Under the sky

Chapter 250: Uncertainty

Xie Yunjin lay beside the fire and fell asleep.He was so tired that he couldn't move a finger. He had to wait until he woke up to talk about anything.

He was surprised at how calm he was.He had just killed the person who loved him the most and the righteous man he respected the most, but he was unexpectedly calm. Could it be that Master Jin's education had unknowingly planted seeds in his heart, planting seeds of selfishness and confusion of right and wrong?Now is the time for germination...

He hates himself like this.

It was still dark when he woke up. He kept telling himself not to oversleep and to inform Hillidg to avoid the ambush.

He put the horse meat into his bag, picked up a piece of firewood for lighting, went up the mountain, found spring water and drank to his fill, before moving on.He didn't know where he was going, so he bypassed all complex terrain such as valleys and cliffs, only walking where the horses could go, and took a long detour.

He didn't have a topographic map of the mountain, so he could only barely determine where he was on the mountain based on his bearings, and tried his best to go around the back of the mountain.I can only pray that everything goes well. As for who to pray to, the Buddha, the Jade Emperor, or the God of Sasha?he does not know.

When it was almost noon, he finally arrived at the other side of the mountain. He looked up and saw that there were withered grass beside the road. There was a village in the distance, and beyond that was the Holy Mountain range, but he could not see Hillidegg's team.

Damn it, is it too late after all?Xie Yunjin was a little confused.

■

Hilidegg led eighty prison warden cavalry to pursue the escaped slaves and the kidnapped Caleb.If it weren't for the fact that Priest Mengde had specially ordered that Luce, who was Prince Hugen's Kaller, must be sent to pursue smart, intelligent and capable people, he would not have been willing to accept this task, even though this was what the prison director was supposed to do.

He has always hated aristocrats and shows his disgust unabashedly on his face, which has nothing to do with his origin.In fact, he was also from a noble family. Although his family was in decline, his grandfather was still a land administrator and civil servant in Batu. If he didn't have some family background, it would not be easy to focus on studying and pass the priesthood.

He hates nobles. In addition to the fact that most nobles are either stupid or bad, and a very small number of nobles are stupid and bad, there is also a layer of understanding based on doctrine.In the world of Sa God, all living beings are equal, and people should be equal as well. The bridge between gods and humans is the priest. The greatness of the priest lies in his closeness to Sa God, and he has to undergo an examination before he can be qualified.What is a noble?Why are some people born superior and able to inherit everything and enjoy privileges, while others are commoners and have nothing?The biggest evidence for his argument is that Sri Yanabhata abandoned his aristocratic status and fell into the embrace of God.

Nobility prevented people from approaching God.

When he was writing, he once asked Gulthas for advice, and Gulthas asked him: "Where is the slave?"

"Slaves do not count. Slaves are objects, not people. Slaves should be measured together with pigs, horses, sheep and dogs."

"Why do slaves have to think differently? In the eyes of God Sa, is there any difference between slaves and nobles? How should refugees be counted?"

"There is no difference between slaves and nobles, and there is no difference between refugees." Hilidegg replied, "But the reason why there are slaves and refugees is based on management, production, punishment of criminals and other worldly considerations. It is to glorify the god Sa and make the world More orderly.”

"Then, the existence of nobles is also for this reason. We need to manage the people, and we are also nobles. Guan Nei used to be called the royal family, but now it is called the Nine Families. Even if each of the nine families obtains power in a different way, there are still nobles."

"Nobility exists naturally because management requires power and power needs to be distributed. As long as power is distributed, he is a noble. In a family, the older man is a noble. In the team, the chief is a noble and the centurion is a noble. The captain is a noble, Baduli, and Arien are nobles. Because we need management, we gave power to Arien and asked him to act on our behalf."

"The House of Priests can directly manage the people. There are examples of this." Hilidegg argued.

"Atulie Batu? Is that also called management?" Gursasi showed a kind smile.His smile was so kind that I couldn't tell if it was sarcastic or not.

Gulthas continued: "Power does not bring people close to God. On the contrary, power degrades people. Only by keeping the priests away from more power can they hear God's voice more clearly. The hierarchy of power must be clear, which is why the Priesthood To govern the Arien, and the Arien to govern the people, is also the reason why Sri Yanabhata abandoned his aristocratic status in the scriptures.”

