Doomsday Mage Summons the Undead.

Chapter 254
The cold wind blew across this harsh village, and under the guidance of the guide Cheng Xiao, Qi Lin finally arrived at the destination of the trip.

The southernmost side of the village.

A large family house covering an area of ​​more than a hundred acres, the closest to the bustling town, was Qi Lin's destination.

However, the scene in front of him gave Qi Lin a feeling: Am I in the wrong place?

Afterwards, the residents of the village lived in poverty due to excessive taxes, and eating bark and grass roots has become a norm.

The mother would laugh from ear to ear because the child brought back a little more bark and grass roots.

Husband and wife will have fierce quarrels because of the fuse of not being able to buy a bag of noodles.

Poverty hangs over the entire village, and poor faces and haggard figures can be seen everywhere.

However, on the southernmost side of the village, where the richest man lives, there is another scene.

Today is Lao Tian, ​​the richest man in the village, preparing a grand banquet for his daughter's engagement ceremony the next morning.

For Lao Tian, ​​the richest man, this wedding is not only a blessing for his daughter's happiness, but also a hope for the future.

He wanted the atmosphere to be grand, even if only for a brief moment.

If it was ten years ago, Lao Tian would have chosen to invite the whole village to celebrate together.

However, since ten years ago, he gave free hot porridge to the villagers in the severe winter as usual, but he was looted by the villagers by force.

When he and his caravan went to the wilderness, they were violently robbed by robbers dressed up by villagers.

Laotian, who was heartbroken, would still give out free food aid when the villagers were having difficulty making ends meet.

But I will no longer visit villagers who are living in difficulties every now and then, and give them financial assistance.

What's interesting is that after Lao Tian did this, the reputation of the villagers' speeches not only did not decrease, but even increased.

The scene of preparing the banquet is as beautiful as a fairy tale. Every house on the south side of the village is decorated with lights, and colorful garlands and ribbons are swaying and dancing in the cold wind.

Relatives and friends also helped to prepare and joined the busy crowd one after another.

Some women were embroidering patterns and embroidering bed sheets together, while some men were weaving garlands of straw.

Everyone had smiles on their faces, even poverty could not erase their anticipation and enthusiasm for this wedding.

The kitchen was steaming with steam, and many chefs were preparing dishes in advance. They were busy racing against time to prepare delicious dishes for the subsequent banquet.

The aroma of the dishes permeated the whole village, attracting the salivation of the villagers.

These dishes are heavenly delicacies for residents who have endured long-term poverty.

The stewed chicken soup exudes a rich aroma of chicken, and the crispy fried fish fillet is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, giving it a fresh and tender taste.

Fragrant and crunchy fried chicken and roast duck slices are displayed on a silver plate, shining with attractive colors.

Braised pig's trotters and braised lion's head will make your mouth water.

The rich fruit plate is full of various fresh fruits, which are colorful and mouth-watering.

Compared with the usual food and clothing, these delicacies seem to be gifts from the sky.

Lao Tian spent a lot of his savings to transport this kind of gift in a frozen state all the way from the city of yellow sand.

Everyone was discussing privately how much money Lao Tian spent to buy these ingredients, and how much money he spent to hire mercenaries to escort them thousands of miles away.

They are full of anticipation and longing for the dishes on the banquet. Whether they taste the deliciousness of the stewed soup or enjoy the crispy roast chicken, they are all grateful.

If it wasn't for Lao Tian's daughter's wedding, they could only dream in their sleep that the rich people in the town didn't eat bark and grass roots.

When the banquet was about to begin, Lao Tian, ​​the richest man, stood at the door to welcome the arrival of relatives and friends.

Lao Tian, ​​who is about 50 years old, has white hair and wears a gorgeous red robe, with joy and pride on his face.

However, Lao Tian's figure was obviously a little thin, and his body would tremble slightly from time to time.

In the distance, relatives and friends who kept laughing and talking came from the south side.

Only a hundred meters away from the compound of the richest man in the village, Lao Tian, ​​Qi Lin stopped, his eyes full of doubts.

Seeing the colorful lights, people coming and going, and the bustling scene in front of him, Qi Lin took a strong sniff of the smell in the air.

That is the aroma of food.

It's not the kind of bark grass roots that the village residents behind them often eat.

It's serious food.

