Under the sky

Chapter 142: Holding the Candle in the Wind

Huck was not lying. In addition to escaping, he was also good at hunting. He was skilled in every skill including setting traps, netting birds, and trapping snakes.According to him, if he had not fled in a hurry and not brought all the hunting equipment with him, and had a slingshot or bow and arrow in hand, he would not have been afraid of running out of food in the barren land.

Relying on this ability, he was able to travel around the refugee community and be taken in by people wherever he went.For refugees, hunting is a way of making a living. Huck may not be a good fighter, but he is indeed a good hunter.Thanks to his method, Yang Yan and Wang Hong did not go hungry along the way.

There were only two horses in the group of three. Huck was very respectful to Yang Yan and gave the horses to Yang Yan and Wang Hong. He followed on foot, saddled in front of the horse and behind the horse, taking good care of them.Ten days later, as more and more people walked on the road, Huck took a piece of cloth to cover the snowflake marks.On Yang Yan Road, he saw a solitary mountain, surrounded by green grasslands and woods, but the mountain was so lonely and abrupt, like a green paper weight pressed out of thin air.

"That's the Holy Mountain." Wang Hong said, "We're almost there."

Yang Yan remembered that Wang Hong had said that the Holy Mountain was the missionary place of the prophet Yanavata. There was once a holy city on the mountain. Later, due to the earthquake, the holy city was isolated.He knew that Huck was the most pious, so he asked: "When we get to the Holy Mountain, won't you go to worship?"

Huck quickly shook his head: "I still want my life! There is a team of guardians near the Holy City."

Wang Hong explained that Huck was a refugee and approaching the holy mountain would be considered blasphemy.As for the Guardian Team, Wang Hong only mentioned it to Yang Yan while Huck was hunting. "It is said that the Sacred religion is now divided into five Badu." Wang Hong asked, "Which Badu do you think owns the Holy Mountain?"

Yang Yan listened to many stories along the way and could probably guess some of the basics. This was probably an unclaimed land.

"The grass under the Holy Mountain grows very fat. Some people say it is blessed by God Sa. But I say that there are many corpses rotting there, which makes the soil fatter. You don't have to dig deep around the Holy Mountain. You can just shovel up the bones within three feet. It's enough to make a big pot of soup." Wang Hong said, "Ever since the death of Yanavadu, there have been many battles to snatch the holy mountain. After Sarhajin's death, the Sa tribe split, and five Badu fought for the holy mountain. The flag of Naibu was just planted in the morning, and it was changed to Atulie before noon. The sun was still on the side of the mountain, and the flag of Suma was flying on the holy mountain. It could be changed more than a dozen times a day."

"Fighting like this for decades is not an option." Wang Hong said, "Finally, someone spoke up and listed the Holy Mountain as a common property. It was the place where the war stopped, and the Holy Guardian Team was a team sent by each of the five Badu. When patrolling around the Holy Mountain, no one is allowed to go up the mountain except those who have sinned, especially those who offer sacrifices. All the five Dabadu can only look at the Holy Mountain to offer sacrifices."

"I understand. The Nine Families are going to change the name and call it Sacred Mountain." Yang Yan asked again, "What is the Atoner?"

"Any criminal or refugee who can kneel three times and kowtow nine times and follow the Holy Road of Purification of Sins to the Holy City will be forgiven no matter what sins he has committed before."

"Aren't there a lot of people climbing there?" Yang Yan asked.

"Idiot." Wang Hong shook her head, "Do you know how far it is from the foot of the mountain to the temple, and how difficult the road is? Even the most ascetic believer can't even walk one-third of the road."

Several travelers passed by on the road and glanced sideways at Yang Yan. Yang Yan knew that it was his red eyes that attracted attention, so he squinted his eyes and lowered his head, pretending not to care, and walked quickly past.

"Huck can no longer follow us. The closer we get to Batu, the easier it is to meet warriors or nobles. He is a refugee and will be hunted."

When Huck came back from catching a few wild rats, Yang Yan told Huck that he had to leave for a while.Huck was very disappointed and asked: "Didn't the Son of God forgive my sins? I want to go into the village and have a look."

"You look like this, you will be arrested before you arrive in Batu." Wang Hong had already thought of a reason to prevaricate, "When the Son of God returns to Batu and agrees with Gursas, I will pardon you. I'm afraid I won't be able to find anyone."