This is a standard doctrinal debate.Why did Sri Yanabhata abandon his nobility? Was it because he believed that nobility should not exist, or because he wanted to be closer to God?Whoever gets the right to interpret doctrine can even change the system.

"Hilidege, you are very smart, and I respect you, but you are still young, and it is very dangerous to have such thoughts." Gulthas warned Hilidege, "Don't speculate too much about the teachings. First, follow the teachings of the sages." ideas, and truly understand the sages’ explanations of teachings, so that when you can understand it yourself, others will respect your understanding.”

Gulthas said earnestly: "Don't let me down."

Hillidegg understood what Gulthas said and was deeply moved by his commendation. His wisdom made people admire him with admiration.He was respected and wanted to be worthy of this respect, so he carefully investigated and finally found the place where the slaves were camping. He got Jin Yunjin to guide the way, and after chasing him for most of the day, there was still no sign of the slaves.

This is unreasonable. 300 people, oxen and horses are not enough. Even if you run for your life, you can hardly walk more than [-] miles in a day. How can you not catch up after chasing for a long time?

He suddenly realized something: "Jin Yunjin lied to me!"

Why did Jin Yunjin lie to himself?Based on sympathy for the slaves, coercion, or... He frowned, what was the new student, who had always been indifferent to others, thinking?
The horses were too tired to drive back in the same way and had to rest. Hillidegg found a nearby village to spend the night.Judging from the distance traveled, even if he turned around and chased the slave from the other way, it would probably be too late. This mission ended in failure. Luskale... that dog was so vicious that he would inevitably fail in his duty. This would be a stain.

He made a big mistake not long after he took office, and might be transferred back to the priest's house. Hilidegg was unhappy and led his people back to the area near Sanchakou.It was here that he missed the slave. He was hesitating whether to take another gamble when he suddenly heard a loud shout and a group of riders emerged from behind the hillside. The leader shouted: "Fire the arrow!"

More than ten people appeared from the top of the mountain and fired arrows one after another. The riders in front also fired arrows to attack.Hillidegg was suddenly attacked. Although he was young, he was really talented. Although he was frightened, he held a small shield in his left hand to protect himself. He shouted loudly: "Disperse! Take the shield! Avoid the arrows!" The men of the Prison Department They were all well-trained warriors, no less than slaves. A group of people either waved their swords to block, used shields to cover themselves, or hid under horses to dodge bows and arrows. Even so, seven or eight people were still hit by arrows and fell down.

Hillidegg ordered to take arrows to fight back, but the archers on the top of the mountain were covered and found it difficult to hit.Hillidegg took a bow and arrow, aimed at the target and shot one person, but the opponent had the terrain advantage, and before long, more than ten of his own people fell down.

Hillidegg was about to give the order to retreat when a shout came from the opposite side and he rushed towards them.At this time, most of the horses were lost, and his subordinates shouted: "They are refugees, Xiaoji, retreat quickly!" Hillidegg has neglected his duty to chase the slaves. If he loses his subordinates and retreats alone, he is afraid that it will be difficult to raise his head again. He has a arrogant character and high spirits. The voice said: "Line up and fight back!"

He drew his scimitar and shouted to kill. The opponent had the upper hand, with almost twice as many men as his own. A conflict broke out, and Hilidegg killed one person with a sword.If they were ordinary refugees, the Prison Division would not lose easily, but this group of refugees was not ordinary. They were all former nobles or noble guards. They were led by Prince Hugen's younger brother, Prince Mahler. They saw the light of swords flying and the shadow of guns. Buildings and buildings, blood sprinkled on the road, and corpses gradually accumulated.

Hillidegg had a premonition that he was about to die in this unknown wilderness, and he didn't even know why he died.He chopped down a homeless man, but was wounded in the thigh and arm and shot in the back.

Although he was still resisting, most of the team he brought with him were dead, and he was about to fall.

It's coming soon, it won't take long.

If the Holy Guard hadn't arrived in time...

"Quick, it's right there!" Xie Yunjin shouted, leading the Holy Guard team to come to the rescue.

Why did the Holy Guard come? Aren't they supposed to be patrolling around the Holy Mountain?Even if the nearest Holy Guardian team is hundreds of miles away, how did they get here?

