Chapter 8: City God

"Just joking, our general is just joking," a voice came from beside General Lang, as a man who looked shifty quickly tried to smooth things over.

In the faintness, Qiu Yan sensed a breath of separation and isolation emanating from the wall.

As they spoke, the two had already reached the end of the empty grand hall. They passed through a corridor, and ahead stood a pristine white wall. Huang Jue from the southern part of the city stepped forward, raised his hand, and with a wave, the wall rippled like water, parting like a curtain.

Yes, yes, yes! Upon hearing these words, that person immediately broke into a sweat, nodding vigorously as if pounding garlic, and no longer dared to say anything more

With just a glance, Qiu Yan's attention was completely captivated by this figure, and then he noticed the person's face, obscured by a silver mask

In the center stands a table, upon which is placed an incense burner, with smoke swirling around, releasing a fragrant aroma

"I will take you here; the esteemed one is waiting for you inside." As he spoke, he took two steps back, raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and said, "The matters here are concluded, so I shall take my leave. If you have time, feel free to visit me." With that, he transformed into a beam of blue light and vanished.

With a moment of distraction, Qiu Yan then raised his arms and performed a respectful gesture, saying: "Ming Yuanshan God, I have the honor to meet the City God."

General Lang, upon seeing this, couldn't help but smile: "There is no need to be afraid. As long as you obediently help me find that mortal, I will ensure your release, and your kin will regain their freedom as well. Of course, it cannot be delayed for too long..."

Speaking thus, he took the lead, and Qiu Yan, seeing this, followed suit

A faint glow cascaded over General Lang's robust physique, causing him to shudder slightly, his face revealing an expression of intoxication, as the hairs within his pores thickened and lengthened.

Upon hearing these words, the person finally took action, raising their empty left hand in a gesture: "Mister Min Yuan, there is no need for such formalities." The voice was smooth and flowing, like a clear spring flowing through the heart

In front of the door, a person with a weasel-like appearance bent down and spoke cautiously to General Lang: "General, we are still in human territory, so please be a bit more careful."

This person's figure is slender, clad in armor, with the armor plates glinting coldly. One hand rests on the table, holding a book, and there is an inexplicable aura surrounding them. There are no words, no movements, yet the figure seems to fill the entire room.

"What significance does a monster eating a person hold?" The land deity in the southern city smiled and glanced at the librarian Qiu Yan, "We are the earth deities, governing the laws of the land, bridging the realms of yin and yang. Whether it is a human, livestock, or birds, they are all the same. Death is merely the shedding of the physical body, leaving only the soul. Monsters eat humans, and humans eat livestock; what difference is there? Good and evil will find their own retribution, and in the next life, there is the cycle of the six realms. The monsters that entered the city today have eaten people but did not capture their souls. However, they have crossed the line and committed an offense, so they must be punished. The city lord has already dispatched someone to hold them accountable, and afterwards, it will be reported to the underworld, where it will be recorded in the ledger of life and death."

Hmm? General Lang stopped his actions, and the hair on his body instantly retracted. He then turned and walked to the corner, picking up a cage

This city god... is actually a woman!

Upon saying this, he tapped his head and said, "Look, I've digressed again. I came to take you to meet the Lord of the City God. Please follow me."

"Hehe, the general is truly amusing, very amusing." Wen Anguo finally came to his senses, chuckled a couple of times, and then shifted the topic, soon beginning to greet others.

Oh? Suddenly there are victims of a tragic death. What has happened in the city?" Qiu Yan felt a stir in her heart and asked aloud

Suddenly, a strange sound came from the corner of the room

Indeed, the land in the southern part of the city nodded in agreement. "Then, my friend, you might as well use 'Min Yuan' as your name for now. Once you receive an official title from the heavenly court in the future, you can change it again." He then smiled and added, "I have only inquired about names and have yet to introduce myself. My name is Huang Jue."

General Lang waved his hand and directly interrupted, saying: "You just need to take care of these matters; otherwise, what is the purpose of having your subordinates? Humans say there is a distinction between superiors and subordinates. If I have to worry about everything, then there would be no need for you to exist."

A hedgehog was confined in a cage. Noticing General Lang's gaze, the hedgehog immediately curled up into a ball, trembling slightly

Qiu Yanduan sat upright in the imposing hall, his eyes tightly closed, surrounded by an emptiness that evoked a sense of deathly stillness. It was not until the sound of the confession broke the silence that the stillness was dispelled, prompting Qiu Yan to open his eyes.

Bang

As they walked, the land in the southern part of the city suddenly turned and said: "Last time we met, we felt like old friends, yet I forgot to ask about your origins. When we meet the city god later, it will be difficult to introduce you."

Upon hearing these words, Qiu Yan was taken aback

Beside the table, someone is seated upright

He followed the starlight and arrived at this imposing hall, which is the location of the City God Temple in Yuan Ning City. He was then led to this place to wait quietly. Initially, he had some doubts, but after hearing the words of the land deity from the southern part of the map, he began to pay attention, and his confusion dissipated significantly.

General Lang nodded slightly, pushed open the door, and walked inside

In the next moment, the mist parted, revealing the scene within

Thank you for your patience, thank you for your patience

Surrounded mostly by civil officials, they all revealed a hint of disdain upon seeing this, yet remained composed, merely continuing to drink.

"Hmph, boring," General Lang sneered, glancing at the room full of laughter and joy. He licked his lips, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on a pile of meat on the table. He raised his hand, grabbed it, and chewed vigorously, instantly covering his hands and mouth, even half of his face, in grease

Upon hearing these words, the master of Wen An Guo was taken aback, standing frozen in place

The visitor is none other than the land deity of the southern city, who wears a humble expression: "Today, there have been more tragic deaths in the city, and many restless souls. The Lord of the City God has had to spend extra effort to guide them. This incident occurred suddenly, which is why you have had to wait here for so long"

Qiu Yanwen was taken aback, his mind racing, but he said, "Hmm? A monster eating people? This is no small matter. I wonder how the City God has dealt with it."

People are merely food for us, why think so much? In this territory of Yuan Ning Prefecture, we reign supreme. Once we have accumulated enough strength, we will leave Shu and compete for dominance in the Central Plains, truly enslaving humanity

Qiu Yan was slightly surprised upon hearing the sound

... ...

In response to this, Qiu Yan had long been prepared: "I was originally born in the Minyuan Mountain, and since ascending to the divine position, I have never had a divine name."

The banquet lasted for nearly two hours, and by the time General Lang and his subordinates returned to the relay station, it was already late at night

There is nothing much, just that a few demons have entered the city and, unable to control themselves, have devoured a few living people. The land deity in the south of the city spoke lightly, seemingly not feeling that there was anything inappropriate about it

Seeing his appearance in the southern part of the city, it was said: "You are a naturally born deity, surely you have often witnessed the offerings of humanity. Therefore, your mind is already predisposed. It is of no concern what kind of official duties you hold or what matters you oversee. If you have the heart, it will suffice to protect those humans more in the future."

What lies before us is an ordinary hall, spacious and lofty, with grand architecture.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and walked into the smoke

As the guide departed, Qiu Yan did not find it strange. He looked towards the lifted wall, which was shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see clearly

Thinking this, he went around and opened all the windows, allowing the moonlight to stream in unrestrained

The surface has eyes, a nose, and a mouth, shimmering with a metallic luster