Huck said: "I will follow you into Batu, and I will be a slave. When the Son of God comes to redeem me again, won't it be enough to forgive me?"

The only way for refugees to return to the city is to voluntarily become slaves, but the situation of refugees as slaves is often worse than wandering on the grassland.Until now, Yang Yan was not sure whether he could convince Gulthas. He didn't want to harm Huck, so he said: "You are causing trouble for me. Didn't I say before, the time has not come yet, and your sin has not been atoned for." All. If I forgive you now, it will bring disaster to you. This is called...well...this is called the way of heaven."

Huck asked: "The way of heaven?"

"Father God will arrange everything." Yang Yan said, "Anyway, you can't go in with me."

Huck seemed to understand, but he did not dare to disobey the Son of God's order. He only said that he would wander nearby and would not run far away, nor would he join other refugee tribes. He would only wait for Yang Yan to pardon his sins.Yang Yan left a horse for Huck and said, "You are a refugee and it is inconvenient not to have a mount. I leave this horse to you." Then he patted his shoulder, hugged him and told him, "Be careful, don't get caught." "

Huck smiled and said: "Don't worry, Son of God. I am a storm on the grassland, no one can catch me." After saying that, he knelt down and put his hands on the ground to see Yang Yan off.

Yang Yan walked with Wang Hong and mentioned what happened after arriving at Nabu Batu. Wang Hong said that because of his identity, he might not be able to see Gursasi.But she will find a way. The key point is whether Gursasi will accept Yang Yansa's identity as the son of God.This requires a good argument with Yang Yan first.

"There is no need to pretend to be a fool in front of Gulthas." Wang Hong said: "You don't have to know anything. Let me convince Gulthas. Just cooperate. Don't be shy when you meet other people."

Along the way, the two set up dozens of situations, said the words, and practiced repeatedly until they were perfect.Of course there will be disputes.Yang Yan found that the closer he got to Nabu Batu, the weirder Wang Hong's temper became. Sometimes he was smiling, sometimes angry, and sometimes sad. He looked at himself from time to time, hesitating to speak, and he didn't know what medicine was sold in the gourd.

Two days later, the two walked to a highland barley field, surrounded by a rippling green sea. Yang Yan saw that the crop looked like wheat but not wheat. After asking Wang Hong, he found out that it was called highland barley.

Wang Hong bit her lower lip and said, "This is Nabu Batu. My home is nearby. I want to go home first."

Yang Yan said: "If you want to go home, go home. If I stop you, won't you go back?"

Wang Hong snorted coldly and said: "I'm just asking for a formality, do you still take it seriously?"

The two walked through the highland barley fields and came to a village, all of which were mud houses with thatched roofs. They were poorer than Wuerdin's village.Forty or fifty houses are scattered around, and there are no men in sight. The women and children are either grinding, knitting ropes, kneading leather, sewing items, or cooking something.There was only one large brick house, but there was no torch at the door.Wang Hong looked around. Yang Yan saw her eyes were red and mocked, "Stop crying here. Run faster to avoid holding back your tears."

Wang Hong walked up quickly, Yang Yan followed behind her. The women were surprised to see two strangers entering the village.Wang Hong ran to the door of a house. A woman was tying rope. When she saw someone approaching, she raised her head.Wang Hong shouted: "Mother!" Tears almost burst out of her eyes.

The woman was shocked at first, stood up tremblingly, and called: "Nadia?"

Wang Hong rushed forward and hugged her mother tightly.When Yang Yan saw their mother and daughter reunited, Wang Hong's face was filled with tears. She was about to laugh, but before her voice came out, tears started to flow down.

I couldn't stop crying immediately.Wang Hong was about to cry, but when she saw Yang Yan's face bursting into tears, she was surprised and asked, "Why are you crying?"

Yang Yan was excited and said stubbornly: "None of your business!" He turned his head and couldn't help wiping his tears, and felt embarrassed. It was only because of the gurgling tears that he couldn't even wipe them away.This appearance made Wang Hong amused, and she sneered: "Come in quickly, it's embarrassing in broad daylight."

Yang Yan was so excited by her that she gritted her teeth, and the woman hurriedly welcomed them into the house.Yang Yan saw that the small house was divided into three floors with two curtains. The outermost floor was the living room, and the two inside were rooms.There were three large rocks placed in front of the haphazardly assembled low table as chairs. The room was filled with a large amount of dead grass and debris, and the surrounding area was filled with the smell of weeds, soil, and animal dung.