Just listen to Xie Yunjin shouting loudly: "Xili Dege! Xili Dege!"

Hillidegg shouted, "Here I am!"

Nearly two hundred members of the Holy Guard rushed into the formation and chased Mahler as he attempted to retreat. "I really am yours, Jin Yunjin..." Hillide couldn't help but breath, thinking in his heart.

The refugees were no match for the Holy Guards. Mahler did not escape. He was no longer a nobleman and was killed immediately. Only a dozen of his men escaped.Xie Yunjin looked at his corpse, thinking of the slaughtered slaves and the one-armed man, and almost couldn't suppress the urge to scream.

It turned out that Xie Yunjin went around the top of the mountain and found that even if he caught up with Xili Dege, he would not be able to stop him in time. He thought of a way. Since he couldn't stop him, he took someone to rescue him.He went to the nearest village to find out if there was a guard team that could be seconded. This was purely blind. Although the tribes near Batu were often larger, it was too difficult to second a guard team of 200 people. Besides, how could anyone trust you? .

But Xie Yunjin succeeded. Although the tribesmen did not believe him, they informed him that a holy guard was stationed outside the village.This team was defeated in a battle with Atuliebadu near the Holy Mountain. More than [-] people were killed and more than [-] people were injured. They were ordered to leave the Holy Mountain area to rest. After just a few days of recovering from their injuries, Xie Yunjin Come for help.

Originally, they had no reason to trust any young man, but Xie Yunjin would never lie about the military situation and get into trouble. They had just lost face and were eager to make meritorious deeds. If this was false, they would only suffer teasing, but if they really rescued the Prison Department— —And it is currently the most highly regarded and the most famous small priest Xili Dege in Nabu Batu, which is a great achievement.

So they followed Xie Yunjin and chased him all the way, and finally rescued Hillidege before he died in the battle.

Xie Yunjin found Hilidege, who expressed his gratitude to him and asked why he came with the Holy Guard.Xie Yunjin made up a story, saying that he suffered a slave rebellion and was separated from Master Jin. He was forced to flee with the slaves and lie to Hillidegg. Later, the slave was killed by the refugees. Master Jin came to save him and was seriously injured. After being cured, he deduced that the refugees had ulterior motives and found the Holy Guards to come to the rescue.

"God Sa will bring back the soul of the guard captain Jin. Please express my condolences." Hillidege comforted Xie Yunjin.Let’s put aside the details for now. After all, Xie Yunjin had just suffered the loss of his father, and Hillidegg was seriously injured and needed to find a place to rest.

"We found Luskale!" The prison department soldier found Luz lying flat on the cart and placed on the other side of the three-way intersection.Xie Yunjin was surprised, but his face remained calm.Hilidegg hurriedly went to check. His most important task this time was not to capture the slaves, but to rescue Luce.

Luce was seriously injured and his face was pale. He opened his eyes and saw Hillidegg first, and then Xie Yunjin behind him, his eyes widened.

"you……"

"You need to have a good rest." Xie Yunjin stepped forward calmly and said, "I have offended you before. Please take a good rest in Kale. It will not be too late to ask questions later."

Luce did not let him go. He raised his finger and pointed at Xie Yunjin: "I...see...you...you colluded with slaves..." He was so angry that after saying this, he couldn't take a breath and actually fainted. passed.

Hilidegg looked at Xie Yunjin doubtfully.Xie Yunjin shook his head: "He was so injured that he was confused. I was held hostage at that time and had to pretend to be compliant. When he wakes up, I will explain it to him."

How can he wake up?Xie Yunjin thought to himself.For the sake of the one-armed man and the slaves, Luska must be strangled to death in order to offer sacrifices to those who died because of his cruelty.Just how to kill Luskale quietly?It's a bit troublesome, it can't cause more wounds on him, and it can't make people suspicious.

Hillidegg was about to ask a question when he suddenly felt dizzy, which was caused by excessive blood loss.

"Dear Xili Dege, you need to recuperate." Xili Dege's embarrassment gave Xie Yunjin an idea. He said, "Many soldiers are injured and need to recuperate. Please recuperate in the nearest village. , let me lead Luskale back to Batu first."

"Luskale is also injured." Hilligold said, "Doesn't he need to stay?"

