.

  Mongolian proverb.

  Liu Zhen stood at the toll station on the shore, squinting his eyes to look across, the river wind was strong, blowing Liu Zhen's bare head and chest hair dancing together. Guo Guo stood on his shoulder, making "ba-ba" sounds with her mouth, chewing on some snacks.

  It was a toll station, but it was actually just a thatched hut. Jingyu and Aiwier sat inside, with the Night Pearl placed in front of them, pressing down on the grass paper and goose feather pen stacked on the wooden table.

  The moonstone emitted a soft and warm glow, gentle and soothing, just like Richard's warm chest.

  Two beauties were enjoying the rare warmth of winter, while using a small knife to cut open wild grapes and weave rattan, occasionally exchanging views on patterns.

  Not far away, a group of female cannibal slave demons were desperately digging the moat, while the bear-like creatures were using baskets to chant "humming oil" as they carried colorful pebbles back and forth. These were used to divert water to flood the bamboo forest, which didn't need to be very deep. The lord said he liked "the sound of flowing water, beautiful women washing their feet".

  The soil was very hard and their progress was slow. The jade workers had no iron tools, only wooden gouges made from wood.

  Five bamboo rafts came floating down from the north bank of the Sanggan River.

  It seems they are refusing to use the water-avoiding pearl to cross the river. Liu Zhen thought to himself.

  The abandoned military station on the north bank of the Sanggan River, after seeing off the residents of Feilongcui, was abandoned again due to the Northwest War and the Desert Human War. The Northeast Army withdrew two elite brigades to rush to the front line, and now the only military station within a radius of 20 li north of the Sanggan River is Feilongcui.

  Since the human merchants returned to their hometown to participate in the "Yostre Festival", Liu Zhen arranged for more than a dozen sea trench tribe's hedgehogs to be stationed there, specifically to welcome these merchants and help them cross the river with the water-avoiding pearls.

  If they used a raft made of vines from the dock instead of using a ferry to cross the river, it would prove that the porcupine people stationed at the northern shore had negotiated with them in vain, and these merchants did not want to pay for crossing the river.

  The more this is the case, the more severe Liu Zhen's extortion on the south bank becomes.

  This merchant fleet indeed had a proud capital, five bamboo boats went back and forth for dozens of trips, busy for half a day, before all the more than 300 people were transported to the beach on the south bank.

  The number of people has already approached twice the total number of human merchants who crossed the river in these few days.

  The beach along the shore of Feilongcuo suddenly became lively, and for a time the sound of human voices was deafening.

  The merchant caravan was accompanied by five horse-drawn carts. On top of them were piled countless goods from Bimont; and about a hundred Bimon slaves, their wrists bound together with ropes tied to the rear axle of the cart. These Bimon slaves had disheveled hair, tattered clothes, and exposed skin showing whip marks, exposing themselves to the cold north wind, barefoot and wading through shallow water onto the shore. Several white-haired legs went limp and fell into the water, and the mercenaries' whips immediately made a crisp sound as they came into contact with flesh.

  There were a lot of human mercenaries serving as commercial team guards, and Liu Zhen stood on the riverbank silently counting the number of mercenaries. There were about two hundred mercenaries, with about fifty horse-riding rangers among them. The equipment of these mercenaries was very fine.

  A burly mercenary and a portly human merchant stood together, making for a very conspicuous pair. The mercenaries all had the unmistakable air of seasoned adventurers about them, with many sporting scars on their faces and chests exposed to the cold wind, revealing sturdy muscles that were clearly honed from rigorous training.

  There were several chestnut-haired women with enchanting figures, wearing flower-like clothes, flirting and quarreling among the mercenaries.

  These chestnut-haired, blue-eyed women are the notorious nomadic people of Bebtsi. The Bebtsi are the only nation in the world without a country or religious beliefs; they will sell anything for money. Their men are thieves and robbers, their women prostitutes.

  Only greedy Bebasi women were willing to follow this mercenary group into the desolate and dangerous Danube steppes, providing physical comfort to these hungry mercenaries.