Perhaps seeing Qi Lin's doubts, Cheng Xiao, who was also confused behind Qi Lin, took a step forward, looked at the bustling scene in the yard a hundred meters away, and after thinking for a moment, he explained to Qi Lin: "It should be from Lao Tian's family. The only daughter is getting engaged."

"But it's kind of weird." v
Cheng Xiao looked at Lao Tian at the door who took out his most precious clothes and put them on, wondering: "I remember Lao Tian told me before that his daughter's engagement ceremony is more than a month later, why is it brought forward now?"

Just as he was talking, Cheng Xiao suddenly noticed Qi Rin in confusion, handing over three silver coins from the skinny hands stretched out from under the cloak.

"Since it's a happy event, as an uninvited guest, it's natural that you can't afford less money."

At Qi Lin's signal, Cheng Xiao took the silver coin blankly.

"Why are you so dazed?" Qi Lin clutched a silver coin left behind and walked towards Lao Tian. When he looked back, he saw Cheng Xiao and Alice standing there and looking at him blankly, as if they had never seen him before.

"Let's go."

Facing Qi Lin's greeting, Cheng Xiao, who seemed to know Qi Lin all over again, turned around and smiled brightly: "You are really a different adult!"

Qi Lin raised his eyebrows, waved his hand and walked towards Lao Tian.

Cheng Xiao's voice came from behind: "My lord, the previous scolding from the villagers was actually because they thought you were an official sent by the town, but normally the high officials are guarded by flower knights, and there are only two of us behind you Dressed like a mercenary."

"That's why they thought you were a small official who was marginalized, so they made some accusations."

"You know all about pointing at Sang and scolding Huai. It seems that the level of education is not bad." Qi Lin saw Cheng Xiao's careful thinking, and waved his hand to show that he didn't care: "Is there a school in the town?"

"What is school?"

Before Cheng Xiao could ask doubtful questions, Qi Lin looked at Lao Tian looking at him and said softly: "We'll talk about it later."

Lao Tian who found Qi Lin walking towards him was a little puzzled, but he still greeted him with a warm smile.

When Lao Tian found Cheng Xiao who was following behind Qi Lin, Lao Tian's polite smile immediately turned into a heartfelt smile.

"Cheng Xiao!"

Lao Tian smiled happily, walked up to greet him quickly, and surprised Cheng Xiao: "Didn't you say you went to the ruins over there? Why did you come back so soon?"

Qi Lin didn't speak, but first handed over one of his silver coins to the waiter who followed Lao Tian, ​​and then slightly turned sideways to signal Cheng Xiao to come over to deal with the reunion of old acquaintances.

"It's a long story." Cheng Xiao first bowed slightly to Qi Lin, and then he stepped over Qi Lin and introduced to Lao Tian with a smile: "This is my friend, he came from afar, I have something to ask you .”

Qi Lin explained to Cheng Xiao, don't call your lord when you are in front of people, just say that a friend from afar passed by here, so as not to increase the trouble.

Lao Tian keenly noticed Cheng Xiao's bowing action. He was taken aback for a moment, and then quickly bowed slightly to Qi Lin to show respect: "Cheng Xiao's friends are my friends. It doesn't matter if the guest has something to say, as long as the old man can do it. You must do your best!"

Qi Lin was not polite, and said directly: "The station, the station of the apostle, the station with the magic teleportation array, how much information do you know about it?"

Very straight to the point question.

No politeness of any kind.

This made Lao Tian, ​​who was in the ups and downs of the business world, stunned for a moment. Then he looked at Qi Lin's cloak and seemed to understand something.

There was no politeness at all, and it was similar to Cheng Xiao's respectful behavior before.

It shows that this young man is powerful, either because he is unreasonable, or because he doesn't care about those things.

Of course, there are many other possibilities.

But Lao Tian didn't want to think about it carefully, Cheng Xiao had helped him a lot, and Lao Tian said the sentence "Cheng Xiao's friends are my friends" earlier.

After thinking about it carefully, Lao Tian quickly said to Qi Lin: "The station of the city of yellow sand is in the depths of the sea of ​​blood. There is a restricted area, and there are guards from the city lord's soldiers on the outside. There are rumors in the restricted area."

