Infrastructure Throne

The council hall of the City Lord's Mansion.

The ever-burning lamps on the four walls illuminate the hall brilliantly.

Watching Xiao Meng's back disappear in front of the meeting hall, Earl Yan En's expression darkened instantly:

"This Xiao Meng is really arrogant and unreasonable. If it wasn't for the sake of him being useful, how could I give him a good face?!"

Priest Mo Yun looked down at the unrecognizable corpse, and frowned slightly: "Is this person really Yan Zui? I suddenly received news today that someone found this person on the outskirts of the city. Besides, nothing else."

Earl Yan En said displeased: "What do you mean? Do you suspect that Yan Zui is not dead? The curse lines on his face cannot be faked. I saw it with my own eyes. The scene at that time was even more terrifying than it is now."

Priest Mo Yun shook his head: "In that battle, the priest of the beast slave may not be the only one who was wounded by the curse."

"But what about the jade?" Earl Yan En took out an identical jade pendant from his neck, and knocked on the table impatiently, "There are only two pieces of jade, and I have the other one here. There is no cure for such a curse." , he didn’t die until now, he’s considered amazing!”

Priest Mo Yun nodded slowly: "You are right, I hope he is really dead, so that we will have no worries."

Earl Yan En's face turned pale:

"Take a step back, even if he is still alive, so what? After the sacrifice is over, if you dedicate those useless old things to the Night God for blood food, the people in the whole city will resent him, his face will be ruined, and his reputation will be ruined." Nothing left, if he doesn't show up, once he shows up, hehe..."

Priest Mo Yun rubbed the staff in his hand lightly, with doubts on his face: "I used astrology to predict the time when the night god will come, and the result I got was clearly next month, but it was suddenly brought forward for some reason, so that our preparations were not yet ready. insufficient."

"There is also a sudden earthquake in Yeshen Mountain, and I can't predict the result."

"I always feel that there are some variables that we didn't notice, which disrupted everything. It's a pity that I'm not good at learning, and I can't predict the people who are related to me..."

Earl Yan En didn't care about this, and only laughed at the other party's timidity in his heart: "Not prepared enough? Are you implying that your cousin didn't donate enough iron equipment, is it justifiable? These Nian's back is against the mine, and his iron shop is making money every day, right?"

Priest Mo Yun was a little dissatisfied: "He has tried his best."

Yan En let out a cold snort from his nose: "Because of his incompetence, our armed forces are insufficient. Otherwise, we can directly control the City Lord's Mansion, so we need to rely on Xiao Meng and waste all these hands and feet?"

After all, it was because of losing face in front of Xiao Meng.

Priest Mo Yun wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Don't worry, my lord, everything has been arranged. The guards near the altar have been replaced by our own people. No matter what happens, even if the people in the audience riot safety can be guaranteed.”

After the last grain of sand flowed from the huge hourglass on the fireplace, the two stood up from their seats.

"It's time, get ready to start the sacrificial ceremony."

※※※

The sky seemed to be thrown upside down by a black bowl, with no stars, no moon, no clouds, and it was still too dark to see a glimmer of hope.

The altar is built high in the square, and a huge torch one person tall stands every ten steps around it. The blazing flame seems to guide a way back to hell.

The viewing platform closest to the altar was full of nobles and officials of Yuanliu City. They all looked solemn, whispering to each other, telling each other specious gossip.

The soldiers of the guard blocked the crowd immersed in grief far away from the altar, and the warriors raised by Mo Yun wore brand-new silver armor and held long swords, guarding the altar airtight.

Priest Mo Yun changed into a solemn white sacrificial robe, the hem of which trailed to the ground along with his steps.

An attendant brought out dozens of black vultures, which were half a person's height, and they were artificially raised in the city. Their black feathers almost blended into the night.On their ankles, more than a dozen vine wooden hanging baskets are tied with special chains, which are used to transport sacrifices to Yeshen Mountain.

Immediately afterwards, someone carried four large pottery tanks up to the altar, and the wooden steps creaked with heavy footsteps.

The attendants poured four large jars into the hanging basket on the altar, and dozens of big snakes with thick arms swam out and fell into the hanging basket, with their scarlet snake eyes open, hissing and spitting out letters.

"Snakes are the totem of the Night God, the incarnation of the god." Mo Yun said loudly, "They will escort the sacrifices to the Palace of the Night God."

