I Killed Gods and Demons in Song Dynasty

Chapter 270 Escort Mission

The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, there was already a surge of voices outside the stone hall.

The mountain breeze blew across the bronze slabs, stirring up a few wisps of light dust.

Li Qingyun felt something in his heart. He shook his sleeves, slowly pushed the door open and walked out. He saw a fiery red figure walking towards him with steady steps through the morning mist.

The person who came was none other than Hanba, her battle robe still bright red, waving like a flame in the wind; her eyes were firm, yet contained a hint of sadness, less solemn than last night, yet with an added touch of indescribable sadness.

When the guards saw her, they all retreated respectfully. The stone hall suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of her fiery red sleeves fluttering slightly in the morning light.

"Li Qingyun, I have something important to tell you."

Hanba didn't say much in greeting, and there was a hint of urgency in his tone.

She took a step forward, paused for a moment, considered her words, and then said coldly:
"The 'Gathering of All Gods' at Mount Buzhou is about to begin. My clan has received a divine oracle that we must offer 9981 boys as blood food to the gods.

"The journey to Buzhou Mountain is long, and there are many ferocious beasts and wild gods along the way. I need your help in escorting us."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyun's eyes suddenly became stern and his voice was low:

"Blood food? Are you planning to offer human children to the gods as sacrifices?"

Although he didn't say much and his tone wasn't excited, the hidden anger in his voice was like a volcano about to erupt, making the atmosphere around them suddenly tense.

Since he stepped into the primitive world, although he had witnessed the low status and difficult situation of the human race, he still did not expect it to be so cruel - to offer children to the so-called gods with their own hands?

It's so cruel that it's unbelievable!
Hanba showed a bitter look on his face and sighed:

"You and I are both demigods. Flying in the sky and climbing mountains and seas are no problem for us. But since Pangu created the world for the second time, our human race has been oppressed by powerful forces and has never really turned the tide. It is not easy for us to survive until now.

"This may sound absurd, but it was a compromise that Yandi, Huangdi negotiated with the ancient true gods and achieved after great efforts. At least, this can ensure peace for a few years and prevent them from being completely annihilated."

Although her voice was calm, it concealed deep sadness.

Li Qingyun was silent for a moment, his eyes were cold, and his fists were unconsciously clenched and making a "clicking" sound.

The image of those innocent and young faces going to die in vain emerged in his mind, and he felt furious. However, he knew that it would be difficult to reverse the huge whirlpool of the ancient world with just the courage of an ordinary man.

The tragedy of the human race cannot be resolved overnight.

"Is there really no way?"

He tried hard to suppress the indignation surging in his chest. His voice was low and hoarse, but it was cold and stern, and every word seemed to question the unfair rules of the ancient world.

Hanba lowered his eyes slightly, his tone became even more helpless:
"Do you think we are willing to do this? If our race was not weak, who would be so cruel as to let their own children become blood cannibals? The wilderness is vast, and gods and demons are mixed together. The weakness of the human race is far beyond your imagination.

"If you don't accept this harsh condition, you will only face more terrible robberies and genocide. The fact that we were able to negotiate this number of 'ninety-nine and eighty-one boys' is a way out that Yandi and Huangdi have managed to secure with all their efforts."

Li Qingyun glanced at a nearby place and saw several tribesmen standing solemnly with their heads down, their expressions wooden, as if they had already become accustomed to this cruel reality.

Even the boys who were about to be taken away just lowered their eyes silently, neither wailing nor struggling, as if their fate was destined to tragedy from birth and crying would be of no use.

"Damn it... Is this the law of survival in the wild?"

He gritted his teeth secretly, but had to admit that every word Hanba said was true.

In the ancient times, the gods stood at a very high place and looked down at all things. The human race was weak and had to endure endless suffering.

In just a few breaths, huge waves had already rolled up in his heart, and he felt even more resistance to the coldness and arrogance of the "true God".

As if seeing through his anger, Hanba gently reminded:
"Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang worked hard to reduce the number of children offered as sacrifices to the minimum. I see that you seem very unwilling to accept this. If you really want to change this outcome, it will take more than a short period of time. But you can also escort with me first. Along the way, you may be able to see more clearly the hardships of our human race in the abyss of the wilderness."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyun suddenly realized that there seemed to be a deeper meaning behind the other party's words, and perhaps it was related to the "plan" of Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang.

He raised his eyes and looked at Hanba, nodding calmly:
"Okay. In that case, I'll go with you."

Hanba coughed twice, as if to suppress his chaotic emotions.

She glanced around, called the tribesmen to her side, and gave concise instructions:

"Prepare the bronze chariot and guards, take the boys, and set off immediately."

