Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 161 Sacrificing to Lord Lin

Chapter 161 Sacrificing to Lord Lin (Part Two)
"Lin Jun?"

Nie Chao found it somewhat unbelievable.

"Well, I suppose he's the mountain god of this place."

The fat beggar went on and on: "Legend has it that sixty years ago, auspicious omens descended from the sky, and a strange beast called Qilin came from an unknown place and landed in Tanjiang Mountain, west of Pinghu Village."

In this land where legends of mythical beasts abound, all tales about the Qilin have always been auspicious.

It represents good luck and auspiciousness.

"May the Linjun bless this place with favorable weather and abundant harvests. The villagers offer sacrifices for the old man to enjoy."

“A small ceremony every year, and a large ceremony every three years.”

"Fish, rice, livestock, boys and girls."

The fat beggar sat up from the ground: "I've only been here a short time, but I've heard that this custom has been around for nearly fifty years."

"Boys and girls?"

Nie Chao stared in disbelief: "This...is nobody going to do anything about it?"

"What do you mean, 'manage'?"

The fat beggar pointed at him and said, "Brother, you're really funny."

"These villagers are so grateful they don't even have time to express their gratitude."

Nie Chao remained silent.

These auspicious mythical beasts are believed to bring good fortune and blessings, but such good luck can come at the cost of human lives…

Was it considered lucky?
The man carrying the sword clenched his fist slightly.

……

I don't know who struck the first gong.

"May the Lord of Qi bestow blessings..."

"Divine grace endures forever..."

As dusk fell, the village bustled with people.

The grand procession from Pinghu Village began its ascent up the mountain.

“Once all these offerings are carried up the mountain and the young boys and girls are sent to the Linjun Temple, these villagers will go down the mountain and return home.”

"Lin Jun doesn't eat these cooked foods, so we'll bring them back. We'll eat and take them along the way, and then we'll slip away halfway through."

"That way we can eat and drink to our hearts' content... Hey brother, I'm only telling this because I feel we have a special connection. Otherwise, I wouldn't tell just anyone."

Nie Chao and the fat beggar, dressed in ordinary villager clothes that they had somehow acquired, mingled in the sacrificial procession, hanging at the very back.

The sword on his back was covered by a gray cloth.

"..."

Listening to the fat beggar's words, Nie Chao felt increasingly frustrated.

The villagers carried two unconscious children toward the huge platform known as the Linjun Hall.

In the center stands a statue with a strange and unusual appearance.

It is exactly what the legendary Qilin looks like.

But Nie Chao's gaze was not drawn to it.

Because the real Linjun is currently perched beneath the statue.

"what!"

It has a sheep's head, wolf's hooves, a round top, and a five-colored body. It is twelve feet tall.

Deer body, ox tail, one horn.

It has scales but no hair, and its color is bluish-yellow.

Nie Chao was shocked. This Lin Jun was actually a Qilin beast!
However, its eyes were now glowing with an eerie purple light.

"Bow. May the weather be favorable and the harvest plentiful."

"Bow. May the harvest be plentiful..."

The village chief led the villagers to prostrate themselves and kneel down to worship Lin Jun.

Four burly men, trembling, presented the boy and girl to Lin Jun.

The giant beast lazily opened its eyes, extended its claws, and slowly reached towards the two children.

Amidst the crowd, Nie Chao's eyes were bloodshot, and he was about to draw his sword.

But the fat beggar held him down firmly.

"Are you looking for death?!"

The fat beggar growled in a low voice, "It can burn you to ashes with a single breath of fire!"

Nie Chao immediately broke free: "Are you just going to stand by and watch him eat people?!"

He channeled his inner energy and suddenly hurled the sword in his hand.

Lin Jun raised his head, only to be struck by a piece of ordinary iron sword.

Nie Chaofei leaped forward, soared into the air, caught the sword, and slashed fiercely down at Lin Jun.

However, how could a mortal body possibly contend with a demon beast?

With almost a casual slap, as if people were brushing away annoying flies and mosquitoes, the giant beast swept Nie Chao several feet away.

"Cough cough..."

With tremendous force, it actually broke a tree before coming to a stop.

He coughed up blood and barely managed to get up from the ground.

The huge change caused panic among all the villagers of Pinghu Village, who scattered and fled.

Just as the evil unicorn was about to pounce, it paused slightly, raised its head, and then turned and ran up the mountain.

"Are you crazy?!"

The fat beggar grabbed Nie Chao and tried to flee down the mountain, but Nie Chao grabbed his sleeve.

"Cough cough... I can manage on my own. You go and take those two children down the mountain."

"What time has it been!"

Unable to dissuade him, the fat beggar had no choice but to carry one on his back and hug the other, following the limping Nie Chao down the mountain.

Unexpectedly, the villagers gathered at the foot of the mountain.

"Outsiders! You have disrupted the festival!"

"Having angered Lord Linjun, Pinghu Village is doomed!"

"Disrespect towards Lord Lin must be caused by evil spirits!"

At a glance, these villagers were armed with harpoons and sickles.

"kill him!"

Fortunately, the fat beggar put down the two children and then dragged the injured Nie Chao away from the village.

……

I woke up again in that dilapidated temple.

The fat beggar sighed softly: "These ignorant people are beyond your ability to save."

"Go back to where you came from."

Nie Chao slowly recovered from his injuries and shook his head.

"My dearest friend must have fallen victim to that wicked unicorn!"

He grabbed the sword and walked out of the dilapidated temple.

"where are you going?"

"Go up the mountain!"

"You're still going?! Are you out of your mind?"

"We swordsmen have no fear of death!"

Nie Chao said resolutely, "Now that I am here, I must avenge my unjustly killed friend and avenge the innocent children!"

He didn't believe he definitely had no chance.

During the previous battle, he noticed that the beast horn on Lin Jun's forehead appeared to be broken, with cracks around it.

It must be a weakness; if we can find an opportunity, we might have a fighting chance!
"How stupid!"

The fat beggar jumped up and down in desperation: "Why go and get yourself killed?!"

……

Nie Chao took his sword and went up the mountain, only to find that the square where the statue of Lin Jun was located was empty.

He followed the mountain path and walked upwards.

We arrived at a huge cave.

Before they could even stand still, a ferocious roar of a beast rang out.

"throat--"

"I spared your life before, why did you come here to die again..."

"Do you perhaps think I'm someone to be trifled with?!"

The demonic figure darted out; it was none other than Lin Jun.

Nie Chao brandished his sword in a feint attack, his agile movements allowing him to dodge a claw with his lightness skill. He then stepped onto a large tree, turned around, and leaped straight towards Lin Jun's brow.

Unfortunately.

He seems to have underestimated the complexity of demonic beasts.

He swung his sword straight at her, but was still swatted away by a claw.

All of his ribs were broken.

"puff……"

Nie Chao immediately coughed up blood.

Lin Jun strolled leisurely to his side, his voice mocking: "Heh heh... Foolish mortal."

"Now, do you see how insignificant you are?"

It looked down at him condescendingly: "I am kind and generous, I will give you a chance."

"Kneel down and submit to me, and lure mortal martial artists full of qi and blood to this place for me to enjoy."

"In that case, I will spare your life."

"how?"