Dharma Ring: Selling dung beetles at the border

The terrain of Red Lion City is similar to Morn City. It is in the southeast corner of the map and is isolated by fjords and cliffs. There is only a long bridge connected to the outside world.

The terrain that is easy to defend but difficult to attack is the reason why Red Lion City can still stand here.

Looking out from the long bridge, layers of smoky fire walls form a barrier that repels all kinds of giant beasts.

The giant dogs and crows were killed, and the corpses were already eroded by corruption before they were burned. The whole body was covered with mushrooms and swallowed by the red hyphae.

The Red Lions burned the fire, burning the corpses along with the mycelium.

Occasionally, creatures infected by corruption and parasites break through the red lion's defense line and rush onto the bridge. The trebuchets behind carry boulders and fire to block all monsters.

Even if the defense line collapsed, a large number of monsters swarmed onto the long bridge, and the most elite knights of the Red Lion were still there to take the blame.

These lion knights learn gravity magic with Latarn. The magical arrow rain can cleanse all corrupt and parasitic things, and even if the dragon comes, they will be nailed into a sieve.

Latan's soldiers have used this method to defend the Red Lion City to this day.

They did not allow corruption to enter the city, but they were unable to push back against it. They could only start an endless tug-of-war around the long bridge.

This is a war, and they will lose.

On the city wall, Jie Lian, the city lord of the Red Lion City, narrated the tragic battle situation. Many Red Lion soldiers were excited about it, and then they and Jie Lian glared at the people tied up outside the city wall.

A wooden plank was stretched across the city wall, and a person was hoisted outside the city gate and hung high.

Jie Lian said to the man in a deep voice:

And now, merchant, are you telling me that the solution to the problem of food in the city is to eat those corrupt things?

Wuming was tied up into an egg with a rope, with only his head exposed, and continued to speak harshly:

The mushrooms are delicious.

Wuming came to the city as a merchant to discuss cooperation with the Lord of Red Lion City.

Even without Jie Lian's explanation, Wuming could tell that there was a serious shortage of supplies in Red Lion City.

What kind of supplies can an army that is blocked by corruption become increasingly depleted of supplies?

After going into the city to investigate, it turned out that there was a shortage of this and that.

All supplies in the Red Lion City were piled on war resources. There was a lot of kerosene, very little vegetable oil, a lot of iron swords, and very few iron pots.

There are almost no civilians in the city, and no one to manage daily logistics. Occasionally there is meat and fish, all thanks to the fish caught in the sea along the coast. It is unreliable to expect supplies to be transported from the main road. There are no large caravans at the junction, and it is impossible for other demigod forces to travel through the entire corrupt Galid to deliver supplies to them.

The team personally escorted by the Red Lion Knight will only deliver some necessary supplies, and an escort mission often results in heavy casualties.

The best eater in the entire Red Lion City is Crazy Ratan, because there is a steady stream of corpses to eat.

Jie Lian didn't care about food issues, he only cared about weapons.

You can't do this. If you don't eat enough, how can you have the strength to fight? Wuming watched the Red Lions' training and pointed.

Then he offered the scarlet fungus soup he had researched through Millicent.

Then Wuming was hung up.

You guys need to be more open-minded. Wuming spun around on the sling, I came up with this recipe through hard work, and I don't even charge you for it.

So you are more like a corrupt believer who came to disintegrate us internally. Jie Lian said.

I want to repay you for the moss formula and prayer book you gave me to treat corruption. Wuming shouted.

That's repaying kindness with hatred.

Wuming shouted: I really want to poison you, can't I just poison it in your cafeteria? How about telling me?

Jie Lian had to admit that Wu Ming's words made sense. It was easier to poison than to force them to take poison by pressing their heads.

How many times have you tested your formula? Jie Lian asked.

A meal. Wuming said.

Jie Lian called to a red lion knight holding a big bow and a rocket:

Stop talking nonsense to him and light a fire.

Wait, wait, wait. Seeing the big bow pointed at him, Wuming shouted:

If you don't believe it, you can test it yourself and use it as dry food for those who are already dying or dead soldiers. I heard that you are still a Carian. Do you have the experimental spirit of a magician?

Jie Lian stopped the knight from shooting arrows and stared at Wuming with a stinking face.

Wuming was also unafraid and looked at Jie Lian.

Looking at each other for a moment, the rope turned him to the other side, and he had to look at Jie Lian in circles.

Jie Lian said: Why don't you do this experiment and eat it by yourself for ten days and a half.

It's possible, but there's no point in using me for experiments. Wuming said, I'm proficient in flame prayer and burn myself in flames every day. You can't get accurate data through me.

