The cold full moon sank in the sky, and the east was dark red. A few rays of morning light broke through the clouds and fell on Lu Chen's body. He and Ning Xiaochan were walking in the village.
There is a smell of burning, blood and putrid smell in the air, and there are tragic wailing sounds in the ears. After the strange invasion, Daoxiang Village is like a purgatory on earth.
Along the way, Lu Chen saw too many tragic scenes. In some cases, five members of a family were killed, leaving only seven or eight-year-old children crying in front of the collapsed ruins.
The mother-in-law of Lu Dashu's family at the entrance of the village became crazy. Lu Dashu's right leg was bitten off, and the two elderly people in the family were eaten strangely.
Standing at the intersection and looking ahead, I saw body parts scattered on the muddy road. Houses on both sides were scorched by fire. The survivors were rummaging through the rubble.
There were women sitting in the mud, humming nursery rhymes godlessly, some people kneeling in front of the corpse, crying bitterly, and still others screaming on the street, calling for the person they wanted to see.
"There are about thirty survivors." Ning Xiaochan walked beside Lu Shen with a complicated expression, "There are thirty households in Daoxiang Village, a total of 108 villagers..."
Originally it was just a number from the county government files, but Ning Xiaochan felt its heavy weight and said solemnly: "Actually, the strange invasion of Daoxiang Village was within our expectations."
Lu Chen suddenly raised his head and looked at her coldly, "Did you know in advance that something like this would happen here?!"
"This matter is not as simple as you think. Liangshan County is becoming more and more uneasy." Ning Xiaochan shook her head and explained: "We have tried our best to stop it."
"So the strange invasion of our village was not just a sudden incident, but premeditated?" Lu Chen narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists.
"Based on the current situation, it's 90% possible." Ning Xiaochan nodded and was about to explain when a shout came from beside him.
"Help, someone save my child!"
Not far away, a woman covered in blood rushed for help. She was holding a child in her arms, her whole body had turned dark, and she was spitting out filth.
Ning Xiaochan ran over to comfort the woman, ignoring the stench and filth, and quickly checked on the child.
After confirming the situation, she pricked her index finger, and when the blood gathered, she pressed her sword finger between the child's eyebrows, and then heard the child cry.
Black smoke spread from between his brows, and his skin gradually returned to its wheat color. He no longer vomited violently, and fell asleep with gentle breathing.
The child's mother thanked Ning Xiaochan repeatedly and knelt down in front of her with her child in her arms.
Ning Xiaochan supported the mother and showed a slight smile, indicating that it didn't have to be like this, and then the mother left.
Watching the mother leave, Ning Xiaochan suddenly felt that her vision was blurry and there were overlapping double images. At this time, a hand supported her waist.
"You have consumed too much, let's go back." Lu Chen helped Ning Xiaochan and glanced at the bloodless lips.
She was seriously injured. After dealing with the Bai family, she followed the road without taking a rest. She used her blood to eliminate any villagers who encountered strange things along the way.
"It's nothing serious, just have a night's rest." Ning Xiaochan nodded.
Lu Chen helped her walk home, but he heard Xiao Chen running over, glanced at the weak Ning Xiaochan, and said, "I've taken care of everything in the south, Lu Chen, the captain has something to discuss with you."
Lu Chen said hello, and the three of them walked to his home, where the members of the Zhiguisi team rested temporarily.
All the way back home, Chen Jinnan sat on the steps under the eaves. After asking Ning Xiaochan and Xiao Chen to find a place to rest, Lu Chen walked up to him.
"Let me formally meet you, Chen Jinnan, the Liangshan County Zhigui Secretary." He stood up from the stone steps and solemnly raised his hands to Lu Shen, "Thank you, Brother Lu, for saving your life."
"Daoxiang Village Lu Shen." Lu Chen responded with clasped fists, went to the kitchen to scoop out water, and drank it all in a big gulp, "What does Captain Chen want from me?"
"Two things, let's talk about them one by one." Chen Jinnan sat on the stone steps and motioned for Lu Shen to sit down and chat, "The first thing is about the invasion of the mysterious realm in your village."
"You want to say that you had anticipated this?" Lu Chen frowned and looked at the rising sun, "Ning Xiaochan and I talked about it just now, but we didn't explain it clearly."
Chen Jinnan rested his hands on the stone steps, enjoying the warm sunshine, "About three months ago, strange events occurred frequently in Liangshan County, and the frequency was several times higher than last year.
"Two more villages were massacred next. Based on the clues we found, we suspect that someone was behind this series of events."
He sat up straight and said, "This time, the entire Liangshan County Zhiguai Department was dispatched to the village where the weirdness was predicted to break out. Unexpectedly, the weirdness finally broke out in Daoxiang Village."
"Did you find out the person behind it keeps causing strange purposes?" Lu Chen asked.
"There is no result yet, but his ultimate target must be Liangshan County." Chen Jinnan shook his head and continued: "According to my inference, the successive strange invasions may be a huge blood sacrifice."