The densely packed snakes entangled with each other in the hanging basket, poking their heads out from time to time, showing their cold fangs to the shivering old men.

Not to mention the old and the weak who are about to die, even the noble officials on the viewing platform couldn't help their scalps tingling.

Father Li stood tremblingly among the old people, but he didn't pay attention to the black eagles and poisonous snakes, but silently looked in the direction of the crowd, hoping to see something, but also hoping not to see it himself.

Earl Yan En and his wife sat in the center of the first row of the viewing platform. The Countess covered her mouth with a small fan, and said with a compassionate look: "Is it necessary to use these snakes?"

Earl Yan En said indifferently: "Night God only eats the living. These snakes can't kill people. They only have a slight paralyzing toxin, which will entangle the sacrifices, so as to prevent them from escaping halfway or being rescued."

On the altar, the priest Mo Yun was reciting the prayers loudly.

All the plans for tonight were pondering over and over again in his mind. Earl Yan En looked calm and composed on the surface, but his left eyelid kept twitching, his hands were tightly clenched together, and a thin layer of sweat oozed from the palms due to tension.

"Decree of the city lord!" Priest Mo Yun unfolded a half-meter-long roll of parchment with both hands, and the clear voice spread in all directions to ensure that everyone could hear clearly.

"Ye God's eternal night punishment is a catastrophe for my Yuanliu City. The test of survival is related to every citizen in Yuanliu City... the elderly in Yuanliu City who are over [-] years old will serve as living sacrifices to the Night God. It can keep future generations safe and sound... Your sacrifice will be in the hearts of every citizen and will be immortal!"

There were faint suppressed cries from the people in the audience, and as the chief priest Mo Yun announced the start of the live sacrifice, the cries were like a tidal wave, almost drowning his voice.

"Why is the city lord not here for such a big matter?"

"We want to see the Lord City Lord!"

"Why send our relatives to die!"

Someone in the crowd suddenly asked loudly, which instantly resonated with the people. A series of questioning voices rushed to the high platform, and even the nobles and officials on the viewing platform became dissatisfied.

"Master Mo Yun, why did you read the city lord's edict? The city lord Yan hasn't shown up yet?"

Mo Yun had expected such doubts, and ordered his attendants to carry a heavy coffin to the people.

The aristocrats on the viewing platform were discussing a lot, and Mo Yun glanced around, with an extremely sad expression: "City Lord Yan, right here!"

The coffin lid was opened, and the inside was covered with flowers and funeral utensils. A male body with a hideous face lay quietly in it, wearing a luxurious black and gold city lord costume, with a dragon scale jade hanging on his chest.

The nobles and officials were quiet for a moment, and immediately exploded, and some even vomited on the spot.Shock, panic, suspicion and all kinds of human emotions were displayed on people's faces.

Only Earl Yan En tensed his cheeks and remained silent.

"This is City Lord Yan? How did he die?"

"How did the city lord's face become like this?"

Someone questioned in public with a sullen face: "Master Mo Yun, this joke is not funny! You must explain it to everyone!"

Priest Mo Yun lamented: "It is rumored that Ye Shen woke up because he was offended by the demon hiding in the crowd, so he sent down Yong Ye as punishment. Unfortunately, it is lurking on the body of City Lord Yan!"

"It was because of the devil's curse that the city lord's skin festered, his appearance was completely destroyed, and he died in pain and torture. He didn't want everyone to see his miserable appearance, so, as a last resort, he concealed it until now."

The aristocratic officials turned pale with fright. Such a coincidence was too unimaginable. They turned their heads one after another, turning their eyes for help and questioning to the captain of the guard standing on the edge of the altar, Xiao Meng.

As we all know, the Xiao Meng family has guarded Yuanliu City for generations, mastered the guards, and won the trust of the city lord. Which side he stands on is particularly important at this time of crisis and turmoil!

All eyes on the scene were focused on Xiao Meng, and Priest Mo Yun walked slowly to his side and gave him a meaningful glance.

"Captain Xiao Meng, please explain to everyone what happened yesterday."

When the two passed by, Mo Yun said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "My warriors have surrounded the altar, Yan Zui is dead, for the people of Yuanliu City to survive this calamity safely, Your Excellency, please help me Don't say anything wrong."

With a calm expression, Xiao Meng bowed slightly to the chief priest Mo Yun. Seeing that he was so docile, the latter couldn't help being slightly relieved and smiled.

Finally came the critical moment of final decision!

