"My lord, please forgive sin. The subordinates did not succeed and let them escape. Zhu Yan humbly bent his left knee and reported his failure to You Hao.

"Get up. The owner didn't hear the news he wanted, but his face showed no disappointment, maybe he had already thought that it wouldn't be so easy.

The giant leader of Redstone looked at him regretfully and sighed, "You didn't succeed, but you are not guilty. He was Yu Jian, the first warrior of the kingdom. ”

His subordinates tricked him into going to the wormhole, but he didn't expect that when he went to collect the corpse in the morning, he only saw the corpse of the big worm. "It's a miracle that someone can defeat the big bug. Miracles still happen occasionally, and he knows all too well about it.

"The big worm didn't succeed either!, is he so difficult to deal with?" the owner looked surprised.

"He really is. On top of that, he had unimaginable luck. Escaping a car crack, escaping from a dungeon, crossing obstacles along the way, and finally killing the big bug, none of this would have come true without luck. "It's an explanation, it's an analysis. He humbly bows his head, hangs his hands, and looks at the ground, which is the most common posture he has in conversation with his master, and he always takes great care to maintain this position, even after so many years of being pampered. He firmly believes that this is one of the reasons why he is favored.

"Where can the dog man and woman go? The red and gray corridor will be their grave. Your Majesty will live and die, and I will offer him a corpse. Only the dead will not look for trouble again. "The leaders of Redstone are confident. The red and gray corridor was set up all the way, and after the fierce battle with the big insects, Yu Jian could not be safe and sound, and he should be caught.

But what about the outcome? Whatever the outcome, always do your best. "My lord, the dog man and woman should be in Plum Blossom Village by now. ”

"What are they doing there?" said the master, elbowing himself on the arm of his chair, stroking his delicately trimmed beard. His beard has been the hallmark of the owner of Redstone City in recent decades, and his grandfather and father both had beards on their upper lips and shaved their chins and cheeks. In order to show that he was different from his elders, the owner simply shaved the hair on his sideburns.

"My lord, I can't be sure yet. But I've given the Reds a head start. My brotherhood in Plum Blossom Village keeps a close eye on their movements. ”

"If he can survive this time, then I believe that the dragon god is really on his side and protecting him. The master stood up, walked up to him, and patted him on the shoulder to show comfort, "I don't blame you for the previous thing, in fact you did a good job." ”

"My lord, I think it's very likely that they went to Plum Blossom Village to find someone. There are less than forty people in the whole village of Meihua Village, and I know all these forty people, but only two people are a bit special. One of them was a hunter who had very good archery skills and could have lived a more comfortable life, but he didn't. He does nothing but hunt, sharing his prey with the villagers of Plum Village, or exchanging what he needs. He was not born in Plum Village, but moved in eight years ago. "He knows a lot of things, big and small things that happen in Akayama that deserve attention and special, and he knows that the owner has always appreciated his ability in this regard. If he doesn't know, he will find a way to figure it out, and he always figurs it out.

"It was a poor village. People who have the ability to live in that kind of place, and they live for eight years, is indeed very special. ”

"This person is just a little bit special, but not necessarily related to that pair*. It's hard to say for the other person. It was a very old man, surnamed Huang, no one knew what his name was, and no one could tell how old he was, the brother who belonged to him in Meihua Village, when his great-grandfather was still alive, Old Man Huang had already lived in Meihua Village, and even his great-grandfather didn't know when Old Man Huang moved to the village, as if there was such a person in Meihua Village from the beginning. The subordinates have consulted the archives in the castle, and since the beginning of the 849th year of the era, there is a record of the plum blossom village, and the plum blossom village may have been established at that time, of course, it may not be earlier. ”

The master smiled: "It seems that this old man is at least more than a hundred years old. ”

"If it's just a long-lived old immortal, it's nothing. Strangely, Old Man Huang is a medicine picker who doesn't do business. He has been collecting medicine on the outskirts of the Whispering Forest for many years, and the medicine is very effective, and the villagers have all kinds of incurable diseases under his treatment. But Old Man Huang did not make money by curing diseases, he either stayed in the pharmacy or was busy on the edge of the forest from morning to night, and the villagers had never seen him do anything else, or have any other hobbies. ”

The owner felt very strange: "He doesn't farm, doesn't go to the town to buy things?"

