After walking for two days, there was no other change on the road. Every night when they rest, a maid in the team will take out a long tent to serve the noble man to rest.
In the dim light of the fire, the graceful figure of the noble man could be vaguely seen, which attracted many hot glances. After walking for so many days, the other party has not even shown his face.
Wu Gen naturally knew what the other party looked like. He met him by chance in Moss Alley that day, and the black cat was very eye-catching.
The tall, bald man always stood guard by the carriage with an ax in his hand, watching the surroundings with eager eyes. No one was allowed to get close.
Those strange-looking people paid no attention to them and walked around anywhere except beside the carriage.
Wu Gen looked at these people from a distance. One of them, with a long and narrow face, felt Wu Gen's gaze. He turned around and smiled. A tongue that was more than a foot long came out of his mouth, turned around in a demonstration, and then put it back. .
"Those are demons, who can transform into demon beasts, or possess the blood of demon beasts. There are also one or two strangers, who don't know what kind of powers they possess. These people have high combat prowess and are full-time bodyguards for noble families." Zhang Yuan explained from the side.
"Oh." Wu Gen agreed and licked his lips with his tongue, a little worried about what would happen if the stranger bit his tongue while eating.
As for the black cat, it never appeared again. Wu Gen always felt that those green cat eyes were hiding in some secret place, staring at him, ready to burst out and devour him at any time.
On the third day, according to Commander Chen's instructions, Zhang Yuan and five other people went out to investigate. Along the way, there were no birds or animals, and even the common wild foxes, rats, and rabbits had disappeared.
Climbing up a hill, the five of them looked into the distance, the clothes wrapped around their heads making a rustling sound.
Now Zhang Yuan and others have become the laughing stock of this group of people. Their heads are tightly wrapped, and only two eyes are exposed. Compared with other people who are fighting and fighting, they are a bit shabby, so they have become a women's army. nickname.
Wu Gen even wrapped his mount in colorful colors, making it airtight. It was an extremely beautiful scenery wherever he went.
Standing on the slope, Wu Gen suddenly found a foreign object not far down the slope, so he urged his horse to rush over. Several people gathered around the foreign object in a circle, and they were all silent.
This is a human corpse, still crawling forward. The white bones are covered with large and small round mushrooms, just like blisters from burns.
The mushroom is round in shape with thin red threads on it, forming a pattern that looks like a horse's head.
Looking at the two huge mushrooms in the skull's eye sockets, everyone felt a chill in their hearts. Sha Chu almost groaned and said: "Ma Guitou. It's just that the ones here are not mature yet, so there is nothing wrong with them."
Then he continued: "I heard from the elders that although Ma Guitou can be harmful to people's lives, if it is prepared properly before it is mature, it can also be an excellent ecstasy.
Then add some Baicao Shuang and roast it carefully, it will become a good medicine for wounds, which can relieve pain and stop bleeding. At home, people often bought this item from business travelers for one tael of silver. "
With a plop, Wu Gen jumped off his horse, took out his knife and cut off the ghost's head on the bones.
Zhang Yuan and others were speechless. They were so greedy for money that they wanted money rather than their lives. They would not hesitate to use a knife on a dead man's head.
Shachu said angrily, "This won't work. It's still tender. It can only be used as medicine if it is cooked or not."
Zhang Yuan hesitated for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, "No, I have to tell Commander Chen that we can't let our brothers stay here for nothing." After saying that, he turned around and went back.
When he arrived at the camping place, Zhang Yuan went straight to find Commander Chen. There was a quarrel in the team, and Zhang Yuan and Commander Chen were arguing fiercely about something. Soon, the movements of the two were heard by the heavy riders behind them, and they were both taken to the back for questioning.
After a while, three riders rode up to Wu Gen and others, namely Chen Tongling, Zhang Yuan and a heavy rider.
Commander Chen was furious when he saw the few people who looked like refugees. He turned around and shouted at Zhang Yuan, "A few thieves dared to confuse the morale of the army and made the nobleman angry.
As a Xiangjun, how can you be greedy for life and afraid of death, and be afraid to move forward? Since you said there is something strange ahead, then take your group to have a look. If not, military law will take care of it. I will definitely report everything today to the captain's office. "
Zhang Yuan's temper also surged, "If so, how should Commander Chen deal with it?"
"If so, it's your Zhang Yuan's credit."
The two were arguing endlessly, and suddenly there was applause.
Looking back, Wu Gen was applauding vigorously, "Commander Chen is saying, as a Xiang army, how can you be timid because of a little horse ghost head?"
As he spoke, he took out a horse ghost head from the animal skin and threw it over, "I am from the captain's mansion. How about Commander Chen lead by example and go and find out."