"If every strange invasion triggers blood sacrifices, then who are they sacrificing?" Lu Chen's understanding of this world is still in the ancient world.
It is somewhat incomprehensible when it comes to such weird and sacrificial matters.
"In the world we live in, there are inexplicable existences in the void. They are called evil gods. All the weird things born on this land are due to their gaze."
Chen Jinnan added to his world view, "Some people who believe in evil gods may be weird. In order to obtain powerful power or fulfill a certain wish, they will launch this kind of blood sacrifice, hoping that the evil gods will see them."
"The Bai family sacrificed to the whole village in order to resurrect their daughter, and Ning Xiaochan's behavior at that time was a sign of being parasitized by a being in the void?"
Lu Chen cursed in his heart. According to Chen Jinnan, people in this world would be stared at strangely if they were not careful, or they would be pulled into some kind of blood sacrifice ritual and die inexplicably.
This is too damn dangerous, maybe he will be targeted by something strange right now.
"Yes, it is such a chaotic world. Even if we patch things up, there are already many gaps." Chen Jinnan smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Lu Chen took a deep breath, not thinking about the distant evil god, and asked in a deep voice: "According to your speculation, the people who caused the massacre of Daoxiang Village are in Liangshan County?"
"The blood sacrifices he triggered were centered in Liangshan County. The target is undoubtedly the county. If I were the murderer, I would definitely lay out my plans in the city." Chen Jinnan nodded.
"In that case, it's easy to talk about." Lu Chen clasped his palms together and made a muffled sound. After all, the village he had lived in for three years had been destroyed like this. There was no way he would let that person go.
Chen Jinnan looked at him, "What do you want to do?"
"There are more than 70 people living in Daoxiang Village. The entire village was destroyed. I almost died in this strange situation." Lu Chen grinned, showing his strong white teeth. "I want to kill that one and smash it to pieces."
Chen Jinnan smiled and said, "Since you have this plan, we can talk about the second thing."
Lu Chen looked at him.
Chen Jinnan shook the dust off his body and straightened his back, "Brother Lu, I would like to invite you to join the Zhigui Division."
In handling the strange incident in Daoxiang Village, Lu Chen's performance was wonderful. He killed the Bai family who were close to the seventh level of blood accumulation and saved their lives.
Moreover, he is only seventeen years old. This kind of wonderful performance is an extremely outstanding resume in any place in Daqian. It is impossible for Zhiguai Division to reject such a talent.
Lu Chen did not agree immediately, but asked: "What can I gain by joining the Zhigui Division?"
Chen Jinnan was not surprised by this question and said with a smile: "The members of the Zhiguai Division are officials, so they don't have to kneel down even when they meet the county magistrate.
"You get ten taels of silver every month. If there are no weird situations, you can rest for eight days every month. If you behave well, you will have the opportunity to go to Fucheng."
Chen Jinnan's eyes shone when he talked about the treatment of Zhiguisi, "In short, the benefits are beyond the comparison of ordinary forces, and the higher the level, the more exaggerated the monthly salary."
Lu Chen was not surprised by this. After all, he was a front-line fighter and his treatment was naturally excellent. "I need to think about it."
Just after noon, the sky became overcast and the cold wind rustled the leaves.
At Lu Chen's home, the Zhiguisi team has finished packing and is preparing to return to Liangshan County. They need to report the strange situation in Daoxiang Village as soon as possible.
Xiao Chen filled the water bag, bumped Feng Xi with his shoulder, and said in the latter's eyes, "It's already this time, why do I feel that he is unwilling to join the Zhiguai Division?"
Feng Xi stepped on his toes and applied a little force, "I hope Brother Lu can join. His talent and strength can only shine in the Zhigui Division."
Xiao Chen quickly pulled back his feet and looked at Ning Xiaochan next to him, "Ning Xiaochan, do you think Lu Chen will come?"
"I don't know." Ning Xiaochan looked at the swaying leaves and didn't know what she was thinking.
Chen Jinnan couldn't help but take a deep breath while listening to their discussion. Regardless of whether Lu Chen agreed or not, it was time to hit the road now.
At this time, there was a sound in the room. Lu Chen was carrying his luggage, "Captain Chen, I'm going with you."
He changed into a pair of clean clothes, still wearing the short brown clothes he wore when working. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. This was already his latest clothes.
Just now he was weighing whether to join the Zhigui Division. After all, although he was an official, it also meant being bound by rules and regulations. He was not suitable for that kind of environment.
But the next step is to collect source seeds to improve martial arts, which will inevitably involve coming into contact with a lot of weird things, and Zhiguisi is undoubtedly the best choice.
Moreover, he is an ordinary villager, and his family has no savings at all. When he arrives in Liangshan County, let alone a place to live, he may not even be able to guarantee food and clothing.
Eventually, he decided to join the Shikai Division.
Chen Jinnan smiled and patted his shoulder, "Then let's set off and go back to Liangshan County!"
