Talk about the world of mortals in detail

The Daegu Dynasty had a decisive position in the northern realm. Although it was not nearly as great as Dayong in the east, it was still one of the few great powers in the northern realm.

Although Taoren Xue has never stayed in Daegu over the years, he has still been in Daegu for a relatively long time.

On this day, Taoist Xue was walking on a country road with his suitcase on his back. Under the heat of the autumn fire, the trees along the way were filled with cries of "Zhizhizhizhi".

There are farmers working in the fields in the distance, harvesting grain. Although the weather is hot, their faces are filled with the joy of the harvest.

However, after Xue Daoren looked at it for a while, he found that occasionally the farmer's face looked sad, which could be said to be a mixture of happiness and sadness.

Perhaps these people were sharecroppers and the rent was high?

"Taoist Priest, where are you going?"

There was a shirtless old man in the field over there shouting towards this side. Although his beard and hair were all white, and his bronzed upper body looked a little thin, his voice was full of energy and he was not tired from work at all.

"I'm just a wanderer, no matter where I go - how will my father-in-law's harvest be this year -"

Taoist Xue also shouted, and the old farmer over there replied.

"The harvest is good—Taoist Master, please wait a moment—"

While he was talking, the old farmer put down the rice and sickle in his hands, said something to the people around him, and then hurried over.

Taoist Xue didn't know why, so he stopped and waited for the old man to come over. The old farmer wiped his face with a cloth hanging around his neck. Because of his old age, the flesh on his bare upper body was a little loose, but his muscles and bones were obviously strong when he walked.

"Taoist Priest, I'm a guest from afar. Why don't you come and sit at my house? It's already evening. Why don't you come to my house to have a meal and rest for the night?"

To be honest, this is indeed the first time for Mr. Xue to come to this place. Did he not expect to be so respectful?

"Here, how does this work? Just go about your business. I'm not in a hurry to stay overnight. I can go on my way at night."

"Hey, it's so inconvenient tonight, so let's have a night's rest."

As the old man said this, he came over and grabbed Xue Daoren's arm. The latter didn't move away when he saw his right arm being grabbed, but frowned slightly.

"Taoist Priest, you must come to my house to spend the night, and you must stay!"

Taoist Xue felt the strength in the old man's hand, looked at the expectant old man, and nodded after thinking for a moment.

"Okay, that's disrespectful!"

"Hey, ok, ok, ok. Baosheng - you guys work first, I'll take the guests home first -"

The first half of the old man's sentence was full of joy, and the second half of the sentence couldn't wait to shout into the field over there, and received a response from there.

"Okay, Dad, just go and go - I'll be back soon -"

The people in the field over there seemed to be in a hurry, so there must be something hidden in this situation.

"Taoist Master, let's leave now. Can I help you carry the box?"

"Oh, no, no, I can just do it myself. This box is a bit heavy!"

"Hey, don't look at me as a skinny old man. We farmers have plenty of strength. Let me help you."

The old man reached out and took the clothes under the tree and put them on his shoulders. He reached out to hold Taoist Xue's box, but the box did not move with one hand. After being stunned for a moment, he grabbed the box with both hands and tried to lift it. Only then did he realize that the box Deadly.

Based on farmers' experience in lifting heavy objects, it weighs at least a hundred pounds.

"You said it's quite heavy, isn't it? My father-in-law only needs to lead the way. I can just carry this box on my back!"

The old man nodded blankly, carrying such a heavy box for a long time without blushing or out of breath and still walking as fast as flying. This is like meeting an expert!

I felt happy, and the old man's steps became much more brisk.

"Taoist Master, please go this way. Are you not a vegetarian? Do you have any special taboos?"

"There are no taboos for poor people."

"Okay, I'll treat you well later!"

The more enthusiastic the old man is, the more Xue Daoren knows that the other party must have something to ask of him, and it must be very important.

The journey was not too far. With the slightly faster pace of the two of them, they arrived at a house with a persimmon tree planted next to it in about a quarter of an hour. There was also a building in the distance, which should be the same village.

The persimmon tree was so laden with fruits that some branches were bent, and there were some fallen and smashed fruits on the ground.

"Come and ask the Taoist priest!"

The old man opened the wooden fence, entered the house first, and then invited the Taoist to come in.

Someone in the house heard the noise and ran out. What came out were two children, a boy and a girl, both looking to be seven or eight years old.

"Grandpa!" "Grandpa, please come back!"

"It's back, it's back!"