Seeing the horse ghost flying towards him, Commander Chen hurriedly turned his head to avoid it. The horse's head fell to the ground, and a pool of red juice flowed out.
With a swish, everyone present stepped back and stayed away like the plague.
Commander Chen sneered and said: "Wu Gen, you think I don't know your details. Aren't you the janitor of the captain's mansion? Why are you pretending? Everyone in the army knows the name of this model horse washer."
Wu Gen laughed and said, "I am happy to wash the horse. Washing the horse again is better than having someone lick the toes of a noble person. Some people are born with a charming head and pus on the soles of their feet. They are born to look like dog slaves. I'm sorry to say that he is a slave. It’s such an insult to dogs.”
"..."
After a while, Commander Chen regained his breath and said, "Boy, you are looking for death." He reached out and pulled out the knife.
Wu Gen squinted his eyes, cocked his neck and said disdainfully: "Come on, come on, just chop here. Grandpa is strong and strong, unlike some people who are so weak that they have to find someone to help them get into the bridal chamber."
Seeing that the two of them were arguing and becoming more and more tense, the heavy rider who said nothing said angrily: "Shut up, like two shrews. Zhang Yuan, lead the way, and I will report to you after I find out."
Commander Chen was stunned, "General, I can't help you with this small matter. Just let Zhang Yuan and others go ahead."
The heavy knight ignored him and said, "The noble man is behind you. You have to see it with your own eyes before you feel at ease. Let's go."
Just as Commander Chen was about to follow, Chongqi waved his hand, "You stay here and wait for the noble to wash his feet... Bah, where have they all been taken? Just protect the noble's safety."
Zhang Yuan's five men and their heavy cavalry urged their horses forward, leaving only Commander Chen who looked stunned.
After walking for less than half a day beyond the place where the corpses were found, a Gobi desert appeared ahead, with a large stone forest in it and various jagged rocks. As soon as the wind blows, whimpering sounds are heard everywhere, as if there are thousands of monsters hiding in it.
Several people jumped off their horses, holding the reins and moving forward carefully. Walking into the stone forest, ghosts were crying and wolves were howling in all directions, and the wind was howling. If there was a hell on earth, this would be it.
Everyone was tense and moved forward cautiously. After walking a hundred steps, Shachu suddenly stopped and raised his hand. Everyone stopped quickly.
Everyone stepped forward cautiously, their eyes widening involuntarily.
In the desert in front of us, there are round objects with yellowish-brown bodies and shapes that look like huge stone pills. It is covered with dense lines, like the belly of a woman who has been pregnant for ten months.
These horse ghost heads range from big to small, the small ones are only the size of eggs, and the big ones are two or three feet tall. They are so densely packed that it makes people feel frightened to see them.
"Oh my God, there are so many of them. These are almost ripe. There are probably some that are still inside." Zhang Yuan said with difficulty, turning to look at the heavy rider, "Sir, do you still need to go deeper?"
Chongqi took a deep breath, "No need, that's enough. Thank you very much."
Several people turned around carefully, fearing to wake up these monsters, and prepared to exit this place.
Wu Gen rolled his eyes, pulled out a piece of animal skin from his body, carefully squatted next to a small horse ghost head that seemed to have not yet grown up, and dug it up with a knife.
"What are you doing?" A low voice came. Chongqi's eyes widened, his voice trembled, and he asked in a low voice.
Wu Gen stretched out his fingers to make a calm gesture, and quickly dug a circular trench around Ma Guitou, lightly covered it with the animal skin, and stabbed the animal skin into the soil with a knife.
Finally, the entire animal skin was inserted into the soil. Wu Gen put his palm into the ditch, held the animal skin with his hands, and pulled out the soil and the horse's ghost head with a strong force.
Wu Gen tied the animal skin tightly with a rope, walked up to Chongqi, and handed it over, "Here, I can use it as a physical evidence when I go back to prevent some dogs from barking." It suddenly dawned on everyone that they had no choice but to hand it over. Only with the heavy cavalry beside the noble man, Commander Chen will not start Zhou Zhang again.
The heavy rider didn't accept it, nor did he accept it. His face was really ugly, "Just take it, I will report it to you truthfully when I get back."
Wu Gen did not refuse, and stretched out his hand to tie the animal skin around his waist. Is this Ma Guitou? This is money.
Several people returned to the camp. The heavy rider took the animal skin with the horse's ghost head and ran towards the carriage. Commander Chen looked at Zhang Yuan and others suspiciously, and after opening his mouth several times, he finally said nothing.