"My lord, this is what he can't understand, he doesn't farm, he never leaves Plum Blossom Village. The daily necessities he needed were all exchanged with the villagers for herbs. And he never welcomed anyone into his home. ”

The master touched his beard and said, "You must have studied this old man for a long time, but even you don't know him." ”

"My lord, my subordinates are incompetent. Zhu Yan's head hung lower, and his tone was more humble.

"If you are all incompetent, how many people are capable in Chishan Province?"

"My lord, the Whispering Forest is just behind Plum Blossom Village, such an ominous place, no one should have wanted to settle outside of it. People who have a little ability and a little way have gone to other places early, so the population of Meihua Village has not been large, and there are few outsiders. The pair of dogs and men ran to Meihua Village, I am afraid there are only three possibilities: the first is to find relatives and friends, the second is to go to Old Man Huang to buy medicine, and the third is to go to the Whispering Forest. ”

"Do you think they're going to die in the forest?" the master shook his head, "Everyone knows that the forest is a grave, where there is no entry or exit, and there is no life and death. If the dog man and woman wanted to die, they would have died a long time ago, and they already had children, so they would not have taken their own lives. ”

"My lord, Your Majesty has issued a national wanted warrant, and they have no way out, but the Whispering Forest is a place that no one dares to enter. ”

"What do you mean...... But don't forget, none of the people we sent in ever came back alive. Successive generations of dragon kings have not been able to solve the mystery of the forest. I think they're going, and it's the same, I'm going to let them die outside the forest. ”

"If they continue to flee, they will be able to survive and enter the forest, but they will die. There should be a reason why they made such a choice. The subordinates suspect that they may have mastered the knack of entering the forest. ”

The master fell into deep thought, and only after a long time did he say: "After coming out of Saltwater City, all the way to Shaoye City, they have passed through layers of checkpoints along the way, even if they are faster than the notice issued by His Majesty, they should be wanted in Northern Desert Province." Luo Xun didn't carry out His Majesty's orders at all, and he must have been secretly helping the dog man and woman. Anyway, you have to be fast, go now, this kind of thing can only be done by you, I can rest assured. ”

Someone suddenly reported outside the door: "My lord, the civil officer has an urgent matter to report." ”

"Call him in. The master leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples, "Let's hear what the fat man has to say." ”

The civil magistrate was a man who was not too fat to speak, thirty-two years old, and his fat body shook incessantly when he walked, and his eyes, which were not small, were so deep in the fat that it was almost impossible to tell whether he was open or closed.

Zhu Yan has always disliked this fat man, and he especially hates fat. But he had to admit that this dead fat man did his job quite well, at least he handled the civilian disputes in Redstone City well. People can't look good, as long as they are not too lazy, everyone can play their abilities. So he never looks at the appearance of talents, and he has always been able to control his emotions well. He won't reject the fat man and the ugly monster, there are more crooked melons and cracked dates in the fast sword group.

"Tell my lord that the national teacher is in the living room, waiting for my lord to receive him. The fat man spoke softly, but he bit every word clearly. The National Teacher is a dignified cabinet member, and he still needs to wait for the prince's reception, which the master will like.

"Master Guoshi?" the master looked surprised. Zhu Yan also felt a little surprised.

"The National Teacher has come to Chishan, and I haven't given any news before. He said to him, "Don't go yet, but come with me to meet him." ”

Unlike other places, the owner's living room is a tastefully furnished room. The castle is full of solemn decorations, carvings and frescoes depicting scenes from historical events, and the totems of the imprint of the Holy King, all of which are ubiquitous, making you feel as if you are in the middle of a long river of history, and the castle is indeed worthy of the title of holy city. But the master's parlor was full of exoticism, with fire-burning chandeliers from the Land of the Sun, carpets and mahogany tables and chairs painted with the heroic posture of the sea god from the Moro Kingdom of the Glorious Isles, and Mithril wine utensils from the kingdom of Eta Ando. Every décor and furnishing in this room has a distinct local color, but all of these things together give the impression of the individual: exquisite, stylish, and uncluttered.

