#172 - Evil Dragon

"Thank you for your help, young master."

After the villagers of Stone Village left, Luo Sanniang poured a cup of water for Xu Ming and bowed slightly.

Luo Sanniang never imagined that someone she had simply helped by providing lodging would end up saving her.

"Thank you, young master."

The little girl, no more than eight years old, also thanked him, imitating her mother.

"It's nothing, I just couldn't stand to watch," Xu Ming shook his head.

"Young master is a good person," Luo Sanniang said, looking at Xu Ming with a smile.

Xu Ming also smiled: "I can hardly be considered a good person. Didn't you see the way they looked at me? Because I sheltered you, they can only go to other families. Their eyes are full of hatred for me. Although I saved your daughter, I also harmed others."

Luo Sanniang shook her head: "Others may not know, but as far as Sanniang and Yaya are concerned, Young Master Xu is a good person."

Xu Ming was slightly taken aback, then smiled: "Alright, since Sanniang says so, then I'll reluctantly accept it."

"However, young master, you should still leave," Luo Sanniang said. "I will handle my own affairs. I allowed you to stay, and you gave me silver, so we are even. If you really want to get involved in this matter, I'm afraid it will be more dangerous than good."

"It's nothing. Actually, I also need to kill a Flood Dragon and take some of its parts to draw some talismans," Xu Ming took a sip of tea, looking at the courtyard entrance, "In Sanniang's opinion, what kind of decision will your village make?"

An hour ago, after the village chief left with the strong men of the village, Xu Ming waited here for their reply.

"I don't know," Luo Sanniang shook her head. "However, there are actually many people in the village who hate that Yellow Sand River Dragon King. After all, so many young boys and girls have been sacrificed. If they weren't so powerless, many men would have gone to fight that Yellow Sand River Dragon King."

"We'll see," Xu Ming squeezed the teacup. "If the villagers still don't dare to fall out with him, I will send Sanniang and Yaya to Wudu. You can take a letter I write to the Xu residence, and someone will naturally take care of you."

"Thank you, young master," Luo Sanniang knelt down in a bow.

Yaya saw her mother kneeling, and quickly knelt down as well.

"Sanniang, there's no need for such a grand gesture."

Xu Ming quickly helped the mother and daughter up.

"Da, da, da."

Just as Sanniang and Yaya stood up, the courtyard door was knocked again.

"Come in," Xu Ming said, knowing that they had already discussed it clearly.

As Xu Ming's words fell, several strong men walked in, cupping their fists: "The village chief invites the young master to his home for a talk."

Xu Ming carried his hands behind his back and walked forward: "Then let's go."

Shen Shengsheng, who was playing with mud nearby, saw Xu Ming leaving and quickly got up, wiping her dirty little hands on her skirt, and then followed Xu Ming with her short legs.

Soon, Xu Ming and Shen Shengsheng arrived at the residence of the Stone Village chief.

The village chief's residence was similar to the other villagers' homes, except that the courtyard was a little bigger.

"Immortal Master."

Compared to his previous attitude towards Xu Ming, the Stone Village chief quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Xu Ming upon seeing him.

"The weather is hot, Immortal Master, please come in and have a cup of tea," the village chief asked.

Xu Ming glanced at the village chief, walked into the courtyard, and sat on a stone bench.

The village chief closed the courtyard door, respectfully poured a cup of tea for Xu Ming, and then sat beside Xu Ming.

Xu Ming asked: "I wonder how the village chief has considered it?"

"We have considered it clearly. We will trouble the Immortal Master with the matter of the Yellow Sand River Dragon King," the village chief slowly said, giving his answer.

"Is this also the meaning of the others in the village?" Xu Ming asked.

The village chief smiled helplessly: "According to previous years, whose children would be sacrificed had already been decided, but this year…"

The village chief glanced at Xu Ming, not quite finishing his sentence.

Even without him finishing, Xu Ming knew what the village chief meant—"It was all decided, but in the end, we didn't expect you, a busybody, to come."

The village chief: "We discussed it for a long time, but no one wanted to replace Luo Sanniang's daughter. In addition, there were indeed many men who were very dissatisfied with that Yellow Sand River Dragon King, so just right…"

The village chief stood up and bowed deeply to Xu Ming again: "We, Stone Village, will trouble the Immortal Master."

Xu Ming looked at the old man in front of him and did not avoid it, but accepted the great礼(lǐ, gift/salute): "I wonder if the village chief can tell me more about the Yellow Sand River Dragon King."

The village chief straightened up and nodded: "This old man will definitely tell you everything I know."

Xu Ming: "Before, I heard the boy's father say that this Yellow Sand River Dragon King is in the Golden Core Realm?"

The village chief affirmed: "Yes, although I don't know what the Golden Core Realm is, the Yellow Sand River Dragon King broke through recently and invited his demon friends to a banquet. The banquet was called something like the Golden Core Banquet, and he even asked us villagers to help purchase some things."

"That's good." Since the other party had just reached the Golden Core Realm, Xu Ming felt even more confident.

"However, why is the other party so insistent on a pile of young boys and girls? Does the village chief have any clues?" What Xu Ming suspected the most was this point.

It would be too easy for a great demon in the Golden Core Realm to eat young boys and girls. He could eat as many as he wanted, but the other party demanded one pair a year, which was really suspicious.

Village chief: "I don't know about that."

Xu Ming: "When were you originally planning to sacrifice to him?"

Village chief: "We plan to sacrifice to him the day after tomorrow."

Xu Ming: "How did you sacrifice in the past?"

Village chief: "We would release a small boat, and then put chickens, ducks, cattle, sheep, various sacrifices, and young boys and girls on the boat. The boat would slowly float to the center of that Yellow Sand River, and then a huge whirlpool would appear, and the young boys and girls on the boat would all fall in."

Xu Ming frowned: "That evil dragon doesn't show its face?"

The village chief shook his head: "It has rarely shown its face in recent years."

Xu Ming stroked his chin and said in a deep voice: "I am not good at water, let alone the fact that the bottom is the other party's territory. If I go into the water, my chances of winning are very small. Does the village chief have a way to lure that evil dragon to the ground?"

"This…" The village chief looked a little embarrassed, but still clenched his fists, "This old man will try."

"Also, I need some time to set up some magic formations to increase my chances of winning," Xu Ming continued.

"If the sacrifice is the day after tomorrow, it will definitely be too late, so the village chief, you have to think of a way to delay the time of the sacrifice."

"I wonder how long the Immortal Master needs?" the village chief asked anxiously.

"Four days!" Xu Ming looked at the village chief seriously, "If the evil dragon is not dead after four days, I will not leave."