Qin Hai couldn't understand at all. What kind of courage did the mountain god give these common people, that they dared to attack him?
After all, Qin Hai was wearing the dark silver "Flying Fish" armor of the Chongwu Guard, and these people didn't know that he had already lost his power.
In such a situation, these ordinary people still dared to attack him?! To say it was arrogant would not be an exaggeration.
"Sorry, Lord Fang, I'm afraid I cannot accompany you any further on this journey..."
Qin Hai sighed. If it had been in the past, this level of injury wouldn't have been enough to kill him, but now, he was already at the end of his strength.
"Last time, you barely survived fighting the Crocodile Demon. Do you still want to die now?"
Fang Yuan snorted coldly. He pried open Qin Hai's mouth and forced a pill into it.
"There's no need to waste your energy. Healing pills work for martial artists with cultivation, but for me..."
Qin Hai was regretfully speaking, but immediately, he felt a surge of powerful vitality bursting forth from his body!
The wounds that had been deep enough to see bone began to heal at a visible speed... even his internal organs and flesh were growing back.
"This... this..."
Qin Hai was in shock, struggling to sit up as he anxiously said:
"Lord Fang, such a top-tier pill saving my life is too much of a waste!"
"Shut up and lie down properly!" Fang Yuan interrupted. Qin Hai was someone he had brought up personally, so he would never let him die here.
Moreover, this pill was given by Chongwu Hou, and it was just right for saving his old subordinates.
Qin Hai was still a little overwhelmed, trying to bow respectfully to Fang Yuan:
"Lord Fang, your great kindness..."
"Enough with the nonsense." Fang Yuan interrupted again:
"Once you're healed, take off that armor and dress up as an ordinary old man. You don't need to concern yourself with the rest of the matters in Ming Mountain."
When Fang Yuan had killed the priest in the street and saved the child, he did notice that some of the common people's names above their heads had changed from blue to orange.
But at that time, he was busy looking for the county magistrate to hold them accountable, so he didn't pay much attention to those people.
He never expected that they would do such things.
They probably took the children to continue the grand ritual, not hesitating to oppose the Chongwu Guard. Their loyalty to the mountain god was truly remarkable...
"Lord Fang..." Qin Hai seemed to guess what Fang Yuan was planning next and spoke again:
"Common people are like this. Though ignorant, they are all driven by life's hardships. The mountain god can bring them prey and grains, so naturally, they would pledge their allegiance. In the end, it's all about living better."
"Our Jianghai Palace doesn't engage in production, and like all other officials, we build our power by exploiting the people."
"Please, have mercy on them and spare them just this once..."
Qin Hai had been raised by Chongwu Hou from a young age, and the teachings from Chongwu Hou were always to be kind to the common people.
However, when faced with Qin Hai's plea, Fang Yuan shook his head: "No."
He rejected without hesitation:
"From the moment they attacked you, they were no longer common people, but cultists."
"Cultists do not deserve any mercy."
"Also, Qin Hai, from now on, keep your sympathy to yourself. Those who are too soft-hearted cannot be my subordinates."
"Rest well..."
After leaving those words, Fang Yuan's figure moved, and he once again soared into the sky.
Looking at Fang Yuan disappearing into the horizon, Qin Hai sighed. He knew that many people would likely die this time.
In a large mansion in Ming Mountain County, seven or eight children were placed on a broad table.
It turned out that not only the two children in Qin Hai's hands, but also the other children whose parents had come to take them, had been snatched away.
Around these children, there were dozens of young men holding knives and axes, standing aggressively, each of them with a look of honor and pride on their faces.
It was they who brought these children back. Without them, the grand ritual for the month could not be completed.
The mountain god would be angry if the children weren't brought, and they were doing this for the good of Ming Mountain County's people, so it was a great achievement.
Before long, an old man came out from the back room of the mansion.
The old man had white hair and wrinkled skin, looking like a decaying piece of wood, but his spirit was surprisingly good.
As the old man appeared, the young men straightened up, hiding the jealousy in their eyes, and respectfully greeted him:
"Uncle Gao!"
This Uncle Gao was the oldest elder in Ming Mountain County, having lived for over 130 years.
He had been the priest for decades and had more prestige than even the county magistrate.
It was rumored that Uncle Gao lived such a long life because of the blessings of the mountain god.
This was one of the reasons the common people were willing to follow the mountain god. If you got along well with the mountain god, you might live longer!
A longer life... something only the powerful and martial artists could enjoy!
"Mm..." Uncle Gao glanced at the children on the table, nodding in satisfaction:
"Well done. The mountain god will reward you."
Upon hearing this, the young men's faces were even more filled with pride.
"Uncle Gao, what should we do now?" someone asked.
"What else is there to do? Hurry up and send these children to the Immortal Village. Don't delay the mountain god's collection of children..."
Uncle Gao said, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes:
"Those two annoying foreign Chongwu Guard members ruined our grand ritual, so now we can only make do."
"Good!" The young men quickly moved into action. They were about to pick up the children from the table when a loud bang was heard!
The next moment, the red-painted wooden door of the mansion was blown open!
A handsome face was cold, and a figure in white clothes swayed.
The young men froze, not expecting this foreigner to arrive so quickly!
As soon as the old man saw Fang Yuan, he screamed:
"It's the foreign Chongwu Guard! Kill him! Slay him! For the mountain god!"
At his words, the young men immediately raised their weapons and charged at Fang Yuan, baring their teeth and rushing forward!
"For the mountain god!"
This wasn't the first time they had done this. Decades ago, they had used their numbers and the law's leniency to drive out Jianghai Palace's men!
Just earlier, they had killed a Chongwu Guard!
They represented the will of Ming Mountain County's hundreds of thousands of people, and no mere officer could stop them!
"...."
Fang Yuan didn't say a word; he simply grinned. Since they were so eager to die, he would naturally grant their wish.
With his smile, an invisible wave spread!
Puchi!
The sound of heads being severed in perfect synchronization echoed!
In that instant, the heads of all the young men flew into the air!
[Slain 45 cultists, Good Deed value +600!]
Uncle Gao stared in shock at the horrifying scene of heads flying. He finally felt fear.
He never imagined that the other side would act so decisively and swiftly!
These officers from Jianghai Palace were so different from the ones before. Shouldn't they have avoided these common people who came at them?
How could they kill them?!
"Tch, Chongwu Hou really spoiled you all..." Fang Yuan muttered softly.
The situation in Ming Mountain County was completely the opposite of his hometown, Changqing County.
In Changqing County, the county magistrate and gangsters oppressed the people, leaving them hopeless, numb, and cautious.
But here, these ordinary people dared to attack the Chongwu Guard, thinking the guards wouldn't dare fight back.
Fang Yuan sneered. What kind of nonsense reasoning was this? Should good people have guns pointed at them?
If you point a gun at me, don't blame me for killing you!