"Wait a minute." Qi Lin raised his hand to stop Lao Tian's words, and said with a smile, "I'm sorry I didn't make it clear just now. I want to know about the post stations within the steam town."

"Huh?" Lao Tian was taken aback when he heard the words, and asked in confusion, "Since when is there a station for Master Apostle within the steam town?"

Hearing this, Qi Lin's heart skipped a beat.

Didn't the auction house owner say there were clues in this village?
Isn't the clue in the richest man?
However, the ghosts all over the village sent intelligence that the villagers had no relevant information, and they even didn’t even know what the inn was.
For a moment, Qi Lin frowned, thinking carefully about whether he had missed any key information.

At this time, someone from the south came quickly in a rickshaw.

After the driver stopped the car, a well-dressed man wearing a top hat walked out, took off his hat and said to Old Tian in a distant voice: "Brother Tian, ​​am I not late?"

Then, without looking at it, the man threw a copper coin to the panting and expectant coachman.

Like a hound seeing a fleshy bone, the coachman jumped up and took the copper, and said happily, "Thank you, boss! Thank you, boss!"

The man didn't respond. He walked up to Lao Tian, ​​first handed the gift he was carrying with him to the waiter behind Lao Tian politely with a smile, then looked at Qi Lin and said with a smile, "This one...is a bit unfamiliar."

"Is it a distinguished guest from the Yellow Sand City Chamber of Commerce?"

"I have to say, Lao Tian, ​​your contacts are still good, thousands of miles away, and there are demon seeds on the way."

The man looked at Cheng Xiao and his daughter behind Qi Lin without noticing anything, and said with a smile: "Oh, just two escort mercenaries? Did the other mercenaries die on the way?"

"Joshua Barton," Lao Tian suddenly turned his head and warned: "This mercenary has been my friend for more than 20 years. I hope you will respect him as much as you respect me!"

The man who had never seen Lao Tian get so angry was stunned for a moment, and then he bowed to Cheng Xiao and apologized sensibly: "I'm sorry, my friend."

Cheng Xiao dodged it, he didn't want to cause any trouble for Lao Tian, ​​and said with a smile: "It's just a misunderstanding, you are too polite."

"Take the guests to sit down first." Lao Tian turned his head slightly and ordered the waiter.

Seeing the man leaving with the waiter, many guests came from the south.

Qi Lin thought for a while and said to Lao Tian: "Today is your daughter's big day. Go entertain the guests first. If you remember any clues about the inn within the steam town, come to me later."

"Friend, as far as I know, there is really no inn in Steam Town." Lao Tian looked embarrassed.

"I won't let your work go in vain." Qi Lin shook his head and took out some physical potions, several weapons with flashing magic patterns, and several sets of magic armor: "If you can provide relevant clues, these are all yours."

After saying that, Qi Lin walked past the shocked Lao Tian and walked straight into the courtyard decorated with lights.

"Cheng Xiao, this friend of yours." Looking at Qi Lin's leaving back, Lao Tian whispered to Cheng Xiao, "It's not easy!"

"Let's not talk about this steam town, even in the city of yellow sand, those magic weapons and armors are all forbidden."

"Except for the Lord City Lord, no one dares to own it, and no one dares to take it out like this."

Lao Tian sighed and continued: "It's just, when will there be a station in the steam town?"

"I thought that as the only one with the Chamber of Commerce cooperation channel with the City of Yellow Sand, you would have relevant information." Cheng Xiao shook his head in disappointment.

"I know the station in the city of yellow sand, but it's a steam town"

Lao Tian looked puzzled, and said in a very sincere tone: "When will the apostle open a post station in the town-level area?"

"Who knows, but this one," Cheng Xiao looked at Qi Lin who walked into the courtyard and looked around and said, "this gentleman is sure that there must be an inn here."

"Hey, I'm really sorry, Lao Tian, ​​I have to trouble you again." Cheng Xiao apologized to Lao Tian: "I owe you so much, I really don't know how to pay off your favor!"

Lao Tian patted Cheng Xiao's arm like an old friend, pretending to be angry and said: "What nonsense are you talking about, you are helping me, I will help you, don't need to calculate so clearly!"

"Okay, go and accompany that adult." Lao Tian stopped Cheng Xiao's words, lightly patted the shame-faced Cheng Xiao's arm, and said, "I'll think about it later, and if there is any relevant news, I will definitely Go find you and tell me."

