"Life is too unpredictable to worry about such things. Think about what I told you.' Zhiqing said before she lay down on the bed.

"Thank you for everything," Mingyu told Zhiqing before she fell into deep thought.

Night pa.s.sed away silently and it was already morning.

Zhiqing and Mingyu had woken up and were waiting for Long Chen to finish his cultivation.

It was around 7 am in the morning when Long Chen opened his eyes.

He stretched his arms as he yawned. Just as he was about to stand up, he heard some noises coming from the outside.

"Is the sacrifice prepared? " Someone said as a loud laughter was heard.

Long Chen stood up and walked towards the door with a frown. Mingyu and Zhiqing followed him as they got off the bed.

"Ah… yes, envoy. The sacrifice is ready, but can I request you one thing?" Long Chen left the hut and saw the village chief talking to someone.

The person in front of him was... It looked like a human who covered his face with a mask. The person had a  black robe that covered his entire body, thus it was difficult to know if the person was a male or a female, but Long Chen had a guess that it was a male from his voice and laughter.

"Do you think you have any right to request anything from me? But since I'm feeling good today, I'll hear your request." The black-robed man said as he walked closer to the village chief.

"I...I... If it's possible, I would request you to not take the kids. We can give you double the meat and gold, but please don't take the kids." Village Chief looked quite scared, but he still stood tall in his place without taking a step back as he said to the masked man

"Hmm...? Have you prepared double the meat and double gold?" The masked man asked with an interested tone.

"Ah, Yes! Yes! We will give you all that if you don't take the kids." The Village Chief said as a hope was ignited in his heart.

"Good, good! The master would be happy to hear that I got him double the sacrifice." The man started laughing like a mad man as he heard the Chief's words.

"Good! Give me double meat, double gold, and three kids! You have done well this month." The black-robed man said with a burst of loud laughter.

"Three kids?... Why the kids? Aren't you freeing them in exchange for the extra gold and meat?" The Village chief asked with a perplexed look on his face.