River God Sacrifice, Seizing Young Girls

Desolate City, a riverside dock.

The old boatman carefully secured the fishing boat.

"My benefactor, we've arrived."

Qin Ming nodded. As far as the eye could see, there were huge cargo ships, hundreds and thousands of dockworkers unloading cargo, and fishing boats docking one after another, with fishermen carrying fish buckets out of the hold.

A faint fishy smell wafted on the river breeze, mingled with the noise of fishermen and workers.

The old fisherman carried a large bucket of Silverfish out of the hold.

These Silverfish are a specialty of the Li River. They are as long as chopsticks and their bodies are snow-white like silver, hence the name Silverfish. Because they have few bones and a smooth and tender texture, they are loved by the people. Although the price is average, they sell very well and there is no worry about selling them.

Last night, when the fishing boat struggled out of the whirlpool, a large number of Silverfish fell onto the boat, which were all collected by the old fisherman.

"Hey, Old Zhang, you've had quite a haul!"

A burly, shirtless man was walking by with his men when he saw the scene. His eyes lit up, and he immediately stopped.

"Same as always, three coins a piece, is that alright?"

"OK."

The old fisherman nodded.

Without saying a word, the man walked over, picked up the bucket of fish, and began to count them.

"There are 199 in total, I'll give you 400 coins."

The man casually pulled out four strings of cash and handed them to Zhang Laotou.

"Where did this young man come from? Old Zhang, is he one of your new hires?"

The man looked at Qin Ming, whose face was deathly pale and who looked as if a gust of wind could blow him away, and immediately lost interest. "Alright, you go ahead with your work. I'll go over there and continue collecting fish."

"Cough cough."

Qin Ming coughed a few times, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"Big brother, you're bleeding."

Xiangxiang quickly took out a clean, faded handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to Qin Ming.

"Thanks."

Qin Ming took the handkerchief and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Yesterday, he jumped off the mountaintop, injuring his internal organs. Then he jumped into the river and stayed in the water for several hours. In addition, the River God was feeding, and that strange power tore at his internal organs, causing his injuries to not heal.

Fortunately, this injury did not significantly affect Qin Ming's performance, but his internal injuries required rest. Engaging in intense combat could very likely worsen his condition.

Just then, Qin Ming saw a group of people dressed in strange clothes walking towards the dock, with dozens of fierce-looking, burly men leading the way.

Those strangely dressed people jumped and skipped around while banging gongs and drums and playing suonas.

In the very center, a person was carrying a golden-topped sedan chair. The curtains of the sedan chair swayed slightly, and one could vaguely see a pure gold object inside, which looked like some kind of ferocious beast.

The burly men walking around looked around, seemingly searching for something.

Suddenly, one of them saw a passing boy, grabbed him, lifted him up, and grinned maliciously.

"Hurry! Hurry!"

Zhang Laotou's expression changed drastically. He quickly took off his raincoat and draped it over Xiangxiang, then pulled Xiangxiang away rapidly.

Xiangxiang's face was pale, and she was sweating profusely; she was clearly quite frightened.

Qin Ming was puzzled, glanced at it a few more times, and then followed.

Zhang Laotou, carrying his granddaughter, squeezed through the crowd, winding his way through several alleys until they reached a secluded spot.

Seeing that he had escaped those people, Zhang Laotou finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Uncle Zhang, what are those people doing? Why are you so afraid of them?"

Qin Ming asked.

They are the people in charge of the River God Sacrifice.

"River God?"

Qin Ming thought of the terrifying giant mouth he had seen last night.

People actually worship this thing?

Isn't that a demon?

The imperial court doesn't care? The Wangjing Prefecture doesn't care?

Qin Ming followed Zhang Laotou home, and along the way, Qin Ming gradually learned about the origins and details of the River God Sacrifice from Zhang Laotou.

No wonder Zhang Laotou ran away when he saw the people performing the sacrifice. Xiangxiang is seven years old this year and is very clever. If the people in charge of the River God Sacrifice saw her, they would definitely arrest her. Zhang Laotou has neither background nor power. If he were arrested, it would be the same as Xiangxiang being sentenced to death.

"Sigh, life is tough these days. If it weren't for making a living, we wouldn't have to show our faces in public. Xiangxiang, starting tomorrow, don't go out. Wait until the River God Sacrifice is over before you come out again. You'll be safe next year."

The rules for River God Sacrifice are that only girls aged seven are accepted; those older than seven are not chosen.

"Grandpa, you're not well. Without Xiangxiang's help, how can you go out on the boat to fish all by yourself?"

"Silly child, Grandpa has a few hundred coins, enough for the two of us to live on for a while. We can always take a break."

Zhang Laotou patted Xiangxiang's head with a kind smile.

Qin Ming watched this scene with deep emotion.

In chaotic times, even having enough to eat is a luxury for the poor.

Zhang Laotou had a slight limp, and he was being helped by Xiangxiang as they walked slowly.

The Desolate City was vast.

There are many buildings.

There are grand and magnificent medicinal cuisine restaurants, as well as dilapidated old houses with sewage flowing everywhere and drafts coming from all sides.

Zhang Laotou and his grandson lived in a dilapidated old house.

The old house had fallen into disrepair over the years. It was built with mud walls, half of which had collapsed. The roof had several large holes, letting in drafts from all directions. Whenever it rained, the house would turn into a waterfall, and people could only catch the water with wooden basins.

"Big brother, please sit down."

Xiangxiang brought over the only relatively intact stool in the house.

"Xiangxiang, Grandpa's going out to buy some things. You stay home and keep your benefactor company."

"Knew."