Cheng Xiao opened and closed his mouth without saying anything, just nodded, and then led Alice to chase after Qi Lin.

Lao Tian, ​​who stayed where he was, murmured in confusion after a moment: "When did the steam town become eligible to establish an inn?"

"Is it because of the rumored god?"

"But isn't that just a myth that has been spread?"

The guests who came one after another quickly interrupted Lao Tian's hard thinking, which forced Lao Tian to spare his energy to greet the guests.

But when he was busy, Lao Tian was still thinking about the station.

Because Cheng Xiao is Lao Tian's friend.

Few friends.

As relatives and friends arrived one after another, the open-air courtyard filled with banquet tables gradually became lively.

People wore carefully prepared costumes and greeted each other with smiles, creating a festive atmosphere.

Cheerful music sounded softly in the venue, adding a bit of vitality to the whole banquet.

Seats filled up quickly, and people were eagerly anticipating the start of the banquet.

The aroma of the banquet fills the nostrils, making people salivate.

Braised beef in brown sauce, dry-stir-fried beans, fried diced chicken in sauce, steamed sea bass and other delicacies with excellent color, fragrance and flavor filled the long banquet.

As the banquet progressed, the atmosphere became more and more lively.

People toasted and respected each other, and the singing of congratulations resounded through the sky.

Everyone seems to have forgotten the poverty and hardship of the villagers next door.

They celebrated with laughter and blessings that the richest man's daughter was about to start a new life.

In the corner of the courtyard, there was a banquet specially arranged by Lao Tian for only three people.

Qi Lin didn't touch the food on the table with his chopsticks, and closed his eyes to listen to the ghost's report.

Cheng Xiao, who was next to him, smiled and served his daughter Alice with dishes that she would never see on a daily basis.

"Father, do you have a good relationship with Uncle Tian?" Alice asked vaguely.

"It's a good relationship..." Cheng Xiao laughed at himself and said, "Actually, I owe him."

"Ah?" Alice made a puzzled voice, watching Cheng Xiao curiously and waiting for the follow-up.

"Old Tian is the only businessman in the town, apart from the mayor and Pug, who has connections to the City of Yellow Sand."

Cheng Xiao's eyes flickered, and he recalled: "The first time I saw Lao Tian, ​​I was saved by him. It was a very clichéd story. At that time, I was stabbed twice in the back by the mercenaries of the same team, and then thrown into the wilderness."

"In the end, my fate was fatal, and I held my breath to survive. Then I met Lao Tian's caravan returning from the city of yellow sand, and Lao Tian rescued me."

"Later, I escorted Lao Tian's caravan many times, and I was robbed by horse bandits on the way and was seriously injured."

"Normally, once a mercenary performing an escort mission is injured, he or she will be immediately abandoned by the employer, so as not to affect the journey and consume unnecessary supplies."

"This is the rule." Cheng Xiao smiled and continued: "But Lao Tian is different, Lao Tian will treat every injured mercenary."

"All in all." Cheng Xiao sighed while holding dishes for his daughter, "I owe Lao Tian a lot."

Alice flashed her ignorant eyes and asked, "Dad, how much debt do we owe to Uncle Tian?"

Speaking of this, Alice looked around suspiciously, and after noticing that the diners around her were devouring their food, she whispered: "The vehicles in the ruins should be exchangeable for at least two gold coins, right?"

"Can I return it?"

Facing Alice's innocence, Cheng Xiao smiled and shook his head: "It's not enough."

Alice blinked, and said again: "Two gold coins! This is a huge sum of money! And Uncle Tian looks rich, so it's almost okay?"

Cheng Xiao still shook his head, peeked at Qi Lin who was asleep with his eyes closed, lowered his voice and whispered to Alice: "Dad told you before that you can't let others owe us, but ah, we can't owe you either." other people."

"Is Uncle Tian someone else?" Alice asked innocently.

Cheng Xiao was stunned for a moment, lowered his head and looked at his shabby clothes. From the corner of his eye, he saw the disdainful looks of the well-dressed guests around him as they glanced at him.

There are also those discussions about being a lowly mercenary, a dog leg and the like, but being able to monopolize the table.

Cheng Xiao laughed at himself and said softly: "It's someone else."

(End of this chapter)