Zhou Bin and Wanying searched around Xingzhou City for news about Bai Long and Xiao Bao, but after several days they still didn't find any clues.

That day, the two came to a small alley. The alley was very old, with low houses on both sides.

Zhou Bin found an old man sitting at the door, so he led Wanying forward to see if he could get any clues.

When he arrived in front of the old man, Zhou Bin bowed and said, "Old man, we are here to show our respect."

The old man saw that they were two young men, so he quickly stood up to return the greeting and asked, "What can I do for you two?"

Zhou Bin quickly explained: "Uncle, we are looking for someone and want to ask you something."

The old man nodded: "Oh, so you are looking for someone, tell me."

Zhou Bin described the appearance of Bai Long and Xiao Bao. The old man thought about it and immediately shook his head: "I'm sorry, I have never seen the two people you are talking about."

When Wanying heard this, she couldn't help feeling regretful. It seemed that Bailong and Xiaobao were not in Xingzhou.

Zhou Bin also felt very sorry. He and Wanying had been searching for so long but there was no news. They might have to look somewhere else.

The old man saw that Zhou Bin and Wan Ying felt a little regretful, so he smiled and said, "Don't be sad, there's nothing here, you can look for it somewhere else."

Zhou Bin nodded, bowed to the old man, and prepared to leave with Wanying.

At this time, a cry was heard from the old man's house, and then a young woman ran out of the house and started crying as soon as she saw the old man.

She said, "Dad, please think of a solution! Our Lan'er is about to be snatched away by someone! I can't bear to let her go!"

When the old man saw that it was his daughter-in-law Wang, he couldn't help but shed tears: "Alas! My poor granddaughter! How can an old man like me fight against them! Oh, God, this is killing me!"

As he spoke, the old man began to cry, looking very sad.

Just as the old man was crying, a little girl suddenly ran out of the house. She looked about ten years old.

She was dressed very simply and had a sad face. When she saw her grandfather crying, she hurried forward to comfort him: "Grandpa, don't cry. As long as my brother can be saved, it doesn't matter if I die."

When the old man saw his granddaughter coming, he cried even louder, hugged the child in his arms, and couldn't help crying.

Zhou Bin and Wanying didn't expect that they would be so sad. Wanying's face was even sadder. She couldn't bear to see little girls crying.

So Wanying couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, what happened?"

The old man stopped crying and said to Wanying, "Alas, what misfortune for our family! My granddaughter will be sent away in two days and will never come back."

Zhou Bin was stunned: "Huh? Uncle, why is this?"

Wang, who was standing by, broke down in emotion: "Why? It's because our family is so pitiful and no one supports us!"

As she said this, she burst into tears. The old man felt heartbroken, so he had to let her go back first and persuade the child to go back as well.

After the two of them entered the house, the old man wiped his tears and said, "I am 76 years old this year. My son is long gone. There are only one son and one daughter, two grandchildren, and my widowed daughter-in-law, Wang."

When Wanying heard this, she felt that the old man was indeed pitiful. His son had died, and now he was left with only his daughter-in-law and grandson. It was truly a misfortune in his life.

The old man went on to say, "We could barely get by with my firewood chopping and my daughter-in-law doing some sewing. But just half a month ago, a terrible disaster happened to our family!"

As he spoke, the old man couldn't help but burst into tears again, and Zhou Bin felt sorry for him.

Zhou Bin quickly tried to comfort him, "Uncle, don't be sad. What's going on?"

The old man seemed to have been suppressing his emotions for a long time, and he started talking to Zhou Bin and Wanying.

It turned out that the old man's surname was Song and his name was Song Laoliu. He had lived in Xingzhou City for generations.

But their family was one of the most pitiful people in Xingzhou City. They had no power or influence and could only make ends meet by doing hard labor.

Ever since his son was crushed to death while working, the situation at home has become even worse.

Now there are only my daughter-in-law, Wang, and two grandchildren, a ten-year-old granddaughter and an eight-year-old grandson.

Originally they were barely able to get by, but half a month ago, a great misfortune suddenly befell their family.

That is, Xingzhou King Duanmu Jin issued an order, requiring their family to contribute a boy or girl to be used for sacrifice to the King of Beishan.

When their family heard the news, they felt like the sky had fallen. They only had two children, a grandson and a granddaughter. If they sent one of them away, they would be even more pitiful.

However, no one dared to resist the orders of King Xingzhou. Even though they were very sad, there was nothing they could do.

As the day when they would come to arrest people got closer, the old man felt even more sad.

Wanying's eyes widened after hearing this. She asked in surprise, "Old man, there are such rules here? Why do you have to capture boys and girls?"

Song Laoliu was very surprised to see Wanying, and said helplessly: "Alas, this is all because of that King of Beishan!"

Then Song Laoliu continued to tell the story. It turned out that the reason why their Xingzhou City was prosperous was all thanks to the King of Beishan.

It is said that he is a god who can call the wind and rain and move mountains and seas.

The people of Xingzhou City rely on him for rain every year, and in order to thank him, they have to offer him tribute every year.

The tribute was four pairs of boys and girls. It was said that the King of Beishan needed boys and girls to practice a kind of magic.

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