"Qilin Lord?"
Nie Chao found it somewhat unbelievable.
"Yes, you could call him the mountain god here."
The fat beggar spoke at length. "Legend has it that sixty years ago, an auspicious omen descended from heaven. A strange Qilin beast came from who knows where and settled on Tanjiang Mountain, west of Pinghu Village."
On a land where legends of divine beasts circulated, every tale concerning Qilin had always been auspicious.
It represented good fortune and auspicious blessings.
"The Qilin Lord blesses this place with favorable winds and timely rains, and the villagers present offerings for his venerable self to enjoy."
"A minor sacrifice every year, a grand sacrifice every three years."
"Fish, rice, livestock, virgin boys and girls."
The fat beggar sat up from the ground. "I only arrived here recently myself, but I hear this custom has been around for almost fifty years."
"Virgin boys and girls?"
Nie Chao gaped. "This... does no one intervene?"
"Intervene in what?"
The fat beggar pointed at him. "Brother, you really are funny."
"These villagers can hardly thank him enough."
Nie Chao fell silent.
A divine beast that represented auspicious blessings could ensure that things went smoothly for people, but when that good fortune had to be purchased with human lives...
Did it still count as good fortune?
The man carrying a sword on his back tightened his fists slightly.
No one knew who sounded the first gong or drum.
"May the Qilin Lord bestow his blessings..."
"May divine grace remain forever..."
In the dusk, crowds surged through the village.
Pinghu Village's sacrificial procession began making its way up the mountain in a vast column.
"Once all these offerings have been carried up the mountain and the boy and girl delivered to the Qilin Lord's Hall, these villagers will head back