Exorcism

Ten teenagers had thin ropes tied around their right wrists and were connected in a string, more than ten feet apart, walking back along the old road. Even Fangfang did not get preferential treatment. She walked at the back, sobbing softly, and in front of her was Xiaoqiu. 6̳̳

She was not the only one to cry. Under the influence of Bald Man, more than half of the teenagers had tears on their faces. They never imagined that an escape would cause such a big trouble.

The Xuanfu Army was even more terrifying than the legend said. They were adults, and they looked even taller when they were riding on horses. They were equipped with long swords and shields. They occasionally collided, and the sounds they made made the teenagers tremble with fear.

The only one who made a sound was obviously the leader of the Xuanfu Army. He only had a red silk ribbon tied around his waist and a ribbon of the same color draped diagonally down from his right shoulder.

The Xuanfu Army obviously did not select its leader based on size, because this man was the shortest among the eleven soldiers, but this did not affect his ruthlessness at all. It was under his order that the young men's wrists were Tie a string and walk like a prisoner between the two groups of soldiers in front and behind.

The return trip was listless, especially Er Shuan. It was he who had the idea to take a small road, but was arrested less than a day later. He regretted it extremely. If he had to do it again, he felt that he should force his companions to travel all night instead of stopping to eat and rest, or Simply escort Xiaoqiu and Fangfang back to Yelin Town. Looking at the dark-black Xuan Fu Army, Er Shuan preferred the latter option. Unfortunately, he could not choose again.

"My father will save me. He is the official who reported me, right?" Er Shuan whispered, giving himself a little confidence and comforting his companions behind him.

"Isn't this a big crime for us?" Lunzi walked behind Er Shuan and asked in a tearful tone, "Let's just say... just say that Xiaoqiu forced us into the forest."

"No need, just convince my dad... I can do it, you don't have to worry." Although Er Shuan regretted helping Xiao Qiu, he had not yet thought of betraying him.

Lengzi nodded in frustration, "My parents must beat me to death..."

Frustration immediately infected the entire team. The bald man cried so hard that his shoulders kept shaking, and he could hardly keep up with the people in front of him. "I don't want to go into the cell, I... I want to pee."

"Don't make any noise." The officer of the Xuanfu Army spoke again. He was obviously a very strict man. He stopped on the roadside on horseback and watched the young prisoners pass by one by one. Under his order, the teenagers could not even breathe. Became cautious.

Xiaoqiu raised his head and glanced as he walked over. The panic in his heart had disappeared, and he had regained his ability to observe. Suddenly, he had a feeling that this officer with a cold voice didn't seem to be that big.

The officer's face was hidden behind the helmet cover. When he noticed that Xiaoqiu actually dared to look up, he raised his riding crop threateningly.

Xiaoqiu was even more sure that the officer was not an adult. He was surprised. How could a child be qualified to command ten fully armed Xuanfu Army soldiers? Then he began to think of an escape plan.

The bay-red horse was still there, following meekly at the back. As long as he could untie the rope and take Fangfang on the horse, he might be able to escape the pursuit of the soldiers. Xiaoqiu's plan had always been simple, and he still didn't plan to ask anyone for help.

The opportunity to untie the ropes will come soon.

Two hours after setting off, the group returned to the official road. The teenagers were surprised to find that they had walked for more than half a day yesterday, but they had not actually gone very far into the forest.

The officer decided to stop and rest.

A soldier took off his helmet, revealing a resolute face that had experienced many vicissitudes of life, "Sir, we'd better continue on our way. In any case, we have to return to Xiao'erbao before dark.

"

The officer said nothing and did not take off his helmet. He stared stubbornly at the soldier who dared to express different opinions, as if he was greatly offended.

The veteran's face turned slightly red, but he still insisted on his opinion. This was his duty. He lowered his voice a little and lowered his head a little. "The Talisman Master reminded me that it is not safe here and it is not suitable to stay for a long time. The Taoist priest I met yesterday also said... "

"Oh, I know, and I know a lot more. Don't worry, the demon doesn't dare to show up in broad daylight. Even if it does come out, is it possible that our majestic Xijie Guoxuan Fu Army can't defeat it?"

The teenagers were all amused when they heard the veterans say that this place was "unsafe". The biggest "devils" in Yelin Town were children like them. They were as honest as chickens in the hands of the Xuanfu Army. How could it be unsafe?

The veteran gave in and nodded to the other soldiers, indicating that they could rest.

The soldiers were very happy. They dismounted one after another, opened their helmet hoods, ate the dry food and water they had brought with them, and took turns going to the back of the jungle to relieve themselves. They said nothing to each other. They seemed to be very afraid of the short officer and tried their best to show off as soldiers in front of him. of seriousness.

The officer did not dismount, but lowered his head to monitor the prisoners he had captured, as if they were heinous traitors.

The bald man was shaking from the pain. Xiaoqiu plucked up the courage, raised his head and said loudly to the officer: "I want to pee."

"I want it too." The bald man endured it for a long time, and even the fear of going to jail couldn't stop this feeling. A group of prisoners made the same appeal in all directions. Erliang even wanted a piece of dry food. Watching others eat was a kind of torture for him.

The teenagers did not dare to act recklessly. Only Xiaoqiu still stared at the officer. "Prisoners have to go to the latrine. We can't hold it in any longer."

The officer was silent for a while, "Others can take turns, but you can't."

"Why?" Xiaoqiu asked in surprise. He also wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of the rope and implement his escape plan.