  The Beipu prostitutes were very good at enlivening the atmosphere, and even the Biomon slaves became tools for them to tease the mercenaries. These prostitutes would occasionally lift their long skirts on purpose, revealing their white thighs, or bend down, showing off a deep and majestic cleavage like the Sanggan River. In the eyes of some young Biomon slaves, the mercenaries would always burst out laughing and shouting, with the sound of whips cracking through the air.

  A loud trumpet sounded, and all the mercenaries immediately stopped their joking. They formed two neat rows on either side of the carriage, led by a knight carrying a brightly colored flag that fluttered in the wind, as they marched up from the riverbank.

  This flag has a red swan velvet background, with a beautiful mermaid drawn in gold thread, her bare and ample chest particularly attracting Liu Zhen's eyeballs. The mermaid's two hands are respectively holding a weight and a heavenly scale.

  "Dragon Knights under the dawn freely roam, undulating vast steppes of Dolot, mercenary nation's elite army mighty and strong, allied nations' people all safe and sound, full of glory, Dolot!" Countless mercenaries' loud voices gathered on this "Dolot Song".

  The Song of Dolores is a song that the mercenaries of "Mercenary Country" Dolores had a minstrel compose to commemorate their bravery in the war against Bimon, although it seems like this merchant group didn't see the lord not far from the riverbank, but what this song implies is still very clear.

  "Look! It's an old acquaintance! It turns out to be Grand Duke Totti of Dolotte; a merchant group under Count Charl Barb, I recognize the crest of his family."

  Liu Zhenhong burst out laughing and beckoned to Eve and Ningyu who were weaving rattan armor.

  Everything that happened at the temple gate that day, Liu was still not so forgetful. The fat human merchant with a mole on his face who spent 5 million gold coins to buy mermaids still made him remember vividly.

  "Are they? Slave traders?" Avril put down the rattan shield in her hand, and with her long fingers stained with five colors, she poked at the empty bamboo tube jar on the table, coldly saying: "Then this time we'll have to extort them properly."

  Liu Zhen was shocked to discover that there were two Prussian military officers accompanying the merchant group, their snow-white plumes on their helmets gleaming spotlessly as they chatted with four priests holding silver crosses and a familiar "single strand of hair".

  A stout man with a pockmarked face sat in a carriage chatting amiably with two Muhlhausen officers.

  They seemed to think that the eight Mongolian characters "Turfan Toll Station" written on the shed-like structure by the riverbank were just air, and they prepared to pass by, chatting and laughing while riding their horses.

  The people put down the big wooden bars that blocked the way, blocking the gap from the riverbank to the shore. Also blocked the way for these people to go.

  "Make way! You rabble..." A Prussian officer frowned, driving his boar closer to the roadblock, and with a white-gloved whip pointed at the mastiffs, he sternly shouted.

  "Sir Knight! I am Baron Richard, the lord of this land of Pochinki. Don't I have the right to collect a toll for passing through?" Liu's foot stepped on the wooden plank, with a huge cigar clenched between his teeth. A puff of smoke emerged as he spoke.

  "Are you the Dragon Priest of the Miggle Tribe?" The officer stared blankly at the blond-haired lord, then turned to look at another officer. Both burst out laughing loudly on their war pig mounts.

  "Yes." Liu Zhenhong smiled and nodded. He stared at the fat merchant with a mole on his face and said, "Do you still remember me? Sir, didn't you promise to buy my mermaid slave for 500 gold coins? I've been waiting for you for a long time."

  It seemed like just yesterday that the 5 million gold coins were spent on the mermaid, but Avel couldn't forget this guy, her eyes glaring at the merchant. This merchant seemed particularly sensitive to beautiful women, from the moment Piggu's officer came over to negotiate, he had been staring at the two beauties in the thatched hut like a shark smelling blood. When the lord said this, the human merchant's face suddenly had an epiphanic expression.

  The beauty of these two beauties is hard to forget at first sight. Especially the beautiful shell behind Jingyu, it makes this businessman remember vividly, now being reminded, suddenly remembered.