For a moment, the whole tribe became busy.

The armor and weapons collided with each other, making a crisp metallic sound, and several sturdy men hurried past carrying rough plate armor.

Soon, eighty-one children were brought out one by one. Many of them were still very young, and some were even barefoot, shivering as they stepped on the cold ground.

Some people had tears in their eyes but tried hard not to cry; others were dull and numb, as if they had already lost hope for the future.

As for the tribesmen who were watching elsewhere, some gritted their teeth and turned their heads away, while others knelt down and wept silently, but no one dared to speak out to stop them.

"lets go."

Hanba took a long breath and shouted in a calm tone.

Although the words were brief, they seemed to have exhausted all her will.

She raised her hand, and dozens of tribesmen pushed simple bronze carts, escorting the terrified children out of the tribe.

Li Qingyun followed the team with a stern look in his eyes. The invisible flame of rage in his heart grew stronger and stronger. He wished he could cut off this absurd and humiliating chain immediately.

However, reason told him that this chaotic situation was far beyond his ability to change on his own.

As you step out of the village, you will be greeted by desolate mountains and wilderness.

The shadows of the trees twisted and distorted in the dim sky. Occasionally, ferocious beasts in the forest let out low roars, but they always remained vigilant and did not dare to get too close to the escort team.

Perhaps the beasts sensed that this group of people were about to offer themselves as sacrifices to an even more terrifying being, and even they felt fearful.

Li Qingyun walked at the end, looking at the helpless backs of the children on the bronze car. He felt as if a huge stone weighed a thousand pounds on his heart, and he said nothing.

It was late in the evening and the sky was almost dark.

The mountains in the distance were bathed in the dim yellow afterglow, and their outlines gradually became blurred, as if they were sinking into the underworld.

Cold winds began to blow everywhere, making the leaves in the forest rustle, like invisible ghost claws scratching the earth.

The clouds were rolling in the sky, and a violent storm was brewing.

The crowd had no choice but to find an open flat area halfway up the mountain to rest for a while.

This place is remote and sparsely populated. The terrain is not dangerous, but it exudes a cold and gloomy aura, as if if you are not careful, you will be swallowed by the evil in the dark.

The guards skillfully lit a fire and built a bonfire to drive away the wild beasts.

The eighty-one boys wrapped themselves tightly in thin clothes and huddled together.

Some people were trembling with fear, their eyes searching for their loved ones in the darkness, while more people just closed their eyes and trembled mechanically, as if they were immersed in boundless fear.

Hanba walked slowly around the edge of the camp, emitting a fiery divine power that dispelled a trace of coldness from everyone.

The fiery red battle robe danced in the night wind, like the flames of hell floating on the earth.

Li Qingyun sat on the ground on the other side of the bonfire, with a purple-gold long sword across his knees. The blade reflected the jumping firelight, illuminating his stern face and the faint murderous intent.

As night fell and the frosty wind blew, the camp seemed to be shrouded in a mysterious blood-red color.

Even within the sight, there seems to be a mysterious shadow swaying, with a greedy or sarcastic smile.

Several young children huddled together, and occasionally a sob or two could be heard, as if they were constricting their bodies as if they were having a nightmare.

But this nightmare already exists in their reality and is about to move towards a deeper darkness.

The entire camp fell into deathly silence, with only the crackling of wood in the campfire and the flying of sparks, like sharp sparks scattering across the world.

Li Qingyun remained silent, but he could hear the angry cry from the bottom of his heart:
"How could a human race end up eating children as blood?"

His eyes swept across the sad yet helpless expression of Hanba, across the puppet-like child, and finally fell on the dancing flames.

The firelight flickered, as if injecting stronger fuel into the rage in his heart, making him vaguely murderous, but he had to suppress it tightly.

The long dark night seemed like an endless abyss swallowing up hope; the dark clouds pressed down overhead, as if ready to pour down endless cold rain at any time.

……

As night fell, only a few fires flickered around the camp.

Beside the campfire, Li Qingyun was resting with his eyes closed, while the guards beside him were patrolling around one after another. Everything seemed to be in order, but in fact, everyone was worried.

The group of escorted boys were either leaning against each other or sleeping. They should have been at an age of innocence, but now they seemed particularly silent because of their unknown fate.

In this stagnant atmosphere, two boys suddenly came tiptoeing quietly.

They were about ten years old. One was called Aya and the other was called Xiaoque.

The two men were dressed in rags, their faces still had a childish look, but with a hint of cunning that was barely noticeable.

"Brother Li... haven't you rested yet?"

