Sweat poured down Niu Dou's forehead in great drops. His eyes bulged like copper bells, as if he had seen a ghost.
No, seeing ghosts wasn't frightening. He had seen them every day before—but what the hell, how was this possible?
"Village Chief Niu, long time no see. How have you been lately?"
Zhang Yang wore a broad, utterly sincere smile. He had promised that if they ever met again, he would lend a hand if he could.
"S-Sect Master Zhang, save me!"
After his face changed expressions seven or eight times in an instant, Niu Dou finally threw himself to the ground, kneeling and wailing bitterly. The grief in his voice could move the sun and moon.
Zhang Yang watched with a smile, his gaze unintentionally sweeping across the dozen or so strange men. He didn't mind using their heads to sacrifice to his sword, especially since these oddballs weren't very strong, no matter how bizarre they were.
But contrary to Zhang Yang's expectations, seeing Niu Dou like this didn't enrage the strange men. Instead, their eyes moved between one another, as if they were hesitating over something.
Then, beneath Zhang Yang's even more astonished gaze, a fellow who seemed to be the leader of the strange men stepped forward and saluted.
"Honored Sect Master, we had no intention of offending you, and we will never make things difficult for the Heaven Heavenly Sword Gate. According to the rules of the Black Earth Plains, our Black Mist Village requests to become an attendant village of the Heavenly Sword Gate. We will offer no fewer than a thousand Immortal Stones in tribute each year, but we also hope to receive the Heavenly Sword Gate's protection by force of arms."
"Wait! Niu Dou, you weren't kidnapped by them?"
Zhang Yang hurriedly