  Because Avril and Ningyu's hair is now almost changing color every day. This cautious businessman took out the "memory crystal ball" from his arms and played with it for half a day before confirming that his memory was correct.

  "It was you, sir. As for the matter of buying mermaid slaves, I will go back and discuss it with Earl Todoti and make a decision later. There shouldn't be any major issues." The merchant pulled out a box of mustache oil from his pocket, picked up a small amount with his pinky nail, and applied it to the few yellow hairs on his mole.

  "It doesn't matter, I'll just wait for your five million then." Liu Zhen shook his head and spread out his hands: "A toll of ten gold coins per person to pass through Cheng Hui."

  "What?" The two Piggs officers almost jumped off their warthogs at the same time.

  "Ten gold coins per person for the toll, if you're not willing, turn back or go downstream five hundred miles to cross the river and return home." Liu Zhen still smiled and said with a gentle face: "We sell well and refuse to haggle."

  "We, the Sharlba trade delegation, are good friends of Lord Rosenborg. These two officers accompanied us back to Dorote, they will tell you what money should be collected and what shouldn't." The human merchant sneered.

  "This little lord of Pique is probably so used to being a noble that he's gone soft in the head." Some human merchants let out mocking snickers.

  On the side, many rough mercenaries immediately followed and booed together. These mercenaries stared at the two beauties, with lust flashing in their eyes.

  "Lord Richard, as the leader of the Charlma merchant group, is indeed a friend to our Lord Rosenborg and the kingdom. Can't you reduce the toll a bit? Ten gold coins per person is quite 'Rhine generosity', isn't it?" Officer Pigg seemed to be negotiating, but his tone was clearly condescending.

  The two Migue officers' epaulets both have an embroidery pattern of a fox surrounded by golden chrysanthemums, which is the exclusive emblem of the Rosenborg family, Governor-General of Northeast China. This proves that the two Migue officers are both vassals of the Governor-General.

  For a minor lord of a remote region, the two officers thought that throwing out the title of governor was simply a waste. They thought that by saying so, this insignificant lord would immediately know his place and roll over, apologize humbly, arrange food and lodging for them, and offer up the most beautiful girl in the territory to spend the night with them.

  "If you don't give it, get out." Liu Zhen was still smiling.

  "What did you say?" The two Piggu military officers were furious at the same time, and with a "clang" sound, they drew out their standard-issue military swords that they carried with them.

  "Want to duel with me? You two knights?" Liu Zhenhong laughed loudly, "Don't forget, I am the War Sacrifice of the Kingdom. If you want to duel with the Sacrifice, you will face not only me but also the demonic beasts that follow me."

  Vieri appeared in everyone's field of vision with a large double-edged axe on his back, and as soon as he stood there, all humans took a cold breath. He was also bare-chested, with a roaring giant bear tattooed on his muscular chest, under the cover of black chest hair. This giant bear seemed to be hiding in the bushes, ready to strike at any moment.

  A more terrifying giant otter stood respectfully behind his buttocks. Twelve-inch-long claws occasionally picked at its teeth.

  The robust physique of the human mercenaries stood before him like a slice of bacon standing in front of ham.

  "Who wants to duel with the adults? Fight me first!" Vieri swung his large axe, scanning the group of mercenaries and Pigeon soldiers in front of him. His voice was a roar in most people's ears, and his eyes gleamed like the back of an axe blade.

  "Lord, you will pay the price for your arrogance and that of your followers!" The officer Pig naturally couldn't show weakness, but the look of horror on his face still betrayed the weakness in his heart.

  Liu Zhenhong puffed out a thick mouthful of cigar smoke onto the face of the officer who was speaking.

  "Don't spout useless nonsense, my territory is mine to command. Are you giving me money or not? Give me a straight answer!" Liu Zhenpeng flicked cigarette ash onto the other person's face, and Guo Guo also shook his arm, making the joints crackle with a series of crisp sounds.

  "We don't pay, but we still have to pass through here. There are so many of us, what can you do?" A bearded human rogue shouted while riding a horse.

  "See that patch of reeds over there?" Liu Zhen asked, pointing to the dense reed thicket on the distant mudflat.

