When the Master ntioned a young girl who brought great fortune, the soldiers imdiately grabbed a little girl from the crowd.
"Master, this girl, Li Yanyan, is considered the most fortunate child in the Great Han. She was born on an auspicious day," a soldier said, pushing Li Yanyan towards the Master. "The people in her village say that after her birth, she brought her family considerable fortune. Even the other villagers have benefited from her luck; everyone’s fortunes have beco exceptionally good!"
The Master shook his head. "No! Not her. The girl I’m referring to has a much more favorable appearance."
"Master, should we make another trip to Ling Village and bring back the girl you ntioned?" one soldier asked.
Hearing the Master say that the girl they hadn’t captured was even more promising than Li Yanyan, the soldiers were eager to go and get her.
The Master suddenly felt a sense of unease.
"When you went to Ling Village, did the people-seeking charm not lead you to that girl?"
A soldier shook his head. "No, I personally led the team to Ling Village. The people-seeking charm never went near the east side of the village!"
The Master frowned in confusion. The people-seeking charm didn’t go to the east side of the village? That shouldn’t have happened!
What the Master didn’t know was that Xiaosuisui’s red string had been taken by Ji Youzhi the previous night.
By the ti the Nanjiang soldiers went to Ling Village, Ji Youzhi had already left Baiyun Town with the red string.
It had to be said, this was truly fate!
"Master, should we still go and capture the girl you ntioned?" a soldier pressed.
"There’s no need."
Before the Master could speak, an old and weary voice answered for him.
This shocked everyone. Just a mont ago, the owner of the voice seed to be speaking from afar, yet now he stood right before them.
"Greetings, Great Wizard!"
Everyone from Nanjiang knelt, except for the children, who continued to cry in fear.
Held by Ji Youlin, hiding in a large tree, she peered through gaps in the leaves towards the Altar and finally saw the Great Wizard’s profile.
The Great Wizard was very old; his face was lined with deep wrinkles, and his hair was a stark grey. He wore a black robe adorned with mysterious patterns embroidered in golden thread.
Xiaosuisui squinted, noticing a ring of black aura encircling the Great Wizard’s head.
At that mont, she had no idea how much she resembled Ji Youyuan when she squinted.
The Great Wizard waved his hand, lightly stamped his staff on the altar, and proclaid, "You have all worked hard."
The kneeling Nanjiang soldiers responded in unison, "The Great Wizard has worked hard!"
"All of you, rise! The auspicious ti is near. Master, please bring the sacrifices onto the Altar."
The Great Wizard instructed the Master.
With a wave of the Master’s hand, the soldiers imdiately brought the forty-nine children onto the Altar and arranged them in specific positions.
Beside each child stood a soldier holding a knife.
The children wailed loudly, as if, in that mont, they sensed the fate that awaited them.
"Don’t kill ... BOO HOO... Don’t kill ..." one of them sobbed.
"My father is a high-ranking official in the capital! If you kill , he’ll definitely bring troops to avenge !" another child cried, wiping his tears.
The soldiers paid him no mind. A high-ranking official from the capital? That’s an official of the Great Han. This is Nanjiang territory; no official from the Great Han can touch us here!
"BOO HOO... I don’t want to die! Mother! I miss my mother..." another child wailed.
Suddenly, Hu Zi, a boy from Li Yanyan’s village, burst into loud sobs, recalling the village rumors. "Why?" he cried out. "Didn’t everyone say that with the little fortune bringer around, we’d all share in her great luck? Why are these wicked people still going to kill us even when we’re with her?"
He then questioned Li Yanyan directly, his voice full of despair, "Li Yanyan, everyone says you’re a fortune bringer! Hurry up and pray to the heavens! Ask the gods to save us!"
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