The emaciated Grand Elder of the Iron Fist Temple was standing in the room, admiring a statuette of the god of the sea in the Moro Kingdom, his silver beard hanging down from the collar of his collared yellow robe, which seemed to be longer than the legend. He carried a staff in his hand, the head of which appeared to be quite large, wrapped in multicolored flannel.

"Master Guoshi, what kind of wind blew you over, don't you bring a letter beforehand, so that I can avoid this rude crime!" The master smiled all over his face, stepped forward, bowed slightly, and Zhu Yan immediately landed on one knee after him.

"The prince is too polite, the old monk didn't want to bother, but he was afraid that he wouldn't come to see it when he passed by Red Rock City, and the prince would blame him when he knew it. Xun Zhou smiled and put his right hand on his chest and made a monk's salute. According to the custom, the two-handed salute was more respectful, but Xun Zhou's left hand held the staff tightly and did not let go. The staff seemed to be precious.

"What did the National Teacher say, the arrival of distinguished guests like you has added glory to Red Rock City, just to disturb more. The National Teacher should have a good taste of our green hemp tea in Red Rock City, although it is not as good as the Yulong Green Soup in your temple, but it is also of the highest grade and has a unique flavor. ”

Tea and snacks were quickly served, and the host took out a very delicate and gorgeous mahogany utensil from the peach wood cabinet beloved by the islanders, handed it to the national teacher with both hands, and said, "This is the holy talisman of the islanders, and a minister of the Moro Kingdom gave it to me on a business trip to Chishan last year." It is said that if it is placed at home, all harms will not be invaded, and the national teacher will solve problems for His Majesty, and work hard in every way, hoping that this holy talisman can protect the health of the national teacher and the prosperity of the Iron Fist Temple. ”

Zhu Yan also has a few pieces of this kind of mahogany utensils. The islanders believe in Somelo, the god of the sea, and like to engrave his image on furniture, a relican that can be hung around the waist or placed on furniture, made entirely of mahogany and set with seven diamonds. Anyone who knows the customs of the islanders knows that diamonds have a different meaning in the Glorious Islands than anywhere else, and the islanders believe that the body of the god of the sea is made of diamonds, sacred and eternal, and the god of the sea has a total of seven hands, and the seven diamonds mean so. This is indeed a very precious item, and the owner is willing to give it to the national teacher, which is also a bloody investment. The title of a prince is not enough, His Majesty Longjun relies on the national teacher, and there will be many places to rely on in the future.

Xun Zhou was obviously knowledgeable, and waved his hand again and again: "Such a rare treasure is too valuable, and the old monk can't ask for it." It is better for the prince to keep it for himself. Although we do not believe in Somelo, he is the god of the sea, not an evil demon, and this thing will help to bless the prince's well-being, and if the prince is well, the red mountain will be well, and the red mountain will be well, and your majesty will naturally be at peace. ”

However, the master insisted: "In front of you, I am a young junior, and you are a national teacher, and you are also a great elder of the temple, and you are a golden body. He must Xun Zhou accept it, the two of you come and I will humble each other, Xun Zhou finally hung the statue on his waist.

Only then did the master show a satisfied expression, "I don't know what the National Teacher is doing when he comes to Chishan this time?"

"It has something to do with the Abyss Demon. ”

"The Abyssal Demon has reappeared?"

