trace of emotion in the calm voice.
You Chong seed simply to be following Mu Zheng’s—Yan’s—orders, leaving him rather helpless.
This is the rule of the Guirong Clan, or rather, the Guifang Kingdom—the command of the superior is absolute to the subordinate.
"Forget it, call
however you like!"
With a soft sigh, Mu Zheng did not correct You Chong’s way of address any further, but instead gave a direct order.
"Keep moving forward, we have one final raid to conduct."
"Our target this ti is the village called ’Gaotun Village’, also the last threat to the Guifang Kingdom in this region."
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