"Because your crime is serious."

Xiaoqiu was angry. The Xuanfu army around him was not as majestic and tall as it first seemed. He had already regained his stubborn temper, "Fangfang doesn't want to marry into the Shen family. Is this considered a crime? You adults have to force a Little girl?"

The officer snorted disdainfully, "Xijie State doesn't care about the marriages of civilian women. You, you let fourteen official horses go and stole one. This is a felony."

Xiaoqiu opened his mouth. The horses he was grazing all belonged to the Shen family. He didn't know that the Shen family raised horses for the government.

The other teenagers breathed a sigh of relief when they heard these words. Lunzi immediately said what he was thinking, "It turns out it's for Guan Ma. It won't matter to us. Xiao Qiu let the horses go."

"You are an accomplice." The officer was not polite at all. "You will also be punished."

The word "punishment" that is not often heard scares many young people. They would rather accept "teaching" and "cleaning up", but they dare not imagine how terrible "punishment" can be. At the officer's signal, the two soldiers began to untie the prisoner's rope. Only Xiaoqiu was still tied up and stayed within the sight of the Xuanfu Army.

When it was Fangfang's turn, she shook her head and refused to let go of the rope, still connected to Xiaoqiu.

Xiaoqiu's first plan failed before it was implemented, so he had to think of another idea.

"What is a demon species? Are you so afraid? We have all kinds of species in Yelin Town, but we have never heard of a demon species."

The officer snorted again. Unexpectedly, the prisoner was so courageous that he dared to question him. He refused to answer, but ordered: "Tie him tighter." A soldier came over and said, He pulled the rope around Xiaoqiu's right wrist tighter until it strangled his flesh. "And her." The officer pointed his riding crop at Fangfang.

"What does it have to do with her?" Xiaoqiu stood in front of Fangfang.

"Because your mouth is dishonest." The officer enjoyed his authority, with a hint of pride in his voice, "This is just a little punishment."

The soldier pushed Xiaoqiu away and tied the rope around Fangfang's wrist tighter. The man's strength was too strong, and Fangfang let out a soft cry. Xiaoqiu glared at the officer, but did not dare to speak any more.

The teenagers who went to relieve themselves in the jungle came back one after another. The officer counted silently, "One more is left."

The fool pointed at the jungle in fear, "Bald man, he...he is shitting."

The officer turned his head with disdain. The vulgar language of the border town boy was particularly harsh to his ears. However, after waiting for a while, the last prisoner still did not come out. He became a little impatient and said, "Tell him to come out and set off immediately."

"Bald man," the fool shouted.

"Bald man!" Er Shuan raised his voice.

It was around noon, the branches were drooping, even the insects were too tired to make a sound, and the jungle was even more silent.

The officer became angry and said, "Catch the prisoner and give him five lashes."

A soldier strode into the jungle, unhappy with his mission and determined to teach the boy a lesson even without an officer's order.

When the soldiers entered the jungle, the shaking of the branches quickly stopped, but no sound came from inside.

The teenagers looked at each other, and it was beyond their expectation that the bald man was so bold.

The Xuanfu Army had other ideas. The nine soldiers almost simultaneously drew their swords, took off their shields from their horses, and stood side by side, facing the jungle.

The officer seemed to be seeing this kind of formation for the first time. He was a little nervous. He reined in the reins and turned the horse in a circle. "Two more people will go."

The two soldiers took the order and set off, cautiously walking seven or eight steps apart. After taking a few steps, they stopped again. A small face emerged from the gap between the trees in the jungle. It was the prisoner who refused to come out.

The bald man looked at everyone with a smile. He didn't say anything, but kept nodding, as if he was calling his friends to watch something fun. His disapproval looked like he didn't take the soldiers of the Xuanfu Army seriously at all.

This is not the bald man that the teenagers remember.

When the officer saw the person, his panic subsided and he became angry, "Bold criminal, .ashcm don't want to live anymore?"

The veteran turned his head and said to the officer: "Something's wrong, be careful..."

The two soldiers in front continued to approach the jungle, holding shields in their left hands and raising their swords in their right hands, as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

The bald man was still smiling and nodding more frequently, encouraging the soldiers to approach.

The two soldiers disappeared quite suddenly, as if they were violently pulled by something. They threw themselves into the jungle with open arms, and their swords and shields fell to the ground.

"Beast monster!" A soldier shouted loudly. Without waiting for the officer's order, the soldiers immediately took action, hitting their shields with their swords, and approaching the jungle with neat steps. The target was not the smiling bald man, but a dozen steps away from him. The place.

Behind them, the officer reined in his horse and backed up. After a few steps, he calmed down. He also drew his sword and raised his oval shield, but did not dare to move forward.

The teenagers in Yelin Town didn't quite understand the meaning of the beast monster. It was obviously the familiar bald man, and they had just been in the jungle. Where did the "monster" come from?

Xiaoqiu's heart was shocked, and she suddenly remembered the reminder from the Taoist priest on the bridge - stay away from monsters.

Just when the teenagers were unsure, the demon really appeared. A huge snake head emerged from the jungle. It obviously knew that its whereabouts had been exposed, so it gave up its tricks and directly confronted the Xuanfu Army soldiers. .

The snake's head hung high in the air, its yellow eyes looked down at the humans, and the two giant teeth in its jaws were almost as long and as sharp as the Xuanfu Army's sword.

The moment he opened his eyes, Xiaoqiu thought he saw a green light flashing in the snake's eyes.