"A small village cannot treat such an injury. Only Batu has a good doctor." Xie Yunjin shook his head, "I will take him back to the palace as soon as possible. Only then will Prince Hu Gen feel relieved. I will reveal that it was Xiaoji who rescued Luskale." .”

"You were the one who rescued me. Lord Sa, please don't use the flattery of the people in Guanhai to deal with me. Let the glory go to Sa God, and the things in the world return to the world." Hilidege thought for a while, if he doesn't recover from his current injuries, He couldn't go any faster on horseback, and there were still many wounded soldiers who needed treatment, so he said, "It's up to you." He then said, "Save my life, and just call me Heili from now on. Only Potu Xiaoji and a few people can." Call me that in private."

Xie Yunjin said: "May the Sa God bless you, Xili Xiaoji, I will go back first."

Xie Yunjin followed the team back. Although he was just a student priest, he was Gursasi's assistant and led the team to save everyone. Hillidege stayed behind to recover from his injuries. The captain led the team and Sasi

It is also the custom of the Sa religion to lead the captain, and Xie Yunjin is now the leader of this group of people.On the pretext that Luskale was seriously injured, he urged to speed up his journey and arrived at Prince Hugen's slave residence at dusk.

"Shall we rest here tonight?" Xie Yunjin asked the captain, "Is that okay?"

These people had just gone through a good killing at noon and were in a hurry. They were already exhausted. The captain said: "Just follow Xiaoji's instructions."

"I'm not a small festival, just a school festival."

The captain said: "Jin Xiaoji saved Hillidege Xiaoji and rescued Kalle. He has made such a great contribution that he can even be the chief priest in the future. He is only called Xiaoji a few years ago."

"Sa Shen has his own arrangements." Xie Yunjin thought to himself, wouldn't anyone use the tricks inside the customs and outside the customs?

The corpses in the slave room have been removed, and the entrance is heavily guarded. The slaves who did not escape were imprisoned and interrogated, leaving only a dozen children. Some were abandoned here by their parents who could not bear to have their children become refugees, and some whose parents had been taken away. .

Regarding the whole incident, Xie Yunjin still had many things he couldn't figure out. He wanted to confirm his guess here and deal with Luskale at the same time.He ordered the captain to arrange for the Prison Department soldiers to rest in an empty slave room, and to let Luskale rest alone in the guard house. He arranged for a few people to guard him, and no one was allowed to enter except himself.

He found an empty room and was about to rest when he suddenly heard the cry of a child. After asking, he found out that it was a child who had been left in a slave home.These children will all be locked up in the same room, their parents will be executed, and they will stay here as slaves, and they will probably not end well - neither Prince Hugan nor Luskale will take kindly to the rebellious slaves. Their descendants can be disposed of as soon as they are branded as slaves at the age of 12.

Xie Yunjin thought for a while and asked where the room was.It was an ordinary hut, with eleven children in it, most of them crying together. Xie Yunjin saw the little girl named Nadia. Unlike the other children, she did not cry, but only comforted the crying one. younger brother.

When Xie Yunjin entered the slave house, all the children shrank in fear, except Nadia, who glared angrily.It was a little girl with jet-black hair and clear, translucent black eyes.

Xie Yunjin always remembered himself at that time, that is, what happened two days ago. He did not stop Luskale. Even now, he still doubts whether he will stop him...

He bent down and asked Nadia: "Are you Han?"

Nadia snorted and ignored him.

"Everyone is crying, why don't you cry?" Xie Yunyan said, "Answer my question, this is an order."

Nadia said angrily: "Everyone is crying, who will make barley cakes for everyone to eat, those guards?" She pointed to the door, her childish face flushed.

She can actually make barley cakes... This is much better than me.Xie Yunjin thought for a while and whispered in her ear: "Find a way to see Kong Xiao Daji. He is also a Han and will help you. If you can see Potu Xiaoji, he will also help you make arrangements."

This is not enough. After all, they are slaves. It is impossible for Kong Xiao to pardon them without reason. These are the properties of Prince Hu Gen.

"Tell Kong Xiao Daji that you are willing to join the prison and become a flame, so that your parents may be saved."

Nadia couldn't believe it, looking at Xie Yunjin with a pair of big black eyes.