This is simpler than the house of the Wuerdin tribe.

"Why are you back?" Wang Hong's mother asked, surprised and happy, "Guan Nei sent you back to deliver the news?" She glanced at Yang Yan again and asked, "Who is this person?"

Yang Yan wiped his tears and nose, stepped forward and said: "My name is Yang Yan, I am Miss Wang's friend." He looked at Wang Hong.

Wang Hong's mother said: "My name is Mira, and my Chinese name is Lin Xilai. You can just call me aunt." Mira saw Yang Yan's red eyes and asked in surprise: "Your eyes...you...you... …”

Wang Hong said: "He is the person I brought back from the pass to see Gulthas."

Mira was even more surprised and said: "You...what did you say? You want to see Gulthas? How can you meet him with your status?"

Wang Hong was afraid that her mother would be worried and concealed her escape. She just said, "Mom, don't ask so many questions. Sit down and have a rest."

Mira said: "Your father will be happy when he comes back." After speaking, his eyes turned red, and he wiped the corners of his eyes and said, "I'll get some food to entertain the guests."

Wang Hong hurriedly stopped her mother, but Yang Yan also said no.Mira asked about Wang Hong's affairs in the pass. Wang Hong said that she would have to ask again when her father came back. It would be better to wait until her father and brother came back.Seeing them talking about family matters, Yang Yan felt embarrassed as an outsider, so he said he needed to rest and found a place behind the curtain to fall asleep on the ground.

At dusk, Mira went to prepare dinner. Wang Hong woke up Yang Yan and said, "My father and my brother are coming back. Fortunately, nothing major has happened in the past few years."

Yang Yan said "hmm" and said, "We've all talked about Nabu Badu, but why is this village... so clean? I think it's even more dilapidated than the village of Wu Erding's Xiaoji?"

"This is not a village." Wang Hong lowered his eyes, "This is a slave house, a slave residence."

Yang Yan remembered that Wang Hong mentioned that their family was a slave, and she entered the prison to save her father.

"The previous owner abused our family." Wang Hong gritted her teeth thinking of her former owner. "After I entered the customs, Gultha bought our family and sent us here to farm for Gultha's distant relatives. He was kind to his slaves. I don’t manage it much at ordinary times, so my family is much more stable here.”

Yang Yan asked: "Sounds like Gulthas is a good man?"

Wang Hong sneered and said: "This is to keep my family under close surveillance to prevent me from having second thoughts and leaking secrets such as the path of heroes and the path of saints to the Iron Sword Silver Guard."

After a while, two men entered the house.A man in his 40s, about seven feet eight inches tall, with broad shoulders and a thick chest, thick eyebrows and big eyes, a beard, and a thick and long gray and black ponytail hanging down to the back of his neck.The other young man is stronger, has a delicate appearance, is slightly taller than his father, and is under twenty. His fluffy curly hair is only kept on the back of his head and neatly trimmed on his ears.The two of them were obviously very tired. As soon as they entered the door, they took off their clothes and wiped their sweaty bodies without even thinking about talking.Mira quickly stopped and took the father and son to see her daughter.

Yang Yan saw that both father and son had brands on their left arms. They were flaming chains intertwined with each other and tied into a hollow ball.It's quite strange. After thinking about it, it seems to be a bit like the needle ball in my hand, except that the fire is missing, and the needle is replaced by an iron chain.I just don’t know what the purpose of this brand is?But now that the family members know each other, it’s not easy to interrupt.No more questions.

When Wang Hong's father heard that his daughter was back, he was surprised and happy, and rushed forward to take a closer look.Wang Hong was twelve or thirteen years old when she left. Now she looks like an adult, but she still has the same facial features. He couldn't help but reach out and touch her cheek, saying: "It's been eight years... nine years... she has grown so big." He touched her head again and said, "It's much taller."

Compared with the excitement of his parents, Wang Hong's younger brother just stood aside and wiped his sweat.Wang Hong shouted: "Come here and let me take a look." The younger brother stepped forward unwillingly.The younger brother was only ten years old when Wang Hong left, and his body and appearance changed much more than his older sister.Wang Hong stretched out her hand to show her height. She was half a head taller than herself and asked, "Why don't you call me sister? Are you mute?"