The national teacher stroked the silver beard with his hand, and the withered hand seemed to be bloodless, and the thin one was only skinny and bone, with green tendons and knots on it, slowly squirming. "The old monk got a revelation in the Qingming Divine Realm through the Restless Gong, and the creatures of the Abyss Realm may appear in the area west of the Yinqilamo Mountain Range, so he asked His Majesty and got the permission, and the old monk came to see if there was any way to resolve this crisis. ”

The master was shocked and said, "Master Guoshi, don't scare me! How did this Abyssal Realm demon enter the mortal realm?"

"It's supposed to be using the realm portal. To the west of the Inkiramo Mountains, there is a desolate wilderness with a very weak boundary barrier, and legend has it that there was turmoil in the early years, which was barely suppressed by the local mages. But now the Abyss Demon is plotting another attempt to break through the barrier there. ”

Indeed, there has been such a statement. On the other side of the desolate wilderness is the Kamon Kingdom of the Eta Federation, although Zhu Yan has not been there, he has also heard that there were mages who came out to suppress demons in the early years. However, those mages are all ancient elves who live in the forest, and it is said that they do not interact with the outside world, and the Dragon Worship Sect has never had any contact with them.

The master asked what was on his mind, "Is the National Teacher planning to unite with the elven mage of Etta?"

Xun Zhou nodded slightly and said, "For the safety of the mortal world, you should try any method." Once those demons break the barrier, the consequences are unimaginable. The Iron Fist Temple will do its best to complete the task of protecting the mortal realm this time. ”

In this way, the Iron Fist Temple should be the elite who has done its best, and it is not only the Great Elder who has come, but also the elders and masters of the sect. Zhu Yan felt a little strange that those branch elders were also highly respected figures, so why did the Great Elder come to visit the master alone?

"With the National Teacher personally out of the horse, it couldn't be better. But if the Great Elder wants to go to the desolate wilderness, why don't ......you take the sea route and cross the port of Doma on the Azure Strait? Inchiramo Mountains?"

As soon as the master said this, Zhu Yan felt that this great elder's actions were a bit unfathomable. There are two ways to get to the desolate wilderness by land, one is to ascend the Sudara Plateau and cross the territory of the mountain people, and the other is to cross the whispering forest behind the plum blossom village. But these two paths have never been traveled by a boxer, and either way is extremely dangerous. The Plateau Giant can rely on the army to pacify, but that is not something that can be done in a short time, and it is urgent to stop the Abyssal Realm Demon, and the Great Elder should have taken the shorter sea route. As for the Whispering Forest, it is a land of magic, and legend has it that it is guarded by the Banshees of the Forest, but it is afraid that it will be as difficult to deal with as the demons of the Abyss.

Xun Zhou smiled faintly and said, "If you don't go over the mountains and mountains, you have to be in a hurry, so you can only take the nearest road." ”

"Are you going to go to the Whispering Forest?" said the master, who looked surprised that he couldn't close his mouth, "that is a very dangerous place, and no one has confirmed whether it is connected to the desolate wilderness." ”

"The old monk has been enlightened that after the forest, there is the wilderness. With the blessing of my gods, adults don't have to worry. Xun Zhou seems to be very sure and does not take the murderous grave to heart.

"Now that my god has instructions, then I am relieved. The absence of my god on the day of Longyan really made it difficult for me to sleep and eat, but when I heard what the national teacher said, my heart was much more stable. If you have any requests, even if you ask me, I can also help you and make a small contribution to the mortal realm and Your Majesty. ”

"In fact, this time the old monk came to see the prince, and he also hoped to find someone who is familiar with geography by the way. Where is the whispering forest, the old monk still doesn't know. Xun Zhou smiled, but his eyes glanced at Zhu Yan.

Once a person is famous, it is not all good things. The national teacher will not know whether there is death or life in the forest, but he obviously has no fear. It's a path to death, but it could also be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The legend of Akayama is also expected to add a strong touch. In life, danger is inevitable, risks and opportunities coexist, and exciting gambling and adventure are what should be desired. I'd rather be a gambler than an idler.

Zhu Yan didn't hesitate any longer, and immediately knelt down again: "If my lord allows, my subordinate Zhu Yan is willing to be the guide of the national teacher and obey the dispatch." ”