"You can do it, you are different from other children." Xie Yunyan said, "This is your only chance. You have to be brave, just like me."

Perhaps Xie Yunjin will never know what earth-shaking changes his instructions will bring about in the future.

It's time to make final inquiries and deal with Luskale.Xie Yunjin found a woolen blanket, folded it neatly and put it into his bag, and came to the guard house.

"I'm here to change Kalle's dressing." Xie Yunyan said, "Kaller may complain of pain after a while, so you don't have to worry."

The guards did not stop him and he entered the guardhouse.There were unstringed bows hanging on the wall. Thinking of what happened that day, he took some bows and gave them to the guards: "String these bows."

After instructing the guards, he returned to the guardhouse.Luce was lying on the bed, not knowing whether he was unconscious or asleep.He walked gently to Luce's bed and lifted the quilt, which alarmed Luce. When he saw Xie Yunjin, his eyes widened in horror, and he wanted to shout loudly, but Xie Yunjin covered his mouth.He struggled, but he was too weak. Xie Yunjin pressed his arm with one hand and his neck with the other. After a while, Luce stopped struggling.

No wounds should be left, and certainly no marks of strangulation.Xie Yunjin untied his injured arm, and the broken area was bloody and bloody. He must have felt sick in the past, but now he was extremely calm.

The deaths of Master Jin and the One-Armed Man took something away from him, but he couldn't yet determine what it was.

Xie Yunjin grabbed Luce's arm with one hand, took out the blanket from the leather bag and pressed it on the broken area with the other hand. Then he pressed the upper edge of his arm and squeezed hard. The wound that had healed slightly immediately spurted out blood like a spring, which was quickly absorbed by the blanket. .The severe pain caused Luce to wake up again. He was weaker than before, and he was getting weaker.

"Help..." He didn't even have the strength to shout, "Help..." He felt dizzy and lost his mind. This was his territory. Here he hunted male slaves and raped female slaves. In a trance, he seemed to He saw the ghosts of dozens of slaves he had killed gathered around the bed, watching Xie Yunjin bleed himself.

"I...don't dare anymore...I..." Luce was so horrified that he was speechless and his face was as white as a sheet of paper.

Xie Yunjin put the blood-absorbed blanket into the skin bag and quickly stopped Luce's bleeding - although there was not much left.After applying medicine and bandaging, and confirming that there was no trace of blood on the scene, we began to sort out Luce's body.

Luce had only one breath left, hoping that he could hold on until Batu died of excessive blood loss.

Xie Yunjin opened the door and the guard asked: "How is Kalle's injury?"

"May God Sa have mercy on him," Xie Yunyan said, "He lost too much blood and his situation is very dangerous."

The guard nodded, but seemed to think it was quite good, and said: "Several bows are stringed."

"Can you try these bows to see if they work?" Xie Yunyan said, "Wait for me for a while. I'll put the medicine bag away and come back."

He also had to deal with the blood-soaked blanket.He returned to the room, stuffed the blanket under the kang, lit it on fire, and then came back.

The guard told him something strange.

"Why are all these bows broken?" the guard asked. "The bows are crooked, as if they have been twisted. There is a difference of six or seven inches per foot. They are all out of accuracy and cannot be used."

Xie Yunjin said: "Keep it for me, I want to take it back to Batu."

He has determined that there is a conspiracy hidden here, and he also knows how this plan is carried out. The slaves are only affected, and they are not the target, including himself, but he does not know who the mastermind is.

Luce returned to Nabu Batu and died in Hugen Palace before receiving first aid. The doctor said he died of excessive blood loss and weakness.Prince Hu Gen was very sad and wanted to kill the slaves immediately. He disposed of his property and no one else could comment. However, Kong Xiaoji came and said that these slaves were witnesses and could not be killed. They were all taken to the Prison Department and imprisoned.

Seven days later, Gulthas returned to Nabu Batu and heard about the riot. He asked Hilidege and Potu about the small sacrifice. He also learned that Xie Yunjin's father died in the riot.He comforted Xie Yunjin, but Xie Yunjin came to him with those bows and saluted respectfully: "Dear Gursasi, this is not a slave rebellion."

"This is a conspiracy." Xie Yunjin said decisively, "I know how it works."

(End of this chapter)