After a while, the heavy rider came back and carefully handed the animal skin back to Wu Gen. "My nobleman has ordered you to dispose of this thing properly." He said and glanced around, "According to your nobleman's order, the journey from now on should be done by Wu Gen leads the way, no one is allowed to disobey, otherwise, he will be executed immediately."
The soldiers looked at Wu Gen in surprise and whispered.
Wu Gen was startled, then quietly walked up behind Chongqi, "Don't worry, it's my first time here. If you take me the wrong way, it will cost me my head." Isn't it good to follow others? What's the benefit of being in front? Eat the fruit.
The heavy knight said to Wu Gen in a low voice: "The noble man said that you have a cunning temperament and are clever in doing things. I feel more at ease following you in a place like this. I know that some people may be dissatisfied and send me to hold the line here. You can make a bold decision. Don’t worry, if anyone dares to disobey, I will wring his head off.”
"Oh." Wu Gen glanced at Commander Chen provocatively, grinding his teeth.
In the evening, everyone dismounted and rested. Wu Gen sat by the campfire, took out the animal skin, took out the horse ghost head, and tried to roast it on the fire. Shachu and others who were originally gathered around the fire turned around and ran away in fear, "You, you, you, what are you doing?"
"It's okay, I'm just trying out the medicine." Wu Gen waved his hands at them. This thing can confuse people, it should be something like a drug. From what Shachu said, it is a bit strange that it can still grow in the human body and control poisoned people.
The heavy rider came over, glanced at Wu Gen, sat down, and took off his mask. Only then did Wu Gen see clearly that under the visor was a young face, only twenty years old. His skin was very fair because he had worn the visor for many years.
"My name is Xiang Qi, and I am the deputy lieutenant of the Guards." The young man spoke first, and after a pause he asked, "Is it okay to tinker like this? If Ma Guitou is as powerful as you said, I guess the whole battalion will have to fight tonight." Leave it here."
Wu Gen turned over the animal skin and said, "Don't worry, I have my own sense of discretion."
Xiang Qi simply lay down and said, "Okay, I believe you. After passing this mushroom forest, we have to go to the depths of Xingluo Plain, so make some preparations in advance. You only need to know about this, there is no need to spread it to others."
Wu Gen's hand movements stagnated, "The further you go in, the more terrifying it will be. Can we people cope with it?"
"Don't worry, you have a way to deal with it."
The next day, Wu Gen led his convoy along the edge of the Gobi, trying to avoid the area with dense horse ghost heads. After walking for two days, everyone could still see the round horse ghost head swaying slightly in the wind.
Xiang Qi hurried over and whispered: "Your Majesty, you are a little anxious. There is no need to wait for Ma Guitou to disappear before passing. This place is already sparse. Just find a path to pass through."
Wu Gen suddenly raised his head, "Forget it if it's just one or two people. How can such a large number of people find a safe path? If they are not careful, the whole army may be annihilated."
Xiang Qi was a little impatient, "The noble man said that we must pass through the Gobi today.
After opening his mouth several times, Wu Gen finally said, "If we walk another five miles, if there is still more, we will cross the Gobi again."
"Okay." Xiang Qi stood up, "I'll go and explain it to you and the noble lady."
After the team had marched another five miles, they could still see the horse ghost heads, but they were much smaller, growing in twos and threes, with a carriage in the middle.
"Let's go." Xiang Qi urged.
Wu Gen walked up to Zhang Yuan and others and whispered: "If there is any disharmony, don't worry about the nobles and run away."
Zhang Yuan looked solemn and nodded. The convoy changed direction and headed directly into the Gobi.
Along the way, everyone formed a long snake formation, walking lightly and moving forward slowly. Even those weird-looking people changed their past unruly appearance and moved forward cautiously.
After walking nervously for an hour, the surrounding horse ghost heads became even sparse, and it was not a problem for five or six people to walk abreast. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The journey was tense and exhausting, and the team had to rest for a while.
Commander Chen looked at his side and said disdainfully: "What a ghost, there's no way it's that evil. It's all just alarmist talk."
"That's right, I think that boy Wu Gen is still playing with Ma Guitou. He obviously wants to calm everyone with lies first, and then pretend to stand up to win the favor of the noble people. I think this Ma Guitou is too It's nothing serious, it's just spreading rumors." A soldier beside him agreed.
While talking about this person, he walked to the nearest horse ghost head, poked it with a knife playfully, and turned around and said, "Look, it's nothing. It's just a mushroom. Let me see how it kills people."
Wu Gen didn't want to pay attention at first, but he happened to turn around and saw the man's movements. He was startled and shouted: "Run."
As he spoke, he got on his horse and galloped wildly against the wind.