The one who was speaking was A Ya. He gently pulled his thin clothes tightly around him, fearing to alarm others. His voice sounded a little timid, but with a hint of exploration.

When Li Qingyun heard the call, his consciousness moved slightly and he slowly opened his eyes. He saw the two boys standing at the edge of the fire with innocent curiosity on their faces.

"Why aren't you two sleeping yet?"

Li Qingyun asked with a smile, restraining the terrifying aura that belonged only to gods.

After absorbing a large amount of divine power, his cultivation was already very close to the eighth realm, and the aura around his body was free and could be released and received freely.

At this moment, he was completely restrained and looked no different from an ordinary mortal, more like an older brother next door.

Xiao Que grabbed the corner of Aya's clothes, as if he wanted to retreat, but Aya patted him on the shoulder, signaling him not to be nervous.

Aya took a step forward, pursed her lips, and looked at Li Qingyun with sparkling eyes:

"Brother Li, are you really the demigod as rumored? I heard that you can summon a golden dragon and beat those pig monsters to a pulp..."

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Que interrupted and said:

"Not only the golden dragon, but also various kinds of war spirits. I heard from Uncle Zhuangzi that they are all manifestations of the wonderful treasures in Brother Li's body!"

The two boys seemed cautious, but they asked with great interest, as if they had already stepped into an incredible world and were full of longing.

Li Qingyun didn't like to talk much, but he felt that there was nothing wrong with the boy's curiosity, so he smiled and said:

"I just learned some skills and can protect others. I am no different from ordinary people."

"But I think my brother is not an ordinary person."

Ah Ya blinked and said with a smile, "If I can learn even one tenth of it, I might not be afraid of that 'True God'!

"By the way, where did Brother Li come from? Many uncles and aunts in the tribe said that they had never seen a demigod like you before. How many years have you been practicing?"

Xiao Que was beside A Ya, and when he heard this, he pricked up his ears quietly, and stared at Li Qingyun with his clear eyes without blinking, as if hiding expectation and a bit of exploration.

He just pretended to be docile, but from time to time he would glance at Li Qingyun's every move, as if he wanted to see through the other person's thoughts.

Li Qingyun frowned slightly, feeling that although the two boys spoke in a childish tone, they seemed to know how to spy secretly.

The sentence "How many years have you been practicing" sounds very ordinary, but upon closer thought it actually has a lot of interrogative meaning.

He smiled and answered calmly:

"My origins are simple. I just come from somewhere else, no different from everyone else in the prehistoric world. As for my kung fu, it's just a coincidence, not worth showing off."

Aya was not discouraged and immediately changed his tone:

"Brother, don't be modest. If I had such ability, I would definitely go and deal with those gods and demons who bully the human race, even if it means going through mountains of swords and seas of fire."

At this point, his tone suddenly became higher, as if filled with resentment and anger, making it hard to believe that it came from the mouth of a ten-year-old child.

Xiao Que coughed lightly, but his expression quickly returned to being obedient, and he slightly bowed:

"Brother, if you are willing to teach us a few tricks, we won't have to sit there and wait for death even if we encounter danger in the future. We...we just want to survive."

There was pity in their voices, but also a hint of eager anticipation.

Li Qingyun smiled faintly and did not point it out.

He looked at the two innocent faces in the firelight - especially when Aya changed his words, the calmness and ruthlessness that suddenly appeared on their faces were definitely not like the light that an ordinary child should have.

"It's getting late. You still have to travel tomorrow, so go to bed early."

Li Qingyun waved his hand gently, intending to end the conversation. Although his tone was gentle, it carried a certain unquestionable majesty.

Ah Ya's expression froze for a moment, then he smiled widely and nodded repeatedly:

"That's right, there's still a long way to go tomorrow, thank you for the reminder, big brother."

Xiao Que also bowed obediently and whispered, "Sorry to bother you, big brother. We will ask you for advice tomorrow."

After saying that, he gently pulled Aya's sleeve, and the two of them slipped away with brisk steps, looking just like ordinary, carefree children.

But when they returned to the darkness, an unfathomable light flashed in Aya's eyes. Xiaoque also quietly looked back in the direction of Li Qingyun, with an imperceptible curve at the corner of his lips.

Li Qingyun watched them walk away, and a question arose in his mind:
"These two children...are not innocent."

Thinking that they were heading to Mount Buzhou, and thinking about the overly mature words just now, it would inevitably lay the groundwork for future changes.

He secretly took note of this matter but did not make it public.

He came to the prehistoric world in a complicated situation. It was rare for him to be able to travel with the human race temporarily. As for what the other party was planning, he could only wait and see...

……

(End of this chapter)