"Hello, eldest sister." Wang Hong's younger brother called out awkwardly, as if unwilling to do so.Wang Hong said sullenly: "Why are you calling me sister like it's life-threatening and hoping that I won't come back?"

Wang Hong's father smiled and said: "That's not true. After you left, he cried every day looking for his sister. He couldn't sleep well at night. He also wanted to run away to find you. It was difficult to persuade him, except that he didn't tie him up with a rope."

Brother Wang Hong blushed and said loudly: "That's not the case! She often bullies me, who cares about her!"

"You still remember what happened when you were a child." Wang Hong pinched her brother's arm, "Be careful."

The younger brother swung his arms and said angrily: "I told you several times not to pinch me!"

Wang Hong cursed: "I am your sister and I can pinch you! Or now that I am taller and stronger, I want to hit my sister?"

The younger brother scolded: "Seeing that you are a woman, I will let you go!"

Mira smiled and said: "Don't worry about having fun, there are guests."

Only then did the father and son notice that Yang Yan was standing aside. They were startled when they saw his red eyes, and then they told each other their names.Wang Hong's father's name is Meng Duque, and his younger brother's name is Balder. Neither of them have Chinese names.It turns out that slave names were given by their masters, and Wang Honggong was demoted as a slave for his crimes. Therefore, Mira still retains the Chinese name she had before she was demoted, while the Chinese names of Monduk and Balder have long been lost.Only then did Yang Yan realize that Wang Hong's surname was not Wang, but the surname and pseudonym of the family where she was staying.

The house was narrow, and five people squeezed the living room into the living room.Balder sat by the curtain, and Monduk wanted to congratulate his daughter on her return, so he served her with the bad wine he had won a few years ago.

Mira asked about Wang Hong's experience in Guan Nei. Wang Hong said that she had walked the path of a hero and was accepted as the daughter of a family named Wang in Gansu, and then entered the Kunlun Palace.This lecture did not stop. It was rare for Yang Yan to enjoy family happiness, and even an outsider found it warm.

Wang Hong only told an outline of the story. Suddenly, he heard a rapid knock on the door, and Monduk said strangely: "It's already dark, who else is coming?"

Before he opened the door, the broken wooden door was knocked open with a bang, and there were seven or eight strong men standing outside.When Yang Yan saw these people wearing leather armor and holding long knives and sticks, his heart suddenly jumped and he held the scimitar, fearing that another accident would happen.

Monduk stood up and said respectfully: "Chief Bute, what are your orders?"

Butesh took a long look into the room without looking around. In such a small place, he saw Wang Hong and Yang Yan at a glance, pointed at them and asked: "I heard that there are guests in the slave room, who are they? "

"This is my daughter Nadia and her friend Yang Yan." Monduk replied respectfully.

"Your daughter? Is this happening? Whose slave is she?"

Monduk replied: "She is a commoner, not a slave. Gulthas redeemed her identity."

"Gulthas?" Butesh said in a suspicious tone, obviously not believing it.He pointed at Wang Hong and said, "Stand up, turn out your left ear and expose your left arm!" Then he pointed at Yang Yan, "You too!"

Yang Yan saw him being arrogant and domineering, and felt dissatisfied.Wang Hong stood up first, took off her coat, rolled up her sleeves for Butt to check, then turned around and asked him to look behind her ears, and signaled Yang Yan to do the same.Yang Yan didn't know what he meant, so he had to get up and do it.

Wang Hong said: "We don't have slave marks on us. I am Huo Miaozi, and I have just returned from the pass under the orders of Gursasi. This is a valuable guest. I will go home first and ask to see Gursas early tomorrow morning."

Chief Butesh laughed loudly: "You also want to see Gulthas?" The entourage behind him also laughed, with a very contemptuous attitude.Butesh said: "Since you are civilians, why do you come to the slave house? They are the property of Gulthas and you are not allowed to touch them."

Monduk said: "Chief Bute, my daughter has been away from home for many years. Please be considerate. It's already dark and let them stay overnight."

Balder also stood up and said: "The butt is very long. My grass knots faster than other families. The land we plant is large and the harvest is good. We are peaceful and diligent. Can I let my sister stay for one night? Just one night is fine."