  Everyone looked in the direction he pointed, the reeds rustled with the wind, and the withered yellow leaves seemed like aged life.

  Turning back, these people found that the purple-haired girl sitting in the shed had stood up at some point, pinching a broken scallop shell in her hand, and her delicate small mouth was chanting a string of short and obscure phonemes, which were full of mysterious power.

  A gust of wind blew by, and the purple-haired girl's hands drew open an arc. Countless crescent-shaped blades flew out from between her opened hands, sweeping past the heads of these humans, first cutting off the plumes on the helmets of two Piggu military officers, then flying straight towards that clump of reeds on the beach with a burst of strong wind.

  "With a loud crash, countless blades whirled up and down in the reed thicket, stirring up a vast amount of chaff, which continued to flutter about for a while before turning into rain-like droplets that fell to the ground."

  "Water Blade Storm! God of Creation! It's actually Water Blade Storm!" Someone among the humans who knew what it was couldn't help but shout out loud.

  The slave trader's face turned ashen instantly.

  A mermaid who is a water-elemental magician born with the ability to communicate with water elements, her prowess can be seen from her brief incantation of magic spells. Such a large-scale magic "Water Blade Storm" was summoned with just a pinch of clamshell, what concept is this?

  Mages are symbols of noble status and power throughout the Aegean continent, and although the Sharba Merchant Group is wealthy, they do not have the ability to raise a mage with a special occupation.

  "The end of those who play tricks is that clump of reeds!" Liu Zhen looked at these humans with eyes that were about to burst with excitement. Ever since she had absorbed the magical embarrassment from her last battle against the bear-like bandits, Aifei had become extremely diligent in her studies, spending most of her time meditating and frantically accumulating magical power. The magic crystals that the Mammoth Warriors had hunted down on Mount Taimuraya were not as high-quality as Liu Zhen's top-grade ones, but they were enough for Aifei to store her magic. Additionally, Aifei had also made some spare magic scrolls using the large conch shells from the Sanggan River. Today was indeed a big reveal, and if it weren't for those conch shell-made magic scrolls, even a mermaid wouldn't have been able to summon such a large-scale water-based attack magic so easily.

  The goblins digging the moat also started making a racket, joining in the shouting. They were eager to show their loyalty, originally they were quietly digging holes, but now that they were shouting, humans discovered that there was a large group of goblins in the distance.

  The cannibal's savagery and strength are known to all humans. Immediately, all the mercenaries and ronin draw their swords and string their bows.

  "These cannibals are my slaves! Put down your weapons!" Liu Zhen's loud shout shocked the surrounding humans, causing them to gasp for breath and almost fall off their mounts.

  It's pointless to continue with a magician and a war priest who has over a hundred man-eating demon slaves. These slave-trading mercenaries have more than 300 guards, they are so arrogant, thinking that since they have a Mongol official with them, they will definitely be unimpeded all the way, but they didn't expect to suffer such a great loss.

  For a beautiful mermaid magician who can summon large-scale water magic by pinching a broken clamshell, humans, apart from being shocked, can also weigh the consequences of being hit by "Water Blade Storm" at such close range.

  The reason why the mercenaries didn't dare to make another sound was that the beautiful female magician still had a whole stack of clamshells in her hand.

  Two Burmese officers stepped forward and protested righteously, this time their attitude was much more humble, but still useless.

  The two officers looked at their own clan leader with nothing but cold smiles, and apart from being resentful and preparing to tattle, they had no other choice but to shrink back obediently.

  Avril was overjoyed.

  Actually, these mercenaries were intimidated by the reputation of the magician. The production of magic scrolls is not easy, and the magic conch shells that Evie has on hand are basically only semi-finished products. Except for a few mid-level magic conch shell scrolls, the only successfully produced large-scale magic conch shell scroll was consumed in the process of intimidating them just now.

  Due to the lack of precious spices and magical beast blood, the necessary materials for making magic scrolls, the remaining shells are temporarily just decorations.

  "Give me the money, what are you still hesitating for?" Liu Zhen was delighted and smiled.