Earl Yan En was fidgeting on the viewing platform. After thinking about it, he felt that at such a time, his uncle should go up and cry. He was about to get up, but was grabbed by the lady beside him.

The countess looked nervous, and lowered her voice, "I just received a tip that the guards on duty near the city wall suddenly changed their defenses. This is not the usual time. I am worried that there will be a change. You should not go on stage for now, just let Mo Yunding be in front."

Earl Yan En's face changed slightly, and he said repeatedly: "Go quickly, send out a signal, and call all our men and horses lurking in the City Lord's Mansion just in case!"

On the altar—

Xiao Meng pressed the cross sword on his waist with one hand, straightened his back, and suddenly drew the long sword out of its sheath. Under everyone's unexpected eyes, a cold light from the tip of the sword pierced through the night, pointing directly at the priest Mo Yun!

"This person is not the city lord! The city lord is not dead at all!"

His deep and resounding voice shocked the faces of everyone on the altar, and Earl Yan En stood up abruptly, staring at his back in disbelief.

At the time of the sudden change, the old people waiting to die in the audience and the people who didn't know the truth didn't know what happened. The warriors raised by Mo Yun immediately drew their swords and surrounded Xiao Meng who suddenly rebounded. live.

The guards who isolated the masses saw that their captain was trapped, and they were shocked and angry. The two sides fought wildly, and an infighting over whether the city lord was alive or dead was about to break out!

"Da da da——" The neat sound of horseshoes came from a distance, attracting everyone's attention. Two rows of high-raised torches spread rapidly towards the direction of the ceremony like two wandering golden threads in the dark night.

The officiant Mo Yun's face was ashen, and someone came again!

Earl Yan En frowned nervously: "Did our troops come to help?"

Two rows of knights passed through the crowd and went straight to the altar. Behind them, a maroon horse followed closely, neighing in the vast night.

Someone in the crowd exclaimed: "That horse... seems to be the fire of the city lord!"

A slender silhouette on the horse's back, under the light of thousands of fires, is revealed little by little in front of people.

Raging Fire ran to the altar, the speed remained unabated, and jumped high with the owner!

The man held up a long spear with a cold light, and the sharp point of the spear slashed across the tall torch, bringing out a series of crackling flames, which splashed on the surrounding warriors who tried to rush up to stop him.

All of a sudden, people turned their backs on their backs, and no one was their single enemy!

The man rode his horse and stepped up to the altar step by step. The night that covered him slowly faded away, revealing the black and gold robe that symbolized the identity of the city lord.

Under the wide and solemn cloak, the sassy and capable military uniform cut out elegant curves. The man held a long gun and looked down at the crowd on horseback, his eyes slowly sweeping over every face that was either shocked or terrified.

The calm eyes are the most silent stare.

Everyone was captured by the man's dazzling radiance, for a moment, no one dared to look at him.

An indifferent smile bloomed on the corner of Yan Zui's lips, and amidst the flickering firelight, there was a taste of wanton romance:

"Are you here, in a hurry to bury the city lord?"

※※※

On that side, when there were more than fifty hours left in the countdown, Shen Qingze finally arrived late.

He struggled to squeeze in from the periphery of the crowd, and saw the old people surrounded by guards at a glance, and Father Li was among them!

There was a lot of voices in the audience, irrelevant rumors one after another, Shen Qingze didn't have time to distinguish the truth, only vaguely heard some fragmentary words of "city lord", "poisonous snake", "living sacrifice" and "killing".

Brother Jin Dasan followed behind him, running out of breath, and almost ran away with his shoes, before he could catch his breath, Shen Qingze grabbed his collar and pointed at a group of people on the altar , asked in a low voice: "Which one is Yuanliu City Lord?"

With great difficulty, Jin Da swallowed a breath, looked around for a moment, and pointed to the particularly conspicuous bay red horse and the very presence of the horse's back:

"That! The one riding the red horse is the Lord City Lord!"

Shen Qingze squinted his eyes, without saying a word, climbed up to a nearby two-story shop, nailed the roped crossbow straight down to a pillar of the altar, and slid quickly along the rope To the altar!

Shen Qingze opened one arm, fixed his eyes on the City Lord Yuanliu who was riding on the horse with his back turned to him, and under the terrified gaze of everyone who was caught off guard, he hugged him from behind!

The author has something to say: Yan: Is it not good to be watched by so many people?

Shen: I will kidnap you!Don't bb!