Zhang Laotou left home with the money he had earned from selling fish.

Not long after, Zhang Laotou returned carrying large and small bags, containing meat and vegetables, and in his other hand he was carrying a jug of wine.

"Sir, what you're doing..."

Qin Ming was slightly moved.

Zhang Laotou probably spent all the money he earned from selling fish on these kinds of foods.

"Although my Zhang Family is of humble status, we know the meaning of gratitude. Please, benefactor, have a seat."

Zhang Laotou wiped his hands and arranged the roast chicken, braised beef, peanuts, steamed buns, and bowls and chopsticks on the table. He then warmed the pot of wine.

Xiangxiang looked at the table full of delicious food that she couldn't eat even during the New Year, took a deep breath, her face full of ecstasy, her mouth almost watering, and her stomach growling loudly.

"It smells so good."

"Eat quickly."

Qin Ming tore off a large chicken leg and handed it to Xiangxiang: "Here you go."

"Thank you, big brother."

Xiangxiang immediately took it and started eating it heartily. She finished the chicken leg in just a few bites, her mouth full of oil.

Qin Ming was amused and handed her another chicken leg.

Soon, most of the dishes on the table were eaten by Xiangxiang. Qin Ming only ate a little and drank some wine.

Before leaving, Qin Ming decided to leave some silver, but he had nothing in his pocket except for the several hundred thousand taels of silver notes he had stolen from the black-robed man from the Ghost Mansion.

These silver notes, even the smallest denomination is a thousand taels. Giving them to Zhang Laotou like this would not only be a blessing, but would bring disaster to the grandfather and grandson.

Qin Ming made an excuse to go out and exchanged a silver note for silver.

Just as he turned back, he heard a familiar, heart-wrenching cry from afar.

"Xiangxiang!"

Qin Ming's expression changed, and his speed increased dramatically, arriving at the door in an instant.

Upon seeing the situation inside, Qin Ming's face instantly darkened.

Zhang Laotou was knocked to the ground, his chest soaked in blood, his face pale, and a bloody hole punched into his forehead. He lay there barely breathing.

His granddaughter, Xiangxiang, was pinned to the ground, unable to move.

The people who carried out the act were the same group of strangely dressed people who had been seen on the street earlier, the ones responsible for offering sacrifices to the River God.

A burly man had a foxtail grass dangling from the corner of his mouth.

This man was the fishmonger who had previously bought Zhang Laotou's Silverfish at the dock.

"Wu Er, I, Old Man Zhang, have never offended you, so why did you betray me!"

Zhang Laotou spoke haltingly, his face contorted in a grimace.

"Zhang Laotou, don't blame me for being heartless. It's your granddaughter who meets the requirements. Just providing information will get you ten taels of gold. I can't just turn down gold, can I?"

Wu Er sneered, "If you ask me, wouldn't it be better to be sensible? Why do you have to court death! For the sake of our years of acquaintance, I'll send you on your way!"

With hatred in his eyes, Wu Er grabbed a wooden stick and smashed it down hard on Zhang Laotou's head.

"Stop!"

At the critical moment, Qin Ming arrived.

Upon hearing the voice, Wu Er turned around and saw Qin Ming. A sneer flashed across his face.

"Oh, who do I am? Isn't this the sickly-looking kid from the ship?"

Wu Er didn't take Qin Ming seriously at all.

Yesterday he negotiated the price with the person performing the ritual: ten taels of silver, cash on delivery.

He just didn't expect that Zhang Laotou and his grandson had gone out in their boat last night.

So when Wu Er saw the grandfather and grandson early in the morning, he pretended to buy the Silverfish from Zhang Laotou, but in reality he had already sent someone to inform them. Then he personally led his men to block Zhang Laotou and his grandson in the room.

Zhang Laotou tried to resist, but Wu Er beat him several times with a stick, leaving him with a bloody head.

"Kid, this is none of your business. Get the hell out of my sight while I'm in a good mood!"

Wu Er swung the wooden stick in his hand.

He originally thought Qin Ming would be scared off and back down quickly, but Qin Ming not only didn't back down, he even took the initiative to walk into the house.

"Court death!"

A fierce glint flashed between Wu Er's brows. He gripped the wooden stick tightly with both hands, let out a loud shout, unleashed all his strength, took a running start, raised the wooden stick high, and smashed it hard onto Qin Ming's head.

"Snap!"

The wooden stick snapped with a crack and broke in two.

In contrast, Qin Ming remained calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

Wu Er was shocked and almost blurted out, "Horizontal Training Martial Arts!"

Qin Ming kicked out, Wu Er only felt a blur before his eyes. The next moment, a sharp pain shot through his chest, and he was sent flying like a cannonball. He was kicked more than ten feet away by Qin Ming and finally crashed into the wall with a "thud," turning into a pile of bloody flesh.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

How much strength does it take to kick a grown man into a bloody pulp with a single blow?

"Judging from your skill, you are also a martial artist. You must have heard of my Golden Coin Gang. My Golden Coin Gang is searching for the Pure Boys and Girls to River God Sacrifice. This matter concerns whether the Desolate City will have good weather and a bountiful harvest next year. I urge you not to interfere."

A middle-aged man dressed in black stepped forward and spoke.

He had long, flowing hair and a handsome face, but his left ear was missing, and there was a hint of gloom in his eyes.

"What if I insist on interfering?"

Qin Ming's tone was cold.

"Then I'll send you on your way!"

Before he could finish speaking, the man suddenly attacked, his fingers forming a claw-like technique similar to Eagle Claw Skill, aiming straight for Qin Ming's face.

A fierce, sharp aura swept through the air, emitting a piercing whistling sound.