I heard you brought a girl. Jie Lian said.

Oh, she can. I'll make her eat mushrooms three times a day from now on, so she'll be fine. Wuming promised, Can you put me down?

Jie Lian ignored Wuming for a while and then put him down, but instead of untying the shackles, he put an anklet on Wuming to prevent him from escaping.

We will be partners in the future. You disrespect our partners so much. Wuming wore an anklet and walked slowly, following Jie Lian. He said he was disrespectful, but he didn't seem to care about the chains on his feet.

I don't see you respecting our tragedy either. Jie Lian said.

What sad song? Wuming asked.

A tragedy composed by the struggle and death of countless soldiers. Jie Lian said.

What goes up works, what works down. Wuming muttered.

What did you say?

It's nothing, I think your dressing style is quite tasteful. Wuming said.

Although the theme of the clothes of the city lord Jielian is a simple knight's armor, the sleeves are made of bright fabric and have a strange shape, like a circus performer, a style that comes from unknown sources.

There is a mask of an old man with a beard hidden under the hood, hiding Jie Lian's true appearance.

You are wrong about one thing. I am not from Caria. Jielian said, I was just a guest in the royal family of Caria for a while. I was a wandering knight. I sang in my spare time and hunted when I was hungry. I once It’s also free.”

Then why do you become the city lord here? Wuming asked.

Just as Jie Lian was about to answer, a chorus and dull trumpet sounds suddenly sounded in the city.

All the red lion knights within Wuming's sight stopped what they were doing and stared in the direction of the sound.

Near the city gate, a group of people walked slowly, carrying a stretcher with a human figure covered in bloody fur.

The team walked along the road to the city lord's room and walked to Jie Lian's side.

Jie Lian asked: Who is it?

Jorah, the knight carrying the stretcher replied.

Jie Lian nodded: The boy from the Bell family, I was present when he was conferred.

He is very brave. When the corruption broke out, he also held back two monsters, giving us a chance to win. The knight said.

Jie Lian nodded and helped them open the door to the city lord's room.

The team carried the body into the city lord's room and walked around to a side door. There was a balcony with an elevator on the balcony.

Jie Lian followed the team up the elevator, and Wuming followed suit.

Everyone was silent, speechless all the way.

The elevator descended to the bottom of the city. There were two pieces of scarlet desert. There was a small river between the deserts, connecting to the sea in the distance.

Jorah's body was placed in a small boat and floated out to sea as everyone watched.

A red lion knight drew his bow and fired, and the flaming arrow shot straight into the sky, then fell straight down and stuck into the boat.

Goodbye brother, may the fire burn away your chronic illness, may you be reborn after returning to the tree... Jie Lian recited the eulogy.

The Red Lion Knights took the elevator back to the city, but Jie Lian did not go with them.

He and Wuming walked in the desert, surrounded by endless scarlet.

Jie Lian said: Now do you understand why I don't wander anymore?

I don't understand. Wuming said.

I am not the city lord, but I promised Latarn that I would let him die with honor and let his men resist corruption. Jielian said, I will hold a grand ceremony for him and let him usher in the greatest The ending is worthy of the strongest demigod.

This funeral is quite interesting. Wuming looked at the burning boat that was getting further and further away. It's more ceremonial than ours.

Jielian said: He was a brave warrior and worthy of such a funeral.

Jielian said: Now do you understand why the people in the city are so angry with you? We fight corruption with our lives, but you let us drink scarlet soup.

Wuming did not respond.

Jie Lian looked over and found Wuming looking at the wall of Red Lion City.

There were many wooden frames erected there, with corpses of soldiers from unknown camps hanging on them.

The Red Lion is not just a knight, right? Wuming asked, Do soldiers also get such treatment?

How can a soldier be treated like this? This is the funeral of a knight, and the knight is a noble. Jie Lian said.

Wuming stared at the corpses of the soldiers:

I have also seen great endings, many of them. To me, the power of the king is not important. On the contrary, the weaker our king is, the more noble he is.

Is there such a place? Jie Lian said, I have traveled far and wide, but I have never seen such a king.

Because our king burns himself to illuminate others. Wuming said, Separating his own life for the lives of people in the world. No matter noble or low, no matter noble or humble, there is no distinction between the salvation of each other. The powerful king became weak and desolate because he divided his power, and the dazzling sun became weaker than the flames. That bleakness is the greatest end.

Wuming looked at Jie Lian:

Is this the land you have now for such a great reason?

