“Third Brother, I heard that there will be an election assembly tonight. Please be careful and don’t try to stand out!” Qing Niang gently reminded the young man while serving breakfast to Qiao San. Don’t underestimate her just because she’s a woman; her natural intelligence gives her quite a bit of insight!
“Don’t worry, dear sister-in-law. Even if they invited me to sit in, I wouldn’t do it!”
Qiao San had always seen through the position of chief rascal clearly. Now that the eldest brother had already left, he finally changed the topic after barely enduring a few days: “Qing Niang, how have you been these days?”
“Ahh…” The dignified beauty was caught off guard by this sudden attack. The calmness she tried to maintain shattered instantly, and her heart was in turmoil. Flustered, she hastily gathered the bowls and chopsticks while stubbornly arguing, “Fine, I’m fine. I haven’t thought about anything. I’m doing really well!”
“Sister-in-law, I haven’t thought about anything either. I haven’t even dreamt about the Dragon Mother Temple!” Qiao San’s gaze burned intensely, his eyes locking onto his sister-in-law’s soul. He also cleverly added, “Brother Wang from next door didn’t steal anything either.”
“Thi…Third Brother, I still have a fire going in the kitchen!” Before she even finished speaking, Qing Niang had already stumbled into the kitchen, unable to face her audacious younger brother-in-law any longer.
Qiao San exhaled a breath of secret delight; Qing Niang’s reaction was better than he had expected. It seemed he had indeed underestimated his own charm! He chuckled to himself.
In the blink of an eye, the moon hung high in the sky, and stars sparkled.
“Kneel—rise—” The unique rhythm of the rogue scribe echoed throughout the City God Temple. Compared to three nights ago, the atmosphere tonight was much more solemn. Within thousands of miles, every famous rogue had gathered here, numbering in the thousands. It was indeed a grand gathering of rascals!
“Silence!” Under the stern gazes of the senior gang leaders, the entire hall fell silent. “Brothers, the election this year is everyone’s participation, as per the Nightfork King’s decree. Now, pray sincerely and await the divine will—”
A shaman woman wearing bird feathers and colorful plumes began a strange dance, hopping barefoot on the altar while continuously murmuring. From a distance, her sounds resembled buzzing bees or mosquito noises. Qiao San below was almost laughing to the ground!
As Qiao San had suspected, this “election” was merely a game among the most powerful gang leaders. The preselected candidate was already ready to receive cheers.
“Ahh!”
Just as the only “candidate” was about to ascend the position, a sudden and shocking change occurred, leaving everyone stunned!
A violent wind arose out of nowhere, accompanied by a deep, mournful sound echoing in everyone’s ears. Then, the fierce statue on the altar actually “came to life!”
Heavens! Everyone gasped in horror. The timid ones nearly fainted, while the brave ones thought of fleeing. Although they had always worshipped the Nightfork King, at this moment, their true nature was exposed beneath the flying statue—their love for dragons was only superficial.
It came to life—the Nightfork King statue truly came to life!
Its clay limbs twisted and turned, and from its painted eye sockets shot two beams of eerie blue light. Moreover, everyone inside and outside the hall, regardless of their bravery or timidity, found themselves unable to move. At the same moment, they all heard the “god’s” voice!
“Believers, I appear before you today in response to your years of devotion, to save you all!” As he spoke, the Nightfork King lightly flicked his clay finger, sending the shaman woman flying out of the hall, her fate unknown.
“Those who follow me shall prosper; those who oppose me shall perish!”
The mysterious and ethereal voice echoed in the cold wind. After circling in the air, the Nightfork King suddenly raised his hand again, shooting a bright beam of light directly toward the crowd. Strangely, it twisted several times and finally coiled around—Qiao San like a rope!
Qiao San desperately wanted to escape, but he couldn’t move at all. Whether his yang energy wisely realized it couldn’t resist or was directly sealed by powerful magic, it certainly offered no help to Qiao San.
All eyes turned, followed by another stunned silence.
Instead of being instantly destroyed, Qiao San was lifted directly into the air by the “divine light,” floating above everyone’s heads.
“Him—the audacious San—is your only savior!” The Nightfork King’s irresistible, icy command was directly imprinted into everyone’s hearts. “Listen well. As long as audacious San survives the Ghost Forest safely tonight, he will become your chief rascal, my messenger on earth!”
Before the Nightfork King even finished speaking, he flew back to the altar at lightning speed and, under everyone’s wide-eyed gaze, transformed back into an inanimate clay statue.
“Thud!” Everyone’s stunned minds were startled by a scream. It turned out that Qiao San, suspended in midair, had heavily fallen to the ground, landing precisely on a protruding stone pillar. It seemed the Nightfork King was indeed not very considerate toward his messenger!
“Help me…” Qiao San’s mournful tone filled the entire hall—not from pain, but from fear—fear of death, a terrifying fear!
“Hei, hei…Audacious San, congratulations! If you survive tonight, you’ll be our eternal leader!”
All the senior and junior gang leaders warmly approached to offer their congratulations. Despite their smiles, whether obvious or hidden, there wasn’t a hint of jealousy. Were their hearts really so broad?
“Er Gou, I’ll give you the opportunity instead, how about it? San Mao, why don’t you go? I’ll treat you to drinks…”
With a bitter expression, audacious San begged everyone he met, but all the junior gang members replied in perfect unison, “No way!”
“Dear leaders, can’t I just not go?”
“No way!” All the senior gang leaders answered in perfect harmony.
“Ugh, I’m definitely going to die this time!” Audacious San fainted again, but even in his unconscious state, he couldn’t escape the “god’s” arrangement!
“Come on, come on…Hurry up! It’s almost midnight!”
The senior gang leaders gave orders, and the junior gang members provided the muscle. Thus, they worked together to lift audacious San, regardless of whether he was truly unconscious or just pretending, and directly carried him toward the Ghost Forest. Then, like thieves, they threw Qiao San down and fled back as if their lives depended on it.
“Phew…” Even though they hadn’t truly entered the Ghost Forest, merely tossing Qiao San across its boundary had terrified these usually domineering rascals, their faces turning pale with fear!
“L-L-Leader, are we still going to hold the inauguration ceremony tomorrow?”
“Not a chance! Prepare a memorial hall for audacious San in advance!”
The several senior gang leaders exchanged glances and simultaneously praised, “Audacious San is indeed audacious! He dares to enter the Ghost Forest alone. He’s truly an honor to our rogue world. Brothers, remember to spread the word everywhere, letting everyone in Aolai Country know that not only has the Nightfork King appeared, but we’ve also produced a great hero among our ranks!”
“Audacious San, amazing! Audacious San, amazing…”
“Swish…” Behind the clouds in the sky, the Dragon Mother’s divine figure flashed away. The ruler of the four seas, with a playful gaze, smiled happily, then disappeared into the clouds together with Taiyuan Yünu.
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