The guard in a pale cyan robe walked into the inner hall, bent down and saluted Wu Yuan, who was sitting at the table and carefully playing with a piece of tortoise shell, and made a humble voice: "Lord Qiqi, the two people you said are here, they stood outside, saluted the door, and then left. ”

Tortoiseshell is a must-have for all wizards. This tortoise shell has been carried by Wu Yuan for many years, and the surface has been stroked and played with smooth. Because of the rarity of the variety, this tortoise shell has a unique shape, and it is a treasure in the eyes of all wizards. It was only when he suddenly heard the last words of the guard, Wu Yuan couldn't help but raise his head, slightly surprised, and the tortoise shell in his hand almost slipped off.

He ...... Didn't say anything? A trace of displeasure crossed Wu Yuan's face.

"Nope." The guard shook his head.

Nurtur sat in a chair, a long wooden stool supporting his injured leg, which was held in place by a plank. He waved his hand at the guard: "Okay, we know, you go down first!" ”

Watching the guards reluctantly exit the room, Wu Yuan felt as if he had been defeated by something indescribable. Niu Tong reached out and picked up an orange from the metal plate on the table next to him and peeled it slowly. This thing is harvested in autumn, and it is usually stored in the cellar, and when it is taken out, it will not rot and it will not freeze, and it is a luxury for ordinary civilians.

"Tianhao is a smart person, otherwise he wouldn't have come up with a best-of-three method." Niu Tong stuffed a clove of orange into his mouth, his teeth biting through the thin inner pulp, and the sweet juice spread out on the tip of his tongue: "Although we didn't tell him about it, I guess he guessed a little." ”

Wu Yuan looked at him with a strange gaze, and deep doubts appeared in the depths of his eyes: "Is his vision really so unique?" ”

"I just think it's a possibility." Niu Tong shrugged his shoulders and chewed the orange while reaching out to support his waist: "Don't think about it so much." Anyway, our plan is already on the bow and has to be sent. I'll lobby on the patriarch's side, and you'll do your own thing. Speaking of which, this archery competition with the Blood Eagle Department is really thanks to Tianhao's blessing, otherwise we wouldn't have won so many things. I originally thought he was a guy who could be wooed and obedient, and could give him a little more benefits. Now...... Hehe, since the person is gone, there is no need for that, I can still save a penny. ”

Wu Yuan did not comment. He looked down at the tortoise shell in his hand, at the intricate and mysterious patterns on the surface of the smooth carapace, and fell into a long contemplation.

……

The weather is getting warmer and the snow is already showing signs of melting.

On the way back, when passing through Red Hoof City, Tianhao spent money to buy a few sackcloth in the store. He was not short of money now, but when he paid with silver coins, the shopkeeper hesitated a little and finally accepted the money.

The straightforward Tianmad asked, "Is there anything wrong with this money?" ”

The owner of the cloth shop was a middle-aged man with a thin build. He smiled and shook his head, "Not really. Merely...... I'm not going to hide it from you, but I don't really like this kind of silver coin. If I could, I'd rather you give me some grain, or fresh meat. ”

This is just a small episode. When the two brothers left Barehoof City with sackcloth on their backs, Tianhao had been thinking about currency. Niu Tong once said that the metal currency was something that the lion king made after the white empire in the south. Now it seems that the general population is far less receptive to it than it seems.

Thinking as he walked, he was distracted, and he turned him with his elbow from the side, and asked angrily: "Third child, how much dowry do you think I should give Gillian as a dowry?" ”

"What?" Tianhao didn't react for a while.

Heavenly Madness's rough face was flushed. The long journey and intense exercise caused the blood flow rate to increase, and the cold wind on his face stimulated the blood vessels, and more of the ingredients were still young, and he felt shy when he first got involved, and even his speech was a little twisted: "Gillian...... You've seen the same one we used to do at the Red Hoof City Hotel...... I...... I fell in love with her. The third child, you have a lot of ideas. Can you help me see how much dowry can marry her? ”

Wedding?

That white and chubby innkeeper?

There is really a big difference between the aesthetic concept of the past and the real world. Yang Yuhuan is a special case among the four beauties, although she is plump, she is far from reaching the level of the innkeeper Gillian. But there is no way, in this world, in the logical thinking of all the northern barbarians, she is particularly plump, has a strong physique, can stand on her fists, and can walk on her arms.

“…… Second child, have you thought about it, do you really want to marry her? Tianhao swallowed hard. It's not because of jealousy, it's just admiration for his brother's special taste.