Taoist Xue was slightly shocked. This meant that the atmosphere in several rooms was not normal. He was not referring to these two children, but he could detect that there were people over there, at least a dozen more!

"Old man, your family is really prosperous."

The old man understood that the Taoist priest had noticed it, and without saying anything, he took his grandchildren's hands and walked to the main room, nodding to the Taoist again.

"Taoist Master, please come in!"

Taoist Xue did not hesitate and followed the old man and the two children into the house.

When I got inside, I saw that the situation confirmed Xue Daoren's guess. In this small hall, there were more than a dozen children standing on the inner side of the table. They were men and women of different ages. They were all curious and full of enthusiasm. He looked at Daoren Xue with worried and even fearful eyes.

"Who is Grandpa Zhang?"

Taoist Xue frowned. These dozen children were obviously not the old man's children and grandchildren. Of course, some of them might be relatives, but not all of them. However, looking at the old man and the others, they didn't look like human beings.

"Taoist Priest, you should understand, right?"

"Understand what?"

Taoist Xue was stunned for a moment. He usually played riddles with others, but why was it the other way around today?

"Huh? You don't know?"

The old man was also stunned for a moment, and Taoren Xue thought for a moment and said.

"Pindao has just entered the customs and wandered among the mountains and fields for more than a month. He only saw people today."

It's the entrance to the customs, but it doesn't pass through places like Guancheng. It goes directly over the barren mountains and ridges to enter Daegu, which saves a lot of trouble.

"Oh, I see, then you must not know about the local festivals."

"What ritual?"

The more Mr. Xue listened, the more confused he became. The old man pulled out a stool and asked him to sit down. Then he began to tell some things, which made Mr. Xue more and more astonished.

The local government even sent officers to investigate ordinary people's families. All children born on special days in the Year of the Dragon were registered. It seemed that there was some special sacrificial ceremony.

At first, the people didn't think anything of it, but then some people's children went there and never came back.

The government said that he had gone to practice Taoism and gave some money to the people.

But the parents and relatives can't see the missing child. Who knows whether it is alive or dead? Even if it is alive, no one wants to lose the child. It's not like this life is unbearable.

The old man slowly became excited as he spoke.

"I don't know where the rumors came from. It is said that the current emperor has gone crazy and wants to eat boys and girls in order to prolong his life. These children are all from relatives and friends, and they were brought to our country to escape!"

"Is there such a thing?"

Taoist Xue was stunned when he heard this. Then the old emperor has reached this point?

"So they are here because the government will come to arrest them?"

The old man shook his head.

"The government never arrests people, but these children will go on their own. If someone stops them, the government will arrest those who stop them. I heard that the horoscopes taken away by the children have been cast with evil spells. Sometimes at night they will walk on my own."

"Our countryside is vast and people from the government are not common, so we stop them when we see them, but this is not the way! I heard from some places that powerful Taoist priests can cast spells to suppress them. Taoist priest, please do well. Bar!"

Xue Daoren was very shocked. He subconsciously looked at these dozen children. His first reaction was ridiculous and he didn't believe it, but these children were right in front of him.

And it doesn't sound like it's a matter of one village or one county. It seems to have a wide range. If someone really performs evil magic, what level of Taoism does it have to be?

"Quick, children, please beg Taoist priest, please beg!"

Some of these children are the grandsons of the old man, and the rest are related by relatives or entrusted by relatives.

As soon as the old man shouted, a dozen children immediately began to beg.

"Taoist, please save us. Taoist, please save us." "Please Taoist, please save me."

"Taoist Master, I miss my mother." "Taoist Master."

Taoist Xue came back to his senses and immediately waved his hand.

"Stay here for now! Dad, aren't you afraid that Pindao will report to the official and harm you?"

The old man shook his head.

"I'm scared too, but there's nothing I can do. They were fine a while ago, but recently some people have started to sleepwalk at night. Seven or eight of them walked together the day before yesterday, but it scared everyone. The nearby goddess came and tried it. There was nothing we could do, she said there were too many travels and we didn’t dare go to the city to invite people from far away.”

Taoist Xue looked serious, reached out and unhooked the backpack from his shoulders and placed it on the ground. Then he took out some special copper coins from his arms and sprinkled them on the table.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa."

When the coins fell on the table, several of them kept spinning and stopped after a while, but two of them rolled directly under the table.

The Taoist's expression immediately changed.

"Taoist Master."

Taoist Xue looked at the old man and then at the children who looked uneasy.

"Let's see tonight!"