After leaving Shuizhuzhou, Loran Hill continued to head north. The barren grasslands along the way were gradually covered with green grass. After crossing a hill, the view suddenly opened up, and large tracts of green and yellow forests appeared between the hillsides and canyons.
It is now the end of April, which is the time when young leaves sprout. However, it is different in Huilu Island. Most of the leaves of the trees here are naturally yellow, which can be further divided into light yellow, goose yellow, gardenia yellow, yellowish yellow, etc. The layers of yellow leaves grow brilliantly, giving people a unique sense of vitality.
“Chirp~”
In the sky, the fluffy-feathered goldfinches slowly descended. Looking at this scene, it seemed to recall the past days when it was still very small.
"I'm back." Loran Hill muttered softly, then leaped up and flew towards this world along the mountain wind.
Huilu Island, outside the city of Guluo.
This is a big city in the south of Huilu Island. Because it is close to the Xiangye River and adjacent to Shuizhu Island and Chenmu Island, it has a prosperous trade and there have always been many people coming and going.
On the road far outside the city, three carriages were moving fast. The wheels were turning at high speed and were occasionally lifted up by the stones on the roadside, causing violent bumps. But even so, the three carriages still did not slow down, only because of the ferocious jackals chasing them from behind.
About a dozen brown and yellow jackals were running rapidly on the ground, hissing continuously. The sharp sound was like the friction of fine teeth, which was frightening.
Although the situation was critical, fortunately these three carriages were also extraordinary. They were not pulled by ordinary horses, but mechanical horses made of wood. Driven by internal gears and wooden rods, their four hooves were stiff but strong and powerful. They kept stepping on the ground and then jumping up, driving the carriages forward at high speed.
Among the nine sects of the world, the Jietian sect is the most adept at this art of mechanical puppetry. Its founder, Xuanwu, left behind numerous manuscripts, which were gradually implemented and realized by subsequent disciples. The Zhuori Xiangyu sect, as the direct descendant of the Huangfeng sect, is based on the wooded Huilu Island, where this type of puppetry is common. It is said that the Yanxing sect also enlisted the assistance of many Xiangyu disciples in the development and design of its floating boats, but that was hundreds of years ago and has long been forgotten.
In the bumpy carriage, people kept sticking their heads out to observe the situation behind them, and then reported to the coachman in front and the people in the carriage.
"Madam, those jackals are still following us." There was some anxiety in his voice.
"How far are we from Guluo City now?" Inside the carriage, a woman in her fifties asked with a frown, hugging her child tightly in her arms.
"About seven or eight miles."
"It's almost there, it's almost there, just hold on a little longer. When we get to the vicinity of Guluo City, there should be monks sweeping away the monsters. We'll be safe then." She comforted herself and also encouraged the others in the car.
Their family was originally merchants in Chenmu Island, and they had accumulated some wealth over the years. However, in recent years, monsters and beasts have appeared in various states, natural disasters have continued, and the family's caravan has also suffered an accident. The son and daughter-in-law of the head of the caravan both died. Fortunately, the grandson was saved, and now he is her rare support.
"There is no peace anywhere in this world." In the bumpy carriage, she hugged her frightened seven-year-old grandson tightly in her arms, muttering subconsciously.
Compared with other states and counties, although monsters occasionally appear in Huilu State, no major disasters have occurred. Some outer sect members of the Xiangyu Sect are clearing out monsters in the hinterland, so it is quite peaceful. Only in the outer towns, monsters from other states and counties often cross the border, so it is not very peaceful.
Time passed by in a tense and anxious atmosphere. The dozen or so jackals gradually became manic in the chase. Some of them bared their teeth, and then let out a long howl, and a strong yellow wind blew out of their mouths, shooting towards the carriage in front.
Some of these compressed wind blade-like attacks missed, while others hit the carriage boards, knocking the carriage a little and almost flying up in the bumps, but fortunately it did not fall apart. Everyone was glad that the carriage was of excellent quality and held up at this critical moment.
However, after a long period of high-speed and bumpy running, the wooden horse pulling the carriage in front began to have some problems. Some noises began to emerge from its complex body, and its originally coordinated limbs began to show inconsistencies, which made people feel uneasy.
Just as the people in the car were becoming increasingly desperate and uneasy, a sharp sound of breaking through the air was heard beside the road.
"burst!"
A gruff voice roared, and a series of explosions echoed from behind the carriage, followed by waves of wailing and screaming. Only then did the people inside the carriage notice a dozen or so fire-breathing masters dressed in red and yellow standing by the roadside.
These fire-breathing masters had various packages hanging on their bodies, and a row of things similar to bamboo tube medicine boxes tied around their waists. They held long sticks or swords in their hands and smelled of gunpowder. As they roared, bamboo tubes were thrown out from their hands, and then exploded in the air, blowing the jackals chasing them away screaming, leaving behind several corpses.
Seeing the monster retreat, the carriage finally stopped and several people got off to express their gratitude.
"Thank you all for your help. It really saved us from danger." At the lady's signal, an attendant took out a small bag of gold plates and handed it to the fire-breathing masters.
"It's okay, it's okay." Although these fire-breathing masters shook their heads and said it was just a small matter, they still took the money.
"We are patrolling outside the city to prevent these monsters from harming people." The fire-breathing master with a mustache who was in the lead answered.
"There may be danger on the road. If you don't wait here for a while and rest for a while, then follow us into the city."
"You are absolutely right. It would be better for us to take a rest here for a while." Several people thought that the wooden horse of the carriage really needed to be inspected and maintained before it could be put on the road again.
Afterwards, three carriages stopped by the roadside. A coachman who knew a little about mechanical skills opened one of the wooden horses and began to inspect it, while the others talked with the fire-breathing masters guarding the roadside under a tree.
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