Jielian held up his chest: Of course. We fight against corruption and protect Galid from corruption. Even if we burn all our lives for it. General Ratan went crazy and even cut off his feet to limit his own power. Act just to avoid hurting innocent people.”

But facing Wuming's gaze, Jie Lian felt guilty for no reason.

The Red Lion's fight against corruption is certainly brave and heroic, but the Broken War, the source of it all, is not a war of honor.

Every demigod hero was distorted by the sudden pressure, causing one tragedy after another.

One after another, misunderstandings, conflicts, and disputes have plunged the entire world into a whirlpool. No one can escape alone. The entanglement of cause and effect has been entangled into a mess, and it has long been impossible to distinguish right from wrong.

Even as powerful as General Latan, he could not reverse the fateful tragedy.

As a guest of the Kaliya royal family, Jielian knew a lot of inside information that ordinary people didn't know. He knew more than ordinary people.

At least he thought so.

Jie Lian thought of the young lady who was always mysterious and hiding her thoughts.

He knew that this was not a noble and honorable war...

But how can there be any nobleness in war? Jie Lian felt that Wuming's idea was a bit unreasonable.

Rescue regardless of high or low? Do corrupt family members also need to be rescued? Can civilians receive the same courtesy as nobles? Besides, our soldiers can fight side by side with generals. This is proof of honor. Have you seen soldiers from other teams doing this? Such treatment? Jie Lian sneered, Our power is limited, we can only save our own people. Haven't you heard Queen Marika's motto? The demigods can only fight each other, and only two can be left.

Wuming never responded. He kept staring at the rows of corpses on the city wall, as well as the weapons and shields hanging on ropes.

Jie Lian continued: And how can we guess the wisdom of demigods? How do you know that today's world is not a necessary sacrifice? Maybe the demigods have their own plans, which is to reach a better world. world.

Wuming suddenly laughed:

What a luxury.

What? Jie Lian didn't understand.

Oh, it's nothing. I'm a businessman and I always advocate frugality. Wuming said to Jie Lian, So I always want to solve problems in the most resource-saving way. This is my limitation. Use this limitation to evaluate You are my problem.

Wuming stared at the scorched corpses on the city wall, drooling with greed: So much power can be used for internal consumption, I really envy you.

But this is also a good thing. It shows that you have money, leisure and strength. Wuming hummed and dragged the chain with ease, I will make money.

Jie Lian was speechless for a moment. He thought Wuming was talking about the war, but he didn't expect that Wuming was focused on business.

Jie Lian said: You have also seen the situation in Red Lion City. We have nothing to trade. It is also because I know that I have nothing that I doubt the motives of you, a self-proclaimed businessman. What are you trying to do?

Don't underestimate yourself. Even if you are a piece of shit, you will encounter a beetle sometimes. Wuming said, Of course you have what I want.

What?

Teleportation gates. Wuming said, Look at you, there are so many teleportation gates, give me two.

Wuming jumped to a portal on the edge of the desert and kicked it twice:

You can put a portal in a place like this. It's so luxurious. I don't want much, just two is enough-

The iron chain on Wuming's feet hit the portal, and suddenly the portal seemed to be activated, and a burst of light enveloped Wuming.

Huh? Wuming was a little dumbfounded, Where is this teleported to? I still have chains on my feet. I can't walk back if I'm far away.

Jie Lian was also stunned and subconsciously replied:

Not far, just across the river.

That's okay. Wuming breathed a sigh of relief.

General Rattan is right across the way.

What the hell——

As Wuming was talking, he was teleported away.

When the surrounding light faded, he was already standing on the other side of the vast desert.

A burly figure was running towards him in the distance.

Even from a distance, you can feel the breathtaking momentum.

The figure pulled out two large knives. Judging from the proportions, they were as big as four or five of himself.

This General Rattan seems to be bigger than the Starfall Beast.

Wuming opened his mouth and looked back at Jie Lian's position. There were sand dunes blocking his view, but it shouldn't be too far away.

Calm down, calm down. Wuming took a deep breath, Jie Lian said La Tarn broke both of his feet, so he can't walk fast. Just run back before he comes over. We still have business to discuss.

Wuming glanced at Latan in the distance again, wanting to confirm the distance and speed.

I saw Latarn leaping high into the sky, but did not fall down, flying directly towards Wuming.

I'll blanch it!

Wuming, who was wearing an iron chain, quickly jumped on his legs and ran quickly.

Unable to take a big step, Wuming's pace was so fast that there was an afterimage.

Jie Lian! Across the sand dunes, Wuming couldn't see Jie Lian and could only cry out to the sky in pain.

I believe your lies! This guy can fly, so chopping his feet is useless!