The girl gestured toward a corner of the nearby wooden house, where a heap of hay was stacked against the damaged walls.
"If it doesn't work, you should run. If you’re just pretending and they catch you, you’re dead," the girl whispered, her voice no longer as hoarse as earlier.
"Thank you, I can handle it," Tang San responded softly.
The girl raised her eyes. Her slight frame quivered briefly when she met his composed gaze; then, she promptly lowered her head and uttered, "Oh."
She shifted around, seemingly ready to leave.
"I'm Tang San, what's your name?" Tang San inquired in a subdued tone. Besides Zhu Jiaxin, she was the first human he had communicated with, and they were both slaves.
The girl looked at him again, showing no surprise at his numerical name. After hesitating momentarily, she whispered, "My name is Ling Muxue."
Hearing her name, Tang San was taken aback. It didn't sound like a slave's name at all!
"My mother was, was…" Ling Muxue stammered, "My mother and I are from the same village. She taught me…"[1]
Despite her limited ability to express herself, Tang San grasped the essence of her words. It was clear that her mother had caught the attention of a wolf demon. Despite her status as a slave, she had enjoyed some privileges. At the very least, she could reside with her child and impart some knowledge. As a result, this girl's thinking was evidently more sophisticated and she was more knowledgeable than other children her age. She even had a reasonably pleasant name.[2]"Alright." Tang San kept his response brief, simply offering a nod in acknowledgment.
"Can you really do it?" Ling Muxue inquired, gazing at him again, her eyes filled with evident concern.
"Yes," Tang San nodded once more.
"Okay."
At that moment, other human slaves had already noticed them and were now staring in their direction. Ling Muxue didn't dare to say anything further and simply nodded at Tang San once more before shrinking away and moving to the other side.
Perhaps due to the brief interaction with Ling Muxue, Tang San's mood lifted slightly. In this unfamiliar land, experiencing a sense of warmth was akin to discovering a still-burning ember in a cold hearth. After all, it had been eight long years.
Two days flew by quickly. During this time, the ten survivors had the best food they'd ever had. Their mood was much better than when they had arrived. The older kids among them were particularly excited. They knew this was their big chance!
Among the ten, Ling Muxue was the lone girl, and she went unnoticed by the others. Everyone's attention was fixated on the awakening of their bloodlines.
If they passed the bloodline assessment, it meant they would no longer remain slaves but would instead become vassals of the Wind Wolf Clan. For the slaves, it was akin to a miraculous transformation. The status of slaves in this world was unbelievably low, to the extent that they were regarded no differently from livestock and sometimes even worse.
Finally, the door to the wooden house swung open, eliciting eager anticipation from most of the occupants. Several large wolf demons entered and yelled at the humans, instructing Tang San and the others to accompany them.
As they stepped out of the wooden house, the sunlight appeared a bit too dazzling, but it brought a welcomed warmth. Ling Muxue trailed closely behind Tang San, and he sensed her concerned gaze again.
"Don't worry," Tang San quietly reassured her.
Ling Muxue hesitated for a moment, then looked into his eyes. Tang San nodded in response.
Over the past two days, they had lived in a wooden house within the town. Today, they were escorted to the central area of Wind Wolf Town, a square spanning around a thousand square meters. Numerous members of the Wind Wolf Clan had already gathered around the square.
At the center of the square stood an altar. What immediately caught Tang San's attention was that at the base of this altar made of stones bound with mortar, he could faintly see that mixed in the mortar were also skulls.
The skulls of humans!
Tang San clenched his fists subconsciously.
Even in death, this is how they will be treated...
He felt a flame igniting in his heart. As the former God King, his mental fortitude exceeded that of ordinary beings. However, at this very moment, he yearned to destroy the demons and nymphs, every last one of them!
Tang San's eyes grew cold as a lingering intent to kill festered within his heart.
Ling Muxue appeared to sense something and shivered, instinctively taking two steps back to put some distance between them. Her actions surprised Tang San, but at that moment, he felt as if he had regained something, a trace of his former self.
He still retained vivid memories of his past life, particularly his youth, when he had walked a path akin to the road to hell.
Regaining control over his emotions, he partially closed his eyes, concealing that spark of determination in his heart.
Alright, demons! Very well!
Tang San and the other nine individuals were led to a corner of Wind Wolf Town Square. Beneath a massive tree, an elderly wolf demon stood on a grand-looking chair, presiding over the gathering. Her eyes were emerald green, and she clutched a staff in her right hand.
Standing by her side was a middle-aged human who seemed to be in his forties. He had a lean face and sported a rather lavish attire. A faint green light flickered in his eyes, and he gave a slight bow, displaying a respectful demeanor.
The wolf demon who had escorted Tang San and the others had approached the elderly wolf demon and offered a bow.
"Esteemed High Priest, this year, all the awakened bloodline slaves have been gathered here," the wolf demon proclaimed.
The High Priest nodded before gesturing toward the human beside her.
The man first paid his respects to her and then advanced to stand before Tang San and the others.
Tang San silently assessed the High Priest's aura, an aura of truly great strength. He couldn't even discern her actual cultivation level with his current power. Of course, this was without tapping into his divine consciousness. However, he refrained from using it lightly, as what remained was exceedingly scarce and couldn't be quickly replenished in his current situation. He would only readily use his divine consciousness in a life-or-death position. He knew his divine consciousness could only be truly harnessed when he grew more formidable.
As the man was about to speak, the nearby wolf demons abruptly parted ways and bowed simultaneously. A colossal wolf demon, standing over three meters tall, approached.
This wolf demon clearly possessed immense power, with bulging muscles that radiated strength. His eyes were deep green; they were not as intense as the High Priest's, but they emanated potent energy fluctuations.
He advanced toward the High Priest and slightly bowed, placing his right hand over his chest.
"High Priest," greeted the powerful wolf demon.
A faint smile graced the High Priest's aged countenance. "Ah, Wind Wolf Lord, you have arrived. Following the bloodline testing of these slaves, we shall commence the ancestral sacrifice. Are you prepared, my lord?"
She remained seated in her initial spot, signifying that she, the High Priest, was in fact the most prominent authority figure in Wind Wolf Town. Her authority surpasses that of the Wind Wolf Lord.
"Everything is arranged, High Priest. The offerings are prepared. We would kindly request the High Priest to officiate," the Wind Wolf Lord said with great respect.
"Good. After assessing the bloodlines of these slaves, we will begin immediately," the High Priest said calmly.
"Let us start," the Wind Wolf Lord instructed the middle-aged human man, who had already positioned himself in front of Tang San and the others.
"Yes, my Lord," the man acknowledged with a respectful bow before directing his attention toward Tang San and the other nine individuals.
"Pay close attention," the man began. "During the bloodline assessment, if you experience any reactions, don't hesitate to display them. There's no need to restrain yourself or be fearful. Do your best, do you understand?"
Tang San glanced up at the hunched man in front of him, catching a fleeting glimpse of sorrow in the man's eyes.
1. This might sound like a DUH moment, but remember that children are separated at birth as a rule. ☜
2. Ling (凌) is a normal Chinese surname, while Muxue (沐雪) means “bathed/cleansed in snow” and it’s a pleasant-sounding female name. ☜
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