"If it weren't for your diligence, you would have been beaten long ago." Butt said, "You can decide this matter? Outsiders can come to the slave house at will? Does the master give permission?"

Yang Yan saw that he was arrogant, and the more he listened, the more uncomfortable he became, so he just endured it.Wang Hong said: "I will go to Nabu Batu Guards to worship the army early tomorrow morning. What a..."

"We can't wait for tomorrow, go now! If you don't go, I will escort you! You said you are Huo Miaozi, whether it is true or not, the Guards Army will check it out!"

Wang Hong was helpless. She had been away from home for eight years and had just met her family once. She left without even saying a few words.She was escaping privately, and her return to Nabu Batu was unpredictable. She originally wanted to spend one more day with her family, but even this day was difficult, so she had no choice but to obey.Although Yang Yan was not angry, he could only do it.

Now eight people, four in front and four behind, escorted Yang Yan and Wang Hong to the only brick house in the village.Wang Hong asked: "Aren't you going to defend the military base?"

Butesh cursed: "What time is this? The sun has already set!"

Yang Yan couldn't help but said: "Since she has to stay in the village, why not let her spend more time with her family?"

Butesh glared at Yang Yan, and Wang Hong said: "He is a distinguished guest of Gursasi. Don't offend him."

Butt touched his chin. Although he didn't believe it, he didn't dare to make a mistake and took the two of them into the brick house.It turned out that the guards who guarded the slaves lived here, and there were two cells for disobedient slaves. He locked Wang Hong and Yang Yan in a cell.

Yang Yan saw Wang Hong tossing and turning and couldn't sleep. Knowing that she was feeling sad, Yang Yan comforted her: "It's okay. When the matter is over, you and your family will have plenty of time."

Wang Hong shook her head and said, "You don't understand anything."

Yang Yan became suspicious and was about to ask again when Wang Hong said, "Go to sleep."

Before dawn the next day, Bute escorted Yang Yan and Wang Hong to Nabu Batu.After walking on the road for more than an hour, Yang Yan saw many houses from a distance. When he got closer, he saw that most of the houses were made of bricks, with only a few wooden ones. There were many decorations outside the houses, and the walls were painted with different colors, although they were not comparable. The exquisitely carved beams and painted buildings in the Central Plains are vastly different from the many tribes Yang Yan has passed through before.

This Nabu Batu has no city walls for defense, only the continuous expansion of buildings one floor after another.Bute escorted Yang Yan to the Weiji Military Station. In Yang Yan's words, it was a large manor, but it was completely different from the manor in the Central Plains.There are two curved spiers four to five feet high, like... horns?Many decorative holes were cut out on the upper edge of the mud-yellow wall, and many intertwined circles of different sizes were painted on the wall. There were corners on the edges of the circles. Yang Yan thought for a long time before he realized that they represented the sun.

Before he could take a closer look, he was taken into the Weiji Military Station and placed in a large room with Wang Hong.

"Have you seen Gulthas before?" Yang Yan asked.

Wang Hong shook his head: "How can Gulsasi be so easy to see? According to Guan Nei's parlance, his identity is probably the head of the Nine Families. You can't just meet him if you want to."

"Don't make the Jiu Family disgusting." Yang Yan said, "Unless he is also a beast." He remembered something and asked again, "But didn't you say that your whole family was redeemed by Gulthas?"

Wang Hong shook his head and said: "This matter is difficult to explain in one sentence. We will talk about it later."

Yang Yan said: "Then don't think too much about it. We have practiced and we will use it as soon as we see it." Although Wang Hong said firmly in front of outsiders, Yang Yan knew that Wang Hong was just giving it a try.She is just a jobber and of low status.

Wang Hong bit her lower lip and said, "I know." She was worried and fled back outside the customs. If Yang Yan could not bring her a chance to make meritorious service, she would die immediately.

I'm afraid that I won't even have a chance to speak.She had to find a way to convince the next person she met to give her a chance to offer advice in front of Gurthas.

The two of them waited uneasily for a long time, and finally someone came to see them.It was a middle-aged man with a gentle appearance, brown hair and black eyes.There are many different colors of hair and eyes outside the customs, and Yang Yan has long been accustomed to them.

The two of them thought of many excuses. When someone arrived, Wang Hong was about to speak when he heard the other person say something.

"Are you Nadia?" the other party asked, "Gulthas said he wanted to see you in person."

(End of this chapter)