Tianmad nodded firmly, and a raging flame full of desire instantly burned in his eyes: "Gillian is very beautiful, if it weren't for the death of her man, I'm afraid I wouldn't have a chance." ”

"That...... Let's go home first. You can discuss this matter with your eldest brother when you go back. Anyway, there is no shortage of food at home now, so let's sum it up. "Except to write a blank check first and coax the sky wildly, Tianhao has no better way. The second child belongs to the kind of character who has a tendon. It's very righteous, and you can stick a knife in your ribs for your friends and brothers. But once it is initiated, it will also deny the six relatives and insert a few knives in the brothers.

With a good expectation for the future, I don't feel that the road is far, and the speed is much faster than usual.

It's already very close to Panshi Village.

Suddenly, a black figure rushed out of the corner of the intersection in front of him, desperately trying to spread his legs and feet in the snow, trying to increase his running speed in a very strenuous but rather awkward posture.

Tianhao had a keen vision beyond ordinary people, and he clearly saw the familiar face that showed fear and panic under the swaying of his scattered long hair: "Ayi, what's wrong with you?" ”

In the open air, his voice traveled far away. Ayi suddenly stopped, and looked at the two brothers standing opposite in a daze from a distance of more than ten meters. Suddenly, she seemed to have been injected with a heart booster from behind, and she didn't know where the strength came from, and instantly burst out with surprising strength, stepping her legs and feet to the maximum, and rushing to Tianhao desperately.

When Tianhao became the "head of the ten", Ayi was one of the households assigned to him, and she was also the youngest and most special woman.

"You're finally back! You're finally back! The slender Ayi was obviously very frightened, and she would only say this sentence over and over again. She grabbed Tianhao's arm tightly, her knees wrapped in animal skins trembled, and her frightened voice trembled involuntarily: "Leader...... The leader is going to kill me, and he kills people in the stockade...... Homicide. ”

Tianhao was stunned, and Tianhao was stunned. The two brothers cried out in unison: "What did you say? ”

"The boss took a lot of women. He...... He's going to kill them. "It was difficult for Ayi, who was too frightened, to regain her senses in a short period of time. Her face was pale, and her hands and fingers clutched Tianhao's arm and refused to relax. At this moment, this is the only man she can rely on.

What the hell is going on?

Tianhao and Tianmad glanced at each other, each grabbed Ayi's shoulders, and took her to forcibly turn around and run briskly towards Panshi Village.

Whatever happens, you have to rush back as soon as possible.

……

Behind a snowdrift very close to the stockade, the three men stopped. Tianhao raised his hand and put his index finger to his lips, and made a silent gesture to Tianhao and Ayi.

It's actually an open, flat area. This year, the snow was heavy, and it was inconvenient for the villagers to go out, so they had to dig up the snow near the gate and pile it on the side of the road. Now, more than four meters of snow stacks make excellent cover. In this very close hidden spot, Tianhao could clearly see through the gap in the middle of the snowdrift, clearly see what was happening in the stockade, and hear the conversation of the people.

The square in the middle of the stockade was densely packed with people. Tianhao glanced at them and found that all the villagers were there, even the injured eldest brother Tianfeng was carried out of the house, lying on a stretcher, and placed closer to the fire.

On the east side of the villagers, there is a group of women who have never seen before before, all with fresh faces. It is estimated that when he left the village before, he negotiated with Qinglongzhai to exchange venison for the goods.

Directly in front of the clearing, a platform more than half a meter high was piled up with snow and various debris. A group of women knelt under the platform. They were naked, with their hands tied behind their backs. Although his back is to Tianhao, it is easy to tell the specific gender from his physical characteristics. They were connected by a long rope, and next to them stood several strong men with steel knives and grim expressions.

Fu Song, the leader of the Rock Village, stood on the platform. Behind him, stands a wooden statue that I don't know where it came from.

Seeing this scene, Tianhao only felt that his heart sank suddenly, and he finally understood why Ayi fled from the village.

or part of the host's memory.

There are many ways to sacrifice to the barbarians. The most common are human sacrifice and sacrifice of five animals. Whatever the form of sacrifice must be performed in the presence of the shaman, who alone can communicate with the gods and ask for wishes from the great.

The women bound by the ropes were sobbing, and the scattered snow on the ground showed that they had struggled, even resisted, but to no avail. In such cold weather, forcibly stripping one's clothes is the most effective means of control. The extreme cold can help the poor and helpless people quickly lose their ability to resist, huddle in the snow and huddle until they freeze.